ZIBANEJAD NAMED CAPTAIN AS NEW ERA BEGINS UNDER MIKE SULLIVAN
By Laura Reynolds | August 9, 2025 | New York, NY
The New York Rangers officially turned the page on a new chapter Friday morning, as newly appointed head coach Mike Sullivan named Mika Zibanejad the 29th captain in franchise history.
The announcement, made at a press conference at Madison Square Garden, ends a two-year vacancy of the “C” and signals a bold direction for a team with Stanley Cup ambitions.
“Mika represents everything we want this team to stand for,” Sullivan said. “His work ethic, his poise under pressure, and his ability to connect with every player in the room made this an easy decision.”
Zibanejad, 32, has been a cornerstone of the Rangers since arriving via trade from Ottawa in 2016. Over nine seasons in New York, he’s become not only a top-line center but a respected leader on and off the ice. He posted 71 points in 78 games last season and was a consistent presence during a rollercoaster playoff run that ended in the Eastern Conference Final.
“I’m honored and humbled,” Zibanejad said, seated next to Sullivan and team president Chris Drury. “To be named captain of this organization, with its history and tradition, is something I’ll never take for granted. I’ve grown up here, and this city and this team mean everything to me.”
The Rangers had gone without a captain since the departure of Ryan McDonagh in 2018, preferring to rely on a leadership group featuring alternates like Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, and Adam Fox.
While there were whispers that younger stars like Fox or even newly extended Alexis Lafrenière might be tapped, Sullivan made it clear the time was right to reward Zibanejad’s long-standing leadership.
“There’s no rebuilding here,” Sullivan said firmly. “We’re here to win, and that takes strong, unified leadership. Mika embodies that.”
The decision was reportedly met with strong support in the locker room. Chris Kreider, Zibanejad’s longtime linemate and close friend, said the announcement brought “a lot of emotion.”
“No one deserves it more,” Kreider said. “He’s the heartbeat of our room, and I know we’ll rally behind him.”
Sullivan, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh, was hired in June following the departure of Peter Laviolette. His decision to name a captain before opening night bucks a trend among modern NHL clubs, many of which opt to wait until deep into the season. But Sullivan emphasized the importance of clarity and culture.
“We needed to set the tone early,” he said. “Mika will lead us there.”
With training camp just weeks away, the Zibanejad era as captain begins under the bright lights of Broadway — with expectations as high as ever.