Value of: Mika Zibanejad

[Chainshot]

For context, he has 18 points at 5-on-5 since Jan. 1st which is in 43 games. League leader is Pasta with 44 since the new year with most of the cluster starting at 31.

 

[TheNewEra]

If he had say just 1-3 yrs left some would take thr risk. But he has FIVE YEARS.

which is why i suggested stamkos or at least something around stamkos

stamkos 3 years left, 8 million cap hit
zibanejad 5 years left. 8.5 million cap hit

stamkos 35 years old, 51 points in 78 games
zibanejad 31 years old, 56 points in 78 games

both teams get there shakeup, both players are coming off down years, rangers shave a bit off their cap, predators get younger and im sure there are a lot of places for zibby to dj in nashville

 

[MVP Zacha]

Montreal needs a 2nd line center.

 

[BleedBlue14]

Montreal needs a 2nd line center.

Though Montreal makes the most sense here.

Probably something like Anderson and a 2nd for Zib with some retention like 1.5m or so.

It’s not going to be a pretty deal either way. Large issue is going to be the NMC. Not many teams will be in a better position to win, and be in more of a destination while being willing to take on the risk and send some salary back to offset the risk.

 

[VancouverJagger]

Didn't they already say no to him earlier this year?

Possibly but that was before he started to play better and the Nucks realized how rough it will be to obtain a 2C...........Still think it's pretty doubtful but I would at least be open to exploring......

 

[VancouverJagger]

I was thinking mika for joshua.

I'd def. prefer not to give up Joshua.........He's the type of player our team needs and will have a big bounce back next year. Does Mika have much more then meh value? I could see some middling assets yes.......(draft pics or a B level prospect and roster player). We could probably absorb his entire contract if necessary without sending assets back. Rags would be thrilled to do that I'm sure.

Kind of doubt he would have interest to our team due to age and contract status but I would. at least be open to taking a look.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Though Montreal makes the most sense here.

Probably something like Anderson and a 2nd for Zib with some retention like 1.5m or so.

It’s not going to be a pretty deal either way. Large issue is going to be the NMC. Not many teams will be in a better position to win, and be in more of a destination while being willing to take on the risk and send some salary back to offset the risk.

He'd be VERY low on my list for a 2C from a Montreal POV, but you can at least see the need and Zibanejad potentially waiving his NMC for Gorton.

It sounds like Montreal wants to go younger than 30s at C and they've been very against the idea of offering term to veterans in Free Agency, so I'm pretty skeptical. The retention would be a necessity, there's no way they can have Zibanejad have the highest forward cap hit.

 

[My3Sons]

He'd be VERY low on my list for a 2C from a Montreal POV, but you can at least see the need and Zibanejad potentially waiving his NMC for Gorton.

It sounds like Montreal wants to go younger than 30s at C and they've been very against the idea of offering term to veterans in Free Agency, so I'm pretty skeptical. The retention would be a necessity, there's no way they can have Zibanejad have the highest forward cap hit.

Isn't Laine making more than Zibanejad? Montreal might be a decent fit if they cannot add a younger 2C. Realistically, a younger 2C will cost a significant value in assets while Zibanejad will be much more reasonable. If the only thing adding him to MTL costs is a second and a B prospect and his cap hit that's not terrible for MTL. Not ideal but they aren't getting a 2C that fits the profile they'd like to add for anything close to that.

 

[Captain97]

Though Montreal makes the most sense here.

Probably something like Anderson and a 2nd for Zib with some retention like 1.5m or so.

It’s not going to be a pretty deal either way. Large issue is going to be the NMC. Not many teams will be in a better position to win, and be in more of a destination while being willing to take on the risk and send some salary back to offset the risk.

Anderson has actually been good this year. He's overpaid but has been performing like a 3.5-4.0 million 3rd liner.

If Rangers retain 1.5 - 2.0 I'd probably send a 2nd straight up. I think Zib could do well in a reduced 2nd line role where he is expected to be the 5th/6th best forward in the top 6 not the 2nd/3rd

 

[Jared Grayden]

Possibly but that was before he started to play better and the Nucks realized how rough it will be to obtain a 2C...........Still think it's pretty doubtful but I would at least be open to exploring......

He's been on decline at 5v5 for two straight years and he turns 32 in a week. Not near the mobility he used to have. That contract might be the worst in the league. Any GM that takes him should only be doing so by unloading one of their own massive liability contracts.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Isn't Laine making more than Zibanejad? Montreal might be a decent fit if they cannot add a younger 2C. Realistically, a younger 2C will cost a significant value in assets while Zibanejad will be much more reasonable. If the only thing adding him to MTL costs is a second and a B prospect and his cap hit that's not terrible for MTL. Not ideal but they aren't getting a 2C that fits the profile they'd like to add for anything close to that.

Laine's contract is up next season and Montreal got paid to take it on. And the term is the FAR bigger issue.

If the Rangers want to pay Montreal significantly more to take on Zibanjed's contract (due to the term) then they're welcome to do so, but I suspect that isn't the case.

If the ask is a 2nd and a prospect for no retention, Montreal (and really any team) will likely look at veteran UFA options at a higher cap hit, but much less term. And Montreal has the assets to pay more for what they want.

If the Rangers are waiting for that kind of deal they're probably going to either keep Zibanejad or maybe swap him for a different but similarly overpaid player. Again, assuming Zibanjead plays ball in a trade, and keeps his options open.

 

[VancouverJagger]

He's been on decline at 5v5 for two straight years and he turns 32 in a week. Not near the mobility he used to have. That contract might be the worst in the league. Any GM that takes him should only be doing so by unloading one of their own massive liability contracts.

That's a slight exaggeration........If he was a FA this summer he'd probably get a min of 7 mill plus for 4-5 years.........if not more. So really not that far off.

I'm not saying he's got much value but he's a bit better than the total cap dump people were portraying him as earlier. He might get a middling asset like Josh Anderson plus a draft pick at this point.

 

[BleedBlue14]

He'd be VERY low on my list for a 2C from a Montreal POV, but you can at least see the need and Zibanejad potentially waiving his NMC for Gorton.

It sounds like Montreal wants to go younger than 30s at C and they've been very against the idea of offering term to veterans in Free Agency, so I'm pretty skeptical. The retention would be a necessity, there's no way they can have Zibanejad have the highest forward cap hit.

Everybody wants younger than 30s for every player. Montreal has the assets to make something happen, but how many under 30 players are going to be available this offseason? Some have been speculated, but in terms of speculation only probably 5% minus the trade deadline of guys speculated are ever moved.

I think if Zibinajed is moved it'd be later after some of the centers are traded in UFA and I don't think the Rangers will love the deal.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Everybody wants younger than 30s for every player. Montreal has the assets to make something happen, but how many under 30 players are going to be available this offseason? Some have been speculated, but in terms of speculation only probably 5% minus the trade deadline of guys speculated are ever moved.

I think if Zibinajed is moved it'd be later after some of the centers are traded in UFA and I don't think the Rangers will love the deal.

That's fine, but he's also just not a great fit for what Montreal needs or wants from a 2C in the present.

Like I'd expect there'd be interest, but unless the deal makes sense it could also be Montreal saying **** it, lets try to address it internally if literally every other reasonable option falls through.

 

[Egresch]

Isn't Laine making more than Zibanejad? Montreal might be a decent fit if they cannot add a younger 2C. Realistically, a younger 2C will cost a significant value in assets while Zibanejad will be much more reasonable. If the only thing adding him to MTL costs is a second and a B prospect and his cap hit that's not terrible for MTL. Not ideal but they aren't getting a 2C that fits the profile they'd like to add for anything close to that.

Habs will not take that contract, term would kill them and they are not stupid. Hutson, Demidov would need big extensions. Team would be a contender in 2 years and nobody needs anchor contract in the contending period.

 

[Fataldogg]

He hasn't been that bad. He has 58 points. Will likely finish the season at 60 or more points, and that's while being anchored to a winger who has just 26 points on the season. Kreider has effectively done nothing the entirety of the year at 5 on 5.

Zibenejad carried that line and is going to get 60 points more or less playing on his own.

To me he can be traded. They would probably need to retain 25% of his salary. That would put his cap hit at $6.3 million which is more than fair.

 

[qcal1427]

Had a BRUTAL start to the season but been back to his old self second half of the year having 37 points in 43 games since Jan 1. 2C who plays a fairly sound defensive game.

Rangers wanna ship out a lot of guys this summer, and mika is at the top of the list. Who would be a reasonable trade partner?

And lets do the real life proposals, not the HF, “hes worth nothing and you need to trade 5 1sts with him”.

 

[Juxtaposer]

"Real life proposals".

In real life, Zibanejad has a full NMC, so he can turn down any trade and can't be waived.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Montreal needs a 2nd line center.

Yep and Zib won't be that guy.

Not with that contract and that decline.

 

[BleedBlue14]

That's fine, but he's also just not a great fit for what Montreal needs or wants from a 2C in the present.

Like I'd expect there'd be interest, but unless the deal makes sense it could also be Montreal saying **** it, lets try to address it internally if literally every other reasonable option falls through.

Hard to address something like that internally especially if Montreal wants to take advantage of the ELC years for Demidov/Hutson.

Can see them wanting to push being competitive pretty quickly.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Hard to address something like that internally especially if Montreal wants to take advantage of the ELC years for Demidov/Hutson.

Can see them wanting to push being competitive pretty quickly.

I can see montreal wanting to push competitively as well. Which would mean that the Habs woudl avoid Zib like the plague.

 

[Egresch]

Can see them wanting to push being competitive pretty quickly.

They understand that the real window starts with guys like Reinbacher, Fowler .... They will not be a contender with Matheson, Monty...Habs either look for longterm solution or 2-3 years stop gap. Zibanejad is none of that.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

He's 32. Had a bad season (albeit better in the 2nd half as mentioned). Signed to $8.5 AAV for 5 more years. Has a NMC and doesn't want to leave NY.

In what world is he getting traded?

 

[BleedBlue14]

They understand that the real window starts with guys like Reinbacher, Fowler .... They will not be a contender with Matheson, Monty...Habs either look for longterm solution or 2-3 years stop gap. Zibanejad is none of that.

There are probably 6 or 7 teams looking to do that same thing. Questions going to be how quickly would each team like to accelerate it.

I'm not trying to endorse that I think Montreal would be gung-ho on doing it. I just think it makes a lot of sense from the outside looking in.

Habs could probably push the bill on something else if they're willing to part with some good pieces. Either way I don't see anyone looking to come out of this offseason with a center feeling comfortable about the asking price or the risk of the player.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

There are probably 6 or 7 teams looking to do that same thing. Questions going to be how quickly would each team like to accelerate it.

I'm not trying to endorse that I think Montreal would be gung-ho on doing it. I just think it makes a lot of sense from the outside looking in.

Habs could probably push the bill on something else if they're willing to part with some good pieces. Either way I don't see anyone looking to come out of this offseason with a center feeling comfortable about the asking price or the risk of the player.

It doesn't make any sense. In fact, Zibby's contract and high risk of continued decline could stop Montreal from seriously competing due to cap constraints.

It would be idiotic and unnecessary for the Habs to gamble on Zib.