Mika Zibanejad’s wife, Irma Helin Zibanejad, is a former Swedish professional soccer player who earned a cap for the Swedish women’s national team in 2016. The couple married on August 28, 2021, in Lidingo, Sweden, and welcomed their daughter Ella in August 2023.

Irma’s background sets her apart from the typical NHL spouse profile. She competed in Sweden’s top-flight Damallsvenskan league with Djurgardens IF before stints with Linkoping FC and Pitea IF. After retiring from professional soccer, she pivoted to media work — podcasting, video production, and content creation — while raising a family between Stockholm and New York City.

Her name hit hockey headlines in June 2025 when she publicly dismissed trade rumors about Mika on Instagram, writing that newspaper articles about his departure contained “zero truth.” That post, combined with the couple’s purchase of a new home in New York, signaled that the Zibanejad family was staying put.

Who Is Mika Zibanejad’s Wife, Irma Helin?

Irma Helin Zibanejad (born June 18, 1994, in Stockholm, Sweden) is a retired professional soccer midfielder who played in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan and Finland’s top division before transitioning to media and content creation. She has approximately 30,000 followers on Instagram (@irmahelinzibanejad) where she shares content about sports, family life, and her work in podcasting and video production.

Soccer Career and Swedish National Team

Irma came up through Grodinge SK’s youth system before joining Djurgardens IF Fotboll in the Damallsvenskan, Sweden’s premier women’s soccer league. She later played for Linkoping FC and Pitea IF in Sweden, then moved abroad to NiceFutis in Finland. According to Wikidata records, she earned one cap for the Swedish women’s national team in 2016 — a milestone that placed her among the small group of athletes who have represented Sweden at the senior international level.

Her playing style as a midfielder demanded tactical awareness and endurance, qualities she has carried into her post-soccer career. The transition from professional athlete to media professional was deliberate, not forced by injury.

Transition to Media and Content Creation

Irma’s Instagram bio features icons for soccer, video production, a microphone, and headphones — a concise summary of her current professional identity. She has built a media portfolio that spans podcast work and video content, drawing on the discipline and public presence she developed during her soccer career.

That athletic background gives Irma a different lens on NHL life than most hockey spouses. She understands professional sports schedules, media attention, and the physical toll of a long season from direct experience — not just observation.

Mika Zibanejad Wedding and Relationship Timeline

Mika Zibanejad and Irma Helin married on August 28, 2021, in Lidingo, Sweden — a municipality on the Stockholm archipelago — in a ceremony the couple kept largely private. Their relationship became public through social media in the mid-2010s, and the wedding came after years of navigating life between Sweden and New York.

How They Met and Early Relationship

Neither Mika nor Irma has disclosed the specific circumstances of their first meeting in any public interview. What is documented is that their relationship became visible on social media by approximately 2016-2017, when Irma began appearing in posts from Rangers games and off-season trips in Scandinavia. Both have Swedish roots — Mika was born and raised in Huddinge, a municipality south of Stockholm, and Irma grew up in Stockholm proper — making the connection geographically natural.

The couple’s early years together overlapped with a pivotal stretch of Mika’s career. He had been traded from the Ottawa Senators to the New York Rangers in July 2016, and the adjustment to a new city coincided with a deepening relationship that would eventually lead to marriage.

The Wedding in Lidingo, Sweden

The August 2021 wedding in Lidingo took place during the NHL off-season, giving the couple time to celebrate in Sweden before Mika reported for the 2021-22 Rangers season. Lidingo sits on an island connected to central Stockholm by bridge and metro, known for its residential character and waterfront views.

The timing of the wedding — just weeks before Mika signed his eight-year, $68 million contract extension with the Rangers on October 9, 2021 — suggests the couple had already committed to building their long-term life around New York and Stockholm.

Mika Zibanejad Wife and Baby — Family Life

Mika and Irma Zibanejad welcomed their daughter, Ella, in August 2023. Irma announced the pregnancy on February 27, 2023, with an ultrasound photo posted to Instagram, and the couple shared a photo of newborn Ella on August 31, 2023.

Daughter Ella and Parenthood

Ella’s arrival added a new dimension to the family’s bi-continental routine. The Zibanejads split their time between the New York metropolitan area during the Rangers’ regular season (October through April, potentially June if the team makes a deep playoff run) and Sweden during the summer months. Raising a child across two countries and cultures is something both Mika and Irma are equipped to handle — Mika grew up speaking four languages (Swedish, Finnish, Persian, and English), and Irma brings her own Swedish-Scandinavian background.

A Facebook post from a Rangers fan page described Irma “gushing” over two-year-old Ella’s first visit to a Rangers game, suggesting the family has embraced the full hockey experience together. That detail resonated with fans who track the personal lives of their favorite players.

Balancing NHL Life and Family

An NHL regular season spans 82 games over roughly seven months, with road trips that can stretch a week or longer. For Irma — a former professional athlete who understands the demands of competitive sports — the rhythm of the hockey season is familiar territory, even if the sport is different. Her own experience navigating training schedules, away matches, and media obligations in the Damallsvenskan likely informs how the family structures their life around Mika’s career.

Irma Zibanejad’s Instagram and Trade Rumors Response

Irma Helin Zibanejad directly addressed trade speculation about Mika in June 2025 via her Instagram story, writing in Swedish that she found it “so interesting with newspaper articles that there is zero truth in it.” That single post became the most-cited piece of evidence that Mika Zibanejad would remain a Ranger.

What Irma Said About the Trade Rumors

The trade speculation intensified in mid-June 2025, shortly after the Rangers traded Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. With one franchise forward already gone, media outlets and fans began speculating that Mika could be next. Irma’s response landed on June 16-17, 2025, and carried two distinct signals.

First, her direct dismissal: newspaper articles about Mika’s departure were fabricated. Second, and arguably more telling, she posted hints about the couple purchasing a new home in New York. As the New York Post reported, “Between Sullivan’s Sweden visit and the purchase of a new home in New York, it sure seems like Zibanejad will be a Ranger on Opening Night of the 2025-26 season.”

Multiple outlets — Sportskeeda, The Hockey Writers, and the Times of India — covered the story, an unusual level of attention for an NHL spouse’s social media activity. The response stood out because Irma spoke where most player spouses stay silent on contract matters.

Mika Zibanejad Wife Instagram Presence

Outside of trade-rumor moments, Irma’s Instagram (@irmahelinzibanejad) provides a window into the family’s daily life. Her approximately 30,000 followers see a mix of sports content, family moments with Ella, behind-the-scenes looks at her media projects, and scenic posts from both New York and Scandinavia. Her bio signals for soccer, video, microphone, and headphones reflect a professional identity rooted in media production rather than lifestyle influencing.

Mika Zibanejad Salary, Career Earnings, and Net Worth

Mika Zibanejad earns $8.5 million per year under an eight-year, $68 million contract extension signed with the New York Rangers on October 9, 2021, according to Spotrac salary data. The deal runs through the 2029-30 season and includes a full no-move clause.

Contract History and Career Earnings

Mika has signed three NHL contracts across his career, with his earnings trajectory reflecting his growth from a promising draft pick to a franchise center.

Combined career earnings through these three contracts total approximately $100 million in gross salary before taxes and agent fees. The $8.5 million AAV represented roughly 8.9% of the NHL salary cap in the 2025-26 season, declining to approximately 6.9% by the contract’s final year as the cap ceiling rises — a structure that becomes increasingly team-friendly over time.

Mika Zibanejad Net Worth

Celebrity financial aggregator sites estimate Mika Zibanejad’s net worth at approximately $20 million as of 2023-2024. That figure predates several years of his $8.5 million annual salary, meaning his actual accumulated wealth is likely higher in 2026. No authoritative financial disclosure exists — NHL players are not required to publish personal net worth — so all estimates should be treated as approximations based on known contract values minus estimated taxes, agent commissions (typically 3-5% of contract value), and living expenses.

About Mika Zibanejad — Background and Career

Mika Zibanejad (born April 18, 1993, in Huddinge, Sweden) is a center for the New York Rangers who was drafted sixth overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. His multicultural heritage — an Iranian-born father and a Finnish mother — gave him a unique upbringing in suburban Stockholm.

Family Heritage and Early Life

Mika’s father, Mehrdad Zibanejad, came to Sweden from Iran as a Christian refugee in the early 1980s and worked as an IT engineer for the Swedish government. His mother, Ritva Zibanejad, is Finnish, originally from Paltamo, Finland. This blend of Persian, Finnish, and Swedish heritage makes Mika one of the most culturally diverse players in NHL history. He speaks four languages fluently: Swedish, Finnish, Persian, and English.

His half-brother Monir Kalgoum (Ritva’s son from a previous relationship) introduced Mika to hockey as a child. Monir himself played professional hockey in European leagues and represented Sweden at the 2004 World Junior Championships.

NHL Career Highlights

After four seasons in Ottawa, Mika was traded to the Rangers in July 2016 in exchange for Derick Brassard. He transformed into one of the league’s premier offensive centers in New York. Career milestones include scoring five goals in a single game during the 2019-20 season, earning multiple NHL All-Star selections, and serving as alternate captain for the Rangers.

At the international level, Mika scored the gold medal-winning goal for Sweden at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships against Russia. He also represented Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, scoring a tying goal in the quarterfinal against the United States.

By the 2025-26 season, Mika had approached approximately 1,000 career NHL games — a longevity milestone that reflects both durability and consistent high-level play. In January 2026, he publicly stated his desire to remain with the Rangers following a meeting with team management, according to Pro Hockey Rumors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Mika Zibanejad’s wife?

Mika Zibanejad’s wife is Irma Helin Zibanejad, born June 18, 1994, in Stockholm, Sweden. She is a former professional soccer player who competed in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan with Djurgardens IF and earned one cap for the Swedish national team in 2016. The couple married on August 28, 2021, in Lidingo, Sweden, and have one daughter, Ella, born in August 2023.

How old is Mika Zibanejad’s wife?

Irma Helin Zibanejad was born on June 18, 1994, making her 31 years old as of early 2026. She is roughly one year younger than Mika, who was born on April 18, 1993. Both grew up in the Stockholm area of Sweden before building their respective professional careers in sports.

Did Mika Zibanejad have a baby?

Mika and Irma Zibanejad welcomed their daughter, Ella, in August 2023. Irma announced the pregnancy on February 27, 2023, with an ultrasound photo on Instagram, and the couple shared Ella’s birth announcement on August 31, 2023. Ella has since been spotted at Rangers games at Madison Square Garden.

What is Mika Zibanejad’s wife’s Instagram?

Irma Helin Zibanejad’s Instagram handle is @irmahelinzibanejad, where she has approximately 30,000 followers. Her content spans sports, family life with daughter Ella, media production work (podcasting and video), and moments from the couple’s life in both New York and Sweden.

How do you pronounce Mika Zibanejad?

Mika Zibanejad is pronounced MEE-kah ZEE-bah-neh-ZHAD. “Mika” is a common Finnish/Scandinavian name (his mother is Finnish). “Zibanejad” is Persian — “ziba” means “beautiful” and “nejad” means “lineage” in Farsi, reflecting his Iranian father Mehrdad’s heritage. The “j” carries a soft “zh” sound, like the “s” in “measure.”

What is Mika Zibanejad’s salary?

Mika Zibanejad earns $8.5 million per year (AAV) under an eight-year, $68 million contract extension signed October 9, 2021. The deal runs through the 2029-30 season and includes a full no-move clause. His combined career NHL earnings across three contracts total approximately $100 million in gross salary.

What is Mika Zibanejad’s wife’s name?

Mika Zibanejad’s wife’s full name is Irma Lovisa Hilda Helin, now Irma Helin Zibanejad after their August 2021 marriage. She is sometimes referenced by her maiden name, Irma Helin, in records from her professional soccer career in Sweden and Finland.

Conclusion

Irma Helin Zibanejad brings her own professional athletic career, a growing media portfolio, and a willingness to speak publicly when it matters to the role of NHL spouse. Her background as a Swedish national team soccer player distinguishes her from the typical hockey-wife narrative, and her June 2025 dismissal of Mika’s trade rumors demonstrated a directness that resonated far beyond Rangers fandom.

The Zibanejad family — Mika, Irma, and daughter Ella — appears settled into a life anchored by Mika’s $68 million Rangers contract and a new home in New York, with summers back in Sweden. As Mika approaches 1,000 career NHL games and Irma continues building her media presence, their story is one where both partners carry independent professional identities alongside a shared family life.

Last modified: March 26, 2026