Mika Zibanejad’s surge could go a long way in changing his Rangers fate

Just as Artemi Panarin is being shown the door by the Rangers, fellow forward Mika Zibanejad finally is playing at a productive level that could make him more attractive for another trade.

Zibanejad suddenly is playing his best hockey of the past two seasons, totaling 11 goals and 21 points in 13 January games, including two hat tricks and a goal in each of the team’s two losses to the Islanders earlier this week. That goal-scoring total nearly matches his output of 12 goals over his first 41 appearances this season.

“I think Mika’s game, I think he’s had a terrific year for us,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said following Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Isles at the Garden. “He’s a complete player; he’s a 200-foot player. He values playing defense and he’s good at it. And I think his offensive instincts are very much on display every night.

“He’s a really good player, and he cares a lot about the Rangers and what’s going on here. I think he’s been one of our most, if not our most, consistent players.”

Panarin, the team’s leading scorer, has sat out the past two games and will not play again before next week’s league shutdown for the Olympics in Milan while team president and general manager Chris Drury tries to work out a trade.

Like Panarin, the 32-year-old Zibanejad also controls a full no-movement clause, which means he must waive it to approve any deal to go elsewhere ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.