$68,000,000 Rangers center makes his feelings known about separation from long-time linemate Chris Kreider

Mika Zibanejad has been struggling to score on 5v5 opportunities for the New York Rangers. Throughout the 2023-24 regular season and 10 games into this season, the Swedish center has managed just 9 goals in 91 games, per Natural Stat Trick. His best seasons in 5v5 were in 2022-23 and 2021-22, when he recorded 40 and 39 points respectively.

In an attempt to spark Zibanejad's 5v5 scoring, Rangers HC Peter Laviolette has changed his lines. During the Rangers' practice on Saturday, ahead of their clash with New York rivals, the Islanders, Laviolette separated Zibanejad from his long-time partner Chris Kreider and placed him in line with wingers Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere.

The 31-year-old center, who signed a $68 million contract extension with the Rangers on Oct 10, 2021, addressed the line swap and his separation from Chris Kreider. Per Rangers reporter Vincent Mercogliano, a chuckling Zibanejad said:

"I told them, ‘I'm nervous. New kid on the block. I’ll try to play my game, but obviously I’m trying to adapt a little bit, because they're used to each other, too."

With the addition of Zibanejad, Laviolette has broken up the Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere line, which was the league's highest-scoring line last season and has scored eight goals in this season's first 10 games. Laviolette shrugged off any thoughts of making the line changes to reactivate Zibanejad's scoring, and said:

"That wasn't the reason why we did it. I actually think that those are three really good players and think that they could complement each other. And, so, we just wanted to see it in practice."

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Did Zibanejad feel he was owed an explanation from Rangers coaching staff for swapping lines?

When such a major line change is decided upon, one would think the coaching staff would discuss it with the players involved, but that was not the case for Zibanejad. The center disclosed that he got to know about his new linemates for the first time when he saw the lines on the board before Saturday's practice.

When asked if he felt like he was owed an explanation for the change, he said (per lohud):

"They didn't say much about it. ‘Just go have fun. Just play your game.’ I don't think they always have to explain themselves, and I don't know if there's a bigger reason."

Zibanejad stressed on his intent to score more points for the team and believes he has to find a balance and take advantage of his "two highly skilled" new linemates in Panarin and Lafreniere.

Rangers' projected lines versus Islanders:

Panarin - Zibanejad - Lafreniere

Cuylle - Trochech - Smith

Kreider - Chytil - Kakko

Edstrom - Carrick - Vesey

Lindgren - Fox

Miller - Trouba

Jones - Schneider

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How to watch Rangers vs Islanders today?

The Islanders are visiting the Rangers at MSG on Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. ET puck drop. The game can be viewed on MSGSN, NHLN, MSG and SN.