Proposal: Mika Zibanejad for Trevor Zegras

banks

Only got 3 of 16.
Aug 29, 2019
3,801
5,550
This is odd. Both teams would be happier with their guy. NYR wants to win now, so they'd pick the more sure-thing with Zib. And ANA is rebuilding and would definitely prefer the younger wildcard with no long-term cap commitment.
 

LokiDog

Get pucks deep. Get pucks to the net. And, uh…
Sep 13, 2018
11,852
23,432
Dallas
Zibanejad is a really good, overpaid 2C who had a few peak years where he looked like a 15-30 C in the league. Now he’s probably around 40ish. He’s still way better than Zegras but expensive and Rangers have cap troubles, but Zegras won’t help or improve a win-now group the age of the Rangers team at all.

OBVIOUSLY not a realistic thought, but the Rangers - given the age of Trouba, Kreider, Panarin, Trochek and the contracts they have - would be better off going older and going for a Crosby/Malkin TYPE (there aren’t many, so it’s a very moot discussion) who is older and also in win now mode than going for an iffy younger player who isn’t ready to take over Zib’s responsibilities. I can’t think of many options - contract wise you might do better going after a guy like McCann or gambling on a guy like Norris. Realistically, no one wants to do a C for C swap and the Rangers aren’t reaaallly in a position to downgrade, even if age and contract are favorable, because of the age of their other main players and where they are in their contention window.

If anything, if a similar aged, established C asks out of his current situation the Rangers would be better off adding to Zib to make a lateral upgrade if they feel Zib has outworn his welcome/no longer competes hard enough to be our 1C for contention. Since I don’t know of any established top line centers who are looking for a change right now, that’s a no go. If someone like Aho or Larkin were suddenly demanding out, I could see the Rangers being willing to sweeten things for a Zib swap, but that’s a complete pipe dream.
 
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Hollel

Registered User
Jun 15, 2019
219
385
Yes the ducks are perfectly happy to pay a declining 31 yr old 8.5 M for the next 5.5 seasons until he’s 37. Good job Ed Jovanovski you’re one of the smartest posters here!!
 

lwvs84

Registered User
Jan 25, 2003
4,334
3,025
Los Angeles, CA
Zib will be mid 30's by the time the Ducks are contending. While Anaheim doesn't need the money now, in 2-3 years they'll need cap space assuming a few players break out between now and then. If no one does, then Zib is still wasted because he can't be moved for assets. If Zegras completely busts in the next 2 years and becomes a 0 point player that doesn't play defense, Ducks can just let him go and would be better off.

Rangers are in win now mode. There's a chance Zegras turns it around and performs better on a better team and if he's allowed to play center and his style of game instead of dump and chase, but why should Rangers risk it when they know what they have with Zib. He's got more points this year so far, so he's the better win now player.
 

LokiDog

Get pucks deep. Get pucks to the net. And, uh…
Sep 13, 2018
11,852
23,432
Dallas
Does Zib still look like he should be driving an I-ROC while wearing acid wash jeans, an Iron Maiden t-shirt, and black Reebok?

I think you’re giving him way too much credit. He looks like he should be taking molly and putting daisies in his hair at an EDM concert. Iron Maiden is way too aggressive for someone like Zib, unless he got it at hot topic and doesn’t realize it’s a real band.
 

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