By admin 
SUNRISE, Fla. – Head coach Peter Laviolette has previously experimented with taking out the struggling Mika Zibanejad from the first power play unit mid-game, most recently during Saturday night 6-2 loss at Tampa Bay.
However, during a quick practice on Sunday, Zibanejad was demoted to the second unit due to a rare personnel change.
Asked if he was disappointed to be moved from a spot he had occupied for most of his nine-year tenure in New York, the Swedish center was candid.
“I don’t think there’s time for that right now,” he said after the Rangers wrapped up practice ahead of their game against the Panthers on Monday night. “This has nothing to do with me personally or anything that I’m going to make about myself. We’re not in a place in this season where we’re feeling sorry for ourselves or being anything like that. It’s a different opportunity, it’s a new opportunity for that unit with (Alexis Lafreniere) coming – and rightly so.
“Honestly, just for me, to help the unit I play on and go from there.”
Mika Zibanejad is pictured during the Rangers’ game against the Devils on December 23. NHLI via Getty Images Mika Zibanejad tries to score during the Rangers’ win against the Kings on December 14. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Blueshirts power play was a shadow of itself, as was the rest of the team’s play.
Not only have they not scored once in their last 20 man-advantage opportunities over the past seven games, but their power play percentage of 17.9 ranked 22nd in the NHL going into Sunday night’s stretch of games.
Since Nov. 14, just before the 2-2 road trip west that prompted president and general manager Chris Drury’s league-wide trade memo, the Rangers’ power play is 6-for-53 with a whopping four shorthanded goals against .
After scoring five times in the first five games of the season, they hit 12-for-81 (14.8 percent).
Only seven teams have had fewer power play opportunities than the Rangers’ 95, which is a testament to how little the team has had the puck during this terrible 4-14 stretch.
Laviolette has finally made a move, trading Zibanejad for Lafreniere, who along with Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox and Vincent Trocheck form the Rangers’ best power-play unit.
Mika Zibanejad, pictured on Dec. 17 during the Rangers’ game against the Predators, and the rest of the Rangers’ power play have struggled lately. NHLI via Getty Images
The second unit then consisted of Zibanejad, K’Andre Miller, Will Cuylle, Reilly Smith and Filip Chytil.
“It’s not working,” Laviolette said. “We’re working on things, we’re trying things. Ultimately, if they don’t work, you’ll have to move things around a bit. I don’t know if it’s permanent or not, but right now that’s where it’s at.”
According to Zibanejad, there was no conversation with the coaching staff about the demotion, but the 31-year-old assumed it would come given the substitution against the Lightning and the state of the power play.
Zibanejad emphasized that everyone, from the decision makers to the players, is just trying to find a way to win.
If this adjustment is going to help them win, he said, he doesn’t mind not going on the ice when the new first unit scores.
The most logical choice for the substitution was Zibanejad, who has scored just one goal in the past twelve games.
His two power-play goals – and six total goals – on the season show how much he has struggled offensively in all situations.
“It’s been up and down,” Zibanejad said of how he’s assessed the power play lately. “I thought we looked good, but then we can’t get into the zone. … Sometimes a little too complicated. I think a lot of areas have been frustrating, if you don’t get the result and you don’t get the goals and the momentum.
“I just have to go back and simplify it. We know what kind of power play we have and what we are capable of. Just simplify it and go from there.”