Celebrating Mika Zibanejad’s 1000th NHL Game
On Monday evening, the New York Rangers will momentarily divert their focus from a disappointing season to honor former Ottawa Senator Mika Zibanejad, who will be commemorating a significant milestone: his 1000th game in the NHL. Zibanejad, selected sixth overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, has spent a substantial portion of his career—718 of his 999 games—competing against teams rather than with them, as he has donned the colors of rival franchises.
With this achievement, he becomes the second player from his draft class, after Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, to reach the 1000-game milestone; fellow Swede Adam Larsson is set to follow suit soon after receiving his silver stick in Seattle.
The Rangers’ Current Struggles
The Rangers find themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and face the grim prospect of missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year, making the celebration of Zibanejad’s career a welcome distraction for the team and its fans. Conversely, for Ottawa Senators supporters, their priority is securing crucial points in the ongoing playoff race. Despite this, they may still take a moment to reflect on the alternative history in which Zibanejad remained with the Senators a decade ago.
A Trade That Changed Histories
In July 2016, newly appointed general manager Pierre Dorion made waves by trading Zibanejad to the Rangers in exchange for Derick Brassard, along with a second-round pick in 2018 and a seventh-round pick in 2018. Many fans were left wondering why Ottawa included an additional second-rounder in the deal. The immediate aftermath saw the Senators advance to the Conference Final, with Brassard contributing 11 points in 18 playoff games, while Zibanejad took longer to find his footing in New York.
However, as time passed, it became evident that Zibanejad was flourishing, contrasting with Brassard’s decline, which eventually led to his retirement three years ago after a brief stint in Switzerland. Currently, Zibanejad is enjoying an impressive season, leading the Rangers with 30 goals and 67 points over 69 games.
Reflecting on the Trade’s Impact
Initially, there was some consolation for Dorion when he traded Brassard to Pittsburgh for goalie Filip Gustavsson, but his decision to swap Gustavsson for Cam Talbot, a veteran netminder for just one season, complicated that narrative as Talbot was not re-signed.
Zibanejad’s Achievements
Among Zibanejad’s accomplishments during his tenure with the Rangers are numerous records and milestones: he stands as the franchise leader in career power play goals with 122, and he recently tied Hall of Famer Bill Cook for the most hat tricks in franchise history. He has also achieved notable individual feats, including a five-goal game and a six-point period that matched an NHL record, alongside becoming the first player to score a hat trick in the Winter Classic just two months back.
Looking Ahead
As Ottawa’s focus shifts back to their own quest for playoff success, Zibanejad’s remarkable journey and contributions to the game will certainly be acknowledged ahead of Monday’s matchup.
Steve Warne, The Hockey News
