Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad

[The Crypto Guy]

Did anyone report either during/after the game what transpired? How it was broadcast, I had assumed Mika vomited.

Nope. MSG and Rangers completely swept that under the rug. MSG didn't even show a replay of what happened. Absolutely insane.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Nope. MSG and Rangers completely swept that under the rug. MSG didn't even show a replay of what happened. Absolutely insane.

Collusion!

obviously i am an outlier, i find this Mika mudslinging to over-the-top
hasn't had the best start,
but probably the best all-round C NYR have had this century,
and after you push him out, it could be 10-15 years to acquire another

Agreed, the mud-slinging should be directed at Laviolette. He’d actually be doing Zib a favor by sitting him for a game or 3.


Maybe a coincidence it absolutely hilarious how for the 5 minutes Zib was shitting or puking in the locker room the Rangers looked their best , and started sucking again as soon as he came back.

 

[WhereO Is Kakko]

I need the address to MSG...I'm going to send him a bucket of high quality PEI Potatoes and some good barley.....the poor man looks like he is all bound up out there . He needs a good cleansing .

 

[tomobson]

Time to change the lines back and manage their 5v5 minutes. Try to get him out their against favorable matchups and go back to the Chytil line getting more ES minutes. Putting him in high pressure situations is only making things worse with whatever he might be going through right now. Last year he struggled but this is a whole new level of atrociousness we're witnessing so far this season.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I for one hope Mika gets it together, I still want this core to win a Cup here. Imo you shorten his ice time, replace him on pp1, let him work through things at practice and earn his ice time after that. I've always thought he was on the ice too much anyway, him being fresher can only help.

 

[CTTribe73]

Somebody has to sit this dude down and reinforce the fact that we paid him to be Mika and not the imposter known as Mika With the New Contract. I think the $ has caused him to put excessive expectations on himself and he's having a hard time reconciling that.

Just play your game, dude. It's professional sports. You're ALL overpaid, LOL.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Mika's play has been in decline for years and he's been ineffective at 5v5 for at least two. The only difference this year is that Kreider has become mortal this season and can't carry his dead weight to the mountain top anymore.

Just like with bald-narin, Mika's decline isn't physical. He's gotten comfortable playing a certain way and being programmed to believe it's working. Mika needs to show some pride and play the game like he thinks he's the guy who should have the puck all the time and be on the ice all the time.

Panarin took a bunch of heat after a so-so (by his lofty standards) season and a very bad playoff round. He came in game 1 the following season locked in, determined to play a different game and be dominant, and he scored 49 goals. Ball is in Mika's court.

I feel like I've been pretty loudly critical of him for a long time now but it's just because there's such a good player there -- there could be at least.

 

[WojtekWolski86]

hot take incoming.

Tradition has us booing his ass.

Do we do the Trea Turner and Lindor slump response and give him a cheer and chant Mika? Would that work?

To further justify, Mika would most likely go deeper in a hole if he gets booed.

Counter point. I can't help but curse his name watching him loaf around. Well its a good thing I'm nowhere near MSG to make those calls.

 

[RangersFan1994]

This explains his lack of passion for hockey

 

[RangersFan1994]

Soft

 

[RangersFan1994]

Excuses for Mika

Rangers' Mika Zibanejad opens up about mental struggle, fighting through slump

The Blueshirts' center is trying to stay positive after mistake-filled game but called it \

www.lohud.com

 

[inranger94]

The best thing that can happen for this organization is he retires from professional hockey and becomes a full time DJ. The sooner, the better.

 

[CasusBelli]

is this delayed Alex Daigle syndrome? Extremely talented (but in this case produced) and then lost interest.

 

[grachevsceiling]

Mika, don’t listen to these guys! A lot of them had to convince themselves that men don’t experience human emotions because their daddies told them that when they were young and they’ve confirmed that bias many times over by surrounding themselves with other men who had similar daddies. The whole “I’m more Alpha” shtick belies a deep feeling of alienation, but also ensures that they’ll never actually do anything to address it. Ugh. So instead they call you vegan (whether or not you are) or talk about your hair or make fun of you for *checks notes* liking music. This is as old and boring as Aristotle. This is a weak-minded, uncreative mythology, and most of them can’t just admit they’re sad when their team loses (because it’s one way they feel less alienated). But if you, like me, watch The British Baking Show on your days off, you know that a contestant might flub the signature, they may bungle the technical, but if they stun with their showstopper, they may just be Star Baker. 68 games. Give us your lightest Genoise Sponge.

 

[RangersFan1994]

He should take time away from hockey if he is having mental issues? Why drag the team down when you are not mentally healthy enough to positively contribute?

 

[RempireStateBuilding]

Right now, I think the best thing for Mika would be limiting his minutes whether he likes it or not. Lavi needs to make that decision, and make it for Mika. Something isn't right, that's quite obvious. Mika knows, the org/coaches know, his teammates know. I don't particularly care about the specifics, but the answer doesn't seem to be to keep throwing him out there for 18-20 minutes a night in all situations when it hasn't produced many positive results outside of a handful of looks across 14 games.

Take some of this pressure off of him - Kakko/Chytil/Cuylle and Panarin/Tro/Laf are doing enough to cover for the black holes. Those players should all be rewarded for it and the team should be riding the hot hands. Limit Mika to ~14-15 mins a night, put him on PP2, figure a way to work Laf on PP1. Keep Mika on the PK to keep him engaged.

Mika & Co. just need to not be liabilities on the ice. That's all I want to see. That's where the focus should be right now. It should be a call to return to basics. Do the bare minimum of not being a liability and build off of that, and let the guys who are in the groove do the heavy lifting.

 

[cheech70]

Depression ....chemical inbalance is everywhere and it is playing out with Mika. He may of had a mimi panic attack on ice Tuesday. There is no quick cure. Medication and cognitive therapy are the treatments. Apathy and hopelessness are not fun. Wonder if he can't get back to normal if this ailment could qualify for permanent disability. Its a dangerous occupation if you are not alert.

 

[94leetch]

Mika, don’t listen to these guys! A lot of them had to convince themselves that men don’t experience human emotions because their daddies told them that when they were young and they’ve confirmed that bias many times over by surrounding themselves with other men who had similar daddies. The whole “I’m more Alpha” shtick belies a deep feeling of alienation, but also ensures that they’ll never actually do anything to address it. Ugh. So instead they call you vegan (whether or not you are) or talk about your hair or make fun of you for *checks notes* liking music. This is as old and boring as Aristotle. This is a weak-minded, uncreative mythology, and most of them can’t just admit they’re sad when their team loses (because it’s one way they feel less alienated). But if you, like me, watch The British Baking Show on your days off, you know that a contestant might flub the signature, they may bungle the technical, but if they stun with their showstopper, they may just be Star Baker. 68 games. Give us your lightest Genoise Sponge.

LOL

 

[RangersFan1994]

Other teams cheat the LTIR? Cant the Rangers say he has mental issues and put him on LTIR? Why can’t Mika if he is talking about mental issues go into the NHLPA Assistant program to help him and the team get better? He is being selfish here.

 

[94leetch]

So I didn't get to read the Brooks pay wall article but are they invoking mental health issues as the culprit?

 

[TGWL]

Mika, don’t listen to these guys! A lot of them had to convince themselves that men don’t experience human emotions because their daddies told them that when they were young and they’ve confirmed that bias many times over by surrounding themselves with other men who had similar daddies. The whole “I’m more Alpha” shtick belies a deep feeling of alienation, but also ensures that they’ll never actually do anything to address it. Ugh. So instead they call you vegan (whether or not you are) or talk about your hair or make fun of you for *checks notes* liking music. This is as old and boring as Aristotle. This is a weak-minded, uncreative mythology, and most of them can’t just admit they’re sad when their team loses (because it’s one way they feel less alienated). But if you, like me, watch The British Baking Show on your days off, you know that a contestant might flub the signature, they may bungle the technical, but if they stun with their showstopper, they may just be Star Baker. 68 games. Give us your lightest Genoise Sponge.

He can't hear you with his headphones on.

 

[alkurtz]

Again, if there was a serious medical issue (and I'm not talking about a hockey-related physical injury), Ranger management, coaching, training, and medical staff) would be aware of it and addressing it. Again...they see what we see. If you don't believe there has been some serious discussion between Ranger staff and MK then you are being short-sighted. His decline has been precipitous and obvious to all. Again, we have no idea, no clue, what is going on behind the scenes.
I'm still inclined to think that this is age-related. Faster than most, certainly, but well within the range of what is possible. Compounding this is a loss of confidence and an inability to adapt (as some players do with declining skills). No matter what you think of MK, this is sad to see. Age comes to all athletes. He might be only 31 but in my long life as a sports fan, that is not too early. Are not Met fans concerned with Pete Alonso's seeming decline (he won't be 30 until next month) and how he will age in the coming seasons? It hurts to be on the sideline and observe this. We are more used to seeing a gradual decline. We just have to wait and see what transpires.

 

[RangersFan1994]

So I didn't get to read the Brooks pay wall article but are they invoking mental health issues as the culprit?

So Mika should be in the NHLPA assistant program. He isn't helping the team by playing like garbage while dealing with whatever issues he is dealing with. Selfish player

 

[Whoot Whoot]

Maybe living in California for twenty years has softened me, but I genuinely feel bad for him.

The New Yorker in me says fk him

 

[RangersFan]

The Kings Alex Laferriere is on their PP1 and we can't even get Lafreniere on PP1 here because it would destroy this mental midgets ego.