New York Rangers: Factors for a run at a Metropolitan Division title

Mika Zibanejad has to be brilliant

There is pressure on Zibanejad, who has to step up and fill the top center position on the roster with the departure of Derek Stepan. With the proper support and guidance, he can fill this role perfectly.

Zibanejad is young, comfortable with the puck, has good vision, and can move up ice, all of which bode well for him. He is one of the best two-way forwards on the team. He not only takes pucks away in the defensive end but can generate offense coming out of the zone as well.

There are also some negatives attached to him as well. Zibanejad is young (yes mentioning this twice is intentional) and is sometimes to willing to pass the puck.

One of the most important jobs for a center is to generate opportunity both when you have the puck as well as when you don’t. Sometimes it feels like Zibanejad tries to do too much with the puck.

Here is how Zibanejad will be most successful…

Generally speaking, in the games where Zibanejad played with Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider (who will likely be his linemates this season) Kreider was posted in front of the net. Kreider is big, can screen, and has good hands.

I love the idea of Zuccarello and Zibanejad leading the rush in a settled offense. Both have such good sense and can determine what the other is going to do when they have possession.

The key is for them take shots on net!  As the great Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

That is a message that every player on the Rangers roster needs to hear, but one that number one center Mika Zibanejad needs to live by.