New York Rangers: Five reasons why Mika Zibanejad should be the next captain

The New York Rangers decided to go without a team captain this season, instead relying on a rotation of assistant captains. There is one clear choice if they decide to go with a captain next season. 

Mika Zibanejad had a career 2018-19 campaign for the New York Rangers and will be a huge piece to build around moving forward. Every rebuilding team needs a leader to follow and guide them and Mika Zibanejad is that guy. Here are five reasons why

#5 Best Player

Just because you are the best player on a team doesn’t mean you should automatically get the “C” but in this case that’s the best move. Mika Zibanejad can carry a team through a game and his teammates feed off of that, and if they see their captain putting everything he’s got into every shift they will do the same. Not only Mika Zibanejad is the best player he also is one of hardest workers which is a huge trait a captain should have.

#4 Youth

Mika Zibanejad is only 26 years old and is considered a veteran on the team. I consider him a young veteran as he is still in his twenties and is already a veteran of eight NHL seasons. For this rebuild having a young veteran as captain is a smart move as he can grow with a younger core and lead them as his their careers progress along with the rebuild.

#3 Locker room guy

If you watched a lot of Rangers games this season you can see the bromance of Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. The Swede always has a smile on his face and it’s clear his teammates love him as he is always having fun with them on the bench, during warm-ups,in games, and at practice. Henrik Lundqvist has even said that he believes Mika Zibanejad should be the next captain. Mika Zibanejad also has a good relationship with young Rangers forward Lias Andersson that started from the world championships last year where they both won gold for Sweden.

#2 Can handle the responsibility

Mika Zibanejad has had a large responsibility put on his shoulders already, when Derek Stepan was traded during the 2017 offseason and he was given the role as the number one center on the team. He took the role and never looked back after putting up 47 points in 72 games in the 2017-18 season and then 74 points in 82 games in the 2018-19 season. He thrived off the role of number one center and he can do the same with the captaincy.

#1 Leader

The best reason for Mika Zibanejad to be the next Ranger captain is that he is the only player who possesses all of these qualities, all necessary to occupy that role. He also already wears an “A” so he has a taste for what it takes to be a leader. There are other strong candidates like Chris Kreider and Marc Staal, but both of them have issues Zibanejad doesn’t. It’s clear that Zibanejad has the qualities and makes the most sense to be named the 28th captain in Rangers history.