Understanding no-trade/no-movement protection for Rangers veterans, including Mika Zibanejad

There’s been plenty of talk online about the New York Rangers needing to “move on” from forward Mika Zibanejad. But what many fans don’t realize is Zibanejad is among a handful of Rangers who has a full no-movement clause, including a no-trade clause.

A no-movement clause (NMC) prevents a player from being traded, waived or demoted to the minors without his approval. However, it does not restrict a team from buying out or terminating a player’s contract. There are also modified versions of NMCs that let a player submit a list of teams he will or won’t consider going to. In Zibanejad’s case, his full NTC means he can’t be traded anywhere unless he agrees. In other words, even if the Rangers wanted to shake things up, Zibanejad has full control over whether he’s traded, waived or demoted to the minors through the 2028-29 season.

A no-trade clause (NTC) is less restrictive; it lets a player bar a team from trading him without his consent. A full NTC covers every team the player could be dealt to; a partial or limited NTC lets a player lists teams he could block being traded to — the player is asked to provide a list of teams to which he would be willing to be traded (or not traded to). This list can change or fluctuate from season to season. 

Both are available only to NHL veterans who are at least 27 years old or have at least seven NHL seasons under their belt.

Current Rangers with no-movement clauses

Several current Rangers have NTCs or NMCs in their contracts. Artemi Panarin and Zibanejad each have full NMCs that run through the end of their respective contracts. Vincent Trocheck had a full NMC for the first three years of the contract he signed in the summer of 2022, but it shifts to a modified NTC going into the fourth year of his deal. J.T. Miller still has a full NMC in place through the end of the upcoming season, after which his deal transitions to a modified NTC.

Igor Shesterkin will have a full NMC this season, when the eight-year extension he signed last December kicks in. His backup, Jonathan Quick, has a modified NTC that lets him block trades to 20 teams.

Chris Kreider had a 15-team NTC under terms of his contract with the Rangers, which had two years remaining. But he waived it in June to allow a trade to the Anaheim Ducks.

Mika Zibanejad — Full no-movement clause

Zibanejad is entering the fourth season of an eight-year, $68 million contract that carries a cap hit of $8.5 million per season, according to PuckPedia.com. It gives him complete control over any waiver, trade, or other decision. The clause converts to a 21-team no-trade list in the final season, but until then, Zibanejad can’t be moved without his consent.

Signed in October 2021, the contract keeps him with the Rangers through age 36.

Igor Shesterkin — Full no-movement clause

Shesterkin’s eight-year, $92 million contract ($11.5 average annual value) — the highest for any goalie in NHL history, according to PuckPedia.com — begins this season. The deal includes a full NMC for all eight years, meaning Shesterkin can’t be moved without his approval.

The contract runs through the 2032-33 season, taking Shesterkin through age 37.

Artemi Panarin — Full no-movement clause

Panarin is entering the final year of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract; his $11.64 AAV is the highest on the Rangers roster. The contract, signed on July 1, 2019, has a full NMC through its entirety which prevents the team from moving him without his permission.

The Russian left wing will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season, He turns 34 on Oct. 30, and there have been no talks about a new contract. But he’s still one the NHL’s best point producers — and he holds complete control over his fate in New York for the upcoming season.

Vincent Trocheck — Full no-movement clause to modified no-trade clause

Trocheck is entering the fourth year of a seven-year, $39.375 million contract ($5.625 million AAV). The deal included a full NMC through last season; it shifts to a modified NTC through for the final four years. Trocheck will be required to submit a 12-team no-trade list, giving him partial control over where he could be moved.

The contract, signed in July 2022, runs through the 2028-29 season and covers Trocheck through age 35.

J.T. Miller — Full no-movement clause to modified no-trade clause

Miller is in his third season of the seven-year, $56 million contract extension he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in September 2022 and that kicked in for the 2023-24 season. The deal includes a full NMC through the 2025-26 season; starting in 2026-27, it shifts to a modified NTC, allowing him to block trades to 15 teams for the final three years.

Miller waived his no-movement clause to allow the Canucks to trade him to the Rangers on Jan. 31.

Jonathan Quick — Modified no-trade clause

Quick signed a one-year, $1.55 million extension with the Rangers in March 2025. Under the terms, he can block trades to 20 of the other 31 NHL teams.

At age 39 and entering what could be his final NHL season, Quick remains a veteran presence behind Shesterkin. He can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.