New York Ranger: Who will be the best player in five years?

On a New York Rangers roster loaded with youth, who will be their best player in five years?

Who will be the New York Rangers best player in five years? After this New York Rangers season, the answer is an easy one.  The answer is Mika Zibanejad and I’ll tell you why.

Zibanejad’s breakout season

He had an unbelievable season this year, in what I think is going to lead to the start of a Hall of Fame career with the New York Rangers!

He started all 82 games this season netting a career high 30 goals and 44 assists, for a total of 74 points.

Zibanejad is also the leader on the Rangers power play. In a set play, he takes the face-offs, (he won 52% of his power play faceoffs), then heads to the left wing, and sets up in the spot otherwise known as the “Alex Ovechkin office.”  A right handed shot like the Capitals’ star, he rips one-timers.

And oh, is he good at it!

Eleven of his 30 goals this season were power play goals and he also had 23 power play points.

Why do I think he will continue this?

If you look at what he did this season, 74 points with not a lot of help is very good.

Now, give him newly acquired Adam Fox, an absolute stud defenseman who will be great on the power play. Throw in Kaapo Kakko or Jack Hughes with the second overall pick, and a motivated Chris Kreider coming off a good year and entering the final year on his contract. If not signed to an extension, Kreider is likely going to be a big trade target at the deadline next year.

An upgrade in talent on the Rangers will only help a player as smart as Mika Zibanejad get even better.

Why Mika Zibanejad is extremely important to the New York Rangers

Behind a solid starting goalie, a number one center is the most important player on any team. There is no doubt that Zibanejad’s breakout season this year is what we are going to continue to see and it will only get better.

Zibanjead has embraced the role of number one center.  He’s the team’s best player, can produce points, kill penalties and can generate power play and shorthanded points

He is one of our best penalty killers, the cornerstone of our power play, our leading point getter with 74 points, and the best face-off percentage on the team. I can go on and on here.

But it’s not just statistics that make Zibanejad great.  He is one of the hardest working guys on the ice.  That kind of leadership has made him a great role model for everyone on the team.

No doubt in my mind, he is my pick to be the next captain of the New York Rangers.

Zibanejad is still only 26 years old, entering the prime of his career and I know he will continue to get better on both sides of the puck and he will be the best player on the Rangers in the next five years!