2 Interesting Trade Destinations For Rangers' Zibanejad

The New York Rangers and Mika Zibanejad appear to have come to the conclusion that a new home is best. The 32-year-old has five years left on his contract at $8.5 million AAV, but he is a top-6 center that has had multiple point-per-game seasons. Even if the Rangers have to retain a little bit, Zibanejad will want to go to a team where he has a chance to win. That narrows the possible choices down more.

But according to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in Zibanejad. Along with that, the Minnesota Wild didn't get the chance to sign Brock Nelson and may lose their opportunity to sign a few other veteran centers/forwards if they re-sign with their teams ahead of free agency.

The Wild have a ton of cap space and need to spend it. The team has managed to stay competitive through their massive buyout, but those have finally significantly dropped and the Wild can go all out. That's what it seems like Bill Guerin will do for them. Whether it be through trades or free agency, the Wild have plenty of cap space and a need for impactful forwards. Where Zibanejad is at in his career, he is still more than productive enough of a player for Minnesota to be interested in and bring in. He can also play on the wing as shown with the Rangers this season. That would create a lot of possible combinations to work with.

The Maple Leafs are almost certainly losing Mitch Marner in free agency, but have UFA John Tavares and RFA Matthew Knies to deal with. I think Tavares and Knies both return, but not for major money. They won't come cheap either though. That still leaves a good amount of cap space to bring someone in. Toronto needs at least one top-6 replacement. Who better than someone who can play center and the right wing where Marner played for many years.

Zibanejad is also a power-play specialist and would be able to slide right in, except he can bring a lethal shot and not just playmaking. Even at an $8.5 million AAV cap hit, I think Zibanejad will really help any team he goes to if the Rangers are able to execute a trade this summer. There's no reason to think they won't with Zibanejad thinking the same thing.