This Star player needs to bounce back and prove doubters wrong in 2024-2025

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Joshua Deeds
July 22, 2024 (10:00 PM)

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The New York Rangers must like their individual players move forward into 2024-2025, with a mindset to improve their game. After a career-defining loss to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Rangers missed the production of their top three forwards in Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad.

From 2022-2023 to 2023-2024, Zibanejad saw his production decline from 91 points in 2023, to 75 points this past season.

Even strength scoring was a concern for the forward, at only 12 5v5 points, he needs to take control of the narrative and rebound offensively.

Since his arrival in New York Zibanejad has been one of the NHL's best offensive forwards, in 2019-2020 he tallied 41 goals, ranking 16th in goals scored in the NHL with 159. We saw his production decline and the Rangers need to find the forward who scored 25 goals or more in six of the 8 seasons he's been in the Blueshirt.

His production declined during the playoffs, where the Rangers needed him most. The last time he scored a goal was during the first game against the Carolina Hurricanes and if the Rangers are to be successful in the post-season, they need him to score more during the playoffs.

Two-Way Play

His two-way play is one of the best skills he has in his toolbox, as he and Chris Kreider are lethal on the penalty kill. They also know when to put their boot to the neck of the opposition and score a shorthand goal, of which the duo has scored 18 together.

While he was struggling offensively, he was great on the penalty kill and if he can keep his defensive game intact, the Rangers will keep one of the best 1-2 punches in the league intact.

Zibanejad was a +19 last season, and the Rangers need him to stay reliable.

Even Strength

The Rangers will also need more of Zibanejad to score more at even strength, as he and his linemate scoring at even strength has declined. Kreider, once at 39 even-strength goals has declined to 19, while Zibanejad only had 12 even-strength goals.

Neither one had any even-strength goals against the Panthers, which is a major issue that needs to be addressed.

He will be entering his ninth season as a Ranger, and if he wants to remain a Ranger well into 2030, he will need to find his elite game again. He will need to find his game in the playoffs, and score during the tough times.

Source: The Hockey Writers
Rangers' Zibanejad Must Prove Doubters Wrong With Bounce Back in 2024-25