Around the NHL — Episode XLXVI

[DylanSensFan]

Imagine knocking on Zibby while they're in the conference finals and he remains one of their top point producers.

Delusional much?

Robertson had a hattrick in game 3 and then was held off the board in game 4. It's strange to me how people attack certain players. Zibanejad has been solid and a playoff performer. The Panther's are just hard on it. Their forecheck has been ridiculous in these last few games.

I don't know that that's exactly my viewing experience with him. I can't really qualify that with anything but words and do think he presents as a low key guy which can be hard to read/rubs some people the wrong way, but I've seen him raise his game in important moments too. I thought he was a monster 2 years ago, and he really hasn't been in the playoffs a whole lot otherwise.

Criticism is fair based on a couple plays, he said it himself, but I don't agree with the general idea that he's soft on the big stage. Zibanejad is a winning hockey player imo. I think it's fair to say he's not been a force this year, but I still don't see him as a problem for a team being so heavily outplayed, sans the goaltender. He's produced and only makes 8.5 million as a #1 center, so he's giving close to what you can expect for value. He's outproduced both Kreider and Panarin this playoffs and 2022 even if he's not as physical as some would like. He's not Draisaitl, but he's not Marner either.

I would agree that he's probably not the type of old school #1 center that's going to drag everyone across the line kicking and screaming, but that's just the makeup of their team, similar to Dallas imo.

This is the point. The Panther's are just absolutely hammering the Rangers.

 

[L'Aveuglette]

He's still a very good player but this Rangers team won the President's Trophy.

To be upstaged at the level they have been is unquestionably a disappointment.

Their star players can't really grind it out that well.

I put that a lot more on Florida being a juggernaut. They're steamrolling over everybody, and will probably do so in the finals too.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Robertson had a hattrick in game 3 and then was held off the board in game 4. It's strange to me how people attack certain players. Zibanejad has been solid and a playoff performer. The Panther's are just hard on it. Their forecheck has been ridiculous in these last few games.



This is the point. The Panther's are just absolutely hammering the Rangers.

That's the thing. What have you done for me lately, basically.

They are hammering them, but the Rangers were right there and probably had their best game tonight, so they had a chance to win. They clearly have the goaltending advantage.

Win next game and all of a sudden it'll be questions of how did Florida put themselves in this position, with all the pressure on them.

 

[Icelevel]

I dunno, all players have off games. Look at 97 and 29 in Edmonton. The playoffs are just really damn intense. I can't say that Zib doesn't get up for games, because he was part of that first goal for the Rangers tonight. It's just the Panther's as a team want it more than the Rangers. I don't think it's necessarily about individual players.

Rangers scored 2 goals. Zib had the primary assist on BOTH goals. Was used for 24 mins toi to lead the team.
Was not an off game.
He is over ppg in this playoffs.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Waiting for you to tell us the Brassard trade was a good one.

That's the root of it. The criticism of Karlsson, Zibby, Stone.....the unabashed Sens can do no wrong mindset some have.

It's kinda bizarre at this point. 31 teams in the league (and their fanbases) would be happy to have any of those guys on their roster right now. You're definitely closer to a Cup with any of those guys than without.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Waiting for you to tell us the Brassard trade was a good one.

Why would I do that?

I feel like we were free and clear to give Spezza the gears for years while he was here, Yashin too. For some reason I can’t call Zib for what he is though?

Brassard has nothing to do with Zib as a player. He is what he is, a guy that dazzles and does wonderful things, but doesn’t have an extra gear when things ramp up.

It’s not like I’m taking a huge dump on the guy, but he fades when games turn physical and this must be a nightmare team matchup.

Spezza wasn’t great in those situations, and Yashin struggled mightily. We are fine to criticize them, be honest about their warts, why not Zib? Both of those guys are better overall players than Zib to boot.

No, just because he was traded away doesn’t mean he’s all of a sudden beyond criticism.

I am wanting the rangers to lose though so obviously those who are on the rangers bandwagon for Zib will bristle.

Its all good.

 

[Ice-Tray]

That's the root of it. The criticism of Karlsson, Zibby, Stone.....the unabashed Sens can do no wrong mindset some have.

It's kinda bizarre at this point. 31 teams in the league (and their fanbases) would be happy to have any of those guys on their roster right now. You're definitely closer to a Cup with any of those guys than without.

Well the flip side is that some people only rip on the team, but can’t see issues with Sens who have left.

Pretty much the lesson is that fans have their favourites and players they don’t like, and they will act accordingly. If two fans agree for the most part then they’ll form a tribe and outsider suck. Human nature.

There are lots of teams that wouldn’t make a move to fit Zib into their roster, and we know full well that many teams wouldn’t bother trying to fit EK into their rosters. It doesn’t mean either player is bad, they are both good players, but there are always costs.

It’s easy to say that Florida is just steamrolling teams, but that’s just an excuse. They have a team comprised of more players willing to battle for every last puck than the rangers do. It’s that simple to see.

Its why teams are constantly looking looking for “playoff warriors” to round out the roster.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Rangers scored 2 goals. Zib had the primary assist on BOTH goals. Was used for 24 mins toi to lead the team.
Was not an off game.
He is over ppg in this playoffs.

Did you actually watch the game though? Yes Laf deflected a shot in, not exactly an assist to write home about. But that’s the thing with Zib, he is dangerous and can put up points, but he leaves things to be desired on the effort and engagement front.

There is a giant difference between how he plays and how Matthew plays, or Barkov, or even Bennet.

Anyways, I’ll stop now as I don’t want to create a thing, just never been that into Zib I guess, but I’m in the minority on here clearly

 

[Tuna99]

That's the root of it. The criticism of Karlsson, Zibby, Stone.....the unabashed Sens can do no wrong mindset some have.

It's kinda bizarre at this point. 31 teams in the league (and their fanbases) would be happy to have any of those guys on their roster right now. You're definitely closer to a Cup with any of those guys than without.

They didn’t get close to enough in the Zibby trade but seeing him last night quit on a play when your teams life is on the line in the last minute of a Conference finals game - I understand as a staff why you’d trade him. He’s a support player paid as a line driver and when you get to those big moments he’s soft. I’d find it hard as a GM to pay him $8.5 and give him a contract for $68 million and he quits in the biggest moment of the season on home ice. Soft and quits on plays

I’ll even go so far to say knowing the Rangers ownerships attitude towards soft play that that play will get Zibby traded this summer, you just can’t quit on Plays EVER, but in a Playoff game when you’ve been put in the ice in the last minute and you do that - inexcusable, it won’t go up unpunished IMO

 

[Icelevel]

Did you actually watch the game though? Yes Laf deflected a shot in, not exactly an assist to write home about. But that’s the thing with Zib, he is dangerous and can put up points, but he leaves things to be desired on the effort and engagement front.

There is a giant difference between how he plays and how Matthew plays, or Barkov, or even Bennet.

Anyways, I’ll stop now as I don’t want to create a thing, just never been that into Zib I guess, but I’m in the minority on here clearly

I agree compared to the best playoff players on the planet he is a notch or two below.
Gets as many points as them (second on his team) but is not as physical.
Which is probably why he gets $1.5m less than barkov and 1m less than tkachuk.
I didn’t see the whole game yesterday but I saw him killing penalties and playing top pp mins as usual. Making very good plays all over the ice. He’s one of the best at doing it all. He’s just not as physical as others. Probably be exhausting to play pp and penalty kill and 24 mins AND hit everything out there. He’s not a machine. I think they are getting pretty good value for him.
Sure go ahead and surround him with more physical players but don’t blame the guy who contributes most of everything else to the team.

 

[Tuna99]

I agree compared to the best playoff players on the planet he is a notch or two below.
Gets as many points as them (second on his team) but is not as physical.
Which is probably why he gets $1.5m less than barkov and 1m less than tkachuk.
I didn’t see the whole game yesterday but I saw him killing penalties and playing top pp mins as usual. Making very good plays all over the ice. He’s one of the best at doing it all. He’s just not as physical as others. Probably be exhausting to play pp and penalty kill and 24 mins AND hit everything out there. He’s not a machine. I think they are getting pretty good value for him.
Sure go ahead and surround him with more physical players but don’t blame the guy who contributes most of everything else to the team.

The Rangers have signed up to pay Zinbg $100 million, a $9 million signing bonus this summer and he quit on his team in the last minute of a playoff game.

Not sure the Rangers owner is going to sign a $9 million signing bonus cheque for a guy who quit on his team and there not be any fallout.

I’ll say Zibby gets traded this summer because culture and accountability

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

It's hard in good conscience to talk shit about these players.

Okay Zib has been terrible, he still has 44 playoff points in the last 3 years.

Okay Marner is a soft woos, he still has been a huge part to getting his team into the playoffs through his two way play.

Those guys wilt under pressure in the playoffs against the best teams and players. Our guys wilt under pressure in the first 20 games of the regular season.

Talking shit about these guys just highlights how disappointing our guys have been.

It is possible that we don't make the playoffs through the entirety of Chabot, Brady, Batherson, Giroux Senators career. Jeez louis

 

[bicboi64]

I love Zibby, but last night was the first time I questioned his effort. Him and Panarin have been hounded by Reinhart and Barkov, completely shut down, but the lack of physicality on that empty netter was egregious.

If he's not injured, he's going to be getting absolutely shat on in the off season.

 

[Ice-Tray]

I agree compared to the best playoff players on the planet he is a notch or two below.
Gets as many points as them (second on his team) but is not as physical.
Which is probably why he gets $1.5m less than barkov and 1m less than tkachuk.
I didn’t see the whole game yesterday but I saw him killing penalties and playing top pp mins as usual. Making very good plays all over the ice. He’s one of the best at doing it all. He’s just not as physical as others. Probably be exhausting to play pp and penalty kill and 24 mins AND hit everything out there. He’s not a machine. I think they are getting pretty good value for him.
Sure go ahead and surround him with more physical players but don’t blame the guy who contributes most of everything else to the team.

Fair enough, I guess I just feel like he leaves me wanting. But in the end you’re right, if you can have it all in one player you had better fill the void with some surrounding players.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

It's hard in good conscience to talk shit about these players.

Okay Zib has been terrible, he still has 44 playoff points in the last 3 years.

Okay Marner is a soft woos, he still has been a huge part to getting his team into the playoffs through his two way play.

Those guys wilt under pressure in the playoffs against the best teams and players. Our guys wilt under pressure in the first 20 games of the regular season.

Talking shit about these guys just highlights how disappointing our guys have been.

It is possible that we don't make the playoffs through the entirety of Chabot, Brady, Batherson, Giroux Senators career. Jeez louis

And they are in the Conference Finals. The NYR have basically achieved already what would be considered a successful season for every team in the league. This notion that they aren't competing is absurd imo, that's exactly how they've stayed close enough in a series to stay competitive at 3-2 with what looks like the best team in the league. A team that doesn't compete folds and loses 5-1, 4-0, etc. and loses the series in 4 or 5.

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

All this Zbad talk, it looked to me like he got clipped in the face and the moment it took him to recover the panthers were up ice with a step and ultimately potted the ENG.

Zibby has not been the NYR problem. The team is outmatched, their star players play a bit soft.

 

[thammias]

Taking a look at the Rangers post game thread. It looks like a lot of NYR fans have had enough of Zibenejad.

 

[stempniaksen]

The Zibanejad hyperbole is overboard. He's an offensive dynamo who can play a 2-way game and help out on both special teams units. The guy is very clearly a #1 center in this league that most any other team would be happy to add. He's over a PPG these playoffs and the last 3 playoffs combined.

He certainly has some deficiencies when it comes to playing against physical teams/players which makes the Florida matchup particularly tough for him. He certainly doesn't shrink under the pressure of the big game which is laid out by his playoff stats in recent seasons.

I think honestly Florida is just a nightmare matchup for, not only Zib but the entire Rangers team. He's not the only high end talent to look worse in this series. Outside of Shesterkin and Lafreniere basically all the big boys have taken a step back this round.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Rangers fans are the most spoiled fans in the league.

Every player wants to play for their team and they have stars routinely fall into their lap, so when one of their great players only starts playing at a good level, he's dead to them.

The way they talk about Zibanejad and Trouba you'd think they were terrible hockey players that need to be bought out ASAP.

 

[JungleBeat]

@Ice-Tray Is crashing out for Zibanejad lol.

 

[Beech]

The Zibanejad hyperbole is overboard. He's an offensive dynamo who can play a 2-way game and help out on both special teams units. The guy is very clearly a #1 center in this league that most any other team would be happy to add. He's over a PPG these playoffs and the last 3 playoffs combined.

He certainly has some deficiencies when it comes to playing against physical teams/players which makes the Florida matchup particularly tough for him. He certainly doesn't shrink under the pressure of the big game which is laid out by his playoff stats in recent seasons.

I think honestly Florida is just a nightmare matchup for, not only Zib but the entire Rangers team. He's not the only high end talent to look worse in this series. Outside of Shesterkin and Lafreniere basically all the big boys have taken a step back this round.

Reinhart and Barkov are 28. He is 31.

Reinhart is 6'1", Barkov is 6'3". He is 6'2"

So, he gives up 3 years in age and has no height/weight advantage.

The other whipping boy, Panarin is 32 and is 6'1". But relatively light.

All things being the same, this series being played 2 years ago, may be different.

Many of the key members of the Panthers are about 1-2 years younger than the key members of the Rangers. Both teams are nearly identical in height and weight.

Advantage goes to: Florida Panthers.

 

[albator71]

It's funny how we all love Zibanejad here in Ottawa but in New York they want to ship him to Mars Lolll Fans always love players once they play elsewhere. It would be exactly the same if Chabot would be traded then all of a sudden he would look better as a player and we would whine that he's not here anymore.

 

[Icelevel]

Rangers fans are the most spoiled fans in the league.

Every player wants to play for their team and they have stars routinely fall into their lap, so when one of their great players only starts playing at a good level, he's dead to them.

The way they talk about Zibanejad and Trouba you'd think they were terrible hockey players that need to be bought out ASAP.

And kreider

 

[PlayOn]

Rangers fans are the most spoiled fans in the league.

Every player wants to play for their team and they have stars routinely fall into their lap, so when one of their great players only starts playing at a good level, he's dead to them.

The way they talk about Zibanejad and Trouba you'd think they were terrible hockey players that need to be bought out ASAP.

Sens fans talked about Spezza the same way.

People just need scapegoats when their teams lose.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Reinhart and Barkov are 28. He is 31.

Reinhart is 6'1", Barkov is 6'3". He is 6'2"

So, he gives up 3 years in age and has no height/weight advantage.

The other whipping boy, Panarin is 32 and is 6'1". But relatively light.

All things being the same, this series being played 2 years ago, may be different.

Many of the key members of the Panthers are about 1-2 years younger than the key members of the Rangers. Both teams are nearly identical in height and weight.

Advantage goes to: Florida Panthers.

It's similar to the Dallas/Edmonton series imo.

Dallas and NYR does not quite have the couple high end forwards that FLA/EDM does, and they have to win other ways with the whole group pulling in the right direction. It's a NYR problem, not a Zbad problem. Barkov/Reinhart and McDavid/Draisaitl are all higher end line drivers than anything NYR/DAL has, but that doesn't make anyone not at that level a bad player. They're all in the conference finals.