PITTSBURGH - Mika Zibanejad can hear the loud knocking at the door of the Ottawa Senators dressing room.
Yes, it’s opportunity calling.
With No. 1 centre Kyle Turris injured for the foreseeable future, Zibanejad is in position to finally and firmly take command, to fulfil the promise which came when he was drafted sixth overall in 2011. If he’s ever going to prove he can be a consistent front-line presence, this is it.
“It is an opportunity for myself to take a role that I have been expecting to grow into, or take that next step forward,” said Zibanejad, who will centre Mike Hoffman and Bobby Ryan in Tuesday’s game against Pittsburgh.