Mika Zibanejad has seen plenty of highs and lows during his 10 years with the Rangers.

Even with the team going through another retool in the midst of a disappointing 2025-26 season, Zibanejad made it clear during his exit day interview that this is where he wants to be.

While the Blueshirts finished in the basement of the Eastern Conference, the veteran is excited about the positives they were able to show down the stretch.

“Just look around the league and see how fast it could go,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen with the team and what we do as an organization, but I think seeing the teams that made the playoffs and how quick of a turnaround it’s been for some, I’m optimistic.

“Especially with the young guys we have coming in after playing down the stretch, I don’t feel like we need a whole lot more -- I want to be here to turn this thing around again, and hopefully get another chance to win.”

While it was a disappointing showing overall as a team, Zibanejad was easily one of the biggest bright spots.

After back-to-back down campaigns, the 32-year-old center bounced back in a big way, finishing just shy of averaging a point per game with 78 across 81 contests.

He took home the Steven McDonald Extra Effort award, was voted by the media as the Team MVP, and was picked by his teammates as the recipient of the Players’ Player.

“I think I proved to some other people who had a thing or two to say about me last year to show what I can do and what I’m still capable of,” Zibanejad said. “I still have to bring it again next year, but it was a positive thing not just for myself, but for everyone else as well.”

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