Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Take out the 4 on 3 PP, the abbreviated PPs when our guys come out of the box after 4 on 4, the Kakko penalty PP at the end of last night and our PP is probably over 50% (all by the top unit).

HOW COULD IT HELP?!?!?!

Edit: not that we should change it even if we were 0 for the season. Aaron Judge batted below .200 for the first month of the season. The way proven track records get back on track is to have patience.

Zibanejad has batted below .200 for well over a calendar year

I missed the game due to the hulu outage. God I hate the way this is- three games three different networks.

Was Meek Mika as crappy as he has been for the last 120+ games?


I hope so. Players being scratched as a message has been happening since sports started. At the least, he should be off the pp and play third line minutes (which already has happened). Despite what they flash on the screen 5v5 that is our third line. Minutes and production supports this.

He wasn’t great, but not as bad

 

[huerter]

Zibanejad has batted below .200 for well over a calendar year

Then take him off the PK too, right?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Then take him off the PK too, right?

No because he’s actually good there.

He’s not got 5v5 and he’s not good on the PP anymore.

 

[duhmetreE]

Mika is the obvious weak link on the PP. Everyone else serves a purpose... Even Tro, with the faceoffs and gaining possession.

He's been horrible on the left wall. Either take him off the unit or move him to the bumper, force him to use his wrist shot. I remember all the shit I got saying his One-Timer is over-rated last pre-season.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/will-everyone-please-get-off-mika-zibanejads-back-already

Stan is busy this season , he’s got a new awful take every 2 days it seems.

pretty intense schedule for the old man, staying active at least .

 

[NYRangers0723]

No because he’s actually good there.

He’s not got 5v5 and he’s not good on the PP anymore.

That’s what so strange on the PK Mika still looks terrific but his PP and 5 on 5 play has decreased rapidly the last couple years

 

[huerter]

Mika is the obvious weak link on the PP. Everyone else serves a purpose... Even Tro, with the faceoffs and gaining possession.

He's been horrible on the left wall. Either take him off the unit or move him to the bumper, force him to use his wrist shot. I remember all the shit I got saying his One-Timer is over-rated last pre-season.

How does an elite unit have an obvious weakness?

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

We just had to give this guy a f***ing no-movement clause

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

We just had to give this guy a f***ing no-movement clause

The NYR special

 

[DevilDog99]

The thing that bothers me the most is that it doesn’t even look like he cares.

Notice the drive bys and quick touches. He isn’t engaged at all- he gets his points by being on the first lines and just standing and shooting. It’s like he is afraid of playing… or doesn’t care. I guess that’s what happens when you get a contract like that.

Guys like that I am ok with booing out of the freaking stadium. I don’t half ass my job- i wish he didn’t either.

 

[McRanger92]

He scored a 5v5 goal yesterday, when is the parade?

 

[DevilDog99]

Another gutless game of hot potato by my least favorite Ranger since Rick Nash.

 

[B17 Apricots]

The thing that bothers me the most is that it doesn’t even look like he cares.

Notice the drive bys and quick touches. He isn’t engaged at all- he gets his points by being on the first lines and just standing and shooting. It’s like he is afraid of playing… or doesn’t care. I guess that’s what happens when you get a contract like that.

Guys like that I am ok with booing out of the freaking stadium. I don’t half ass my job- i wish he didn’t either.

I could be misremembering, someone can correct me if I am... but I believe after they started tearing it down and chose Mika as a guy to take the reins of a larger role, thats when he said he really started to dedicate himself.

He got his retirement contract, I don't think he has the same drive anymore. The thing is when I look at that 19-20 season I don't see it as an aberration. His shooting percentage was a bit high, but it's not like he just got lucky. There's a handful of players that consistently shoot 15-20% every year. He was just a different player that season. We saw his actual ceiling what he was fully capable of. Probably one of the most dominant performances we've seen as a Ranger, he was that good. Between his 2-way game, all situations, he was a ~ top 5 center in the league that year. That's how outrageous of a season he had. It's sad now, he's a shell of that version of himself. Completely different play styles, different tendencies. Very unfortunate

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I could be misremembering, someone can correct me if I am... but I believe after they started tearing it down and chose Mika as a guy to take the reins of a larger role, thats when he said he really started to dedicate himself.

He got his retirement contract, I don't think he has the same drive anymore. The thing is when I look at that 19-20 season I don't see it as an aberration. His shooting percentage was a bit high, but it's not like he just got lucky. There's a handful of players that consistently shoot 15-20% every year. He was just a different player that season. We saw his actual ceiling what he was fully capable of. Probably one of the most dominant performances we've seen as a Ranger, he was that good. Between his 2-way game, all situations, he was a ~ top 5 center in the league that year. That's how outrageous of a season he had. It's sad now, he's a shell of that version of himself. Completely different play styles, different tendencies. Very unfortunate

I know that people have a hard time with personal shots at him. But the guy is a low energy emo dude that just doesn't seem to have the killer instinct or motivation to be the best player he can be. I know a lot of people (who make far less money) that live their lives where they work to live, not live to work. I think that's a decent worldview for an accountant I take issues with it when it's a guy making millions. He probably values his DJing and hobbies more than his job. And maybe if I were his friend or relative I'd be like "good job you're living your best life" but as fans that's brutal. Players like that getting big contracts are the worst.

 

[Raspewtin]

i struggle to say anything nice about this f*** at this point. an active detriment to the team and he’s pretty much bad at everything at this point. his contract is the worst thing drury has ever done, cannot possibly be topped

 

[huerter]

Another gutless game of hot potato by my least favorite Ranger since Rick Nash.

You have a weird S list if Nash is on it.

 

[mxyxptlk]

Another gutless game of hot potato by my least favorite Ranger since Rick Nash.

I thought I was the only one who didn't like Nash.

 

[B17 Apricots]

I know that people have a hard time with personal shots at him. But the guy is a low energy emo dude that just doesn't seem to have the killer instinct or motivation to be the best player he can be. I know a lot of people (who make far less money) that live their lives where they work to live, not live to work. I think that's a decent worldview for an accountant I take issues with it when it's a guy making millions. He probably values his DJing and hobbies more than his job. And maybe if I were his friend or relative I'd be like "good job you're living your best life" but as fans that's brutal. Players like that getting big contracts are the worst.

I'm glad you said it, he's not a guy like MacKinnon or JT Miller who has that overt firey competitiveness. I think it's in him, we've seen it. He's had some injuries too. But you're right he has that mellow, laid back demeanor. He has plenty of interests outside of hockey. It's a job for these guys so I'm sure he does like doing that stuff more. He does his little DJing sets in the summer. Those aren't necessarily bad things but the seemingly blasé attitude shows up on the ice.

And as a side note, when people dunk on him for the vegan thing... its not malice, I think it's a perfectly reasonable thing to question how sustainable it is for an NHLer. You kinda have to wonder how much that could be playing a part as well. And not even just in terms of hockey either, on a personal level I don't think it's healthy for the guy. I get the seeming virtue of it, the moral aspect, and I don't want to turn this into a thing but I think he's doing himself a huge disservice if he's really not eating animal proteins.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I'm glad you said it, he's not a guy like MacKinnon or JT Miller who has that overt firey competitiveness. I think it's in him, we've seen it. He's had some injuries too. But you're right he has that mellow, laid back demeanor. He has plenty of interests outside of hockey. It's a job for these guys so I'm sure he does like doing that stuff more. He does his little DJing sets in the summer. Those aren't necessarily bad things but the seemingly blasé attitude shows up on the ice.

And as a side note, when people dunk on him for the vegan thing... its not malice, I think it's a perfectly reasonable thing to question how sustainable it is for an NHLer. You kinda have to wonder how much that could be playing a part as well. And not even just in terms of hockey either, on a personal level I don't think it's healthy for the guy. I get the seeming virtue of it, the moral aspect, and I don't want to turn this into a thing but I think he's doing himself a huge disservice if he's really not eating animal proteins.

But do we know this about him not eating animals or is it just his wife and we found funny and ran with it?

 

[B17 Apricots]

But do we know this about him not eating animals or is it just his wife and we found funny and ran with it?

No clue, thats why I had said if at the end. Curious if that's true or not

 

[DevilDog99]

You have a weird S list if Nash is on it.

The guy that had 3 goals in 25 playoff games the year we made it to the finals… yea, i have big problems with “the big easy”.

I know that people have a hard time with personal shots at him. But the guy is a low energy emo dude that just doesn't seem to have the killer instinct or motivation to be the best player he can be. I know a lot of people (who make far less money) that live their lives where they work to live, not live to work. I think that's a decent worldview for an accountant I take issues with it when it's a guy making millions. He probably values his DJing and hobbies more than his job. And maybe if I were his friend or relative I'd be like "good job you're living your best life" but as fans that's brutal. Players like that getting big contracts are the worst.

Exactly. …. And is a huge hinderance for our Stanley Cup window. Some if us may never get to see the Rangers win the Stanley Cup in our adult lifetime. THAT is why I have problems with guys like Nash and Mika.

I make a lot less and try a lot harder.

 

[Row I Goon]

Zib is in free fall - the question is how much lower is the floor?

 

[Crease]

Not that I don’t think he’s on the downside of his career, but doesn’t he usually start slow?

 

[Chytilmania]

But do we know this about him not eating animals or is it just his wife and we found funny and ran with it?

Besides pre COVID wasn’t his best season when he was browsing HF to see all the LOTR memes?

 

[WojtekWolski86]

Mika is the obvious weak link on the PP. Everyone else serves a purpose... Even Tro, with the faceoffs and gaining possession.

He's been horrible on the left wall. Either take him off the unit or move him to the bumper, force him to use his wrist shot. I remember all the shit I got saying his One-Timer is over-rated last pre-season.

Tro is the lunch pail guy that takes a ton Abuse in the slot and tries to cause havoc to free up the cross seam. His downside is he's a bit streaky goal scoring wise.

Anyways back to Mika. Look Stamkos and Ovi are force fed obvious 1Ters and it still works (mostly). But that's because their shot speed and accuracy are HOF level. Come playoff team teams have neutered Ovi because the rest of the unit couldn't manage a 4 on 3.

When the PP is rotating and not trying obvious Mika 1Ts they are more successful. Joe keeps saying Mika needs to shoot more to open other things and I just don't that's true. He's lost so much accuracy that if the shit isn't landing square in the logo it's rimming off the glass and out.

Hard conversation needs to be had with Mika. This isn't a today revelation. Sit down with him and say let's focus on the defensive side of the game. Dial back some of his minutes. Time for him to figure out what kind of player he's going to be in the back 9. He doesn't look like a 40 goal scorer.


Additionally, if he keeps making business decisions and avoiding hard work along the boards then his A needs to be taken. When this team mails it in, Mika and Kreider are the biggest culprits.