According to reports, the New York Rangers have signed Mika Zibanejad to a new eight-year contract extension worth $68 million. The contract carries a salary-cap hit of $8.5 million.
BREAKING: Rangers, Zibanejad agree on extension, Post has learned, eight years in the range of $8.5M per…A year or two more than NYR would have preferred, but allows the AAV to be workable…Should put a damper on Eichel talk.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) October 10, 2021
Mika Zibanejad Signs New Deal In New York
The New York Rangers forward was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2021-22 season. Zibanejad signed a five-year extension with the Rangers after they traded for him in July of 2016 from the Ottawa Senators, who originally drafted him in the 2011 NHL Draft. However, that is going to change as the Swede will now be a Ranger for the next eight years. Management views Zibanejad as a vital piece to the rebuild and beyond. Ever since coming to the Rangers, he has been the number one center the team has needed. Now he will be in that position for a long time.
Despite having a down season last year during the 56 game shortened season, thanks to COVID-19, Zibanejad was still able to put up 50 points in 56 games. However, in the previous two seasons, Zibanejad put up 74 and 75 points respectively with the Rangers. His game has gone to the next level making the players around him better. In 604 games, Zibanejad recorded 434 points (200 goals and 2343 assists).
Going Forward
There had been lots of talk of Zibanjed being linked to a trade involving Jack Eichel to Rangers from the Buffalo Sabres. But that talk can be put to rest right now anyway. However, those talks could be reunited considering his salary is similar to Eichel’s in Buffalo. However, there is a belief inside the organization that Zibanejad is better than Eichel, hence why they got the new deal done with him now. The next question is will the Rangers make Zibanejad the captain. They have an opening and he would be a solid choice with Artemi Panarin not wanting the job.
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