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New York Rangers: Kreider or Zibanejad for Captain

By Andrew Steele-Davis

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 17: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates with Mika Zibanejad #93 after a goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Capital One Arena on October 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 17: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates with Mika Zibanejad #93 after a goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Capital One Arena on October 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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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…

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