Rangers report cards: Mika Zibanejad: A- (B)
What a fantastic season it was for the Rangers’ top center. He achieved a career-high in points and established himself as one of the NHL’s most formidable goal-scorers. It was a crucial year for Zibanejad in his prime years, to demonstrate his elite talent, and he went above and beyond to prove just that.
He played in all 82 regular season games, scoring an impressive 39 goals and a career-best of 91 points. However, Zibanejad finished one point behind Panarin for the team lead and secured fourth place in the league with an impressive 20 power-play goals. His impact was undeniable.
Unfortunately, Mika couldn’t bring his magic into the playoffs. Zibanejad netted a goal and tallied four points in the seven games against New Jersey. Yet, he didn’t wake up until game six of the series, where he scored, earning a two-point night.
The 30-year-old Zibanejad seems poised to remain a dominant force for years. Despite his poor playoff performance, it’s important to note that many of the Rangers’ stars also faced challenges in the postseason.
Considering everything, he still deserves an A- for his efforts.