Zibanejad on the threesome: “Have something to say about”

After a strange season on the other side of the Atlantic, a much-needed summer break for Mika Zibanejad followed at home in Sweden. Since the New York Rangers missed the Stanley Cup playoffs once again, the time has been spent on wedding plans with fiancées as well. football expert Irma Helin – and to see the European Football Championship on site.

– It was a small birthday present for Irma. We went down and checked Spain – Sweden and also Italy – Switzerland. It was fun, you do not get so many opportunities to do it, says the Stockholmer who with charged batteries has now started to look forward to a new NHL season and hopefully also a Winter Olympics in Beijing.

– It is a very long season and this year it will be even more. So it is important to take advantage of this time, to train but also to relax.

The past NHL season ended in the same way as Rangers fans have become accustomed to in recent years: without a playoff despite a goal-scoring Swede in the team.

At first, however, it was a markedly wounded Zibanejad who after one positive coronatest and sparingly with training could barely be recognized on the ice. There were only three goals in the 27 opening matches – but then he finished the season very strong, was noted for 21 goals in the 29 final rounds and landed on a total harvest of 50 points.

– It took a long time before I felt like myself again, but I’m happy with the way I came back in the second part of the season. It was a bit unfortunate that I would get it just before the season started, I had only had one training then.

Zibanejad has won the internal shooting league four years in a row and despite not having spent more than five seasons in the New York Rangers, he is the longest in the team after the American Chris Kreider.

With only one year left on the contract, there are more and more persistent rumors about the 28-year-old’s future, among other things, there has been talk of a potential trio where he would go in the opposite direction with Buffalo Sabers star Jack Eichel.

Zibanejad’s agreement includes however, a so-called “no movement” clause and the New York Rangers can thus not replace him without the player’s own permission.

– Since I have a “no move” in my contract, I have something to say about. At the same time, it is not something I focus on now, but I focus on what I should do, says Zibanejad.

– There are two parties who will settle it and then we will see. I do not have much to say about it right now actually. We’ll see what happens now in the future, but I still belong to Rangers and I feel great.

Yes, it will probably take something extra to get the current Olympic player to leave life in New York, where he has emerged as one of the league’s foremost offensive spearheads – even if it is high time for a success for the whole team and not just for himself.

– That’s probably why you play. You want to win, he says and continues:

– It has been great these years. It’s fun to be able to contribute in the way I have managed to do with the teammates I have had. There are a lot of new faces and we have made some good signings so it is an exciting season we are entering.

The NHL begins on October 12 with an expected Olympic break between February 7 and 22.

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