By [Your Name]<\/strong><\/p>\n As the dust begins to settle on another emotionally charged season at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers find themselves at a critical crossroads. The team, once again packed with star power and high expectations, failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity to make a serious Stanley Cup run in 2025. With fans growing restless and the front office seeking a new path forward, the focus has begun to shift toward 2026\u2014and with it, a growing sentiment: It\u2019s time for the Rangers to move on from one of their cornerstone players.<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether through trade, buyout, or a strategic retooling of the roster, sources close to the organization have confirmed that general manager Chris Drury is being encouraged, both internally and externally, to part ways with a star whose presence may now be hindering more than helping.<\/strong><\/p>\n While Drury has built a competitive team and brought in marquee names to complement a talented core, one undeniable truth continues to resurface\u2014the Rangers have all the ingredients, but the recipe isn\u2019t delivering a championship-caliber result. Now, the pressure is mounting to make a seismic shift.<\/p>\n But who exactly is on the chopping block?<\/p>\n While the Rangers have several high-priced names, the focal point of internal trade discussions has zeroed in on veteran center Mika Zibanejad<\/strong>. The 32-year-old Swede has been a pillar of the Rangers organization since arriving in a 2016 trade from the Ottawa Senators. He\u2019s worn an \u201cA\u201d on his chest, scored clutch playoff goals, and provided leadership both on and off the ice.<\/p>\n But as the team looks ahead to 2026, several key factors are forcing Drury and his staff to evaluate whether Zibanejad\u2019s future aligns with their vision.<\/p>\n Zibanejad\u2019s offensive production has remained respectable, but not elite. In the 2024\u201325 season, he tallied 23 goals and 47 assists<\/strong> for 70 points in 81 games\u2014a solid showing, but a step down from his peak output earlier in the decade when he was a point-per-game force.<\/p>\n Advanced analytics also indicate that Zibanejad\u2019s underlying numbers are trending downward. His five-on-five shot suppression has weakened, his expected goals for per 60 has dropped, and his faceoff win percentage, once a strength, now hovers just above 48%.<\/p>\n At 32, Zibanejad is entering the tail end of his prime. With five years remaining on his eight-year, $68 million contract<\/strong>, the Rangers must now ask the hard question: Can we afford to pay $8.5 million annually to a second-line center whose best years may be behind him?<\/strong><\/p>\n The NHL\u2019s salary cap is projected to rise in 2026, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily give the Rangers breathing room. With Artemi Panarin<\/strong>, Adam Fox<\/strong>, and Igor Shesterkin<\/strong> eating up significant cap space\u2014and the emergence of younger players like Braden Schneider<\/strong>, Brennan Othmann<\/strong>, and Will Cuylle<\/strong>\u2014the Rangers must consider allocating their dollars differently.<\/p>\n Zibanejad\u2019s contract includes a full no-movement clause, which complicates trade scenarios. But league sources say Drury could approach the veteran with a respectful request to waive his clause for the right opportunity\u2014especially if it places him on a contender.<\/p>\n Teams like the Boston Bruins<\/strong>, Colorado Avalanche<\/strong>, and Minnesota Wild<\/strong>\u2014all in need of a skilled, defensively responsible center\u2014could emerge as potential trade partners if New York agrees to retain salary or take back a shorter contract.<\/p>\n Zibanejad is revered in the Rangers locker room and has served as a bridge between the older veterans and the rising young stars. But multiple team insiders suggest the leadership structure has become “too comfortable”<\/strong>\u2014and that a shakeup may be necessary to refocus the group\u2019s mindset.<\/p>\n Chris Kreider<\/strong>, the other longtime face of the franchise, is in a similar situation. But sources indicate Drury views Kreider as a more versatile asset, both on and off the ice. Kreider\u2019s physical game, penalty killing, and net-front presence continue to carry value in ways Zibanejad\u2019s finesse-oriented game may not.<\/p>\n If the Rangers are serious about reshaping their identity into one that matches the speed, physicality, and hunger of modern Cup contenders, moving on from Zibanejad might be the first domino to fall.<\/p>\n Among Rangers fans, Mika Zibanejad holds a sacred place. He\u2019s been the face of many highs\u2014his five-goal game against the Capitals, numerous overtime winners, and his clutch 2022 playoff performances are forever etched in Rangers lore.<\/p>\n However, even his most loyal supporters are beginning to waver. Social media and sports talk radio have become hotbeds of debate. One side argues that Zibanejad\u2019s skill set remains irreplaceable, while the other insists that his time in New York has run its course.<\/p>\n \u201cWe love Mika, but love doesn\u2019t win Cups,\u201d<\/strong> one Rangers fan said on an NY Post call-in show. \u201cWe\u2019ve run this group back for four years and it\u2019s always the same ending. Something has to change.\u201d<\/p>\n The most vocal critics point to Zibanejad\u2019s inconsistent playoff showings as evidence that the Rangers need a more aggressive, hard-nosed No. 1 center to compete with teams like Carolina, Florida, and Toronto.<\/p>\n If Drury decides to shop Zibanejad, the options are varied but limited by his no-movement clause.<\/p>\n To Colorado Avalanche:<\/strong><\/p>\n To New York Rangers:<\/strong><\/p>\n This type of deal gives the Rangers a younger center with upside in Newhook, additional cap flexibility, and a valuable first-round asset to stock the cupboard. Colorado, desperate to fill the void left by Nazem Kadri years earlier, gets a proven top-six center to bolster their Cup window.<\/p>\n Other possible destinations include:<\/p>\n Trading Zibanejad wouldn\u2019t just be a cap-clearing move. It would send a clear message that no one is safe<\/strong>, and that New York is serious about maximizing the prime of its remaining stars.<\/p>\n It would also pave the way for Filip Chytil<\/strong> or even Brennan Othmann<\/strong> to take on larger roles down the middle, potentially speeding up their development. It would allow the Rangers to be players in free agency or the trade market, targeting younger centers or depth pieces without cap shackles.<\/p>\n Chris Drury has been both praised and criticized during his tenure as Rangers GM. He\u2019s made bold moves\u2014signing Panarin, trading for Vladimir Tarasenko, re-signing key pieces\u2014but he\u2019s also been hesitant to break up the core that he inherited from Jeff Gorton.<\/p>\n 2026 may represent his defining offseason. The Rangers\u2019 fan base is no longer content with second-round exits or excuses. With a generational goalie in Shesterkin and an elite defenseman in Fox, the time to win is now.<\/p>\n Moving Zibanejad would be a gamble. It could backfire and alienate part of the locker room. But it could also re-energize a franchise that feels just one move away from glory.<\/p>\n If the Rangers are looking for inspiration, they don\u2019t need to look far. Around the league, teams have parted with big names in the pursuit of long-term success.<\/p>\n In each case, difficult decisions were made with the team\u2019s future in mind.<\/p>\n Zibanejad, while a beloved player, may fall into that category if the Rangers are truly serious about turning the page.<\/p>\n The Rangers are at a turning point. They\u2019ve built a roster capable of competing but not conquering. Their stars are respected, but not feared. Their playoff exits are frequent, and the hunger for a Stanley Cup is growing more intense with each passing year.<\/p>\n Chris Drury has a chance to be bold. Moving Mika Zibanejad in 2026 won\u2019t be easy\u2014it may even be painful\u2014but it could be the jolt the franchise needs to move forward.<\/p>\n Zibanejad\u2019s legacy in New York is secure. He brought skill, class, and countless highlights to the world\u2019s most famous arena. But sometimes, the best way to honor a player\u2019s contribution is to let them write the final chapter elsewhere\u2014while the team writes a new beginning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chris Drury and the New York Rangers Encouraged to Move On from Star Player in 2026 By [Your Name] As the dust begins to settle on another emotionally charged season … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":19268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[688,457,458,459,460],"class_list":["post-19265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football","tag-chris-drury","tag-new-york-rangers","tag-new-york-rangers-football","tag-new-york-rangers-football-news","tag-new-york-rangers-news"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Star in Question: Mika Zibanejad<\/h2>\n
Declining Production & Age Curve<\/h2>\n
The Cap Crunch & Roster Recalibration<\/h2>\n
Locker Room Dynamics and Identity Questions<\/h2>\n
Fan Sentiment: Split Down the Middle<\/h2>\n
What a Potential Trade Could Look Like<\/h2>\n
Potential Trade Scenario<\/h3>\n
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The Impact on the Rangers\u2019 Core<\/h2>\n
The Drury Factor: Will He Pull the Trigger?<\/h2>\n
A Look Around the League: Precedents for Parting With Fan Favorites<\/h2>\n
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Legacy vs. Future<\/h2>\n