Mika Zibanejad

[Siddi]

The takes on Zibanejad in this thread are WILD, man.

Please name me the list of Centers in the NHL who have averaged more pts per game than Zibanejad the last 3-5 seasons, who've gotten more Selke votes, and have better 5v5 pts per 60. Name me the list of Center who have more pts per game in the playoffs the last three seasons as well.

It's a short list.

They wont because that wont fit their narrative.

Is there a single team in this final 4 who is worried about a matchup against Mika Zibanejad?

Florida was.

In game 1 & 2 Barkovs line was matched up against Mikas line. Barkov had a total of 2 shots on goal and 0 points in those games. For game 3 Maurice decided to ice Barkovs line against Trocheck and instantly Barkov started to score and put up 5 shots on goal.

 

[RogerRoger]

They wont because that wont fit their narrative.

Florida was.

In game 1 & 2 Barkovs line was matched up against Mikas line. Barkov had a total of 2 shots on goal and 0 points in those games. For game 3 Maurice decided to ice Barkovs line against Trocheck and instantly Barkov started to score and put up 5 shots on goal.

You are right, Florida was worried. But Tro was playing better and they figured out that any of the top 3 line could bottle up Ziba at 5v5. So they switched it up and played Barkov against the NYR's most dangerous line, Tro's.

 

[Siddi]

You are right, Florida was worried. But Tro was playing better and they figured out that any of the top 3 line could bottle up Ziba at 5v5. So they switched it up and played Barkov against the NYR's most dangerous line, Tro's.

So it was purely coincidence that Barkov started producing once Maurice decided to ice him away from Mika?

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

You have to be high on your own farts, as a Rangers fan, to think Mika at $8.5M per year through 2030 is fine after how bad he was 5v5 all year. He's only getting older, slower, less reactive, and better at DJing.

 

[RogerRoger]

So it was purely coincidence that Barkov started producing once Maurice decided to ice him away from Mika?

Ice him away from Mika is a laughable way to put it. Barkov was moved to shut down the only dangerous line of the NYR because Mika's line could be shut down by any other.

But hey, feel free to pretend that it was done for any reason other than Mika not being a factor at 5v5.

 

[sadpanda]

Didnt he had 2 points in 2 goals last night? Jesus christ

He’s soft

 

[Oak]

You have to be high on your own farts, as a Rangers fan, to think Mika at $8.5M per year through 2030 is fine after how bad he was 5v5 all year. He's only getting older, slower, less reactive, and better at DJing.

His yoga studio is getting really popular as well.

 

[lakeshirts37]

Zibananajad is one of the most overrated players in the league. He’s more of a #2C at this point of his career.

Who overrates him? I think he’s been fairly rated for awhile. At his peak he was a 1B center. Now more of a 2C. Who is saying otherwise?

If if if if….

As in Fox is the only player dealing with injuries this point of the season.

They all are, they’ve played 100 games this season

Very few teams make it far when their best player is on one leg. Not talking about a few bumps and bruises here

 

[lakeshirts37]

Proven playoff and regular season performer?

Fox had one good playoff run out of 4. We can make it 3 if you don't want to count his first year since he did not play many games. So lets say 1 out of 3. 1 out of 3 proves nothing bud.

Even in his "good" playoff performance 2 seasons ago he put up points but he had his struggles defensively. That does not equate to a #1 D who will carry his team to a cup, it just means he put up points. Yet somehow he hasn't been able to put up points the following 2 playoffs and that is what he is mainly there for.

Morale of the story is Fox is very similar to Panarin. Excels in regular season hockey but when playoffs start he is not your guy. Panarin is lethal also until the playoffs start. Although I personally wouldn't call Adam Fox lethal, ever.

Did Fox sleep with your Mom or something? This is absurd hahahaha

 

[Oak]

Insane take on Fox. It’s not just that he’s hurt or nursing something like everyone. The guy clearly has a f***ed knee and couldnt move. If you seriously think the limited Fox you just watched is purely because he cant handle playoffs and not because he has one leg then I cant help you

Was his knee hurt last season also when the Devils bullied him in the playoffs?

Seems like he is hurt more often than not, considering he only had 1 good playoffs out of 4 so far, and his good playoffs were far from good in his own end regardless how many assists he made.

 

[sr edler]

It's funny to me people are so angry at his long hair and DJ career.

 

[tabness]

It's funny to me people are so angry at his long hair and DJ career.

as someone who was pulling for the rangers this playoffs im just angry he sucked

 

[TheSuperElite]

and Panthers fans are convinced that THEY are the ones that shut him down

 

[ElLeetch]

He had a baby this year, and that can ruin some people.

 

[Peltz]

If he got points on the PP and neutralized opposing 1st lines, it would at least sorta justify his cap hit and rangers would’ve had a shot at winning against Florida. Instead he got cold on the pp, outplayed 5v5 by a long shot, and made bad decisions late in games that lead to goals against.

He just hasn’t shown he can be the guy for 3 straight years where he disappears. At least in the previous two years, he wasn’t actively costing rangers games in OT and 6 on 5 situations.

I don’t think there’s much to be done with his contract. But at this point I think he has to become more of a defensive shut down center rather than a player you have out there late in games with the season on the line.

He’s no longer a leader on the team.

 

[MartyOwns]

wrong thread

 

[TheOrganist]

Obviously talented but he has to be one of the softest players in the league.

 

[algernon]

It's funny to me people are so angry at his long hair and DJ career.

I think lots of people dislike him due to his ugliness as well.

 

[BB88]

Who overrates him? I think he’s been fairly rated for awhile. At his peak he was a 1B center. Now more of a 2C. Who is saying otherwise?


Very few teams make it far when their best player is on one leg. Not talking about a few bumps and bruises here

If you are basing your success on having all your best players at 100% this point of the season you are never going anywhere

Just look outside of your team and see top teams every year go through the same

 

[Oak]

So it was purely coincidence that Barkov started producing once Maurice decided to ice him away from Mika?

So Mika is a 2 way defensive forward all of a sudden??

 

[Jee]

more like zijanebad AMIRITE

 

[Grifter3511]

If you are basing your success on having all your best players at 100% this point of the season you are never going anywhere

Just look outside of your team and see top teams every year go through the same

That's true. But the team that wins the cup is usually the team that is 'luckiest' to avoid the most and worst injuries.

 

[Siddi]

If he got points on the PP and neutralized opposing 1st lines

He was even in 5v5 play against Floridas top line.

He just hasn’t shown he can be the guy for 3 straight years where he disappears.

21-22: 24 points in 20 games. Literally carried the team that year.

So Mika is a 2 way defensive forward all of a sudden??

He has always been a great 2-way center.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Not a player teams win with. Is fine with losing. Just another game. His attitude stinks. Sadly the Rangers are stuck with him for 6 more years too soft for playoff hockey. For a guy his size, he plays small

 

[AlaBlueShirt]

So Mika is a 2 way defensive forward all of a sudden??

He's been solid in his own end for years now.