Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I get the idea of focusing on defense, but Mika was atrocious last night on both sides of the puck.

May have been one of his worst games as a Ranger.

Its amazing to me how polarizing he has become as a player. Its like theres a light switch in his brain that gets flicked on and off.

14 points and an 8 game point streak over the first 10 playoff games and then -3 literally giving the other team the puck over the last 4.

 

[Nyr88nyg]

Not a real 1C. Never should have been expected to carry the team.

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

I’m not sure what is wrong with Mika but he is not a 1st line center right now. Hell, hes not even a 2nd line center right now.

For game 5 I would like to see:
Panarin - Trocheck - Lafreniere
Kreider - Chytil - Kakko
Cuylle - Zibanejad - Roslovic
Brodzinski - Goodrow - Rempe

Wennberg gets destroyed in physical board battles and doesn’t do much out there really. Give Brodzinski a shot on that 4th line.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I’m not sure what is wrong with Mika but he is not a 1st line center right now. Hell, hes not even a 2nd line center right now.

For game 5 I would like to see:
Panarin - Trocheck - Lafreniere
Kreider - Chytil - Kakko
Cuylle - Zibanejad - Roslovic
Brodzinski - Goodrow - Rempe

Wennberg gets destroyed in physical board battles and doesn’t do much out there really. Give Brodzinski a shot on that 4th line.

I thought Wennberg was actually one of the stronger centers last night, especially defensively in his own zone on the walls lol

Go figure

 

[JohnC]

Kreider-Trocheck-Laf
Panarin-Zib-Kakko
Cuylle-Wennberg-Ros/Chytil
Wheeler-Goodrow-Rempe

Kreider will wake up when away from Zib like he always does and Zib/Panarin can be invisible together.

I’d also consider rolling 11/7 with Jones, sit Rempe, and double shift Laf as often as possible.

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

Kreider-Trocheck-Laf
Panarin-Zib-Kakko
Cuylle-Wennberg-Ros/Chytil
Wheeler-Goodrow-Rempe

Kreider will wake up when away from Zib like he always does and Zib/Panarin can be invisible together.

I’d also consider rolling 11/7 with Jones, sit Rempe, and double shift Laf as often as possible.

The problem with this is Panarin and Trocheck have great chemistry so I would not mess with that line at all

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Holy f***ing shit, we still have SIX MORE SEASON OF HIM??

I thought he was gone after another 2 or 3 max.

 

[RangersFan]

I can't even stand to watch this guy play. He's infuriating, get him off this team.

 

[TheGortonConspiracy]

I'm sorry but that's a horrible answer. I understand not dwelling on the past. But you have to take accountability.

Imagine if I f***ed up that hard at my job and then when asked wtf happened I said "well we cant change it now, let's hope next time i do something better!"

 

[mas0764]

Not a real 1C. Never should have been expected to carry the team.

He's a 1C if you are counting the best 32 centers in the league. He's just not a great one.

Guess who wins all the Cups? The MacKinnons, the Crosbys, the Toewses. Jack Eichel.

We need one on that level. Mika is not.

He's stalemating Barkov in terms of points when they are on the ice together, but give me a break. Everyone watching this series knows which player is way better and making a bigger impact.

 

[JimmyG89]

Going to need a hell of a lot more from him. There are others, but you he has to produce. He's not getting Barkov for every minute he is out there. Dominate the minutes against the others.

I'm not sure what they need to do to juggle things to get this going. Chytil is definitely coming back for G5, but are you putting him back?

I don't think it matters cause whoever is on the rw isn't driving the line. Mika needs to drive the line. We need Game 5-7 Mika from the Pens series. That's the only way this gets done.

 

[mas0764]

20-93-96
10-16-13
72-91-24
50-21-17

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

He's a 1C if you are counting the best 32 centers in the league. He's just not a great one.

Guess who wins all the Cups? The MacKinnons, the Crosbys, the Toewses. Jack Eichel.

We need one on that level. Mika is not.

He's stalemating Barkov in terms of points when they are on the ice together, but give me a break. Everyone watching this series knows which player is way better and making a bigger impact.

TBF Trochek has elevated his game in the playoffs to the 1C we need. We just need Mika to be a 2C...which he hasn't been this round.

 

[duhmetreE]

6 more seasons of this.....

If he doesn't get back into the gym and training in the offseason, it'll just be more of the same and even get worse. His best years were when he started training with Kreider.... covid, marriage and baby.... I get it, priorities change... but you can budget some more time to your profession... for my sanity

 

[Mike in Houston]

Playoff Stats

2016-2017 - 2-7-9 in 12 games
2019-2020 - 1-1-2 in the bubble
2021-2022 - 10-14-24 in 20 games
2022-2023 - 1-3-4 in 7 games
2023-2024 - 3-11-14 in 14 games

When it comes to goal scoring... big WOOF!

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Get him off the PP and off the 1st line. Enough

 

[RangersFan]

If he suddenly retired to pursue DJ'ing full time, I honestly would be thrilled to be rid of that contract.

 

[hi]

If he suddenly retired to pursue DJ'ing full time, I honestly would be thrilled to be rid of that contract.

Can Dolan pay him the same amount he's owed to DJ at the sphere a few nights a year?

 

[RangersFan1994]

Rangers aren't winning with a soft passive wussy that can't play the style of playoff hockey.

 

[RangersFan1994]

View attachment 877027

I'm sorry but that's a horrible answer. I understand not dwelling on the past. But you have to take accountability.

Imagine if I f***ed up that hard at my job and then when asked wtf happened I said "well we cant change it now, let's hope next time i do something better!"

Soft and wussy attitude. Id buy him out just so I don't have to see this disappointment in the playoffs anymore. He has no trade value sadly

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I get the idea of focusing on defense, but Mika was atrocious last night on both sides of the puck.

May have been one of his worst games as a Ranger.

Its amazing to me how polarizing he has become as a player. Its like theres a light switch in his brain that gets flicked on and off.

14 points and an 8 game point streak over the first 10 playoff games and then -3 literally giving the other team the puck over the last 4.

3 goals all postseason, 2 game in a game 1 against Carolina. 9 games without a goal. 4 games without a point. Single-handedly destroying the Powerplay .

Abomination of a player.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Florida is doing the same thing Tampa, the Devils, and Carolina did to him. Matched him up against a superior center.

He’s not a 1C. Legitimate 1Cs don’t get caved by Cirelli, Hischier, Staal, and Barkov. They at least hold their own somewhat in those matchups.

We’re batting a guy cleanup who has a .091 batting average against pitchers who are top 2 in their rotations. That player isn’t good enough to be in that position, full stop.

I think Zibs looked better vs Crosby 3 years ago. People age. Zibs is probably past his peak now and may be in decline. #1 centers are not easy to find. Its debatable when the last time we had one.

 

[will1066]

6 more seasons of this.....

If he doesn't get back into the gym and training in the offseason, it'll just be more of the same and even get worse. His best years were when he started training with Kreider.... covid, marriage and baby.... I get it, priorities change... but you can budget some more time to your profession... for my sanity

If he has to be at home, give him P90X or something.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Kreider-Trocheck-Laf
Panarin-Zib-Kakko
Cuylle-Wennberg-Ros/Chytil
Wheeler-Goodrow-Rempe

Kreider will wake up when away from Zib like he always does and Zib/Panarin can be invisible together.

I’d also consider rolling 11/7 with Jones, sit Rempe, and double shift Laf as often as possible.

Play 7 Dmen? Help our exhausted hurting defense? That is a great idea. You are a genius! Only problem is Jones is LH and Fox and Trouba need the rest.

 

[The S5]

Mika is the type of guy that thinks its "just a game". The very game that gave this guy his entire life. That f***ing answer he gave was extremely telling. At the end of the day, he really doesn't give a shit. He, at the very least, prevented the team from winning last night. He needs to get demoted from PP1 and the first line. In the immortal words of Mike Singletary, "can't win with him"