Question for all the strategists here...how would you rebuild/coach around an 8.5mm annual investment in Zibanejad through 2030?
Id imagine that if it werent for his NMC, Drury would have already shipped him off this year if not earlier.
Do you keep treating him like the best version of himself that earned this contract and hope he delivers meaningful minutes for the foreseeable future? Or do you quietly work him down to the bottom of your rotation and just eat the cost of paying an aging vet leftover from your old core while letting your "future" guys play ahead of him?
It's a part roster management/part coaching question. Realistically what is the move here in your opinion?