Mika Zibanejad, shown here celebrating his overtime goal during the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Calgary, will play in North America this season. The Senators will look for such clutch play from the Swede in the future with their club. (Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
An NHL lockout means that some of the youngsters ready to shine are
relegated to playing elsewhere. That doesn't mean they aren't growing
and developing into the stars of tomorrow.
We at CBCSports.ca
will be keeping an eye on the next generation of NHL stars on Canada's
seven clubs, whether they're working on the "farm" in the AHL or honing
their game overseas, waiting for the end of the lockout.
We'll
periodically check in with these players throughout the 2012-13 season,
no matter what league they'll be lacing up their skates in. We continue
our series with Mika Zibanejad.
An NHL lockout means that some of the youngsters ready to shine are relegated to playing elsewhere. That doesn't mean they aren't growing and developing into the stars of tomorrow.
We at CBCSports.ca will be keeping an eye on the next generation of NHL stars on Canada's seven clubs, whether they're working on the "farm" in the AHL or honing their game overseas, waiting for the end of the lockout.
We'll periodically check in with these players throughout the 2012-13 season, no matter what league they'll be lacing up their skates in. We continue our series with Mika Zibanejad:
Name: Mika Zibanejad Age/ Birthplace: 19, Huddinge, Sweden Position: C/LW NHL club/draft position: Drafted 6th overall by the Ottawa in the 2011 NHL entry draft NHL GP: 9 Current team: Binghamton Senators (AHL) Stats on current team: 3GP, 0G, 1A, +1, 0 PIM
How he will fit in with his NHL club: The Senators' Swedish connection (Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson) deepened with the selection of Zibanejad in 2011 (not to mention up-and-comers Robin Lehner and Jakob Silfverberg).
The flashy forward began last season with Ottawa, but after recording only one point in nine NHL contests, the team sent Zibanejad back to Sweden to develop.
The Senators announced this past summer that he would play in North America, whether with the AHL affiliate Binghamton Senators (where he is now), or the parent club (if the 2012-13 season actually happens).
Zibanejad had at least one highlight reel tally on Canadian ice last season, albeit during the World Junior Championships:
Justin PiercyOriginally from Fredericton, NB, Justin has worked in newsrooms for Astral Media Radio, Brunswick News Inc., the Toronto Star and CTV. But now he's here at CBCSports.ca to report on the sports you care about while also showing you stuff from the internet he thinks you might like.
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Mika Zibanejad, shown here celebrating his overtime goal during the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game in Calgary, will play in North America this season. The Senators will look for such clutch play from the Swede in the future with their club. (Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
Justin Piercy
Originally from Fredericton, NB, Justin has worked in newsrooms for Astral Media Radio, Brunswick News Inc., the Toronto Star and CTV. But now he's here at CBCSports.ca to report on the sports you care about while also showing you stuff from the internet he thinks you might like.
