People calling the Brassard trade a fail are too short-sighted. Zibanejad is 23. Brassad is 29
Brassard was 25 when he was traded to the Rangers. 26 when he first saw playoff hockey.
Zibanejad had 2 less points in about 25 less games in the regular season this year (even with a broken leg).
Zibanejad is a right-handed shooting center.
Zibanejad should have more years of control than Brassard.
The Rangers also received a 2nd rounder in the deal.
This is what you get when you trade for a less experienced younger player. The ups and downs are more pronounced in general. It's why coaches consistently play the older more experienced players in the playoffs and down the stretch. There is something to be said for knowing what you are going to get every night.
In saying that, the Rangers made the conscious decision to help develop Mika as a Ranger and they knew there would be ups and downs, like there are with pretty much every player not named McDavid or Matthews.
None of the above changes because he has looked bad in the first 3 games of the playoffs in games where the team has also, for the majority of the time, looked disjointed.