Larry Brooks throws mud at Mika Zibanejad with Rangers star's struggles piling

The New York Rangers are struggling and have lost eight of their last ten games. Amid this poor stretch, star forward Mika Zibanejad has faced heavy criticism. Known for his scoring ability, Zibanejad scored 39 goals in the 2022-23 season. He managed 26 in the next. But this season he has only scored five goals in 27 games.

Larry Brooks, a journalist for the New York Post, discussed Mika Zibanejad’s struggles on Episode 535 of Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. He said Zibanejad might be too affected by public criticism.

"I think a lot of the criticism got to [Zibanejad]. He's very sensitive. Way too sensitive to what other people are saying about him. It gets in his head and he spirals and spirals and spirals." Brooks explained.

Brooks added that this sensitivity might be causing Zibanejad to overthink and lose focus on the ice.

Playing in New York comes with high pressure as fans expect constant success. The Rangers have a talented roster but are falling short. Fans and analysts are frustrated with the team’s performance, especially with top players like Zibanejad. They have tried different things to turn it all around but nothing has worked so far. They traded their captain Jacob Trouba and signed goalie Igor Shesterkin on a big $92 million contract.

But despite this, they lost to Blackhawks 2-1 and prior to that, they lost to Kraken 7-5. As a leader, Mika Zibanejad is expected to help the team succeed but his current form is raising questions. He needs to adjust his approach and regain confidence. Tuning out criticism could help him focus and perform better.

The Rangers currently have a record of 14-12-1 and are placed 5th in the Metropolitan Division with 29 points. For the Rangers, this is a crucial point in their season. If the team doesn’t improve soon, the pressure will only grow stronger.

Rangers lost to Blackhawks and Mika Zibanejad failed to score

The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Monday. Mika Zibanejad did not score any points in the Rangers' loss to the Blackhawks. He recorded two shots on goal in 19:31 minutes of ice time.

Tyler Bertuzzi scored first, taking a pass from Taylor Hall and shooting past Igor Shesterkin at 8:10 in the first period. Will Cuylle tied the game with a shorthanded goal, scoring off a rebound with 43 seconds left in the first.

Taylor Hall scored the game-winning goal in the second period, finishing a 2-on-1 play with Connor Bedard at 6:16. Despite Shesterkin’s 30 saves, the Rangers lost their eighth game in the last ten.