The New York Rangers began this season considered a Stanley Cup contender after winning the Presidents' Trophy in 2023-24 as the top team in the regular season. As of Saturday, they were five points outside a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. A 12-4-1 performance through Nov. 19 was followed by a 15-game tailspin in which they won only four games.

General manager Chris Drury made two trades during that streak, shipping former captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6 and unhappy young winger Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 18. Neither move improved the Rangers' performance, sparking speculation of further trades to come.

Mika Zibanejad is among several Rangers surfacing in the rumor mill. The 31-year-old center had a career-best 91-point performance in 2022-23, but his production fell to 72 points last season. He's managed six goals and 21 points in 32 games, putting him on pace for around 55 points, his lowest output in a non-COVID season since netting 47 points in 2017-18.

The decline in Zibanejad's production explains why he's the subject of trade rumors. On Dec. 16, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman pointed out the Rangers center played only 13:04 against the St. Louis Blues. He wondered if management was trying to make Zibanejad feel uncomfortable enough to waive his no-movement clause.

Arthur Staple of The Athletic believes the odds are massive against a Zibanejad trade. The Swedish center has five seasons left on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million. Assuming Zibanejad waives his no-movement clause, the Rangers would probably have to retain up to half his cap hit to facilitate a trade.

Trading Zibanejad may be a remote possibility but it's worthwhile to look at which clubs could be trade partners who would allow him to revive his career. Here's our take on five possible options. You can express your views on this topic in the app comments below.

Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres entered this season hoping to end their 13-year postseason drought. After a promising start, they fell into a 13-game winless skid (0-10-3) that sent them tumbling toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

That could prompt Sabres management to make a bold (desperate?) move to save their season. They might cast their eye on their rivals in New York City to add an experienced scoring forward like Zibanejad. Rangers management could be interested if Dylan Cozens was offered in return.

Both clubs need a shake-up. Cozens is two years removed from a career-best 68-point performance, but he's struggled to regain that form. This would be a swap of struggling centers that might benefit themselves and their clubs with a change of venue.

The dollars would match well here. Cozens carries a $7.1 million annual average value through 2029-30, the same length as Zibanejad's contract. With the Sabres carrying $10 million in current cap space, the Rangers wouldn't have to retain salary in the deal.

Chicago Blackhawks

A lack of skilled and experienced depth at center is one reason Chicago is near the bottom of the NHL standings. The rebuilding club has budding superstar Connor Bedard centering its first line but no one else of the same skill level or better at that position.

Zibanejad would immediately address that issue. Chicago could play him on the first line to take some pressure off Bedard, or leave the 19-year-old center on the top line and use Zibanejad on the second line between Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi.

Chicago's current cap space is $7.1 million, meaning the Rangers would have to retain some salary or take back a player to make the dollars fit. They'll have a projected $19.9 million if they wait until the March 7 trade deadline to add Zibanejad, or $33.3 million under a projected $92.5 million cap for 2025-26 if they wait until next summer to acquire him.

The Rangers could seek a promising center like Frank Nazar, Sacha Boisvert or Oliver Moore in the deal. Chicago might also have to include one of its two 2025 first-round picks, though it won't be its own, as that could become the first overall pick.

Nashville Predators

This season has not turned out as expected for the Nashville Predators. Their major offseason signings of forwards Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei were expected to make them a playoff contender. Instead, they're near the bottom of the overall standings and in danger of missing the 2025 postseason.

The Predators need an experienced center for their first line. They're employing Stamkos in that role, but he's more comfortable as a left wing. Ryan O'Reilly remains best suited for second-line duty at this stage of his career.

Zibanejad could fill that first-line center role, allowing Stamkos to shift back to left wing on the second line, or they could keep him on the first line and drop Filip Forsberg to the second line. Zibanejad would boost the Predators offense if he regains his form in Nashville.

The Predators can afford Zibanejad's cap hit with their current cap space of $12.9 million, though they could try to get the Rangers to retain some of his salary. The Blueshirts would want one of the three 2025 first-rounders, though the Preds won't give up their own as that could be a lottery winner.

San Jose Sharks

A move to California away from New York's harsh spotlight might be what Zibanejad needs to rejuvenate his career. Players like Mikael Granlund, Fabian Zetterlund, Mackenzie Blackwood and Jake Walman have found playing for the San Jose Sharks to be what they needed to flourish or get their careers back on track.

The Sharks are loading up with good young talent, including centers Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. However, they could need an experienced first- or second-line center if Granlund heads to free agency in July or becomes a trade candidate by the March 7 deadline.

Zibanejad would be a long-term addition to San Jose, removing pressure from Celebrini and Smith as they develop. He could be a good fit on their first line between young wingers like Zetterlund and William Eklund or on the second line alongside veteran winger Tyler Toffoli.

The Sharks have $8.6 million in cap space and could have $23.8 million by the trade deadline to take on Zibanejad's contract. They could try to get the Rangers to retain part of his salary. They could also draw on their deep pool of prospect talent for trade bait, but they won't part with Celebrini or Smith.

Utah Hockey Club

In their first season in Salt Lake City, the Utah Hockey Club is challenging for a wild-card berth in the Western Conference. They're a promising club with stars like Clayton Keller and Mikhail Sergachev and promising youngsters like Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther.

However, Utah HC lacks experienced depth at center, with Barrett Hayton as their first-line center. They could use a proven offensive center like Zibanejad, who could prove a good fit alongside Keller and Nick Schmaltz on the first line or with Guenther on the second line.

It would be a bold trade by Utah general manager Bill Armstrong. However, he recently showed his willingness to make such moves, shipping young blueliner JJ Moser and center Conor Geekie to the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 29 as part of the return for Sergachev.

With $8.6 million in current cap space, Utah could afford Zibanejad if they sent Hayton and his $2.7 million annual cap hit to the Rangers as part of the return. Armstrong could include one of his three second-round picks in 2025 in the deal along with a prospect or another pick.

Stats and standings (as of Dec. 21, 2024) via NHL.com. Salary info via PuckPedia. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff.