Mika Zibanejad quietly one of greatest Rangers centers in franchise history

It’s safe to say that Mika Zibanejad has had better seasons. The New York Rangers top-line center posted a respectable 26 goals and 72 points in 81 games this past season, but the eye test told a different story.

Despite a couple hot stretches, the dynamic two-way forward was marred by inconsistency and even-strength struggles. Mustering just eight goals at five-on-five, his lowest total since his first season in New York as a still-developing 23-year-old, Zibanejad was unable to reach the heights that the Rangers have grown accustomed to from his typically elite play.

That narrative persisted in the postseason. Zibanead was red hot to start, racking up three goals and 10 points in his first five games and recording at least one point in his first eight contests. But his production quickly slowed as the Blueshirts trudged through the second round and the competition got tougher, first against the Carolina Hurricanes then against the Florida Panthers.

Zibanejad finished the postseason with just three points in his final eight games and was held without a goal for 11 straight games to close out the playoffs. Along with a costly overtime turnover in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, he struggled mightily against Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers, who completely neutralized his line for lengthy stretches.

It makes sense, then, that Zibanejad has not been showered with praise this offseason. However, it shouldn’t take away from the fact that he is already one of the greatest centers in Rangers history.

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Mika Zibanejad is already one of Rangers best centers all-time

Zibanejad ranks fourth all-time among Rangers centers with 527 points. He trails Jean Ratelle (817), Mark Messier (691), and Walt Tkaczuk (678). Ratelle and Messier are in the Hockey Hall of Fame and Tkaczuk spent 14 seasons in the NHL, all with New York.

He’s also fourth in goals among Blueshirts centers, notching 230 in his eight years with the Rangers, which trails Ratelle (336), Camille Henry (256), and Messier (250).

Zibanejad is averaging 30.9 goals over the past seven seasons and has never scored less than 24 in that span. In all likelihood, he’ll leap Messier and potentially Henry next season, which would make him the second all-time leading goal scorer among Rangers centers.

Of those mentioned, only Messier played after the 1983-84 season, making Zibanejad one of the best Rangers centers in the past 40 years.

Granted, there are others who had a strong impact but not the longevity in a Rangers uniform.

Wayne Gretzky famously spent the last three seasons of his storied career in New York, and while it didn’t result in a championship, he still recorded multiple 90-point seasons and led the League in assists in back-to-back years. He finished his Rangers career with 249 points in 234 games, ranking fourth all-time in Rangers history with 1.04 points per game.

Other notable centers include Derek Stepan, who amassed 128 goals and 360 points in his seven seasons with the Blueshirts, and Michael Nylander, who enjoyed two very solid seasons in the mid-2000s, tallying 162 points in 160 games.

Stepan was reliable, consistent, and a clutch postseason performer, but not quite the point producer that Zibanejad is, never topping 22 goals or 57 points in his career. Gretzky and Nylander were excellent in their brief stay with New York but didn’t stick around long enough to be in the conversation for the greatest Rangers center of all time.

You can argue that Zibanejad is already in that conversation based on the numbers he’s put up in his eight seasons. Those numbers will only continue to rise as he readies for his age-31 season.

Right now, it’s hard to put him over Messier, who earned icon status after leading them to the Stanley Cup championship in 1994, or Ratelle, whose numbers trail only Rod Gilbert and Brian Leetch. But the fact remains — Zibanejad will likely end his career with similar or better numbers in a Rangers uniform.

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Mika Zibanejad could enter greatest Rangers of all time discussion

And not just that — when it’s all said and done, Zibanejad has a chance to be considered one of the greatest Rangers of all time.

Zibanejad ranks 11th all-time in goals (230) and points (527) and first all-time in overtime goals (8).

He trails linemate Chris Kreider for 10th in points (552). Both should leap over Vic Hadfield (572) and Steve Vickers (586) next season to firmly enter the Top 10. If Zibanejad can return to the 80-point mark, he’ll have a chance of rising as high as eighth, surpassing Ron Greschner (610) by next year.

Zibanejad is in a good position to leap Messier, Henry, Brian Leetch (240), and Steve Vickers (246) in goals, and if he can muster up another 30-goal season, would come awfully close to Vic Hadfield’s 262, which ranks sixth.

And that’s just for next season. Zibanejad has six years left on an eight-year deal that takes him through the 2029-30 season when he’ll be 36 years old. Rod Gilbert’s 406 goals and 1,021 points, both first in franchise history, may be difficult to reach, but Zibanejad could easily finish his career in the top three all-time for both statistics.

It’s an interesting conversation to have about a player who, outside of his recent struggles, is generally beloved by the fanbase but isn’t necessarily discussed as an all-time franchise great.

It certainly feels different than the dialogue surrounding the homegrown Kreider, who ranks third all-time in goals and will likely surpass Gilbert in the next few years. Kreider feels like a shoo-in to have his number raised in the rafters. Zibanejad’s legacy is less certain.

In New York, legacies are formed in the playoffs. Four of the 11 retired jerseys belong to members of the 1994 Stanley Cup team. Others like Gilbert and Henrik Lundqvist performed valiantly despite their team’s failing to win championships.

Whether it’s fair or not, there’s a different attitude with players who were brought in as opposed to drafted and raised in the system. It may take Zibanejad overcoming his postseason woes and bringing a Cup to New York in order to earn all-time status treatment from the demanding Blueshirts fans.

Either way, the fact remains. Zibanejad will be an all-time Rangers great when it’s all said and done.

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