Rangers, Mika Zibanejad starting delicate dance toward new contract

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Regarding the Rangers, who will be on the ice for the first time with Gerard Gallant on Sept. 23:

1. It is always risky business when a headline act enters the final season of his contract as a pending unrestricted free agent. Two years ago, Chris Kreider was in that position before signing a seven-year extension the day before the trade deadline. Eight years ago (already!), Ryan Callahan was in that position until he was traded at the deadline to Tampa Bay in the captains exchange for Martin St. Louis when negotiations broke down for good.

You just never know, as the Islanders learned at the last moment regarding John Tavares, and the Lightning did (to their delight) when it came to Steven Stamkos. In other words, sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.