New York Rangers Finalize Roster Move With Star Forward Mika Zibanejad Ahead Of The 2025-26 Season
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We now know where Mika Zibanejad will be to start the 2025-26 NHL season. According to NHL Insider, Dan Rosen, instead of slotting in as a center this season, Mike Sullivan will have him flanking his linemate in Madison Square Garden on the right wing.
It appears that Mike Sullivan will continue the successful Peter Laviolette experiment with Mika Zibanejad. Near the end of the year, he found himself as a successful linemate of JT Miller's.
Zibanejad would rebound in production and would finish the year scoring 62 points (20-42). After J.T. Miller was re-acquired from the Vancouver Canucks, via trade on January 31st,, for FIlip Chytil and defensive prospect Victor Mancini.
This suggests that Mike Sullivan has other plans for centers in the organization, and we could speculate that GM Chris Drury has an interest in acquiring another center.
Mika Zibanejad Rejuvenation At the IIHF
For Zibanejad, this will breathe life into what was seen as a struggling career in 2024-25. He didn't regain his confidence until the 2025 IIHF World Championships held in Sweden this summer.
Rangers star forward would only play two games for Team Sweden and scored one goal, but that was apparently enough for the forward.
Some players would never consider a 62-point season a "down year". For someone who makes $8.5 million AAV and has a full NMC, they have to perform above the rest of the team.
Unfortunately he hasn't been able to replicate his 91-point season in 2022-23, and hopefully, he can find his footing alongside J.T. Miller once again.
Zibanejad will have to have his wits about him this season, as this could be a make it or break it year for him, and we could only think of how GM Chris Drury could handle this situation then.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
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