NHL Rumor Mill – April 28, 2025
NHL Rumor Mill – April 28, 2025
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill: the latest on Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad and what could be next for the Islanders after parting ways with Lou Lamoriello.
NEW YORK POST: Mollie Walker reported that Mika Zibanejad knows his disappointing performance this season has put him at a crossroads with the Rangers.
The 32-year-old center was among several notable underperforming Rangers. He also reportedly didn’t like how general manager Chris Drury handled “certain business” this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be Drury waiving popular checking-line forward Barclay Goodrow last June, his attempts to peddle Jacob Trouba last summer before trading him to Anaheim in December, and the league-wide memo last November indicating veteran leaders like Trouba and Chris Kreider were available.
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).
Walker indicates there is speculation about Zibanejad’s future in New York. He has five years left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million and a full no-movement clause. She wondered if Zibanejad and the Rangers could put this season aside and trust each other going forward, or would Drury sit down with him and convince him to accept a trade.
“I know what my contract says,” Zibanejad said the day before the Rangers’ final game of the season. “Both parties agreed to it, and like I said, I think I’ve earned it. Until it’s time to adjust it, I have no plans of going anywhere. I’ve invested a lot of years here.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zibanejad saying “until it’s time to adjust it” suggests he could be open to waiving his no-movement clause for the right team. He was rumored to be part of the return to the Vancouver Canucks for J.T. Miller but was said to have refused to waive his clause. The Rangers part with Filip Chytil instead.
Zibanejad could be difficult to move even if he agreed to be traded. He turned 32 earlier this month, his production has steadily declined since his career-best 91-point performance in 2022-23, and few teams will be willing to take on his cap hit for the next five years.
THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple recently looked at what lies ahead for the New York Islanders after parting ways with general manager Lou Lamoriello.
Certain players will want to know what the future holds. Kyle Palmieri was said to be close to a contract extension with Lamoriello before the latter was fired last week. Restricted free agents Noah Dobson, Simon Holmstrom and Alexander Romanov will also want to know where they stand.
There’s also the possibility of contract buyouts when the two-week window opens in late June. Winger Pierre Engvall and defenseman Scott Mayfield could be buyout candidates.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dobson, Holmstrom and Romanov will likely be re-signed. Palmieri’s future is less certain if the next GM believes the money would be better invested in pursuing a younger player.
Engvall has five years left on his contract with an AAV of $3 million. Buying him out would count as $1 million annually against the Isles’ cap until 2034-35. Mayfield also has five years left with a $3.5 million AAV. His buyout would run through 2034-35 with an annual cap hit of $1.166 million.
