With swirling speculation about a potential trade removing Mika Zibanejad from the New York Rangers ahead of next season, reporters keep emerging, pointing toward the most likely future for the veteran forward.
According to the latest information, it's increasingly likely Zibanejad remains with the Rangers for the 2025–26 season.
The franchise has already parted ways with longtime forward Chris Kreider, but according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Zibanejad’s situation appears different, at least at the time of his report on Thursday's episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast.
"I poked around, and this is what I can tell you: He has not been asked to submit teams (he would accept a trade to) or waive (his no-move clause)," Friedman said. “Remember, he has control over this. He has the no-move clause.
"Nothing can happen without Zibanejad’s control and approval."
Friedman pointed to a notable development as further evidence, one first revealed by Irma Zibanejad, Mika's wife, on her Instagram, per the New York Post's Mollie Walker.
"His wife said on Instagram the other day that (head coach) Mike Sullivan had flown out there to Sweden to meet with him," Friedman said. "That doesn’t happen unless that (keeping him) is the initial goal here.
"Sullivan wouldn’t take all that time, the Rangers wouldn’t send him out there if their goal was to get rid of the player."
Irma added more clarity in an interview with Swedish outlet "Aftonbladet," pushing back against rumors of a trade involving his husband.
“We just had Mika’s new coach [Mike Sullivan] here at our home; he flew over from New York recently,” Irma said. “We also just got our new home in New York.”
Last season, Zibanejad posted 62 points in 82 games, his lowest total in three years, as the Rangers missed out on making the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
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