NY Rangers center Mika Zibanejad stays out of behind-the-scenes contract negotiations

TARRYTOWN - The clock is ticking for the New York Rangers and Mika Zibanejad to find common ground on a new contract.

Discussions are ongoing, but the possibility of the top-line center playing out the final year of his current deal lingers. If that happens, he'll become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

On the opening day of training camp at the MSG Training Center, Zibanejad made it clear he's going to keep quiet on the subject.

"I'm actually just playing and focused on what I do on the ice," he said Thursday. "I have an agent for a reason, as well, to deal with this, so it doesn't have to take my focus and time away from what I have to do on the ice. I’m preparing for the season.

"Right now, they're taking care of business – so I'm taking care of mine."

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There appears to be motivation from both sides to get something done.

Zibanejad has stated his preference — "I love it here," he said, adding, "I love the direction we're going" — and the Rangers have shown interest in signing him to an extension.

Of course, as with any negotiation, it all comes down to the asking price.

The expectation is that the Rangers will have to go to seven years. Now 28, that would take Zibanejad through his age-35 season.

In order for Chris Drury to give No. 93 the years he desires, the team president and GM would need the contract to come with an average annual value he can stomach. Rumors of $10 million per season would likely be too rich for the Rangers, so the question is whether Zibanejad would settle for something in the $8 million-to-$9 million range?

That's the biggest unknown at the moment, but there's a chance we'll find out in the next few weeks.

Allowing him to reach unrestricted free agency would put the Rangers in a tough spot. The open market would surely drive up the cost — and with both Zibanejad and second-line center Ryan Strome entering the final year of their contracts, the Blueshirts would be left with major holes to fill in the middle.

Zibanejad recovered from a preseason bout with COVID-19 to reaffirm his place as one of the league's best centers. He caught fire with a six-point game on March 17 against the Philadelphia Flyers and proceeded to pile on 39 points in his final 29 games, finishing with an even 50 (24 goals and 26 assists). This came after a 2019-20 season in which he netted 41 goals in 57 games to lead the NHL in goals per contest with a 0.72 average.

His scoring prowess, as well as his work as a two-way player and on the penalty kill, has made his value evident.

That's why, as negotiations continue behind the scenes, he's content to let his play do the talking.

"I have my conversations with my agent and that’s all I’ve give you guys," he said. "I try to keep it in house right now. I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to have that as – I don’t know if distraction is the right word – but something that I walk around and think about. So I won't have that many more comments for you guys."

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.