MDZ in SJ?
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For the right (meaning small) amount of money, it would be a low-risk with potential medium reward at best. DZ seems to be getting worse by the minute for some reason, but maybe he'll figure it out at some point. I do believe the 'high-reward' ship has sailed for Michael, unfortunately.
LORDE
I am Lorde, YA YA YA
Terribad shot... can't hit within 5 ft. either side of the net.
Maddeningly inconsistent.
Played great for us last season when Staal went down and we all thought he had finally put it together. Then came crashing down to earth.
Has a good outlet pass for the most part, and can be marginally physical.
Might be lacking a bit between the ears... that's what holds him back at times.
At least that's my theory on him.
Maddeningly inconsistent.
Played great for us last season when Staal went down and we all thought he had finally put it together. Then came crashing down to earth.
Has a good outlet pass for the most part, and can be marginally physical.
Might be lacking a bit between the ears... that's what holds him back at times.
At least that's my theory on him.
JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK
Twenty f*ckin years
- Oct 8, 2010
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He has the tools to be a very competent top-4 defenseman. He's allegedly had issues with maturity, though, and he's not the best decision maker on the ice.
He's definitely worth at least a gamble.
He's definitely worth at least a gamble.
OverTheCap
Registered User
- Jan 3, 2009
- 10,454
- 184
Confidence appears to be an issue with him.
When things are going well for him, he gets a little too high on himself. When the chips are down, his confidence is shaken and it becomes more difficult for him to rebound.
I have to wonder what his mindset is right now after a disappointing season with the Rangers and the Preds.
That being said, if you guys are rebuilding, there's little harm in taking a chance on him. DZ's generally played better with steady defenders so if he's paired with Braun that can help. I can't imagine he'll develop into a consistent offensive threat at this point but he is definitely capable of producing more than he did this year.
When things are going well for him, he gets a little too high on himself. When the chips are down, his confidence is shaken and it becomes more difficult for him to rebound.
I have to wonder what his mindset is right now after a disappointing season with the Rangers and the Preds.
That being said, if you guys are rebuilding, there's little harm in taking a chance on him. DZ's generally played better with steady defenders so if he's paired with Braun that can help. I can't imagine he'll develop into a consistent offensive threat at this point but he is definitely capable of producing more than he did this year.
Inferno
Registered User
jerseyjinx94
I jinx players.
I think he's a pretty good skater, he moves through the neutral zone well. He rarely hit the net, and his shot was average at best. He can pass the puck though, and when he's on his game, he can create space and chances.
Unfortunately, in his own zone, he's like a newborn puppy lost in the woods. I will say this, he did get more physical after his first two years here. Frankly, I think Tortorella ruined him. If you guys pick him up and play him with a rock solid defensive defenseman, it could pay off. Who knows, he's still young enough to learn and develop, but he needs to significantly contribute on the offensive side of the puck to hold any value.
I think if you have the opening, a 1 year gamble for $1M or less is worth a shot, especially to play with a guy like Braun. If you bring him in to be a 6th-7th defenseman and play with a rookie or something, it will be a disaster.
Unfortunately, in his own zone, he's like a newborn puppy lost in the woods. I will say this, he did get more physical after his first two years here. Frankly, I think Tortorella ruined him. If you guys pick him up and play him with a rock solid defensive defenseman, it could pay off. Who knows, he's still young enough to learn and develop, but he needs to significantly contribute on the offensive side of the puck to hold any value.
I think if you have the opening, a 1 year gamble for $1M or less is worth a shot, especially to play with a guy like Braun. If you bring him in to be a 6th-7th defenseman and play with a rookie or something, it will be a disaster.
TheTakedown
Puck is Life
- Jul 11, 2012
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In short, all the tools, just no brains to use them...
Sad, because if he focused more, he'd be incredible
Sad, because if he focused more, he'd be incredible
slipknottin
Registered User
Poor hockey IQ, hard innacurate shot, get him and Brent Burns him to an offensive position maybe???
Leslie Treff
Registered User
MDZ dropped in the draft to the NYR for a reason--there were hockey IQ issues. Very high talent though, so the Rangers took a shot. He had one good year year on the ice, but even while he was doing that, he had off ice problems that we called "maturity" issues. He definitely got caught up in his fame and New York City. This probably was one of the worst markets for him to be drafted into. It is a shame, but certainly Tortorella did not kill his game. Everything that happened to MDZ, he did to himself.
He has never seemed to regain his focus. But a small market team, with lots of structure, might be a good fit for him--a team where he is highly prized but held in check.
He has never seemed to regain his focus. But a small market team, with lots of structure, might be a good fit for him--a team where he is highly prized but held in check.
RegalRangers
Registered User
I think confidence has always been the real issue with DZ.
He seems emotionally fragile to me. Torts was probably the exact opposite of what he needed.
When DZ actually has confidence he's a useful player but when his confidence is low you can see him over-thinking everything and taking half a second too long to do anything.
Seems to me like he needs a coach to tell him to relax and play instinctively. I could see him turning his game around as he matures.
eco's bones
Registered User
Average skater--average shot. Often doesn't hit the target. Smallish and not particularly strong. He can be a creative passer but once he crosses over the enemy's blueline his creativity goes down a notch. Good stickhandler and can walk the line--this is the maddening part--> can't beat a goaltender from the point to save his life so a penalty kill will cheat on him--look for the pass knowing that his shot is not good enough to score. His career arc shows it pretty simply his pwp stats going down year after year.
Defensively he can be a nightmare. Panics at times and will chase the play. Not strong enough to be a crease clearer. He'll block shots and at his best he needs to be aggressive on the puck carrier--if it's his man anyway. Can be worn down by a cycle and lose his positioning.
He's a guy who needs to put up points to be worthwhile. He needs pwp time. His strengths are his offensive instincts but he's prone to losing confidence and then his instincts disappear. Needs a tough coach IMO--a really tough coach who is willing to keep playing him but will stay on his back. Strikes me that he's one player who responds best to a kick in the ass. In a regular rotation he needs to be paired with a strong and positionally sound defense partner.
Defensively he can be a nightmare. Panics at times and will chase the play. Not strong enough to be a crease clearer. He'll block shots and at his best he needs to be aggressive on the puck carrier--if it's his man anyway. Can be worn down by a cycle and lose his positioning.
He's a guy who needs to put up points to be worthwhile. He needs pwp time. His strengths are his offensive instincts but he's prone to losing confidence and then his instincts disappear. Needs a tough coach IMO--a really tough coach who is willing to keep playing him but will stay on his back. Strikes me that he's one player who responds best to a kick in the ass. In a regular rotation he needs to be paired with a strong and positionally sound defense partner.
This is spot-on as his issues are 100% between the ears. He came up as a rookie with confidence and looked fantastic. I hadn't seen someone man the blue-line on the PP like that since Leetch. Then... he just regressed, showed no confidence, showed no ability to rebound after making a mistake. Literally, if he made one mistake, he'd make three because he was still thinking about the first one.
Very mentally fragile and needs to mature in order to reach his potential.
I could still see it happening in the right situation if the right player takes him under their wing. I honestly see him doing well with a team like SJ or DET who have the offensive players for him to feed off of.
He's likely always going to leave something to be desired defensively though.
broadwayblue
Registered User
Just goes to show you that even first round picks are far from sure things. Remember when we had MDZ and Sanguinetti and thought we were loaded with offensive Dmen? lol
Potential?
#4 defenseman who will be average to slightly above average in the defensive zone. Can be effective at moving the puck in the defensive zone when he keeps it simple and sometimes makes excellent passes through the neutral zone - but he can create turnovers when he tries to force that stretch pass. Has consistency issues but if he gets 2nd pairing minutes & PP time - he should be good for 30 points or so (35+ if he brings his A-game)....
His biggest 'issue' is between his ears. It's not that he has low hockey IQ, it's that he does not consistently maintain the mindset that he needs to play his game effectively. If he can figure that out, he can be a valuable contributor to a hockey team....
He was excellent for us in 2011-2012 when Staal missed a ton of games due to injury and MDZ played 2nd pairing minutes with both Eminger & Stralman as his defensive partners....
#4 defenseman who will be average to slightly above average in the defensive zone. Can be effective at moving the puck in the defensive zone when he keeps it simple and sometimes makes excellent passes through the neutral zone - but he can create turnovers when he tries to force that stretch pass. Has consistency issues but if he gets 2nd pairing minutes & PP time - he should be good for 30 points or so (35+ if he brings his A-game)....
His biggest 'issue' is between his ears. It's not that he has low hockey IQ, it's that he does not consistently maintain the mindset that he needs to play his game effectively. If he can figure that out, he can be a valuable contributor to a hockey team....
He was excellent for us in 2011-2012 when Staal missed a ton of games due to injury and MDZ played 2nd pairing minutes with both Eminger & Stralman as his defensive partners....
Leslie's got it right. Torts was the reason MDZ played well for his stretch since he kept him in check. Kid is very popular with the bimbos and exerts a lot of his energy off the ice that ultimately caused his downfall here in NY.
DZ had a 2 very good seasons in NY where he logged 22 a night and scored .5ppg while the team was one of the better teams in the east, and 2 awful ones with a rookie year that was great for the 1st half and bad for the second half.
In theory he needs to go to city where there is no nightlife, and a team that plays a slower brand of hockey, Nashville seemed like a great fit in theory, but it didn't work out.
Good kid, but not much of a thinker.
Amazing Kreiderman
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2011
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McSauer
Defense Wins Games
Torts didn't want him (how many times was he benched?). Then again, torts put too much pressure on him.
Av's didn't want him (how many times was he benched?). Then again, Av's put too much pressure on him.
IN Nashville, Totz didn't want him (how many times was he benched?). Didn't fit in with the Preds. Trotz put too much pressure on him.
Sure at 24, and a potential Norris trophy candidate, many will take a look at DZ. At the right price... why not take a stab? Especially if there is enough room in the luxury box.
ChrisKreider20
But y u mad?
When he has his confidence he isn't even that bad defensively. He isn't great, but he is adequate. At the same time when he has his swagger, he is very dangerous offensively. His vision is very capable, he can run a powerplay, and will throw a big hit.
Unfortunately when he is questioning himself, he'll turn the puck over, go for unnecessary stretch passes, and make dumb errors.
I think in the right system, with the right partner he could be effective. I thought with Shea Weber and his slapshot, he'd thrive on the PP, but I'd imagine his confidence is at an all time low.
Torts played him when he shouldn't have, and that started when DZ was 19. Torts benched him his second year, and after JMoore was brought in, but other than that Torts played him from 18-23 minutes a night consistently.
Player big P
no more striptease no more flashes
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