Previously three years, Zibanejad has performed remarkably persistently. 434 forwards have performed 1,000 regular-season minutes in that point. Zibanejad is fortieth with a goals-for proportion of 57.5%. Over a pattern measurement that giant, the Rangers are clearly the higher staff when Zibanejad is on the ice.
Zibanejad stays a harmful power on the penalty kill. At the same time as his five-on-five numbers cratered, he was nonetheless a top-30 participant final season in short-handed scoring per 60 minutes and sixth in general scoring with six shorthanded factors. He did this whereas enjoying massive minutes on one of many league’s high penalty kills.
The issue is his five-on-five manufacturing cannot be ignored.
In objectives per 60 minutes at five-on-five, he completed 314th of 402 forwards who performed at the very least 400 minutes final season. At 0.45 objectives per 60, it was the second-lowest output of his profession.
Ending wasn’t his solely downside. Zibanejad noticed his general scoring probability numbers dip, ending 277th of 402 forwards in high-danger probabilities created per 60 minutes, based on Pure Stat Trick.
Zibanejad noticed his uncooked level totals drop precipitously — his lowest uncooked output for the reason that 2017-18 season. On a per 60-minute foundation, he dropped from a constant three-year stretch the place he scored roughly 2.15 factors per 60 to 1.41 factors per 60. That could be a decline from comfy first-line manufacturing to third-line manufacturing for a participant making high cash.
A few of these struggles adopted Zibanejad to the ability play the place, traditionally, he has performed splendidly. His objectives per 60 on the ability play dropped to his lowest totals for the reason that 2016-17 season. Once more, this is not simply a difficulty of capturing proportion. Zibanejad additionally created fewer alternatives for himself, along with his high-danger probabilities per 60 minutes on the ability play dropping by half year-over-year.
If this continues, the questions on Zibanejad will mount. Did the Rangers overcommit? Did they signal him too late in his profession arc? Is he definitely worth the cap hit, and may he be the No. 1 middle on a Stanley Cup champion?
These aren’t questions we are able to reply as we speak. These are questions the Rangers should reply, as a result of the Alex Barkovs and Connor McDavids of the world will all the time be standing in the way in which if you find yourself enjoying video games deep into Could and June.
The largest query of all is that if Zibanejad can hold with these guys when a Stanley Cup is on the road.
