New York Rangers: Kreider or Zibanejad for Captain

Mika Zibanejad

What a difference four years make.

Let’s rewind back to July. 18, 2016 when the New York Rangers sent center Derick Brassard and a 2017 seventh round pick to the Ottawa Senators for a second round selection and Mika Zibanejad.

At the time, many viewed the deal as the Senators improving overnight, while the Blueshirts were gaining an unpolished gem who could become something.

How bonkers does that trade look now…

Because, since that trade went down, Brassard is now on his fifth team with the New York Islanders while Zibanejad has morphed into a franchise center and one of the most dynamic pivots in the NHL.

This year was his coming-out party with a career-high 75 points (41 goals, 34 assists), despite missing a chunk of time due to an upper-body injury.

Zibanejad really flourished just before the hiatus, putting the Rangers on his back as they chased a wild-card spot.

Averaging 21:38 minutes of total ice time this year, also a career-high, the 26-year-old leads the Rangers with six game-winning goals and he had the ultimate clutch moment on Mar. 5, with five goals against the Washington Capitals including the overtime winner.

And, not only that, but Zibanejad has become the face of the rebuild and he has really illustrated his leadership abilities this season.

The voice of the locker room, the Sweden native has a real calming presence and doesn’t seem to get fazed by much, which is important as a leader.

Quiet and unassuming, Zibanejad clearly favors the lead-by-example approach and it is obvious that he’s incredibly well-respected by his teammates in that locker room.

He also struck up quite the friendship with AWOL stud Lias Andersson with the two living together before the latter imploded, proving that he can be a mentor-figure to this franchise’s bevy of young talent.

In a nutshell, Zibanejad is just hitting the prime of his career and is rapidly transforming into a superstar on the ice, while his leadership qualities are there for all to see.

Likely to be offered a new deal before his current contract expires following the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, Mika Zibanejad appears to tick all the boxes when it comes to taking on the role as the leader and the face of this storied franchise.

But, he faces stiff competition…

Chris Kreider

Something about Chris Kreider has just screamed leader from the moment he burst onto the NHL scene with the New York Rangers in 2012-13.

From the way he carries himself to the respect he demands from within that locker room, Kreider boasts all the intangibles that come with being a leader.

As such, the power forward has come up in conversations regarding the “C” ever since previous Captain Ryan McDonagh was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2018 Trade Deadline.

Those rumors have only intensified the more Kreider has stepped up to the plate during the current rebuild, taking an active role in leading by example and setting the tone for the plethora of young studs finding their way in the NHL.

While he doesn’t appear to be a screamer, not in view of the fans or media anyway, Kreider certainly pulls no punches in postgame interviews if he feels something needs to be said.

He holds himself accountable while also making sure to walk that delicate tightrope of sending a message to his team without throwing anyone under the proverbial bus.

Again, all good signs of a natural leader.

Then there is the on-ice performances.

Although the amount of points you put up isn’t conducive to being a good Captain or leader, Kreider did start to answer the biggest question that has always hounded him throughout his career.

Could he really bring his all-star A game to the table every single night?

After failing to do so in his previous seven seasons in the NHL, Kreider elevated his game to a whole new level this year.

Playing some of the best hockey of his career and putting up 45 points (24 goals, 21 assists) in 63 games, Kreider and the Rangers were dealt an ugly body blow when the wing suffered a fractured ankle against the Philadelphia Flyers just days after committing his future to the only franchise he’s ever known by signing a seven-year, $45,500,000 contract.

However, and while there is still a lot left to prove, Kreider showed tantalizing signs of finally becoming the consistent game-changing talent that he’s always flirted with being.

Again, on-ice talent doesn’t necessarily make you a great leader but, almost certainly a Ranger for life now and having taken an active role in helping to see this rebuild through, Kreider has shown that he can handle the responsibility of wearing the “C” on his chest while still being able to produce on the ice.

Who gets the C?

We’ve mapped out why both Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider are worthy candidates when it comes to being the 28th Captain in New York Rangers history.

But who should it be?

This is going to be an incredibly tough decision for President John Davidson and General Manager Jeff Gorton, but one they will eventually need to make.

Zibanejad seems to have propelled himself to the top of many fans’ list when it comes to who they want to see sporting the “C” on those beautiful jerseys from next year.

After all, the center is adored by Blueshirts and his calming presence coupled with his consistency makes him an ideal candidate.

He makes a pretty great record, too.

Okay, so that has nothing to do with being a leader but, if you haven’t yet, we recommend you check out Zibanejad’s single ‘By My Side’ on iTunes.

It’s a banger as the kids say.

But, back to business, Zibanejad brings it every single night and his consistent level of play sets a shining example for the Rangers’ crop of prospects.

Then there is Chris Kreider.

Drafted by the New York Rangers with the 19th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the forward has only ever known MSG throughout his career.

That seemed to be under threat this year with Kreider consistently reported to become the latest high-profile victim of the current rebuild, before the wing effectively outlined his intentions to finish his career in The Big Apple by signing a big-ticket seven-year contract with an average annual value of $6,500,000.

And that’s why I truly believe that Chris Kreider will be the next Captain of the Rangers.

Why?

While he really found another level in 2019-20 before getting hurt, it is clear to me that the front office made a long-term commitment to Kreider because of his ability to lead as much as his ability to be a game-changer on the ice.

He has really become a glue guy inside that locker room and is said to be a rock for the younger players, while he knows this organization inside out.

And the strange but true fact that Kreider is fluent in Russian may seem trivial, but it allows him to really communicate with unpolished gem Pavel Buchnevich, rookie goaltender Igor Shesterkin and superstar forward Artemi Panarin.

That’s incredibly important to note.

Plus, with the looming possibility that both Jesper Fast and Marc Staal could be figures of the past come 2020-21, a reliable leader is essential for the Rangers as they look to continue to search for a return to the glory days.

That’s why Chris Kreider, who has been through the glorious ups and the agonizing downs with this franchise, just edges Mika Zibanejad to become the 28th Captain in New York Rangers history.

But, whatever route John Davidson and Jeff Gorton go down, they can’t go wrong constructing a leadership group spearheaded by Kreider and Zibanejad, two key players who have morphed into terrific leaders too.