Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad

[zlev]

Mostly in swedish but some parts in English. You also get a look at Mikas rather cool skates and daddy Mikas home.

damn wow i didn't know the city put up signs with direction to Kreiders apartment

 

[Atax]

Dont worry he's going to turn it around any day now.

 

[IchabodCrane]

He is terrible

 

[Raspewtin]

I want to strangle him as much as the rest of you but, believe it or not, this is mostly just who he is.

	2023​	2024​
CF Rel%	-0.17​	-1.4​
xGF% Rel	0.9​	-0.88​
p/60	2.19​	1.47​
iCF/60	11.3​	10.57​
ixG/60	0.69​	0.51​
Pens Drawn/60	1.04​	1.08​
Rush Shots/60	0.44​	0.62​

He's just a bad player at ES and the points aren't there to mask it this year. His PP scoring is considerably down from last year by a full 2.53 p/60 as well and to me he's a HUGE culprit of why the PP is so much worse. He's also missing the net on the PP way more (20.91 shots/60 to 14.81 shots/60)

I think that's worse, tbh, than if Mika was truly just struggling. I'd almost rather that. He's just not good.

 

[Captain Lindy]

If he is our supposed number one C, we aren't winning anything with him unless he wakes the eff up.

 

[FoxyClean]

His worst season since 2017-18. Definitely the fault of his dom wife and new kid. Ofc family is more important than hockey, but there's no denying it's probably the reason for his massive decline.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

If he is our supposed number one C, we aren't winning anything with him unless he wakes the eff up.

He's not our number one C, that is Trocheck.

 

[aufheben]

He's not our number one C, that is Trocheck.

Usage determines the lines as well.

 

[B17 Apricots]

His worst season since 2017-18. Definitely the fault of his dom wife and new kid. Ofc family is more important than hockey, but there's no denying it's probably the reason for his massive decline.

Ya between the kid and the lawsuit thing I pretty much threw this away as a lost season for him a while ago

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Usage determines the lines as well.

Indeed, Trocheck getting almost 2 more minutes than him a game.

 

[fm]

cat’s playing much better the last month or so, and the last week or so the pucks are going in. Mika march

 

[Levitate]

I want to strangle him as much as the rest of you but, believe it or not, this is mostly just who he is.

	2023​	2024​
CF Rel%	-0.17​	-1.4​
xGF% Rel	0.9​	-0.88​
p/60	2.19​	1.47​
iCF/60	11.3​	10.57​
ixG/60	0.69​	0.51​
Pens Drawn/60	1.04​	1.08​
Rush Shots/60	0.44​	0.62​

He's just a bad player at ES and the points aren't there to mask it this year. His PP scoring is considerably down from last year by a full 2.53 p/60 as well and to me he's a HUGE culprit of why the PP is so much worse. He's also missing the net on the PP way more (20.91 shots/60 to 14.81 shots/60)

I think that's worse, tbh, than if Mika was truly just struggling. I'd almost rather that. He's just not good.

I think he is struggling...it's not wild that some guys can outscore their on ice metrics. In the past he shot the puck a ton, was very good at entering the zone with speed and creating off the rush, etc. This year he looks slower and tentative and is having trouble shooting. I don't know what it is, he doesn't look like the same player (even if that original player was flawed). If he's hitting the age wall or something else is going on.
I'd bet if you looked at a bunch of footage from previous years and compared it to this year you'd see a clear difference in how he's actually playing on the ice.

 

[HolyHagelin]

Yes there are always players that outperform metrics due to specific carrying skills, and Mika was a great example until this year.

 

[duhmetreE]

Is someone talented enough to put Mika's face here?

 

[Chytilmania]

Is someone talented enough to put Mika's face here?

Tried my best

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Dont worry he's going to turn it around any day now.

Still waiting …

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

5 points in his last 5 games. Hopefully just delaying Mika March until the playoffs.

 

[McRanger92]

This isnt going to be popular take but I feel like he sacrificed some offense for defense this year and the greater good of the team. He is till going to hit 70 points in all likelihood. "Not a 1C" is a load of crap when he plays the biggest role for an O6 team about to break its franchise record in wins and sporting a top 5 PK & PP.

 

[JohnC]

5 points in his last 5 games. Hopefully just delaying Mika March until the playoffs.

I'm not optimistic

 

[Chytilmania]

This isnt going to be popular take but I feel like he sacrificed some offense for defense this year and the greater good of the team. He is till going to hit 70 points in all likelihood. "Not a 1C" is a load of crap when he plays the biggest role for an O6 team about to break its franchise record in wins and sporting a top 5 PK & PP.

If he's going to shut down the top line/player while him and Kreider contribute on the PP I have no issues with that at all.

But a lot of our gripes are him being really passive and making dumb decisions. He overpasses and his passes are forced like Panarin last season. He coughs up the puck all the time, passes it to no one (not just ES but PP too). Strange year for him.

 

[Harbour Dog]

I'm giving every guy the benefit of the doubt going into the playoffs; Mika included. If he plays opposing top lines to a draw or a little better at 5v5, then I can deal with the lack of production outside of special teams.

The regular season is about trouncing weak teams and putting up showy numbers. He never did that. The playoffs are about winning; and I think that the majority of our roster are completely bought in after that disappointment last year.

 

[n8]

I want to strangle him as much as the rest of you but, believe it or not, this is mostly just who he is.

	2023​	2024​
CF Rel%	-0.17​	-1.4​
xGF% Rel	0.9​	-0.88​
p/60	2.19​	1.47​
iCF/60	11.3​	10.57​
ixG/60	0.69​	0.51​
Pens Drawn/60	1.04​	1.08​
Rush Shots/60	0.44​	0.62​

He's just a bad player at ES and the points aren't there to mask it this year. His PP scoring is considerably down from last year by a full 2.53 p/60 as well and to me he's a HUGE culprit of why the PP is so much worse. He's also missing the net on the PP way more (20.91 shots/60 to 14.81 shots/60)

I think that's worse, tbh, than if Mika was truly just struggling. I'd almost rather that. He's just not good.

Mika ended the season with good special team numbers. Down 8 in PPP, up 4 SHP from last year. Up 3 PPP & up 1 SHP from the season before. 72 points in a season is honestly pretty darn good. We saw a massive drop in his 5v5 contributions which is where a lot of the complaints about his play come up. He's down ~15 EVP. Hoping he was just coasting and is able to activate playoff beast mode.

 

[Row I Goon]

This isnt going to be popular take but I feel like he sacrificed some offense for defense this year and the greater good of the team. He is till going to hit 70 points in all likelihood. "Not a 1C" is a load of crap when he plays the biggest role for an O6 team about to break its franchise record in wins and sporting a top 5 PK & PP.

Question without prejudice. How much BETTER could we have been with a different version of Mika? How much earlier could we have wrapped up top spot?

Maybe that also is a "not popular take"...?

 

[tlk]

HBD to Mika!

 

[McRanger92]

Question without prejudice. How much BETTER could we have been with a different version of Mika? How much earlier could we have wrapped up top spot?

Maybe that also is a "not popular take"...?

Idk how much quicker you expected to clinch with Carolina going 13-3 down the stretch. Pretty sure Mika was a PPG player for the last month plus as well.