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New York Rangers: Top five players of 2018

By Jennifer Moglia

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 29: Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers is congratulated by teammates after scoring the go ahead goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period at Bridgestone Arena on December 29, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 29: Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers is congratulated by teammates after scoring the go ahead goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period at Bridgestone Arena on December 29, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 22: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 22, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 22: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 22, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Mika Zibanejad

Mika Zibanejad has definitely done his part, season after season, to become more than just the player the New York Rangers received in exchange for Derick Brassard. Last season, he was the Ranger with the most goals with 27.

He fell to eighth in assists with 20 and was second in points overall with 47. The forward has shown no signs of stopping this season.

He has 11 goals and 23 assists, adding up to 34 points in 38 games thus far. This puts Zibanejad at second place on the team for goals, first for assists, and first once again for points.

He was part of this year’s most memorable line, known as “KZB” (or Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich). In 399:52 together between last season and the beginning of this season, the line had a 66.09 Corsi-For percentage, meaning that when this line was on the ice, 66.09 of the shots belonged to the Rangers.

The line was at its weakest without Zibanejad. It shows just how big of a part of the team he is, and how much more than “the piece from the Derick Brassard trade.”

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