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New York Rangers Star Forward Facing Immense Amount Of Criticism Ahead Of The 2025-26 Season


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Joshua Deeds
September 6, 2025  (11:08)
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The New York Rangers will have an underdog on the team next year. That is, Mika Zibanejad, who will come into the 2025-26 season as an undervalued forward who will take his place on the flank of whoever will be centering him. People speculate that he'll continue to decline in production, but that might not be the case with JT Miller on his left.

While Mika Zibanejad had what people considered a "down year" in 2024-25, he'd score 62 points (20-42) in 82 games.
For the forward, people expected much more out of him. Which isn't the wrong idea, you want to see your top-six forwards produce. But it'd take a new situation for him to regain his confidence.
Not only would that be shifting to the wing, but playing in his home country, Sweden, before he truly found his confidence that was missing.

Mika Zibanejad: A Key Player in the Rangers Lineup

This season should be no different for Zibanejad, who will continue to play an important role in the Rangers' lineup.
We should see Zibanejad as a top-six forward playing on a line with J.T. Miller and Will Cuylle, two players who can help increase Zibanejad's point totals.

Unless Mike Sullivan makes a drastic change, Zibanejad will also serve a role on the team's first power play unit.
While last year was concerning for Zibanejad, he has a chance to prove us all wrong and find a way to produce like we have seen him do before: 90+ points and above.

For the Blueshirt forward, the sky is the limit as long as he is in the right situation, and could be with Will Cuylle and JT Miller.

Mika Zibanejad is in year 4 of his 8-year deal with the Rangers that pays him $8.5 M.
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SEPTEMBRE 6   |   44 ANSWERS
New York Rangers Star Forward Facing Immense Amount Of Criticism Ahead Of The 2025-26 Season

Do you think forward Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers will score more than 60 points this season?

Yes3681.8 %
No818.2 %
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