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Mika Zibanejad’s incredible season was rewarded with a special salute from Rangers fans on Wednesday. The 25-year-old center received The Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in a season where he’s left no doubt about his standing as a true No. 1 center.
This is the kind of player that a team builds around and there’s a growing sense that Zibanejad could be named captain ahead of next season. He has played with a fervent, two-way effort that is resulting in a career-best 72-point campaign.
The Swede is quick to loose pucks and quick at getting it back from opponents. He’s assisting teammates with aplomb (42 total) and has netted 30 goals of his own. His 11 power-play goals are tied for 17th highest in the NHL.
Zibanejad is providing the best possible example for younger teammates to follow – work hard, commit yourself on both ends of the ice and good things will happen.
Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist won the McDonald Extra Effort Award last season. Former Ranger Mats Zuccarello captured the award in three of the previous four years prior to Lundqvist. This is the first time that Zibanejad has won the award.
“I wasn’t surprised that he won it,” head coach David Quinn told reporters. “We’ve all talked about what a great year he’s had and how consistent he’s been. Obviously, a lot of people point to his point total, as they should – but there’s so much more to his game. He’s done everything for us. He’s been our No. 1 center, he’s killed penalties, he’s been on the power play, he’s done everything for us. Well deserved, well deserved.”
The Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is presented annually to the Ranger judged by the fans to have gone “above and beyond the call of duty.” The award has been given out annually since the 1987-88 season in honor of former New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty. McDonald passed away in 2017.
Next season, the Rangers will be going forward with a captain donning the ‘C’ after naming five alternate captains ahead of the current season. Zibanejad, Zuccarello, Marc Staal, Chris Kreider and Jesper Fast shared leadership duties. The Rangers have not had a permanent captain since trading defenseman Ryan McDonagh to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Feb. 2018.
Zibanejad would be a deserving choice to wear the ‘C’ for all the reasons I mentioned earlier, though there are plenty of internal candidates and perhaps an offseason veteran acquisition could also figure into the mix. That said, it wouldn’t be a shock if Zibanejad earns the ‘C’ given how he’s impressed Quinn and the example he’s setting by playing his tail off.