New York Rangers star forward reveals reason behind his mid-game departure against the Jets
Mika Zibanejad played 20:20 TOI, with 3 shots on goal last night, and left the game against the Jets with a -4.
His production has been on a decline this season, compared to the last few years. Which poses some red flags about Zibanejad's future in New York. Will he soon be demoted if he can't figure it out?
Either way, Mika Zibanejad shared how he felt with Colin Stephenson about his exit from the 2nd period last night.
He said he "felt off" and "it was nothing major" which in retrospect, sounds contradictory. How can you feel off, and then minimize it? It's obvious there's been something wrong with his play.
He explained it this way:
«My job is to play a good game tomorrow. Whether I have a great game the game before, or a bad game, doesn't change. You're expecting me, I'm expecting myself to play good every night. That's not going to happen every night. But just play hard and short memory.»
So all in, all the New York Rangers top-center has a lack of confidence it sounds like. He has played 14 games for the Rangers this season with 11 points( 2 G, 9 A) and is on pace at this point for 64 points this season.
Just shy of 72 points from 2023-2024, and 91 in 2022-2023. The decline continues, and we're stuck wondering why.
Though with his recent statements, it sounds like a combination of a lack of confidence, and a lack of spark on any line he's placed on.
Will we ever see the dominant 90-point forward again?
Thursday night he will have to take into consideration, Peter Laviolette's criticism of his play:
I believe that we can still clean up those things that seem to plague us a little bit in winning a game last like last night.''
