Mika Zibanejad finally breaking out?

[Micklebot]

This is wishful thinking. Ryan is no young pup and will eventually start to decline like all players. He has never demonstrated that he will ever be capable of being a top 10-15 in point production.

10-15 tends to be around 70-80 pts. I think Ryan has shown enough to think that 70 pts is a possibility, given he's on pace for 67 pts per 82 this year and has been heating up as the season goes on.

He's on pace for 22g, 22a, 44p so it really depends on what kind of expectations you have for him

He had a slow start and has heated up of late. I could easily see him finish in the 50-55 pts range or better if he continues to play like he has over the last 20. If he does that, I'd say that would be breaking out.

 

[Scrub*]

He's on pace for 22g, 22a, 44p so it really depends on what kind of expectations you have for him

His ceiling is a solid #2C for me and he looks like he will get there. A problem is that they have Turris and Zibby with #2C upside and no real #1. So not only do they have to think about getting a #1 centre. They need to find icetime for Lazar eventually as well. Which won't be easy.

Being patient with Zibby is working though, hard to believe he's only 21.

 

[LuckyPierre]

He's on pace for 22g, 22a, 44p so it really depends on what kind of expectations you have for him

He began the season with 0 points in his first 8 games, yet has 8 points in his last 8 games. Pace may not be an ideal tool to use for evaluation. He's been streaky, while trending towards higher production.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Finally? He's 21 in only his 3rd NHL season..

Sadly, there were sens fans calling for his head this season.

lol, at the guy who said he could be a third liner...

 

[izzy]

This is wishful thinking. Ryan is no young pup and will eventually start to decline like all players. He has never demonstrated that he will ever be capable of being a top 10-15 in point production.

Wouldn't really be wishful thinking, I'm not a fan of Ottawa or really Ryan, just what I see happening. Some players have their best years stat wise later, think Pavelski.

 

[Vaclav Varada]

Mika has been good, but like most young players needs consistency.

He will probably top out as a high end 2nd line C who can play #1C is necessary.

 

[sanityplease]

IMHO his ceiling is bonified #1C, he could become a star. I'd place my money on him ending up better than Turris & Lazar. No weaknesses in his game at all, has size, talent & really intelligent guy.

BR has been a big help for him:

http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hoc...ame-growing-with-help-encouragement-from-ryan

 

[The Expert]

lol, at the guy who said he could be a third liner...

No more lol worthy than saying he'll be a first liner.

 

[GreatStateofHockey]

No more lol worthy than saying he'll be a first liner.

Zibanejad is already a #2C at worst unless he suffers a major injury, or plays for a team with two elite centers.

 

[ShootIt]

I'll admit I'm a fan of him just because he's half Persian.

On topic, I think he realistically tops out as a very good 2nd line center who won't struggle if he had to center the first line for stretches.

 

[Philoops]

He's on a streak but looks very promising. Solid #2C for years to come. The evolution of Ryan has helped as well

 

[Knave]

We can only hope.

 

[hfdshdh]

Finally? He's 21 in only his 3rd NHL season..

All I thought when I saw the title was, 'Wat? Finally? Didn't the Sens just draft him a couple of years ago?'

If anything, he's developing a little bit ahead of schedule.

 

[Sensinitis]

If he's able to pot 60 pts consistently, he's a #1 C.

I think he has that potential.

 

[BondraTime]

You can tell he is still putting everything together.

I think this time in two years he will be a force. David Backes type at center.

 

[sharks9]

He's on a hot streak right now but he's going to hit a cold streak at some point too. Wait until the end of the season before making huge declarations about him.

 

[Curufinwe]

Finally? He's 21 in only his 3rd NHL season..

It's silly, isn't it.

 

[Jtown]

He's on a hot streak right now but he's going to hit a cold streak at some point too. Wait until the end of the season before making huge declarations about him.

If hfboard posters did this, there would be about 50 percent less threads

 

[trentmccleary]

Zibanejad is one of those guys whose draft stock rose quickly in the months leading up to the draft and, as a result, he was picked too high and tagged with unrealistic expectations. It happens in every draft. In his case, he doesn't have the skill or hockey IQ to be a star. He will be a decent 2nd and effective 3rd liner.

Have you ever bothered to look up draft results?

From 1980 to 2008, 28 players were drafted 6th overall... here are 16 of them: Redmond, Dalgarno, Archibald, Pearson, Bennett, Scissons, Kelly, Devereaux, Tkaczuk, Fata, Finley, Upshall, Montoya, Brule, Gagner and Filatov.

So Zibanejad already looks like he's on track to become better than most 6th overall picks.

 

[Parliament]

I don't agree with his "ceiling" being a very good 2nd line center. He's 21, receiving big boy minutes, and has a number of capable players on the sens who can help rise his play. I don't think its a stretch to say if everything goes perfect for him he's capable of putting up more then 60+ points. I mean were talking about his "ceiling", being where he would max out at.

Considering his age, the opportunities he is given, his linemates, being in the east, and that fact that he has shown spurts of consistently putting up offensive numbers... I'd say his ceiling is a 70 PT player. IMO, of course.

 

[bottomofthefoodchain]

Nice streak but he is very inconsistent, which is his biggest flaw.

 

[Micklebot]

Just for comparision, here's a list of some very good centers and how they produced just prior to the year they respectively broke out into arguably #1 quality centers.

Player|Age|GP|G|A|Pts
Pavelski|23|82|19|21|40
Datsyuk|23|70|11|24|35
Krejci|21|56|6|21| 27
Zetterberg|23|61|15|28|43
Johansen |20|40|5|7|12
Stepan|21|82|17|34|51
Plecanek|23|67|9|20|29
Backes|23|72|13|18|31
H Sedin|23|76|11| 31|42
Kesler|23|80|21|16|37
Ribeiro|22|52|5|12|17
Giroux|22|82|16|31|47

Now, I'm not saying he'll have a career like Sedin, Datsyuk or Zetterberg, just that for 21 yrs old, his production seems to be just fine.