NHL Insider Brutally Calls Out New York Rangers Superstar Forward Ahead Of The Upcoming Season
Photo credit: NHL.com
There's nothing more New York Rangers fans would love to see Mika Zibanejad play like his old self. In the past, we've seen him post 90-point seasons and wowing the crowds of Madison Square Garden. For Zibanejad, it's a make-or-break year.
This year will be pivotal for a player once considered the Rangers' best, aside from Artemi Panarin. For Mika Zibanejad, a new coach means a clean slate and a reset as he heads into 2025-26 with different expectations.
In the past few years, we've seen his production decline significantly, while there were concerns about a possible trade in the offseason. The trade wouldn't materialize, but Zibanejad would find himself at the mercy of Mike Sullivan.
With Sullivan's arrival in New York, Zibanejad might have been handed another lifeline, albeit short.
New York Rangers Superstar Mika Zibanejad Faces Harsh Criticism
Zibanejad found a spark of offense late in the season after being paired with J.T. Miller. The trade with the Canucks would cost Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and draft capital, but it gave the Rangers a new leader and a new breath of life.
One Zibanejad will have to take advantage of if he's to survive as a Blueshirt beyond the 2025-26 season.
He finished the year with 62 points scored (20-42), which is respectable numbers by any means, but for him, it's a significant decline.
For that to happen, maybe Mike Sullivan will have to consider the unconventional route and do what they typically do with rookie centers in the league.
Shift him to the wing. He was successful flanking J.T. Miller near the end of the year, and it seemed to bring out his offensive flair again.
Along with Artemi Panarin, they rely on him to deliver a majority of the offensive output, and Sullivan will have to think outside of the box to keep that happening.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
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