Why Rangers could hurt team chemistry by trying to jumpstart Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider
The New York Rangers had the pleasure of shutting out a front-loaded Detroit Red Wings team this past Saturday, by a score of 4-0. This Jonathan-Quick fueled victory followed one of their worst performances in the Peter Laviolette era, a 6-1 dismantling at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres this past Thursday.
Despite the two very different outcomes of those games, the Rangers defensive play continues to leave much to be desired. And since offense is so often generated off solid defense, it’s fair to add that the Rangers haven’t been rolling offensively either during a 4-3-0 stretch.
Another common denominator in both matchups is Laviolette’s new look top-six line combinations. In a clear attempt to get a slumping Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider going, the Rangers coach slotted Zibanejad between superstar Artemi Panarin and budding-star Alexis Lafreniere, a spot Vincent Trocheck virtually solely held since early last season. This change forced Trocheck onto a new line with Kreider on his left, and newcomer Reilly Smith on his right.
After the endless success that the Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere line had the past calendar year, it is fair to question the decision to break up the trio. In the 2023-24 season, this so-called second line amassed 54 goals when on-ice together, most of any line in the NHL last season. Each player also established an NHL career high in points, including Panarin’s 120, which were second most in franchise history.
Laviolette is sacrificing his most consistent line to get Zibanejad and Kreider going. Kreider has only three even-strength points this season, Zibanejad seven. On top of that, they haven’t passed the eye test 5v5 either.
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Rangers need Mika Zibanejad to be elite top-line center if they’re to make a playoff run again
If Laviolette continues to roll out his most productive top-sixers with Zibanejad, the center must match their level of play. Panarin leads the Rangers with 14 even-strength points, and Lafreniere is second with 10. Zibanejad did assist on an even-strength goal by Panarin on Saturday, and Panarin assisted on one of the two 5v5 goals for Zibanejad earlier in the season.
But in trying to lift up Kreider and Zibanejad 5v5, is Laviolette dragging down others who are thriving at even strength? That’s the uncomfortable situation Laviolette finds himself in.
Zibanejad has an xGF of 43.06 percent 5v5 this season, per Natural Stat Trick. Kreider is even worse: 40.7 percent.
That’s simply not good enough.
The coach even briefly broke up the ultra-successful third line of Will Cuylle – Filip Chytil – Kappo Kakko to move pieces around the stagnant Rangers lineup. However, he reunited that threesome — which had outscored the opposition 9-0 at 5v5 — against the Red Wings
It appears that Laviolette will be rolling with the same forward lines against the Jets. One wonders when Kreider and Zibanejad are back together again, though. They have almost telepathic chemistry with one another. However, that chemistry is more evident on the power play and penalty kill than at even strength. Hence, Laviolette’s dilemma.
Smith has also been a gritty and noticeable force up front, who could be the play-driver needed to get Zibanejad going now that he has settled into his role. Rolling a player like Zibanejad in the bottom-six would be inefficient for a plethora of reasons, especially after he publicly showed disdain for his ice-time in October.
“I was averaging 20-plus minutes a few years ago, and I felt really good with that because you can find a better rhythm,” Zibanejad stated.
He’s averaging 18:10 TOI this season.
Over the past four Stanley Cup Finals, each champion touted an elite first-line center. The defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have Aleksander Barkov, who outclassed Zibanejad in the 2024 Eastern Conference Final. The Vegas Golden Knights had Jack Eichel in 2023; the Colorado Avalanche had Nathan MacKinnon in 2022; the Tampa Bay Lightning had the pleasure of choosing between Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos during their runs in 2020 and 2021.
Those were just the winners. Last season’s runners-up — the Edmonton Oilers — have Connor McDavid at 1C.
Zibanejad has been brilliant before. The 31-year-old had 91 points (50 at even strength) in 2021-22. Last season, he had 72 points, but his overall numbers were dragged down because he only had 35 even-strength points.
Special-teams points count and are important, too. But 5v5 scoring is a point of emphasis with Kreider and Zibanejad because the recent history is not great for either. That puts Laviolette in a tough spot, including this juggling of stable line combinations.
The Rangers seek some answers sooner rather than later, especially facing the Jets, who’ve won 14 of 15 to start the season, in town on Tuesday.
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