A NY Rangers forward who’d be ideal for the NY Islanders but the rivalry makes it impossible
A season in which the NY Islanders are exceeding expectations and on the path to a playoff birth, the biggest thing this team is missing is a goal scorer. Organizations typically don’t move top-6 goal scorers, and if they do, they often look for a deal that includes several high draft picks and/or high-end prospects.
It’s no mystery that the Islanders are in the market for a top-6 forward with the trade deadline just over 24 hours away, and there’s one player who could be the ideal addition, but it’s highly unlikely ever to happen.
The NY Rangers have been in disarray, looking to potentially sell off on anybody not named Igor Shesterkin. Mika Zibanejad has been mentioned as a player who could be on his way out if the right deal comes across Chris Drury’s desk, and a move from Manhattan to Long Island could benefit both organizations.
Zibanejad would be the perfect addition to the Islanders
Zibanejad, 32, has been the Rangers trigger man since joining from the Ottawa Senators in 2016. His bread and butter has been on the power play, registering 12 goals on the man-advantage this season – double that of Bo Horvat who is the Islanders’ leader among forwards in PPG with six.
Jan 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) reacts after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Capable of playing in the top power play unit, Zibanejad is also a top penalty killer in the league. With Kyle Palmieri missing for the season with a torn ACL, Emil Heineman has been his replacement on the PK. While Heineman hasn’t been a negative replacement on the 10th-ranked PK in the league (81.1%), Zibanejad would be an upgrade, also adding two short-handed goals this season.
Despite playing for one of the worst teams in the NHL this season, Zibanejad has recorded 53 points (24 G, 29 A) through 59 games, two fewer than the Islanders’ top point produccer, Mat Barzal.
Zibanejad has four years remaining on his current deal carrying him through his 36 year old season, worth an AAV of $8.5M – a number the Islanders would be very comfortable paying. The Isles also have the prospects and draft capital that would entice Drury.
Now, this is a deal that will most likely never get off the ground. Drury would be run out of town if the deal helped lead the Islanders to to a Stanley Cup, and Mathieu Darche would never be able to show his face on Long Island if a prospect or two he sent to the Rangers turns into an all-world player – especially if Zibanejad didn’t help the Isles capture their fifth Stanley Cup.
The door to make trades between the two rivals has been opened after the Carson Soucy deal. But a deal of this magnitude is much more complex and comes with higher consequences for both sides. But if it’s a deal that both sides agree on and feel comfortable making, why not?
