but has now been sent home to Sweden to mature a bit more.
Zibanejad looked very good in pre-season play with the Ottawa Senators, who had drafted him last summer in the first round.
But that promise didn’t materialize once the season began. In nine games, Zibanejad did not score a single goal and was awarded only a solitary point for one assist.
Zibanejad is only 18 and is almost certain to get another try at the NHL, perhaps as soon as next season.
Under NHL rules, if Ottawa played him in 10 games, that triggered his contract for a full year. After nine games, however, Ottawa sent him back to Sweden and his pro team there.
Senators’ Coach Paul MacLean was very positive about Zibanejad—just one game before sending him home. “I think he’s an NHL player,” the coach said. “Now, we’re going to make a decision based on what’s best for Mika. But I think he has played fine.”
Mika’s dad, Mehrdad, is from Iran, while his mother, Ritva, is from Finland. The couple met in Sweden where they married and Mika was born.
