One player the New York Rangers can’t trade under any circumstances
Mika Zibanejad, center for the New York Rangers, has a full no-movement clause until the end of the 2029-30 season. This means he must approve any trade and the Rangers can’t put him on waivers.
As of presstime, Zibanejad has not waived his no-move clause. This gives him control over his situation and makes it difficult for the Rangers to trade him. The Swedish player has also said that he feels he has earned the right to his no-movement clause.
“There’s a reason why there are clauses like that. It’s something that was negotiated and earned,” Zibanejad previously said. “My focus has always been here. My focus has never been on anything else.”
Why the Rangers shouldn’t want to trade Mika Zibanejad
Given recent developments, it’s not like the Blueshirts should even want to trade Zibanejad anyway.
The New York Rangers traded Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and prospect Hank Kempf to the Colorado Avalanche for Juuso Parssinen, Calvin de Haan, a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick on March 1st. The Blueshirts actually had discussions to acquire Parssinen while with the Predators before the Avalanche acquired him, and they view him as an immediate option at center. In 37 games, he has 11 points this year between his time in Nashville and Colorado. If he performs well to close out the year with the Rangers, he could perhaps go into 2025-26 as the team’s third-line center, which would allow the team to keep Zibanejad at top line right wing.
Let Blueshirt fans also not forget the recent uptick in production from Zibanejad. According to the official NHL game logs, Zibanejad has tallied 15 points including four goals. Many across social media say his play has elevated ever since the trade with Vancouver to acquire J.T. Miller.
Mika Zibanejad has elevated his play since the J.T. Miller trade #NYR pic.twitter.com/qZJCQdhRky
— Talkin’ Rangers (@talkin_rangers) March 4, 2025
Additionally not only has Zibanejad seen a growth in points but he has also seen a growth in physicality — as was on display against Nashville.
All in all, Zibanejad’sperformance has improved since he was moved to right wing on the New York Rangers’ first line. He’s been playing his best hockey of the year, recording 16 points in his past 20 games. Under no circumstances should the Rangers want to do anything that disrupt that or the rest of the first line.
Trading Zibanejad would not make sense, especially since the New York Rangers jumped ahead of the Red Wings in the standings and are back in the playoff race.
The best NHL trade deadline deal in New York Rangers history
On October 4th, 1991, the New York Rangers acquired center Mark Messier and future considerations (defenseman Jeff Beukeboom) from the Edmonton Oilers for center Bernie Nicholls, forwards Steven Rice and Louie DeBrusk, and future considerations (defenseman David Shaw). And the Rangers fans have Glen Sather to thank for his role in the greatest trade ever to hit the Blueshirts.
As the Edmonton Oilers general manager in the 1980s, Sather pulled the trigger on the deal that sent Mark Messier to New York and the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship to Madison Square Garden. Sather was really forced into making the deal as Messier — who was unhappy with his $1.2 million salary — had not reported to training camp, holding out and demanding a trade.
Mark Messier was already a five-time Cup champion with the Oilers when Rangers general manager Neil Smith rolled the dice and gave up high-scoring center Bernie Nicholls as well as two young forwards, Steven Rice and Louie DeBrusk, and defenseman David Shaw, for “The Messiah,” who proved to be everything they could have asked for from the moment he made his debut in the home opener. “The Captain” won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1991-92, helping the Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy. Two years later, he scored the Cup-winning goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final when the Rangers ended their 54-year title drought. Among his teammates was Jeff Beukeboom, who turned into much more than a throw-in by becoming Brian Leetch’s partner on the top defense pair.
