Mika Zibanejad Breaks Silence on Rangers Trading Longtime Friend

“I felt like it was coming. It wasn’t out of the blue. I’m not going to stand here and lie. It’s part of us now. Obviously, it was tough,” Zibanejad said.

The two forwards played together for nine seasons in New York, forming one of the Rangers’ most consistent partnerships.

Zibanejad admitted that life at Madison Square Garden has felt strange in the early days of camp without Kreider by his side. Since Zibanejad arrived in time for the 2016-17 season, the pair combined for 1,042 total points.

“He’s my longest teammate I’ve had in my career. He’s one of our best friends,” Zibanejad said. “It’s weird not to see him come through these doors for the first few weeks, kind of waiting for him to come.”

Despite the inevitable change in linemates he'll experience this season, Zibanejad made clear that his friendship with Kreider extends beyond the game and that the trade didn't put an end to their relationship.

“I’m happy as long as he’s happy. Just because we’re not teammates anymore doesn’t mean that we’re not friends,” Zibanejad said.

The Rangers, coming off a disappointing season that saw them miss the playoffs one year after reaching the Eastern Conference Final, have already begun a roster reset with Kreider’s exit part of it.

Kreider's move followed the trade of fellow franchise veteran Jacob Trouba also to the Ducks last winter, with Rangers general manager Chris Drury citing cap flexibility and bringing back new captain J.T. Miller later last season.