Mika Zibanejad is under scrutiny this season with the New York Rangers following a significant decline in performance last year. After failing to score in his first two games and facing defensive struggles, the pressure on him intensified.
However, Zibanejad’s impressive three-point performance and solid two-way play during the Rangers’ 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings highlighted his potential. Last season, the top line faced challenges in finding a suitable winger to complement Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, resulting in various players, such as Blake Wheeler and Kaapo Kakko, rotating in without success. This poor performance contributed to Zibanejad’s drop to 72 points, down 19 from the previous year.
With the new season, they have the opportunity to start fresh, now featuring offseason addition Reilly Smith on the right wing. The initial games didn’t bode well, especially for Zibanejad, who had a minus-4 rating in a match against the Utah Hockey Club. The top line struggled defensively, allowing numerous goals in a high-scoring game.
In that game, the line was scoreless, even though Kreider scored two goals (one short-handed) and Smith assisted in their opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Meanwhile, Igor Shesterkin recently turned down an $88 million, eight-year contract extension, as he believes he deserves an even higher salary, a gamble considering the Rangers are open to negotiations.
In their latest 4-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings, Shesterkin’s strong performance impressed Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde. Despite Shesterkin’s remarkable skills, the Rangers need to win a Stanley Cup to justly justify such a contract. Until then, some fans may question if $11 million is excessive, particularly with no forwards or defensemen earning similar salaries.
Analysis of their performance shows that while the line has been effective in creating scoring chances, they have struggled to convert these into goals and have also given chances to the opposition. Statistics from Natural Stat Trick indicate that through three games, they’ve generated nearly 53 percent of total scoring chances and 71 percent of high-danger opportunities.
Monday’s game against the Red Wings allowed the line to take advantage of their chances and improve defensively. All three members scored, with Zibanejad also contributing two assists, firing five shots, and achieving a plus-2 rating. Kreider scored his third goal on a power play from a clever setup by Zibanejad, who assisted Smith on his first goal with the Rangers off a face-off win. Zibanejad capped it off with an empty-net goal for his first of the season.
When questioned about their synergy, Zibanejad expressed optimism: “I think we’re close to clicking … We’re working on it. We want this to work as much as anyone else. It’s frustrating when we don’t connect, but we’ll keep improving.” Their recent performance showcased their potential for generating offensive opportunities and tightening defensive play. Most importantly, Zibanejad appeared more self-assured, winning nine of 15 face-offs and leading the team with nine shot attempts, contributing to both linemates’ goals.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette praised the line’s performance, stating, “I thought they played a heck of a game, and tonight they were productive.”
