Mika Zibanejad

[SnowblindNYR]

i don't disagree. as i said it in my other post, it is a trade off between cap space and roster flexibility.

if an agent pushes for max term, max $ plus trade protection it might be best and let the player walk or explore other options. good gm'ing is sometimes about not signing a contract. carolina for years excelled/excels in it.

Yeah but something tells me that if the Rangers let Shesterkin sign elsewhere no matter for how much they'll get ridiculed if he plays great for the other team. Like the Giants and Barkley now. It's damned if you do and damned if you don't.

 

[TBF1972]

if it was so easy every team wins the stanley cup every year.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Basically, I think NMCs are aligned with player but not fan interests. And frankly I only care about the players insofar as what helps my team win.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I don't know about anything undiagnosed but as far as I know he hasn't had a concussion in over 5 years. His insane 19-20 season was after his concussion issues. He's had all of his best seasons long after his concussions. He is either depressed or suffering from crippling confidence issues or both. But as bad as the contract looks now. It's mostly hindsight and there's no way to know a guy consistently in the 80-90 point pace range would become a non-NHL player by 31. I believe he had more than 90 points two seasons ago. This wasn't a scrub or even an injury prone player getting a big contract. It was a lemon and NMCs are frankly a disgrace. A player can just dog it for 6 years and a team has to take it.

The Zibanejad worries was always the dude's 5v5 production long term, he never moved the needle for me as a rival watching him. If I was an NYR fan, I'd want a more in the guts type of 1C, every playoff series I watched him as a Ranger, he was a perimeter guy. Granted, most of his playoff series came after the extension but it was always the risk. The move was always trading for Eichel and trading Zibanejad for those pieces back but alas. The only real thing the guy had was his shot early on too.

Yeah but something tells me that if the Rangers let Shesterkin sign elsewhere no matter for how much they'll get ridiculed if he plays great for the other team. Like the Giants and Barkley now. It's damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Funny thing you mention Saquon because I can literally see the Flyers signing Shesterkin with their need in net if he walks to UFA Would be insane if two NY sports stars become legends in Philly with the rate Barkley is going at and the Flyers are somewhat building a good team in the Metro.

 

[GbgRanger]

If a player wants a ntc or nmc they should give a substantiable discount for it.

Unfortunately rangers have been dishing put these clauses like candy

 

[SoundAndFury]

I can literally see the Flyers signing Shesterkin with their need in net if he walks to UFA <...> the Flyers are somewhat building a good team in the Metro.

Flyers have 3 goalies with NHL aspirations signed for the next season and are more or less committed to their terrible core. They are basically at stage 1 of the rebuild where they have Michkov, Luchanko and 3 first-rounders this year but they are also stuck with the players who are just bad and overpaid on the current roster. If Shestyorkin signs there with all the choices he has, he is crazier than Fox News.

 

[DevilDog99]

I don't know about anything undiagnosed but as far as I know he hasn't had a concussion in over 5 years. His insane 19-20 season was after his concussion issues. He's had all of his best seasons long after his concussions. He is either depressed or suffering from crippling confidence issues or both. But as bad as the contract looks now. It's mostly hindsight and there's no way to know a guy consistently in the 80-90 point pace range would become a non-NHL player by 31. I believe he had more than 90 points two seasons ago. This wasn't a scrub or even an injury prone player getting a big contract. It was a lemon and NMCs are frankly a disgrace. A player can just dog it for 6 years and a team has to take it.

What I see (and i watch every game twice). He doesn’t give 2 shits. He isn’t engaged at all.

 

[DevilDog99]

The Zibanejad worries was always the dude's 5v5 production long term, he never moved the needle for me as a rival watching him. If I was an NYR fan, I'd want a more in the guts type of 1C, every playoff series I watched him as a Ranger, he was a perimeter guy. Granted, most of his playoff series came after the extension but it was always the risk. The move was always trading for Eichel and trading Zibanejad for those pieces back but alas. The only real thing the guy had was his shot early on too.



Funny thing you mention Saquon because I can literally see the Flyers signing Shesterkin with their need in net if he walks to UFA Would be insane if two NY sports stars become legends in Philly with the rate Barkley is going at and the Flyers are somewhat building a good team in the Metro.

I wish Rangers fans knew anything about per

What I see (and i watch every game twice). He doesn’t give 2 shits. He isn’t engaged at all.

he is the definition of “Loser”. Listen to his postgame talks, see how he carries himself on the ice…. The dude is a pure loser. I can’t believe he is in nyc.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

The Zibanejad worries was always the dude's 5v5 production long term, he never moved the needle for me as a rival watching him. If I was an NYR fan, I'd want a more in the guts type of 1C, every playoff series I watched him as a Ranger, he was a perimeter guy. Granted, most of his playoff series came after the extension but it was always the risk. The move was always trading for Eichel and trading Zibanejad for those pieces back but alas. The only real thing the guy had was his shot early on too.



Funny thing you mention Saquon because I can literally see the Flyers signing Shesterkin with their need in net if he walks to UFA Would be insane if two NY sports stars become legends in Philly with the rate Barkley is going at and the Flyers are somewhat building a good team in the Metro.

He was one of the best players in the 2022 playoffs.

Also, are you telling me if they got Eichel who had health questions Devils fans wouldn't be like "typical Rag$ get another big name".

 

[Misery74]

If a player wants a ntc or nmc they should give a substantiable discount for it.

Unfortunately rangers have been dishing put these clauses like candy

Add to this, the GM seems to publicly bully his players after they sign them.

Laviolette as a coach has 1.5 year shelf life.

The Rangers are in trouble. Everyone knows their dirty laundry.

 

[shaner8989]

Zibby has been garbage as as that entire team minus a couple guys.

Maybe a retool needs to happen.

Few good young guys though. Cuyille Laf and Bedard have been fun. Chytil was great before he got hurt.

Another loss to a bottom feeder today could be the end of this team

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

He was one of the best players in the 2022 playoffs.

Also, are you telling me if they got Eichel who had health questions Devils fans wouldn't be like "typical Rag$ get another big name".

Dude, I was one of the biggest advocates for NYR getting him. As much as I'm a Devils fan, I always think of transactions of making teams better even if it's you guys lol. Jack Eichel at his peak is miles better than Zibanejad at his peak, be serious, I wouldn't make fun of NYR for that swing. Also yes he was one of their best players in 2022 in the playoffs but remember he was god awful until game 6 ish v PIT and then had a fantastic series v Carolina (some of his goals were in that series were god awful softies, but hey they all count) and then he had a good series v TB early on when they were leading and then the wheels fell off. I think Zib is a good player but he's not a 1C on a cup team. Pretty sure I said the same thing last year when he was floundering v FLA in this thread as well about the Eichel trade. It's not like I'm saying it now all of sudden with tremendous hindsight.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Flyers have 3 goalies with NHL aspirations signed for the next season and are more or less committed to their terrible core. They are basically at stage 1 of the rebuild where they have Michkov, Luchanko and 3 first-rounders this year but they are also stuck with the players who are just bad and overpaid on the current roster. If Shestyorkin signs there with all the choices he has, he is crazier than Fox News.

Why is their core terrible? They were a borderline bubble team last year and got absolutely caked by the Carter Hart news (f*** that guy) and the wheels came off and they look like they're hanging around the bubble again this year. Their core is nowhere near as bad as you make it. And you can easily trade a few of those firsts for NHL players to speed their rebuild/retool even more and then make a swing for Shesty in UFA. The Metro only has 3 really good teams and 2 of them are built for the future, not sure if the Caps are sustainable long term but they've looked awesome in the early part of this season

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Dude, I was one of the biggest advocates for NYR getting him. As much as I'm a Devils fan, I always think of transactions of making teams better even if it's you guys lol. Jack Eichel at his peak is miles better than Zibanejad at his peak, be serious, I wouldn't make fun of NYR for that swing. Also yes he was one of their best players in 2022 in the playoffs but remember he was god awful until game 6 ish v PIT and then had a fantastic series v Carolina (some of his goals were in that series were god awful softies, but hey they all count) and then he had a good series v TB early on when they were leading and then the wheels fell off. I think Zib is a good player but he's not a 1C on a cup team. Pretty sure I said the same thing last year when he was floundering v FLA in this thread as well about the Eichel trade. It's not like I'm saying it now all of sudden with tremendous hindsight.

I mean if he was performing based on how he has performed even two seasons ago based on where the cap is his cap hit wouldn't be bad at all. 1C or 2C. He's just not an NHL player anymore. This wasn't a Bobby Holik signing from 20 years ago. It was reasonable. Especially now with the cap going up. Even though he's always been a bit of a headcase I'm sure Drury didn't antipicate him going into a full blown depression.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I mean if he was performing based on how he has performed even two seasons ago based on where the cap is his cap hit wouldn't be bad at all. 1C or 2C. He's just not an NHL player anymore. This wasn't a Bobby Holik signing from 20 years ago. It was reasonable. Especially now with the cap going up. Even though he's always been a bit of a headcase I'm sure Drury didn't antipicate him going into a full blown depression.

Like I said my worry with him was always the concussions + his 5v5 play. I also hate paying forwards late into the 30's, they usually tend to peak in their early 20's unless they show they can age effectively. Rangers fans get on Panarin but that's still a contract you give out 10/10 times without no regrets, he gets you into the playoffs no questions asked and I don't think he was that bad in the Florida series. He opened up time and space for Trocheck/Laf 5v5 to have tremendous series'. Zibanejad was just always a shot imo, he was good for a stretch but there was always a big worry fall off to his play style. And as much as I think Zibanejad was a bad re-sign, I think the lack of foot speed/people to break out of the puck on the Rangers blue line is the biggest issue. It was an issue v TB in 2022, big time v us in 2023 and last year v Florida. Lindgren and Trouba being off next year's roster should do wonders but you're also trusting Drury to make those decisions as well whom I'm not the biggest fan of either.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Why is their core terrible?

0 NHL top-6 centers and 1 top-4 defenseman. And those are the toughest positions to fill. Yes, Tortorella hockey, franchise direction and the fact that it's still mostly a core of veterans/players in their prime allows them to linger around .500 but they are in no way set up for the future. You mention how they can "trade away few 1sts" like there would be teams just giving out top-6 centers at a discount price.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Like I said my worry with him was always the concussions + his 5v5 play. I also hate paying forwards late into the 30's, they usually tend to peak in their early 20's unless they show they can age effectively. Rangers fans get on Panarin but that's still a contract you give out 10/10 times without no regrets, he gets you into the playoffs no questions asked and I don't think he was that bad in the Florida series. He opened up time and space for Trocheck/Laf 5v5 to have tremendous series'. Zibanejad was just always a shot imo, he was good for a stretch but there was always a big worry fall off to his play style. And as much as I think Zibanejad was a bad re-sign, I think the lack of foot speed/people to break out of the puck on the Rangers blue line is the biggest issue. It was an issue v TB in 2022, big time v us in 2023 and last year v Florida. Lindgren and Trouba being off next year's roster should do wonders but you're also trusting Drury to make those decisions as well whom I'm not the biggest fan of either.

Yeah those guys are up there with the problem but this is a Mika thread hence the conversation about him.

 

[sr edler]

He's probably lost some love for the game. Happens to the best of us, and is an easier route to slip down if the coach is a grumpy energy thief.

 

[Drake1588]

I do sort of wonder what effect it might have if the media and the fans at MSG started to unironically cheer him on, full throated, at a time when he clearly could use the support... but that's a tough room.

He's not going anywhere. At some point, the player, fans, media, and management are going to have to learn to live with each other.

 

[mrhockey193195]

I do sort of wonder what effect it might have if the media and the fans at MSG started to unironically cheer him on, full throated, at a time when he clearly could use the support... but that's a tough room.

It's something that I'm very guilt of myself, and that I really don't like about most US sports fan bases (but particularly NY sports) - we turn on our own players so quickly.

I'm very jealous of the environment in Europe with their football teams. They tend to vocally support their club & players no matter what.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Well he's apparently got invisible blood which can't help his play

 

[Kupo]

Well he's apparently got invisible blood which can't help his play

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Congrats on the same all-time success as your neighbours who showed up half a century later

 

[Kupo]

Congrats on the same all-time success as your neighbours who showed up half a century later

Thanks!!!!!