Mika Zibanejad Apologizes for Missing Meeting: “I Got Stuck”

Mika Zibanejad was back after being benched in the last game.

The New York Rangers star was punished for missing a team meeting.

– It is my tenth season now, I know what applies, says the 32-year-old center.

Mika Zibanejad was poked for disciplinary reasons against the Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden.

Now the team’s Swedish assistant captain was back in the home game against the Vancouver Canucks.

After the game, he explained to the assembled media why he had missed the team meeting.

– I got stuck. We got caught behind an accident. I just hope that everyone in that accident did well, says Mika Zibanejad.

Long way to training

After ten seasons with the New York Rangers and five seasons with the Ottawa Senators, he understands the conditions.

– Rules are rules and I was late. There’s not much more to say honestly. That’s the reason why I was late, says Mika Zibanejad.

In the NHL’s first episode of TNT’s “Road to the Winter Classic,” his long trip to the Tarrytown training facility from New Tork City was a topic of conversation.

Head coach Mike Sullivan declined to reveal whether it was a one-off for Mika Zibanejad, but he assured the two had talked about it and agreed on the consequences.

Two straight home runs

This type of action is not uncommon and is without exception in the NHL clubs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning benched Brayden Point for missing a mandatory team meeting last January.

Artyom Levshunov of the Chicago Blackhawks was penalized on Tuesday for showing up late to practice.

The New York Rangers lost to the Anaheim Ducks 4–1 and now to the Vancouver Canucks 3–0.

Mika Zibanejad was the center in the second chain between forwards Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere

He had two shots on goal, had 22.15 minutes of playing time and won 42.9 percent of the draws (six of 14).

^{Advertisement}
Stream the entire SHL season on TV4 Play