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Why Artemi Panarin deserves to be the next New York Rangers’ captain

By Chris Hanold

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Mika Zibanejad #93 . (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Potential captains: Mika Zibanejad

Leading up to the start of the season, Mika Zibanejad was the clear favorite amongst Rangers’ fans for the vacant captaincy.  Zibanejad had just capped off a stellar 2019-20 regular season, where he saw himself finish fifth in the league in goals scored with 41, and just six days before the NHL season was paused due to COVID-19, Zibanejad scored five goals (including the overtime winner) against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden, promptly placing himself front and center in the eyes and hearts of Rangers’ fans all over the world.

2020-21 hasn’t been kind to Zibanejad, however.  I am in no way trying to discredit Mika Zibanejad, he is still one of my favorite Rangers’ and he is due to breakout soon.  He is simply too good to continue to struggle the way that he has been.  With that being said though, Zibanejad has been overwhelmingly disappointing for a surprisingly bad Rangers’ team this year.

The Rangers are currently the youngest team in the NHL, and while we expected growing pains, no one expected it to be as painful as it has been.  On a team that needs a sense of leadership now more than ever, Zibanejad is one of three guys that the fans and his young teammates have looked to for some inspiration and consistency.  We haven’t received that from Zibanejad so far.

With 16 games played this season, Zibanejad carries a stat-line of four points on two goals and two assists, one of those goals coming in Saturday afternoon’s win over the Washington Capitals, when Zibanejad scored an empty-net goal in the final seconds of the contest.  It is also worth mentioning that Zibanejad ranks 21st on the tam with a -4 plus/minus.

Zibanejad is set to hit unrestricted free-agency next summer, and while his struggles early on this season may help the Rangers save some money when contract talks between the two parties heat up, it is unlikely that Zibanejad is named captain at any point this year, unless a deal can be agreed upon by season’s end.

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