Rangers and Zibanejad agree on eight-year deal with $8.5 mil AAV (rangers)

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Rangers and Zibanejad agree on eight-year deal with $8.5 mil AAV

By Jan Levine

Oct 10, 2021 • 7:48 pm

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The Rangers and Mika Zibanejad agree on an eight-year deal worth $8.5 mil per season. Deal structure remains to be seen, as well as how this impacts the Jack Eichel discussions. But New York locked up their #1 center on a fair deal for both signs. Also, below is my take on last night-s preseason finale, which I was about to post when this deal broke.

The two sides have been in talks for a while. Rumors that Zib wanted $10 mil per and New York wanted a short-term deal have been reported for a while. Zib gets his money but over a longer period of time, while New York keeps the AAV down to a reasonable level.

The deal is bonus laden to say the least. Only $8 mil in base salary, a mil per season. The drop in salary the last two seasons will make it mildly easier to move him, if it comes of it. Plus, if they past the next to last season bonus and then move him, the net cash impact is relatively mildly. The contract though is buyout protected due to all the bonuses.

On the flip side, this NMC piece of the deal was poorly handled by GM Chris Drury. The buyout proof contract due the signing bonus structuring coupled with the full nmc makes the contract all but unmovable, unlike the Kreider/Trouba contracts.

The Aleksander Barkov signing might have also kicked the talks into high gear. Barkov would have earned more than eight years and $10 mil on the open market, at least in terms of $, since he could sign a seven-year deal elsewhere. The lack of state tax in Florida is probably around a mil per year impact. Add in he is just 26 and also a Selke trophy candidate and he deserves more than Zib, whose deal may be an issue the last year or two of the contract, but on balance, fair overall.

As Brooks noted: Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider, Goodrow, Chytil, Trouba, Lindgren, Miller, Shesterkin (5F, 3D, 1G) will account for $51.925M of cap space next year of an $81 million or so cap. Fox likely to come in at least $9M per on his deal, Kakko will be on second contract. In terms of Eichel, for New York to fit him in, Buffalo will need to eat salary, likely at least $3-5 million. As such, the cost to acquire will go up. But, any talk may wait until post-surgery, even though the Sabres have released the medicals to interested team. The Zib signing does not preclude adding Eichel, just makes a deal slightly more complicated.

if Filip Chytil blossoms, he could be the #2 with Morgan Barron the third line center. Here also is a crazy concept, if that doesn't happen, the favorite whipping boy - Ryan Strome - could be brought back. Karl Henriksson could take a step forward this season as well, becoming an option. That last word - option - is now back in place now that Zib has been locked up long term.

The Rangers wrapped up their preseason with a 5-4 overtime win over the Isles. Youth was on display, as the Blueshirts had several veterans out of the lineup against an Isles team playing with most of their likely Opening Night lineup. Ryan Strome's status still remains to be seen after he suffered a hand/wrist/arm injury late in the second period, though coach Gerard Gallant did not seem overly worried post-game.

Game recap:

A few thoughts: 1) Strome - the play looked awfully like the one Filip Chytil was injured on last season. The preseason has seen some major injuries - Matthew Boldy and Quinton Byfield to name two -losing Strome would have a major impact. If that does end up being the case, look for Filip Chytil - fresh off a hat trick - to center the second line with Morgan Barron, solid again yesterday, to center the third line.

2) The kids: The Blueshirts notched the win while resting Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Carp summarized the kids impact nicely:

 the Rangers got three goals, including the winner, from Chytil, who just turned 22 last month and enters his fourth full NHL season (he also played part of a fifth). They got two assists each from soph Alexis Lafrenière (19) and third-year pro Kaapo Kakko (20), a goal from rookie Vitali Kravtsov (21) and an assist from soph defenseman K’Andre Miller (21). All of the above were first-round picks during a top-to-bottom rebuild

Chytil needed a game like this in the worst way. He had been somewhat invisible so far this preseason. Given more of an opportunity with Strome out, Chytil made the most of that chance. He still needs major work on his faceoffs, and as seen until yesterday, has to be way more evident and consistent in his play, but the talent is undeniably there.

Lafreniere is stronger and faster, so a step up by him is expected. Kakko is stronger as well and we all think he will get to the next level this year. He made the first goal possible, hanging on to the puck through the offensive zone before dishing it to Miller for the shot which led to Strome's goal on the rebound. Kravtsov missed the last game with an injury; getting a goal from him on a one-timer should do wonders for his confidence.

Miller and Jacob Trouba struggled again defensively. If this continues, don't be surprised if the Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox duo is separated, which has been discussed in the past. Not expecting this right away, but the more their issues persist, the more likely that becomes.

3) Alexandar Georgiev allowed four goals but I thought he played fairly well. He blunted several odd-man rushes in the victory and he had little chance on the majority of the markers against. That doesn't mean four goals allowed is acceptable nor does it minimize his issues this preseason and last year. But, right now, he is the backup to Igor Shesterkin with Keith Kinkaid in the minors. I doubt the Rangers want to go into the season with Kinkaid as the #2 netminder.

4) Barron, Julien Gauthier, Dryden Hunt and Libor Hajek - Barron was strong again. As noted above, if Strome missed Opening Night, Barron should be in the lineup. He finished the preseason as one of the better forwards, but a numbers game and waivers eligibility likely has sealed his fate for now.

Gauthier drew two penalties, but once again, was snakebit offensively. He failed to dent the scoresheet this preseason and has two goals in 47 games. Gauthier played well enough to stay and is aided by his need to pass through waivers to be sent down. Same can be said for Hunt, who was less noticeable yesterday. But his lack of waivers eligibility likely earns him one of the extra roster spots initially.

Hajek also needs waivers to go down. That fact plus probably trying to avoid the full egg on the face for the Ryan McDonagh "haul" by just letting him go might give Hajek a reprieve. It's time to pull off the band aid, take whatever PR hit ensues and just waive him.

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