TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — After only one shift in his usual power-play spot during the New York Rangers’ morning skate at the MSG Training Center on Monday, Mika Zibanejad curiously skated off to the side and hung around the bench while his teammates continued their work.

Once the session was complete, coach Mike Sullivan revealed the reason.

“Mika will not play tonight because he violated a team rule,” Sullivan announced. “He missed a team meeting this morning.”

It was a surprising revelation in advance of the Rangers hosting Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba and the Anaheim Ducks. It will mark Kreider and Trouba’s first return to Madison Square Garden since they were separately traded, with none of the current Blueshirts spending more time as their teammate than Zibanejad.

Trouba told The Athletic last week that they planned to hang out with Zibanejad in the days leading up to the game, but now they won’t get the chance to compete against him.

Sullivan acknowledged the “logistical challenges that the city presents,” an indication that the 32-year-old forward — one of the few remaining Rangers who lives in New York City, rather than the northern suburbs — had dealt with commuting issues. But he also said that “Mika understands the importance of the rules that we all expect of one another.”

“He feels terribly,” Sullivan added. “The one thing about Mika is he’s an honest person. He’s a great human being and he takes responsibility for it.”

Zibanejad has appeared in all 33 games to this point and ranks third on the team with 25 points (11 goals and 14 assists). He’s been at a point-per-game clip in the last 19 contests while registering on the scoresheet in eight of the last nine overall. The upswing has come while returning to his natural center position after opening the season at right wing.

It’s unclear who will fill Zibanejad’s regular spot between wingers Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière, but veteran Jonny Brodzinski is slated to slot somewhere in the lineup. Sullivan bumped Will Cuylle up to the top power-play unit to maintain the recent five-forward look, with Panarin shifting to back to the point after Zibanejad was used there in Saturday’s 5-4 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens.

The decision will leave the Rangers without one of their most important players against a dynamic young Ducks team, but it sends a message about Sullivan’s commitment to accountability regardless of veteran status or standing on the team. The coach confirmed that the 6-foot-2, 208-pounder will return for Tuesday’s home game against the Vancouver Canucks.

“It’s certainly not something that we would like to happen, but having said that, we believe strongly in the process that we have in place,” Sullivan said. “I think it’s important for everyone to understand what the expectations are, and Mika understands that as a leader of the team. None of us are perfect. Everybody makes mistakes, and we’ll move by this. He’ll be available tomorrow, and he’ll be the player that he’s been for us all year long.”

Matt Rempe likely to return

While Zibanejad comes out of the lineup, another familiar face should return.

Matt Rempe will be a game-time decision, according to Sullivan, who sounded optimistic about the 23-year-old forward’s chances. “I would anticipate him being available.”

The 6-foot-9, 261-pounder has missed the last 24 games due to an upper-body ailment, which is suspected to be a hand injury sustained while fighting Ryan Reaves during an Oct. 23 game against the San Jose Sharks.

Before the injury, Rempe was off to a solid start as a menacing member of what Sullivan described as his “momentum line” with Sam Carrick and Adam Edström. The latter is on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body ailment, but it’s likely Rempe will reunite with Carrick and current fourth-line winger Taylor Raddysh.

Rookie Jaroslav Chmelař, who appeared in the previous three games, will likely come out of the lineup to make room.