Mika Zibanejad

[Grifter3511]

Number one center as Rangers fans ironically call him.

Fixed it for you.

 

[BomaLightDevils]

Literally nobody has called him that the last 2 years. Yes when he scored 92 points 3 years ago we did, only you probably thought he wasn't then.

All right then.

You guys knew then and you know now.

 

[Peltz]

All right then.

You guys knew then and you know now.

Read the room dude. It's not that type of thread at the moment. We are concerned for his well being.

Another poster shared his health struggles and we all wish him well too.

 

[chris kontos]

Ive had a few concussions and vertigo was one symptom.
I was watching during the most recent episode and immediately thought: that was acute positional vertigo

 

[GarlicbreadTB]

Apparently he had an anxiety attack during the game.

 

[Bgav]

Apparently he had an anxiety attack during the game.

Damn, that could easily feel like a heart attack. Hope he's alright

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Apparently he had an anxiety attack during the game.

Source?

 

[GarlicbreadTB]

Source?

Per Bjurman who writes for Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. Who follows the Rangers closely wrote it in tonight's blog ahead of the Rangers v Sharks game.


I put the part into Google Translate because I'm too lazy to translate it but here it is:

The individual Rangers player who above all would need a successful night is of course Mika.He had an extremely difficult time against the Jets on Tuesday and as some of you have seen and already discussed in the track, he told us after practice yesterday that he has never been through anything more difficult.It also emerged that the sequence against the Jets when he disappeared into the locker room did not, as I thought, have anything to do with a sprained foot; he needed to get out to get some breath.That doesn't sound good. On the contrary, it sounds like some kind of hint of an anxiety attack in the middle of the match and if it has gone that far help is needed, I know that only too well from my own experience.Hopefully it's still no worse than he says he can trick himself into not thinking dark thoughts and going out and playing as usual, but anxiety is anxiety. Anxiety takes over and dictates and ultimately controls every thought and outmaneuvers every emotion, and if there are 18,000 people sitting around booing every mistake, and a whole gallery of thinkers in the media just waiting to scalp the problems, it's fueled by a Category 5 hurricane is fueled by the boiling hot waters of the Gulf of Mexico in late August.Anyone who says it's just a matter of "biting down" - and thinks it should be easier when the sufferer earns a lot of money - doesn't understand anything, especially not about mental health.That said, we really have to hope that Mika can steer into the light on his own - but it's also important to know that asking for help is not a defeat.On the contrary, sometimes it is necessary.

 

[Sdevils42]

The second or third best defenseman in the league isn't a true 1D on a Cup team?

I get that Adam Fox has now had two bad playoffs in a row, but his skill level and IQ is high enough that he can withstand whatever game plan you think teams have figured out about him.

The "Zib is not the guy in the playoffs" line is BS. He's been incredibly clutch for us in big moments. He was amazing two seasons ago in our run to the ECF, and he was a surefire Conn Smythe candidate for two rounds until we reached Florida. They've done a great job at shutting him down. Not every great player is great all the time.

There is SO much recency bias in these discussions. They wouldn't have been happening last week, but now the Rangers find themselves down in a series against a better team, and suddenly Zibanejad is overrated and Fox isn't a "true 1D" lol. Come on. We've seen these guys perform in big spots in long playoff runs. Kreider hasn't had a good series either, and he's the most clutch NYR in my lifetime besides Messier, Leetch, Hank and Igor. It happens.

The guy I'm actually worried about is Panarin. Because a dude who has averaged a 100 pt pace 4 of the last 5 seasons and had 120 this year, should not be this unproductive every single playoffs. I've seen Zibanejad do it, I've seen Fox and Kreider do it, so I have hope that they can snap their bad run of play. But I've never seen Panarin do it.


So if you want to question whether someone on the team is "not the guy", start with Bread.

Do you still feel this way?

 

[SI90]

Ive had a few concussions and vertigo was one symptom.
I was watching during the most recent episode and immediately thought: that was acute positional vertigo

I’ve suffered from Vertigo for the last 14 years. Absolutely sucks.

 

[QJL]

Health issues aside, he should not be in the lineup. He is currently not playing an NHL quality player.

 

[ORRFForever]

Imagine what Will Cuylle could do with some PP time.

 

[KingDeathMetal]

Do you still feel this way?

I still feel that people overreacted to a small sample size at the time. But I am very concerned with Zibanejad's play to start the season. I think it's a psychological thing because physically he hasn't broken down or anything. He seems utterly checked out.

 

[Paul4587]

He’s an aging low end 1C (if that anymore)on a bad contract.

Unfortunately the Rangers ultimate lack of success with the group they currently have is because they can’t matchup down the middle with other elite teams.

 

[SoundAndFury]

He’s an aging low end 1C (if that anymore)on a bad contract.

He is nowhere near that as we speak which is mostly what this thread is about. But thank you for your input.

 

[Paul4587]

He is nowhere near that as we speak which is mostly what this thread is about. But thank you for your input.

You’re very welcome.

 

[MakoSlade]

If Mika is having panic attacks mid-game, why isn't he sitting out? The 1970's "suck it up" culture is long gone. Seems he needs a break, and as long a break as required.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

If Mika is having panic attacks mid-game, why isn't he sitting out? The 1970's "suck it up" culture is long gone. Seems he needs a break, and as long a break as required.

If Mika needs to sit out games because he’s having panic attacks, that sounds like a textbook case for voiding a contract.

 

[The Colonel]

If Mika needs to sit out games because he’s having panic attacks, that sounds like a textbook case for voiding a contract.

You win the award for “biggest heartless ghoul”

 

[JFedol]

He never was a 1C at any f***ing point throughout his career, he always gets dominated in a playoff series by other genuine 1C's and it's quite the spectacle just observing it and then the audacity for delusional rag fans (minority) to call him a 1C lol

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You win the award for “biggest heartless ghoul”

So my team needs to carry one of the worst contracts in the league and basically carry dead space at times because he’s a baby?

Would you like that for your own team?

Do you think most NHL’ers (let alone people in society) don’t have some moments that might constitute a panic attack? Yeah, and most just suck it up and get on with it.

Not telling the guy he can’t get help or sit out games, but if he doesn’t want to fulfill his contract responsibilities because of his panic attacks, his contract really should be voided.

 

[Ghost of Murph]

Former MLBer Joey Votto used to have in-game panic attacks. Nick Esasky, also a former Red, had vertigo. Votto was able to overcome his issues and went on to have a great career.

I hope Zibanejad is able to get through his mental issues, whatever the cause, and get back on track. Must be tough to be go through what he is dealing with while also playing NHL hockey.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He never was a 1C at any f***ing point throughout his career, he always gets dominated in a playoff series by other genuine 1C's and it's quite the spectacle just observing it and then the audacity for delusional rag fans (minority) to call him a 1C lol

He was 1PPG+ 3 of 4 years at his best. Led the NHL in goals per game in 2019-20. During a three year stretch was 16th in total points and 9th in goals leaguewide.

Whether he was a good enough player for his team when it mattered most is a fair question, but he was absolutely a 1C at his best.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Just take Xanax , it’s easy to get prescribed.


Problem solved.

 

[super6646]

So my team needs to carry one of the worst contracts in the league and basically carry dead space at times because he’s a baby?

Would you like that for your own team?

Do you think most NHL’ers (let alone people in society) don’t have some moments that might constitute a panic attack? Yeah, and most just suck it up and get on with it.

Not telling the guy he can’t get help or sit out games, but if he doesn’t want to fulfill his contract responsibilities because of his panic attacks, his contract really should be voided.

Jesus Christ. This is one of the most heartless things I’ve ever seen on this board. How tf can you root for your team and then talk about the players as if they are disposable crap like that?

He’s being a baby, void the contract. Brutal attitude. And just on a purely “logical” point, gl with the PA putting up with that excuse for one second. They aren’t voiding his contract for this, full stop.