‘I want to be here’: Mika Zibanejad aims to help Rangers rebound next season

Mika Zibanejad was one of the few bright spots in the midst of the gloom and doom that accompanied the New York Rangers’ second straight non-playoff season. He led the Rangers with 34 goals, 78 points, and 16 power-play goals, rebounding from a disappointing 2024-25 season – and said at breakup day on Friday that he has no interest in being anywhere else when training camp begins in September.

“I want to be here,” Zibanejad stated without hesitation. “I’ve been here now for 10 years, so I’ve gone through the ups and downs.

“I think overall, (it was) obviously disappointing with finishing last and where we were in the standings and how the season went. But in a way try to see the positives. Toward the end I thought we did some good things.”

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Zibanejad reached the 30-goal mark for the fourth time in his NHL career, had his highest point total since setting a career high of 91 in 2022-23 and passed five players – including Hockey Hall of Famers Andy Bathgate and Mark Messier — on the Rangers’ all-time goals list.

He’s now fourth in team history with 284; only Rod Gilbert (406), Jean Ratelle (336) and longtime teammate Chris Kreider (326) have more. Zibanejad is also up to seventh in Rangers history with 667 points, and on March 23 became the 22nd player born in Sweden to play 1,000 NHL games.

Zibanejad also had the first hat trick in Winter Classic history and the first five-point night in any NHL outdoor game to help the Rangers defeat the Florida Panthers 5-1 at loanDepot Park in Miami on Jan. 2. He won “The Cocoa Cup,” given to the Winter Classic MVP.

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It was a big bounce-back for a player who had dropped to 20 goals and 62 points in 2024-25, was regarded as a major reason the Rangers missed the playoffs one season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the League’s regular-season champion – and was the subject of trade speculation.

“I mean, obviously, it’s a better feeling,” he said of his improved offensive numbers. “I think I proved to some other people who had a thing or two to say about me last year to show what I can do and what I’m still capable of. I still have to bring it again next year, but it was a positive thing not just for myself, but for everyone else as well.”

Zibanejad’s rebound was recognized by fans, the media and his teammates. Fans voted him winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award; the media voted him as team MVP; and his teammates selected him as the recipient of the Players’ Player Award.

Mika Zibanejad eager to help Rangers return to playoffs

General manager Chris Drury told fans in mid-January that the Rangers would be going through another retool in the midst of a disappointing season. But Zibanejad made it clear during his exit day interview that the Big Apple, where he’s played the past decade after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators, is where he wants to be.

He’s also optimistic about returning to the playoffs after a slew of young players helped the Blueshirts finish 12-10-3 in their final 25 games.

“Just look around the League and see how fast it could go,” he said of returning to the playoffs. “You never know what’s going to happen with the team and what we do as an organization, but I think seeing the teams that made the playoffs and how quick of a turnaround it’s been for some, I’m optimistic, especially with some of the young guys coming in and playing. I don’t feel like we need a whole lot. I want to be here to turn this around again.”

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With four more seasons remaining on a contract that carries an $8.5 million salary-cap hit, the Rangers need Zibanejad to keep producing. He’s also being counted on to provide leadership for a team that figures to need more from its young players next season in order to avoid another early summer.

He is looking forward to both challenges.

“Obviously the situation wasn’t maybe what we wanted – not much fun. But it gave us the opportunity to see some of the young guys and see a little bit from some other guys, too,” he said. “That’s something I hope we can carry into next season.”

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