Rangers Veteran Starting Season on J.T. Miller's Wing

This long-time New York Rangers center is likely starting on captain J.T. Miller's right.

Jan 14, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Rangers left wing J.T. Miller (10) and center Mika Zibanejad (93) talk prior to a face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

With New York Rangers training camp opening this week, lots of adjustment should be expected to be made under new head coach Mike Sullivan.

The Rangers are looking to bounce back with their new coach following a 2024-25 season which saw them completely missing the postseason the very year after winning the Presidents' Trophy. While Blueshirt general manager and president Chris Drury did deal away longtime veteran Chris Kreider to Anaheim, 32-year-old Mika Zibanejad remains on the roster.

Wednesday was the day before training camp officially became underway for the Rangers, which meant it was also the day Sullivan met with the media in the midst of content/media day. While here, he revealed that he plans on starting Sullivan on J.T. Miller's right wing.

Zibenajad has grown an affinity for playing alongside the newly-named captain, but the Swedish native himself has played the vast majority of his NHL career at center.

“Common sense would suggest that maybe we start there and see if that’s in the best interest for the group. But there’s always going to be that conversation of, ‘Do we put Mika on the wing, or do we put Mika in the middle?’ If we put him in the middle, we arguably have three of the best centers, the one, two, three down the middle with J.T., Mika and [Vincent Trocheck]. In my mind, that’s as good as it gets," Sullivan said.

"The challenge is, do we have what it takes to surround them with to create the balance we need and set them up for success? We’re already having those conversations as a coaching staff. We’ve had some of these discussions with the players.”

#NYR coach Mike Sullivan on Mika Zibanejad starting the season on J.T. Miller's wing:

“Common sense would suggest that maybe we start there and see if that’s in the best interest for the group. But there’s always going to be that conversation of, ‘Do we put Mika on the wing, or…

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) September 17, 2025

The Blueshirts' current head coach — Sullivan — won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2015-16 and 2016-17, and in the process, he became just the second head coach in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup in each of his first two seasons with a team.

He's also the Penguins’ all-time leader in several coaching categories, including regular season games coached, regular season wins, postseason games coached, and postseason wins.

Sullivan moving Zibanejad, or any player for the matter, around position wise on the ice is a decision fans can likely be expected to trust given his track record.

This training camp will be Sullivan's first under the Rangers, and is his first opportunity to leave his mark on his newest roster.

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