Sullivan aims to preserve Zibanejad-Miller chemistry as Rangers prep for training camp

New York Rangers coach Mike Sullivan signaled he intends to anchor the club's forward group around Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller, aiming to start the season with the same chemistry that helped late-season momentum. Sullivan spoke at the team’s training facility in Tarrytown after a quiet offseason that included a trip to Sweden to meet Zibanejad, whose future had been the subject of speculation after a turbulent 2024-25 season. The New York Post reported that Sullivan flew from New York to Sweden to see Zibanejad and to meet his family as part of building trust.

During his news conference, Sullivan emphasized that Zibanejad is an elite talent and a central piece for the Rangers. He explained that the plan to visit him in Sweden was to get to know him and to give him a chance to get to know the coach and his approach for the season. The conversations in Sweden focused on establishing a relationship and on how to set Zibanejad up for success, with a takeaway being the potential chemistry between Zibanejad and Miller.

Zibanejad has said that he and Miller built chemistry in 24 games on a line late last season, a fact Sullivan cited as a reason to consider starting the season with Zibanejad on Miller’s wing. The coach noted his own experience of Zibanejad as a center in New York and the possibility of starting the season with him on the wing to maximize Miller’s production, while also acknowledging that starting with Zibanejad at center would give the Rangers three strong centers, including Vincent Trocheck, down the middle. He described that balance as potentially as good as it gets if the pieces fit.

Sullivan acknowledged the balancing act for the lineup. He said the team is actively discussing whether to place Zibanejad at wing or center and how to surround the pair with players who can contribute. The coach suggested that starting with Zibanejad on Miller’s wing could be the easy starting point, while also keeping open the option to rotate him to center if the rest of the roster requires it. If Zibanejad remains at center, Sullivan noted, the Rangers could balance three centers, with Miller and Trocheck additionally high-end options.

Context for the plan comes from last season’s struggles. Zibanejad’s toughest stretch occurred early in the year, and his performance dipped for long stretches. By the end of January, he had only 12 points at five-on-five and three power-play goals, a level well below what the Rangers expect from their top center. In late-season games, however, his form improved after reuniting with Miller, underscoring the potential payoff of a Miller-Zibanejad pairing and how a stable lineup can help a player rebound.

As training camp progresses, Sullivan said the team will continue to evaluate lines and work to create balance around its core players. He stressed that relationships with players will be central to the plan, and that conversations with the players will continue as the club plots its approach for the season. With the season approaching, the Rangers hope to reuse the late-season chemistry that helped spark their offense and to support Zibanejad and Miller as primary contributors.