It tells of disappointment and the future in New York
Later this year, Mika Zibanejad, 30, will become a father.
But first, the NHL superstar will be back in the DJ booth after four years.
– It’s a unique way to get kicks, he says.
Despite the New York Rangers signing superstars Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane at the end of the NHL’s regular season, last year’s season was halted in the first round after local rivals New Jersey Devils proved too tough and won the deciding seventh game.
For Swedish star Mika Zibanejad, it was a disappointment.
Qualifications did not go as hoped. We went to the conference finals last year. So it’s sad and a sign that we haven’t gotten there or we haven’t gotten as far as we were supposed to and the expectations were on us, he says.
Performance at Gärdet
As a result, coach Gerard Gallant was fired, and it became clear last week that Peter Laviolette, who was most recently with the Washington Capitals, would take his place.
What was your first impression of Laviolette?
– I watched the press conference a few days ago. No, but it’s very hard to get any impression from a press conference. But you’ll definitely have conversations and get to know him,” says the 30-year-old, who is entering his eighth season with the Rangers.
Since exiting the playoffs, Zibanejad has been at home in Stockholm.
Next week, Friday, June 30, the hockey star will perform as a DJ at Lollapalooza Music Festival at Gärdet in Stockholm. On the same day, Zara Larsson and Icona Pop among others in the lineup.
– I’ve played on some club tours before. Then I played Summer Burst four years ago. Lollapalooza is something else entirely. A festival is not just the kind of music I play. It’s a fun festival that I’ve been to myself and it would be really fun to play, he says.
1/2Photo: Sean Kilpatrick/The Associated Press
Four years of waiting
The last time he performed was four years ago, in the summer of 2019.
– That was just before the pandemic last summer.
The Swede previously told the NHL that performances in the summer give him an adrenaline rush that he lacks during the summer when hockey is on the break.
Is this still the case?
– This is the best answer once I played. While I think I’m still four years older now. Then I can think it’s a little better not to have that pulse and those kicks over the summer. But at the same time, it’s easy to say when you know there are long seasons. This way it is a unique way to get those special kicks.
“I’m looking forward to it so much”
He has released five songs on Spotify, with the single “Nobody” from 2018 being the most popular with just over 14 million listeners. The latest released song is “By My Side” as of 2020.
– There was a slightly lower version. It’s been three years now. The music itself was a relaxing thing. During the pandemic, it was a little more than that… When we played during the season, we were away and played two to four games. Then it was a lot that we were in hotel rooms. There were more video games during that time.
– I don’t make music to be released. I probably never did either. It was a hobby and a fun thing to do on the side. I didn’t have any big plans for that to happen. There was no urgent need to release new songs. I probably have many more unreleased songs than I have released. I have a few different songs I’ve been thinking about trying out for Lollapalooza. So it will be interesting to watch.
In addition to the party, another big thing awaits in the near future.
16 weeks ago, the hockey star and his wife, Irma Helen Zibanejad, announced on social media that they would become parents later this year.
– We’re looking forward to it a lot and I’m looking forward to it a lot, so it’s going to be a lot of fun, he says.