Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad

[Cmox]

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

Here ya go. It was a Vince article.

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

 

[McRanger92]

Brooks and Vince article's on Mika are bizarre. Having confidence issues and "blocking out the negativity" but he also avoids all hockey accounts on social media? Who is criticizing him in his world if he doesnt pay attention to social media? His ice-time hasnt suffered, the coaches and teammates have his back and the fans havent booed him (yet). What gives? Comes off like he's using a serious issue as a bit of an excuse to avoid criticism. I respect him for facing the media, but the only guy who doubts Mika's ability is himself. The Rangers gave him $68 million reasons not to. Until beer comes back under $20 at MSG, I want less soul searching and more shooting and hitting. Just play hockey man.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Brooks and Vince article's on Mika are bizarre. Having confidence issues and "blocking out the negativity" but he also avoids all hockey accounts on social media? Who is criticizing him in his world if he doesnt pay attention to social media? His ice-time hasnt suffered, the coaches and teammates have his back and the fans havent booed him (yet). What gives? Comes off like he's using a serious issue as a bit of an excuse to avoid criticism. I respect him for facing the media, but the only guy who doubts Mika's ability is himself. The Rangers gave him $68 million reasons not to. Until beer comes back under $20 at MSG, I want less soul searching and more shooting and hitting. Just play hockey man.

Wasn't he talking about "burying himself in negativity", not about getting it from other sources?

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

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.

this was a journey of a post

 

[McRanger92]

Wasn't he talking about "burying himself in negativity", not about getting it from other sources?

That's even weirder to me then. Mental midget stuff. But we already had a truckload of evidence for that before the past couple days

 

[noncents]

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.

exactly the type of post this site needs more of

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Brooks and Vince article's on Mika are bizarre. Having confidence issues and "blocking out the negativity" but he also avoids all hockey accounts on social media? Who is criticizing him in his world if he doesnt pay attention to social media? His ice-time hasnt suffered, the coaches and teammates have his back and the fans havent booed him (yet). What gives? Comes off like he's using a serious issue as a bit of an excuse to avoid criticism. I respect him for facing the media, but the only guy who doubts Mika's ability is himself. The Rangers gave him $68 million reasons not to. Until beer comes back under $20 at MSG, I want less soul searching and more shooting and hitting. Just play hockey man.

are they trying to say he sucks because of his poor mental health and that its not the other way around?

 

[McRanger92]

are they trying to say he sucks because of his poor mental health and that its not the other way around?

I really dont know what the point of it all is. The answers seem pretty simple to me as far as how much his game has fallen off. He literally never shoots from anywhere but Ovi's office on the PP. If he had 7 or 8 goals right now like a guy of his stature should, no one would care that he had a few turnovers in a game where the Rangers otherwise played well. The guy was on pace for a 50+ goal season in 2020. Hasnt seen a puck he didnt want to cross-ice pass to no one since.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Brooks and Vince article's on Mika are bizarre. Having confidence issues and "blocking out the negativity" but he also avoids all hockey accounts on social media? Who is criticizing him in his world if he doesnt pay attention to social media? His ice-time hasnt suffered, the coaches and teammates have his back and the fans havent booed him (yet). What gives? Comes off like he's using a serious issue as a bit of an excuse to avoid criticism. I respect him for facing the media, but the only guy who doubts Mika's ability is himself. The Rangers gave him $68 million reasons not to. Until beer comes back under $20 at MSG, I want less soul searching and more shooting and hitting. Just play hockey man.

Perfectly put.

 

[Atax]

We should probably stop speculating and posting about his mental health. The mods asked us not to post that sort of stuff. Should respect their wishes.

Just seems like he's a guy who got by on skill alone and probably slacked on the gym/working out this off season. Now his skills have faltered for whatever reason and he cant keep up.

 

[McRanger92]

We should probably stop speculating and posting about his mental health. The mods asked us not to post that sort of stuff. Should respect their wishes.

Just seems like he's a guy who got by on skill alone and probably slacked on the gym/working out this off season. Now his skills have faltered for whatever reason and he cant keep up.

The two most read writers on the team both wrote paywall articles discussing it. Not sure why we can't discuss it here. Its extremely relevant to the on ice conversation considering Mika brought it up.

 

[Atax]

The two most read writers on the team both wrote paywall articles discussing it. Not sure why we can't discuss it here. Its extremely relevant to the on ice conversation considering Mika brought it up.

I mean thats fair, but when people are speculating about someone having a panic attack on the ice, its just unnecessary conjecture.

 

[LokiDog]

Mika’s entire personality

 

[its not that serious]

First, I hope Mika is healthy. Physically and mentally. And I want to see him succeed, he was one of my favorites in the team for awhile, and he has slowly become one of the most frustrating on the team. It's partly because his style of play and his decision making. Those are things he can control, he can observe on video, and change. We often harp on players not shooting enough and if ever a player deserved that criticism, he does. He's often thinking pass before he touches the puck. He could work on his terrible accuracy on one-time shots. Truly getting to some basics can start turning things around for him.

But in that article he's talking about keeping positive and learning lessons... while evidently he has been learning nothing, and not facing his play has been lacking in many areas -- and it's fixable, and it's on him. Completely on him. Maybe all the attempts at positive thinking are preventing him from seeing things as they are. He sounds almost in denial, in that article. He is capable of more, even if he has slowed down. Technically he's making more money during this decline than during his peak years (actual money, not AAV). He can do better, needs to do better, and the solutions honestly aren't complicated.

 

[JimmyG89]

Mental health is no joke, but Mika has not played well in a while either. He has fallen off a cliff recently, but this is not going to be the guy popping 41 goals in 57 games when he is able to get past the mental hurdles.

I just hope that we can see more of the guy that used to be fearless going into the zone and ripping as many shots as possible. Right now, he is attempting 4 shots a game. This would be his lowest attempt season (in a full season) since his last year in Ottawa. Pacing 169 shots, which would be his lowest since his age 21 season.

If he can return to being a point per game player (or close) it would be such a boost for the team.

 

[LokiDog]

Mental health is no joke, but Mika has not played well in a while either. He has fallen off a cliff recently, but this is not going to be the guy popping 41 goals in 57 games when he is able to get past the mental hurdles.

I just hope that we can see more of the guy that used to be fearless going into the zone and ripping as many shots as possible. Right now, he is attempting 4 shots a game. This would be his lowest attempt season (in a full season) since his last year in Ottawa. Pacing 169 shots, which would be his lowest since his age 21 season.

If he can return to being a point per game player (or close) it would be such a boost for the team.

Yes. But even at point per game, there’s points because you play on a PP with Bread, Fox and Kreider and there’s playing like a leader. For better or worse, Mika is a tenured leader on this team. Until he plays like one, even if production ramps up, he will not be a net positive. He’s been bad. Moreover, while mental health is absolutely no joke (and I’m not trying to make this about myself) there are people like myself - military, police, first responders - who have genuine trauma in our life AND who are struggling to even pay rent and then there are people like Mika, making 8M a year, married to another celebrity (in their country), who have job security, who can pursue a hobby on the side, etc. who I just really struggle to feel for. Sack up a bit, dude. I’m not saying you can’t have empathy for celebrities or that they can’t experience similar emotional lows but… Mika is just coming across we as a massive vadge.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Get a xanax prescription and get it together

Shit i bet the team trainer can get it for you without an Rx

 

[LokiDog]

Mika is a lot like Frodo and Harry Potter. Great at being the doe eyed hero when his friends do all the work for him. Otherwise, mostly a mopey, emo bitch.

Exit interview every year:

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Just demote the guy and we roll. PP2, L4. Chytil is literally anchoring a line winning their minutes 11-0 and people still talk about Mika like “we gotta get him going! We aren’t going anywhere without him!”. Like what? Just bury the dude he’s cooked

 

[I Eat Crow]

I'd raise #93 to the rafters if he decides to retire at the end of the season to pursue his DJ career full time.

...please?

 

[Captain Monglobster]

If off ice issues are affecting his on ice performance then he needs to pull a Theo Fleury and take some time off. If not - well NY is a tough place to play for a reason. Fans work hard and want to see their teams work hard. He is not working hard, and hasnt been for a while now.

Also he isnt some Rangers legend that has a ton of slack. He has 0 cups and has been 'not good' in the playoffs, to put it nicely for the gen Z crowd. MSG is not a safe space sorry.