Mika Zibanejad A 1C Problem?

Are the Rangers in trouble with Zibanejad as a 1C?

Mika Zibanejad this season has been in the simplest terms, a bit of a disappointment. Zibanejad is coming off a great 2023-2024 season where he recorded 26 goals, 46 assists and a +15 plus/minus rating. To start the year, in 14 games Zibanejad has 2 goals, 9 assists and a -6 plus/minus rating. And last night was one of his worst games of the season and was put in some spotlight against the league’s best (Winnipeg Jets) team. After coming off a Presidents trophy season and Eastern Conference finals loss, the Rangers have high expectations for their season and even higher expectations for their 1C (first line center).

There could be a magnitude of reasons Zibanejad is struggling this season, he has been moved from his normal linemate in Chris Kreider, the Rangers defensive core has been playing very undisciplined making simple turnovers putting more responsibility on the center and Zibanejad is in his 13th season and aging at 31 years old, perhaps the game is getting too fast for him and or other players around the league are catching on to how to play against Zibanejad.

To take a deeper look at Zibanejad’s most recent struggles from 11/12/2024 game vs Winnipeg Tuesday night, well break down his defensive lapses.

There is a lot to goes into an opposing team scoring a goal. In particular this play, the immediate turnover from Zibanejad leads to a goal for Winnipeg but looking in depth at the clip. You will see the play start with Vincent Trocheck, skating through the neutral zone leading to an eventual turnover, forcing Artemi Panarin to go back to the Defenseman, in which the defenseman was changing, forcing the Rangers to re group again below their goal line. Which then leads to a pass to Zibanejad and a lapse of judgement from him forcing a puck up the wall on Winnipeg #55 stick and eventual in the back of the net.

Now goal two could be a lot to blame on Zibanejad’s part for mishandling and whiffing a pass to the other side of the ice resulting in a quick turn up from Winnipeg but the moment Zibanejad turns over the puck, Artemi Panarin comes down to pinch, with a zero effort to even stop a rush up the ice which one could argue due to Trouba jumping in the rush, Panarin should of stayed back high and if he does perhaps Winnipeg is going in 2 v 2 into zone and not 2 v 1.

Now this one is another terrible neutral zone turnover, it starts with Zibanejad getting pick pocketed from behind, moving slowly and lethargically up ice resulting in Winnipeg to turn right back into the Rangers defensive zone. But as Winnipeg gets in the offensive zone, the Rangers fail a clear attempt, Zibanejad effortlessly skates up to the defenseman and drives by him. The Rangers lose their guys down low, and it is a goal in the back of the net.

Like I said there is an accumulation of reasons goals happen in the NHL, sometimes you can’t point the finger to one player but that is not to defend Zibanejad here. Two of these three goals were direct results of his poor play, lack of focus with the puck on his stick. The Rangers defensive struggles continue, their defensive core has been abysmal this year and without Igor Shesterkin they would probably not be in the spot they are right now.