Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad

[hackeyman]

Since Bread got to NY, Panarin is at 1.29 and Mika is at 1.09.

In that time, Mika is 6th among ALL centers in the NHL in points (10th in points per game). He’s 4th in goals among all centers (and 4th in goals per game). He’s also 9th among all centers in shorthanded time on ice.

The guys above him? Sissons, Kampf, Glendening, Goodrow, Copp, Lowry, Staal, Lindholm. Only Lindholm is remotely CLOSE to Zibanejad’s production (16th in points/24th in points per game).

Mika is a unique player in the NHL. He is top 10 in points and points per game and top 5 in goals and goals per game, while also being top 10 in shorthanded minutes. No other player in the world does what Mika does.

The fact that there is debate about whether he is an ‘elite’ or ‘just average’ 1C, let alone whether he can be considered a top 10C is ludicrous. On offense alone, for for 3 years running, he’s 6th in points, 4th in goals (10th in P/PG, 4th in G/PG). Add the unprecedented PKing workload and it’s not close.

Agreed on those offensive arguments alone but he brings so much more with his defensive play and he should receive significant consideration for the Selke this year .

 

[duhmetreE]

This is the best he's looked since Covid happened.

Panarin has been much better as well playing with Zibs and Tank.

I honestly thought that line would struggle but they figured it out.

 

[TheDirtyH]

As @Machinehead pointed out (maybe in another thread), not only is he just truly a lock for 35-40 goals, if he hadn't caught the shooting allergy this year he's probably be pacing for 50+ again. He's an unbelievable talent.

 

[IDvsEGO]

As @Machinehead pointed out (maybe in another thread), not only is he just truly a lock for 35-40 goals, if he hadn't caught the shooting allergy this year he's probably be pacing for 50+ again. He's an unbelievable talent.

View attachment 673001

I love mika, but he definitely goes hot and cold at times. Its great that he's running hot now right before the playoffs. Last playoff run he took a few games into the pittsburg series to get hot but then he went scorching.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Happy Nowrooz!

Eidet Mobarak Mika!

edit: all of HFNYR too ofc

 

[Rangeri]

Gretzky is the last Center for Rangers that put up 90 points. It was 97-98.

Mika might be streaky, but i think he doesn't get enough recognition around the league. His ability to score goals is elite.

What a player !

 

[Harbour Dog]

Gretzky is the last Center for Rangers that put up 90 points. It was 97-98.

Mika might be streaky, but i think he doesn't get enough recognition around the league. His ability to score goals is elite.

What a player !

Players around the league agree. In the NHLPA poll this year, he was voted 3rd most underrated player in the league, behind Barkov and Tage Thompson.

NHLPA Player Poll 2022-23 | NHLPA.com

www.nhlpa.com

 

[Leonardo87]

He is like a fine wine, that gets better with age. Top his previous season with 90 points. Plays an excellent two way game, key for the PK and PP.

I still think he is a Top 10 C in the league. Especially now.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Deserves way more slander than Panarin this offseason. Horrible

 

[CasusBelli]

Sell. Sell. Sell. Before he turns 32.

 

[Whoot Whoot]

Trade this guy too

 

[The Gloaming]

Horrible playoffs from him. He has a longer leash than some of the other losers on this team because of last year, but just putrid. Doesn't get himself into scoring areas and when he does, he refuses to shoot. Usually nowhere to be found offensively.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Cares more about his hair and his DJ career.

 

[CasusBelli]

Horrible playoffs from him. He has a longer leash than some of the other losers on this team because of last year, but just putrid. Doesn't get himself into scoring areas and when he does, he refuses to shoot. Usually nowhere to be found offensively.

His shot isn’t that great, frankly. He’s no Ovechkin, Stamkos or Petersson. It’s all about the cross-ice pass from Fox or Bread.

 

[bl02]

Lost so many battles tonight. Even on our own pp up a man easy to play against.

 

[Crease]

Mika has 24 points in 20 playoff games last year. I’m willing to give him a break. Panarin on the other hand is making a pattern of this.

 

[BleedBlueNYR]

Mika has 24 points in 20 playoff games last year. I’m willing to give him a break. Panarin on the other hand is making a pattern of this.

He’s got no goals when we need him most. He’s a joke.

 

[huerter]

Has he been stellar, clearly no. But he might be the only guy who constantly shows jump in his game trying to hunt pucks. Lots of other jokers I'd criticize before him.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Trade this guy too

 

[SA16]

He’s got no goals when we need him most. He’s a joke.

If only scoring goals was as easy as wanting to score a goal.

 

[BleedBlueNYR]

If only scoring goals was as easy as wanting to score a goal.

He doesn’t seem to want it either.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Get a f***ing haircut you bum before next game and maybe you'll wake up.

 

[Peltz]

I don't blame Zib.

 

[SA16]

He doesn’t seem to want it either.

78 goals this year and last year including the playoffs but he doesn’t want it. Got it. Always have to look for some stupid narratives and not understand that sometimes things happen, there’s another team, there’s variance, there’s time you play good and times you don’t.

 

[Peltz]

He doesn’t seem to want it either.

I genuinely think he's playing with passion. And he has the tools and line mates to get the job done. By every measure, you look at this roster and his place on it, and he should be producing. I am not making any excuses for him.

I just think they're not getting the coaching they need right now. Good coaches can extract blood from a stone. And Zib, like the rest of the team, could use some help on X's and O's. There's been no puck support.

But Zib is skating, shooting, and wanting it out there. No doubt. He's just on a team that looks very disjointed right now.

I think he's played well defensively, and could be dominant with some better guidance behind the bench.