Zibanejad Must Silence Critics with Strong 2024-25 Season
Last season, the New York Rangers once again fell short in the Eastern Conference Final, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers.
A significant factor in this defeat was the underperformance of key offensive players, Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin. While Panarin had the best season of his career, Zibanejad struggled, marking his worst season as a Ranger.
In the 2023-24 season, Zibanejad’s offensive output dropped significantly. He went from scoring 39 goals and 91 points in 2022-23 to just 26 goals and 75 points.
His even-strength scoring was a major concern, with only 12 goals throughout the season. The upcoming 2024-25 season is crucial for him to prove his doubters wrong and return to his top-line center form.
Need for Increased Offensive Production
Zibanejad has been one of the NHL’s top offensive players and goal scorers since joining the Rangers. Since the 2019-20 season, where he scored a career-high 41 goals, he ranks 16th in the NHL with 159 goals.
However, his offense declined last season, and he needs to regain his status as a leading offensive threat. He has scored 25 or more goals in six of his eight seasons with the Rangers and has surpassed 30 goals three times. The Rangers need him to deliver this elite scoring again.
A major criticism of Zibanejad during the playoffs was his lack of goals. He scored only three goals in 16 games, with two coming in a single game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Rangers need Zibanejad to score more when it matters most. A strong regular season could boost his confidence and performance in the playoffs.
Maintaining Strong Two-Way Play
Zibanejad’s game is not just about offense; he is also an excellent two-way center. He has become the Rangers’ best penalty killer, forming an effective duo with Chris Kreider. They are adept at both defending and capitalizing on shorthanded opportunities, scoring 18 shorthanded goals since the 2019-20 season.
Despite his offensive struggles last season, Zibanejad remained strong defensively. He and Vincent Trocheck form a solid center duo, and if Zibanejad can find his offensive rhythm while maintaining his defensive play, they could be one of the best center tandems in the league.
Zibanejad was plus-19 last season and has been a positive plus/minus player in six of his eight seasons with the Rangers.
Improving Even-Strength Scoring with Kreider
Zibanejad and Kreider face criticism for their lack of even-strength scoring. Both rely heavily on power-play goals. Last season, Zibanejad had 12 even-strength goals, while Kreider had 19 out of his 39 goals. The Rangers need more even-strength production from this duo to advance further in the playoffs.
In the series against the Panthers, Zibanejad had no goals, and Kreider’s only goal was shorthanded. This lack of even-strength scoring must be addressed this season.
Entering his ninth season with the Rangers, Zibanejad aims to stay with the team until his contract expires in 2030. To silence his critics and prove he is still an elite player, he needs to excel this season and demonstrate his ability to score in the playoffs. As the 2024-25 season begins, all eyes will be on Zibanejad to see if he can rise to the challenge.
