NHL Note - New York Rangers Zibanejad, Mika

Jul 26, 2017 - 1:47 AM C Mika Zibanejad avoided arbitration by signing a five-year, $26.75 million deal with the Rangers, the team announced Tuesday. The deal has an annual cap hit of $5.35 million, and that makes the 24-year-old Zibanejad the team's second-highest paid forward, behind only Rick Nash. Zibanejad, 24, had 14 goals and 23 assists in 56 games last season in his first year with the Rangers. He added two goals and seven assists for a team-high nine points in 12 playoff games. Zibanejad might be the Rangers' top-line center this coming season, because Derek Stepan was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in June.