Mika Zibanejad should be the Rangers 2C to start the season. If you’ve been listening to Live From the Blue Seats, then this isn’t the first time you’ve heard this. Given the current roster and the likelihood there are no major additions between now and September when camp starts, then the only other option at center is Juuso Parssinen, and while he’s young, the expected role isn’t the best fit.
The need is at center, not wing
The Rangers have a glut of wingers, specifically young prospects, while their center depth is very thin. The Rangers have their 1C in JT Miller, a middle six center in Vincent Trocheck, and a 4C in Sam Carrick. On paper, the conversation between Parssinen and Zibanejad should be a quick one. It’s only becoming a topic because Zibanejad looked very good alongside Miller in limited minutes last season.
Just because Zibanejad and Miller clicked–with Artemi Panarin–doesn’t mean it’s what’s best for the overall depth of the Rangers and the product on the ice. If the choice is between Zibanejad at wing, which shifts Juuso Parssinen to 3C and closes one winger opportunity for Brett Berard, Brennan Othmann, and Gabe Perreault, then is it much of a choice?
The point is to let the kids play at wing to see what the Rangers have. If for only that, then Zibanejad should be the Rangers 2C, and not 1RW. Compounding this is the backup plan at (what would be) 3C, which is Parssinen. The kid can be fine, but thrusting him into this kind of role right now probably isn’t the best.
Zibanejad should be the Rangers 2C, not the 3C
Disclaimer: This section implies standard center roles: 1C is the best center and naturally draws tougher defensive matchups. 2C is a sheltered offensive zone start role, feasting on lesser competition. 3C is the shutdown center that draws the toughest offensive matchups. 4C gets the defensive zone starts. This is the argument that Zibanejad should be the Rangers 2C is based on.
A hill I die on is that the Rangers will not be a true contender until Vincent Trocheck is their 3C. He’s been their 2C for too long. This has nothing to do with Trocheck himself. He’s been a fantastic signing and has been instrumental in Chris Drury’s plan to shake up the core and bring the Rangers into their next wave of contention. It’s about the roles.
This is where Mike Sullivan’s prior history of shifting players around the lineup to get the most out of them matters. Under both Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette, Zibanejad was used as a default shutdown center, getting matched up against top competition at 5v5. At home, that usually meant top offensive opposition. On the road, it meant drawing matchups against the likes of Anthony Cirelli and Sasha Barkov. With Miller in tow, those tougher matchups on the road likely get shifted away from Zibanejad. This also matters.
It’s assumed that, to start the season, 1L (JT Miller) will not see any specific deployment related to zone or competition. It’s also assumed that 4L (Sam Carrick) will get mostly defensive zone starts. That leaves a shutdown role and a sheltered offensive zone role. While neither are at the Cirelli/Barkov level on defense, Trocheck is likely the better fit for that type of role right now. If Trocheck gets those tougher minutes as the 3C, then Zibanejad should be the Rangers 2C and feast on those offensive zone starts.
In all fairness, Sully represents a “fresh start” of sorts for Zibanejad, and his defensive play may actually return to normal with a more simplified system, even if heavily reliant on centers backchecking. At the start, Zibanejad should be the Rangers 2C, but if he shows a return to form as a top tier two-way center, then perhaps he can also serve as a shutdown center, giving those offensive zone draws to Trocheck.
Center depth is thin without Zibanejad
Zibanejad should be the Rangers 2C, or at least the 3C based on the above, to start the season. Without him, the team is relying on Parssinen as their 3C, and that’s simply not a good enough solution in the long term.
As of the writing of this post, there is nothing in Parssinen’s game that suggests he is anything more than a depth forward. He’s only 24 years old, but also has close to 2,000 minutes of TOI over 137 games to evaluate from the past three seasons. Parssinen’s best season was his rookie year, putting up 6-19-25 in 45 games with Nashville. Since then his play has declined significantly. There’s a chance he rebounds under Sully, but remember Colorado also moved on after 22 games.
Parssinen is the only other center option right now if Zibanejad moves to wing. That won’t cut it, at least to start the season. If for only this, Zibanejad should be the Rangers 2C. Add in the wing prospects that need to prove themselves and the expected roles, and Zibanejad should be the Rangers 2C. Sometimes, it’s that simple. Evaluate what the Rangers currently are and what they have, and adjust from there.
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