Rangers top-line center Mika Zibanejad revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 prior to training camp and that’s why he was unable to participate in the first handful of days.
“I tested positive, so I was out for a certain amount of days and been going through and sticking to protocol,” Zibanejad said following his first full practice with the team Monday. “Been skating on my own and now first real skate with the team, so it felt good.”
Throughout camp, head coach David Quinn has maintained his confidence Zibanejad would be ready to go by Thursday’s opener against the Islanders at Madison Square Garden, but the 27-year-old Swede wouldn’t confirm.
Zibanejad, entering his fifth season on Broadway, added that he’s feeling good now and is taking things day by day, while also consulting with doctors.
“I’ve been in talks and having conversations on a daily basis with the doctors, the training staff here and everyone,” he said. “All I can say is I feel good now and [I’m] just really excited to be back on the ice and be back out there with the team again. Just looking forward to getting this going.”
Zibanejad was back centering the Rangers’ first line Monday, alongside Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich. Although he hasn’t been able to practice with the team much, Zibanejad said he’s liked what he’s seen from the group so far through training camp. He also mentioned Alexis Lafreniere, the team’s No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, and K’Andre Miller as two young players who have caught his eye.
Behind only Artemi Panarin, Zibanejad accumulated the team’s second highest point total with 41 goals and 34 assists in 57 games last season. Many consider Zibanejad to be the most qualified candidate to step up as the Rangers’ captain, but he said there hasn’t been any discussions of that coming to fruition.
“No, not talks [about becoming captain],” he said. “If there would be, I don’t think I would say it. No, nothing. I’m just, the last couple of weeks, focusing on getting back and getting through all this. I’m just happy to be here again.”
Quinn confirmed the second group of players on the ice Monday, which did not include Morgan Barron, were likely going to make up the Rangers’ opening night roster.
There was a ton of buzz surrounding the former Cornell center coming into training camp after he impressed through three solid seasons in the NCAA. He was named captain of the Big Red in 2019-20 and went on to score 14 goals and dish 18 assists for 32 points in 29 games.
“I thought Morgan looked nervous through most of the camp,” Quinn said on a Zoom call Monday. “People handle expectations differently, I think there was a lot of talk of him maybe having an opportunity to make the team and there certainly was an opportunity for him to do that. But it’s a big job, he’s a really good player, we love having him here. I’m not going to be surprised if he plays games for us this year.”
“But he’s just looked a little bit nervous, gripping the stick a little bit too much, worrying about not making mistakes. I thought his best hockey was [Sunday] night, I thought in the scrimmage [Sunday] night he was good.”
The Rangers placed Anthony Bitetto, Colin Blackwell, Jonny Brodzinsi, Brandon Crawley, Gabriel Fontaine, Anthony Greco and Keith Kinkaid on waivers.