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RANGERS ANNOUNCE SEASON’S PLAYER AWARDS

Mika Zibanejad Rangers

Mika Zibanejad RangersRANGERS ANNOUNCE SEASON’S PLAYER AWARDS

By: New York Rangers Media Department

New York, NY – The New York Rangers announced today that forward Mika Zibanejad has been named the winner of the 2025-26 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, presented by Northwell.

The Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is presented annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, “goes above and beyond the call of duty.” The award, which has been given annually since the 1987-88 season, bears the name of devoted Blueshirt fan and New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12, 1986, and passed away on Jan. 10, 2017.

Zibanejad, 32, has notched 32 goals and 37 assists for 69 points in 73 games for New York this season. He leads all Rangers this season in goals, power play goals (15) and points, and is one of four skaters in the NHL this season with 30-plus goals, 30-plus assists and 15-plus power play goals. His 15 power play goals rank fifth in the NHL and his 31 power play points are tied for ninth.  Zibanejad broke the franchise record for the most power play goals this season (123), becoming the first active player to lead an Original Six franchise in power play goals. On Mar. 23, he skated in his 1,000th career NHL game and became the 22nd Swedish born NHL player to reach the milestone.

Across 15 seasons between the Rangers and the Ottawa Senators, he has collected 346 goals and 463 assists for 809 points. He is the fourth Rangers skater in team history to have recorded nine 20-goal seasons with the Rangers and among all Rangers skaters in franchise history, ranks third in power play points (244), fourth in goals (282) and seventh in points (658).

The Stockholm, Sweden native has now won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort award for the third time in his career and is only the fourth Rangers skater to have won the award at least three times. He was originally named the winner in back-to-back seasons (2018-19 and 2019-20) and became the sixth Ranger to have won the award in at least two consecutive seasons.

Every time you talk about this wonderful family and the award, it brings me back 13 years (when he won the first time), because it was my rookie year, the first time I met the family and got an understanding of the impact they had in this community. I got to know them over the years, (they’re) very nice people and obviously it’s a huge honor to receieve the award. – retired Ranger Henrik Lundqvist: Winner in 2005-06 & 2017-18

JT Miller Rangers

NEW YORK, NY – New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller has been named the recipient of the fifth annual Rod Gilbert “Mr. Ranger” Award, given to the Rangers player “who best honors Rod’s legacy by exemplifying leadership qualities both on and off the ice, and making a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.”

Named the 29th captain of the New York Rangers prior to the start of the season, Miller has proven a genuine commitment to making a positive impact in the community. In January, Miller and his wife, Natalie, donated $154,000 to the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the largest donation to Garden of Dreams made by a player in franchise history. With this donation, Garden of Dreams purchased 10 suites to invite youth from varying partner organizations, such as NYPD Widows and Children’s Fund, SCAN-Harbor, Ronald McDonald House New York, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and more, to attend New York Rangers games and to meet the Millers following the game. At the start of the season, Miller represented the Rangers at the BGC Charity Day, honoring those lost in the September 11 attacks by participating in celebrity guest calls on the trading floor, meeting fans and helping raise funds for the Garden of Dreams Foundation. Throughout the season, he has consistently been present at team community initiatives, including post-game fan meet-and-greets.

The East Palestine, Ohio native was named to the 2026 United States Men’s Hockey Team earlier this year and returned from Milan, Italy as an Olympic gold medalist. This season with the Rangers, he has registered 16 goals and 31 assists for 47 points in 61 games. He ranks third on New York in faceoff wins (489), fourth in hits (118) and fifth in points, and skated in his 900th career NHL game on Dec. 7. His 61.5 faceoff win percentage this season ranks third among all NHL skaters who have taken at least 500 faceoffs, and his 54.1 faceoff percentage is tied for seventh among all Rangers skaters who have taken 1,000 or more faceoffs in franchise history.

NEW YORK RANGERS

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Mitch Beck

Mitch Beck was a standup comedian and radio personality for over 25 years. His passion for hockey started with Team USA in 1980 when they defeated the Soviets at Lake Placid. He has also worked in hockey as a coach and administrator. He also works for USA Hockey as a Coach Developer. Mitch has been reporting on the New York Rangers, and exclusively on the Hartford Wolf Pack since 2005.

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