Stop line numbering. Also, would love to know your PK plan in general and specifically when Troch, or Kreider, or Mika, or Goodrow is in the box.
Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad
- Thread starter Fugazy
- Start date
- Status
aufheben
#Norris4Fox
- Jan 18, 2012
- 34,522
- 52,435
Jauffre
Registered Grandmaster
Captain Monglobster
Registered User
- Nov 9, 2005
- 1,936
- 1,357
GAGLine
Registered User
- Sep 17, 2007
- 24,372
- 21,356
He has to be taken off PP1. He adds nothing to it.
rangerfan_79
Registered User
He is playing like having bet against his own team.
I really hate how inter-twined the betting applications have become to the sport.
I really hate how inter-twined the betting applications have become to the sport.
SA16
Sixstring
Yea he looked pretty disinterested rushing down the ice to set up Kreider for a shorthanded breakaway goal.
irishlaxburger2
Registered User
Kreider made the defensive play and finished the play.
All Mika had to do was make an easy pass that led him into space. He actually put it into Kreider’s skates and slowed him down. Luckily, it didn’t matter.
Mika did extremely little on that play.
SA16
Sixstring
Ok so just to get things straight when he doesn't score it's not good enough but when he does make a play on a scoring play it's still not good enough.
He also put the pass right on the (heel) of his stick, not even close to the skates, and recognized Kreider forced the turnover and immediately turned up ice to help start the rush instead of taking the easy play and just backing into his own zone expecting Kreider to clear it.
We can criticize the bad plays like the stupid turnover in OT but minimizing the good plays and saying everyone is terrible is just tiresome. He's has a bad series. Saying he did extremely little on that play is absurd. How different would the narrative be if his PP shot in Game 4 didn't just graze Bob and then happen to deflect it exactly the right amount to hit the small cross bar instead of the wide open net despite him doing the exact same thing?
Atax
Registered User
- Apr 7, 2011
- 5,409
- 6,532
Yeah look at him scoring all of these goals and helping us win games.
irishlaxburger2
Registered User
Let me know when Mika Zibanejad starts consistently winning his matchups in the final two (or even three) rounds of the playoffs. Until then, there’s nothing to suggest he’s capable of winning a Cup in the role we’ve employed him for.
SA16
Sixstring
Why would you expect him to win matchups vs. the Selke winner and a better player?
What is his role? Because if you're going to say "First Line Center" that has not been his role for the entire season yet the media and fanbase like to repeat that.
irishlaxburger2
Registered User
He is paid and deployed like our 1st line center.
Which line has started every game of the series? Which center started game 4 overtime? Which line has Lavi chosen to matchup with Barkov? It’s Mika.
Also, it’s not just Barkov he’s been caved by. Jordan Staal last round. Hischier last year. Cirelli the year before. And it’s not just slightly losing these matchups. Hes getting destroyed in them. I would *love* if he was playing these guys even somewhat even. 25% GF against Barkov is beyond dreadful. Inconceivably bad.
Atax
Registered User
- Apr 7, 2011
- 5,409
- 6,532
You're right. He's been our 2nd line center. Hes also been spoon fed PP minutes to try and get his offensive game going. Or did you forget them letting him rip his 1 timer for like 2 months(with no success)? If you try to tell me he's been good at ES,lol.
Barkov is a tough, but come on. He's been shut down by almost every center this year. He has no ability to score at even strength. Our PP has been good this season, but it hasnt been because of Mika. It's because of Kreider, Panarin, Trocheck, and Fox. Most of us have been screaming for Laf to get more minutes.
He hasnt done anything of note since game 1 of the Carolina series. He's been garbage and its okay to admit it.
irishlaxburger2
Registered User
And even if you want to claim he’s our 2C, then great we have an $8.5m 2C. That’s a massively detrimental contract then. You don’t put together a Cup winning roster that way.
SA16
Sixstring
Have you watched the team since November? He is not deployed like the 1st line center. In the playoffs he has got 1:14/game less than Trocheck at 5v5. In the regular season he got 2:02/game less than Trocheck.
Lazy narrative. The Trocheck line has been the top line all year and it hasn't been very close. Paid like it, yes, the contract is what it is and that's besides the point. Is the highest paid player always supposed to be deployed the most? Should we actually play Laf less because his contract isn't large enough?
What does starting OT have to do with anything? The order doesn't really matter. It's just one shift. Why did he start overtime? Most likely because it was a neutral zone draw, he's good at faceoffs, and they were hoping to get the Trocheck line out for an offensive zone draw or catch them on a change rather than let Florida put put out their best guys.
Jordan Staal, the guy who came 2nd in the Selke voting? You know there are other teams on the ice who have good players whose job is to try and slow down other teams top six players.
I don't know what your 25% number even means. He has been on the ice for 0 GF and 0 GA against Barkov at 5v5. Based on all the math I know that's undefined. His CF% is bad (40%) but that's not what you said. All I'm really hoping here is that I don't check the all situations stats and see you're getting 25% because you're including all the PK time. No, it's still not. Then it's 2 GF 3 GA. It's not the xG either so I don't understand. Did you just make it up?
This is what I truly can't stand around here. You want to say he's been bad. I agree. He's been bad. But do we have to just blatantly make things up? No, he doesn't have a 25% GF against Barkov. No, he hasn't been used as the 1C for basically the entire season. No, he didn't have "very little" to do with the shorthanded goal. If Lafreniere made that exact same play people would go on and on about what a great read he made and what a great pass he made under pressure.
Last edited:
Just think Mika has six more years to go under his contract. I knew that wouldn't age well.
Peltz
Registered User
- Oct 4, 2019
- 3,770
- 5,293
Throwing his head back on the empty net goal last night is emblematic of why he’s not a leader on this team anymore.
GAGLine
Registered User
- Sep 17, 2007
- 24,372
- 21,356
He had two board battles on that play and lost them both. I don't like to throw around the word soft, but that is what Mika is. He doesn't win physical battles.
irishlaxburger2
Registered User
I apologize, I was actually wrong about the data. He's actually 24% xGF in this series 5v5. I gave him too much credit previously.
Atax
Registered User
- Apr 7, 2011
- 5,409
- 6,532
Moments that just make you shake your head.
1. Barkov on the ice against the the boards with Mika. Mika trying to battle him for the puck. He just stands there with this clueless look. Doesnt win battle
2. The turnover in OT. Just a shameless stupid pass.
3. Empty net? Mika looking to refs for a penalty.
4. PP Struggling. Mika throws a weak slapper at the blueline with 4 dudes ready to block his weak shot.
I can go on. His decision making was awful and the dude simply cant score at even strength. He gets shut down by any sort of physical center. Thats like, all of them.
He isnt a leader on this team. He is what he is. And thats a soft PP specialist.
Captain Monglobster
Registered User
- Nov 9, 2005
- 1,936
- 1,357
Yes he has a 2nd grade tear in his right labia.
The main problem is you can’t really expect Trochek to be. PPG Center going forward either.
This year was kind of an aberration where everything lined up for the 3 of them.
If you can count on troch to be a 60-65pt C and raise his game in the postseason, that’s a home run and realistic for what he’s being paid.
Realistic expectations have to be factored in on all future gets, and on players we currently have. If they over perform or have terrific/career years, that’s wonderful but shouldn’t be expected either.
My fear is chytil at the wing is going to be a permanent situation from here on out. And frankly, it should be. He’s an injury threat and can’t be counted on for a full year. Until he turns that around, he should be considered as such.
Find a replacement winger vs center in case of injury is just much much easier.
Ideally you have a 1C star, and 2 guys like troch as your 2A-2B options. Guys that can slide up and cover for an injury for 15 games or so and not look out of place.
I don’t mind chytil having to play center if need be to fill in for injury. It’s great that he’ll be able to do that, but he’s being paid and counted on as a center for this team, and I don’t think he’s going to be that anymore….
NYR and Lavi have to hammer out the guys/roles of what we have in place, what we need, and what roles are up for grabs in can thru competition
- Status
Ad
Upcoming events
-
BET ON ONLY ONE HORSE WATCH LIVE - WOODBINE RACE 7, TorontoWagers: 2Staked: $38.00Event closes- Updated:
-
-
Boston University vs Merrimack - Belfast, United KingdomWagers: 1Staked: $500.00Event closes- Updated:
-
-
