SUNRISE, Fla. — Head coach Peter Laviolette has experimented with removing struggling Mika Zibanejad from the initial power play unit mid-game in the past, most recently in a 6-2 loss against Tampa Bay on Saturday night. I tried it when I lost.
But during Sunday's fast-paced practice, Zibanejad was demoted to the second unit in an unusual personnel change.
Asked if he was disappointed to be removed from the position he held for the majority of his nine-year tenure in New York, the Swedish center was candid.
“I don't think we have time for that right now,” he said after the Rangers practiced ahead of Monday night's matchup with the Panthers. “This has nothing to do with me personally and I'm not trying to make any claims about myself. This season is not a situation where I can feel sorry for myself or be like that. . It's a different opportunity, a different opportunity for that unit. [Alexis Lafreniere] That's natural.
“Honestly, it's just for me and to help the unit I'm playing on. And we go from there.”
The Blueshirts' power play, like the rest of the team's game, was a shell of itself.
Not only has he not scored on any of his 20 man-advantage chances in his past seven games, but his 17.9 power-play success rate entering Sunday night's game ranks 22nd in the NHL.
Since Nov. 14, just before the West trip that prompted President and General Manager Chris Drury's league-wide trade memo, the Rangers' power play has gone 6-for-53 with an astonishing four goals on short shots. There is.
After scoring five points in the first five games of the season, the team scored 12 points in 81 games (14.8 percent).
Only seven teams had fewer power-play chances than the Rangers' 95, a testament to how little the team had the puck during this abysmal 4-14 stretch.
Laviolette finally made his move, trading Zibanejad for Lafreniere to form the Rangers' top power play unit with Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox and Vincent Trocheck.
The second unit then consisted of Zibanejad, Quandre Miller, Will Quill, Riley Smith, and Filip Sitil.
“It's not working,” Laviolette said. “We're working on things, we're trying things out. If they end up not working, we'll have to change things up a little bit. We don't know if it's permanent. However, that is the current situation.”
According to Zibanejad, there were no conversations with the coaching staff about the demotion, but the 31-year-old expected it to come given the changes against the Lightning and the power play situation.
Zibanejad stressed that everyone, from the decision-makers to the players, is just trying to find a way to win.
He said he doesn't mind not being on the ice if the new first unit scores if the adjustment helps them win.
The most logical choice to replace him was Zibanejad, who has scored just one goal in his last 12 games.
His two power-play goals and six total goals on the season make it clear how much he struggled offensively in all situations.
“It's had its ups and downs,” Zibanejad said of how he evaluates the power play as of late. “I thought I was looking good, but I can’t get into the zone. … Sometimes it’s a little too complicated. When you don’t get a result, when you don’t get a goal or get momentum from it, there’s a lot of frustration. I think he was feeling the ration.
“We have to go back and simplify. We know what kind of power play we have and what we can do. Just simplify it and go from there.”
