In mid-January, New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury apologized in a letter to fans and sponsors for the disappointing ice hockey season.
Now a rematch was waiting, and the NHL club's boss signaled that not even established stars could be sure of staying.
"That's how it usually works when the team isn't doing well and you need a change," Zibanejad told Swedish journalists after Tre Kronor's first light training session in a temporarily built training hall next to the scandal-ridden Santagiulia hockey arena in Milan.
“Decent control”
The 32-year-old center cannot be traded against his will.
"I have a fair amount of control over it and can steer a little more. I have a different situation than many others, perhaps, if you say so."
However, it was announced earlier this week that the team's leading scorer Artemij Panarin is leaving for the Los Angeles Kings. The Russian was in the final year of his contract with the Rangers and chose to accept a move.
"We understood that it would happen. Considering that he didn't play the last three or four games before," Zibanejad said, and continued:
"Sad, of course. A teammate and a friend for six and a half years."
The New York Rangers have only scored 50 points in 57 games this season, but things have gone better personally for Zibanejad after a tough 2024–2025 season (62 points).
Living in the Olympic Village
When the NHL takes a break for the star-studded Olympic tournament, the center has 52 points, including 23 goals, in 56 games.
"It's been tough not winning much and being in the situation we are in. At the same time, it's felt good personally," says Zibanejad, who is seen as a hot contender for the role of starting center after Anaheim's Leo Carlsson missed the Olympics due to injury.
Tre Kronor landed at Malpensa Airport on Sunday morning and the NHL stars are now installed in the Olympic Village in Milan.
"It's a childhood dream to play at the Olympic Games and represent Sweden. To be part of everything that the Olympics are about and everything that comes with it. It's something I'm happy to be a part of," says Mika Zibanejad.
Tre Kronor begins the Olympic tournament on Wednesday evening against the host nation Italy.
