Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I thought he and his line were good last night.

His hand eye coordination was back. He knocked pucks out of midair. Had a good one timer. He was skating and made some good defensive reads. He didn't have any bad giveaways. Passing was good.

Yeah, he definitely didn’t stink up the joint, against a horrible Sharks team.

It’s an improvement , like I said. Let’s see if he can keep moving in the right direction

 

[RangersFan1994]

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.

Wasn't Laferriere a Rangers fan, addsRW depth?

Kakko for Laferriere??

 

[n8]

With how bad Zib is on the PP, I wonder if teams will start to ignore him more. I.e. not cheat to pressure his shot because he's not gonna score anyways. Two years ago, he was so good from the Ovie spot that the defense would always defend against that setup. Personally, I wish they'd just put Laf in that spot and make Mika earn his PP1 time back.

 

[Rempe73]

exactly the type of post this site needs more of

Although I disagree with the original post in many ways, I agree there should be more of this

 

[CLW]

Mika is playing floorball right now and it's ugly. There is a good NHL player in there but he needs to find himself again asap.

Floorball:

 

[LokiDog]

Listen, I hope the guy isn’t personally miserable and struggling in some dark place. I know how that can be. But he married a beautiful former pro athlete from his home country, they have a child, he makes insane money and he has had a stable career, moved only once, with more success - both individual and team - than many athletes (in any sport) ever get to enjoy. Does that matter? Apparently not, and I get it… depression or personal issues that cause depression are unique and unpredictable and can happen to anyone, so I get it. But it’s tough to stomach. God’s honest truth is that if he’s really struggling mentally - whether it’s self doubt and performance anxiety, or it’s some kind of personal private troubles - he should enter the player’s assistance program and get help. Keep KK at 3C when Chytil is healthy and let Fil take Z’s spot. Watching his nightly performance at this stage is bad enough, but seeing this sad puppy face coast around the ice and then mumble platitudes about how “we just have to be better” to the press is infuriating.

 

[DolansKazoo]

He needs to be benched, send a message already.

 

[WojtekWolski86]

I want to know what happened to his wrist/snap shot. It's not even an accuracy thing (although that is a problem). It just looks like muffins on net and he isn't even attempting to drive to the net and going backhand. His one timer being off makes sense with a player struggling because that can be a timing and confidence issue.

He should lose a step over time. He's lost 3. His shot is non existant and he overpasses. Now his positioning is worse than a rookie where he just seems to be aimlessly floating.

I can excuse him if he's dealing with a wrist injury or if it's a mental confidence thing. The problem is I've seen more committed defense in Shinny and Mika looks like he wants to be anywhere other than the rink.

 

[McRanger92]

Listen, I hope the guy isn’t personally miserable and struggling in some dark place. I know how that can be. But he married a beautiful former pro athlete from his home country, they have a child, he makes insane money and he has had a stable career, moved only once, with more success - both individual and team - than many athletes (in any sport) ever get to enjoy. Does that matter? Apparently not, and I get it… depression or personal issues that cause depression are unique and unpredictable and can happen to anyone, so I get it. But it’s tough to stomach. God’s honest truth is that if he’s really struggling mentally - whether it’s self doubt and performance anxiety, or it’s some kind of personal private troubles - he should enter the player’s assistance program and get help. Keep KK at 3C when Chytil is healthy and let Fil take Z’s spot. Watching his nightly performance at this stage is bad enough, but seeing this sad puppy face coast around the ice and then mumble platitudes about how “we just have to be better” to the press is infuriating.

View attachment 935916

Does this guy even want to play hockey? It was a meme for years regarding his DJ career and business pursuits in Sweden. It was always handwaved when he was young and playing well but idk how you can watch him now and think this guy has any passion to win or be the best player he can be. If its depression or anxiety, he should absolutely seeks assistance like JT Miller just did. The way he plays, in the role he plays, is a cancer to this team.

 

[Raspewtin]

out of words for this shmuck. last night was as low as can be. two guys in Berard and Cuylle trying hard to push the pace and forecheck and Zib is just as useless as ever. just a really sad sight. it feels like Zib played with even less effort.

 

[RagFinMet]

When/If Chytil comes back, mika needs a time out
Keep kk at C

Cuy. Kk. Ber
Pan chy laf
Krei. Tro Smith

 

[Captain Monglobster]

Press box time. Put some turntables up there.

 

[McRanger92]

Did anyone else notice during the end of the 2nd period extra curriculars Mika went right to his pal Buchnevich so he wouldnt have to actually tangle with anybody. Cowardly stuff.

 

[DumpnChase12]

Send Mika to the same shrink Igor went to. See WTF is wrong with him...

 

[Kords]

Still no Mika lmao

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Still no Mika lmao

One game as 1C and Kakko thinks he’s above optional skates smh

 

[Atax]

Still no Mika lmao

Not sure he's gone to a single one.

 

[McRanger92]

Not sure he's gone to a single one.

Mika didnt show up to the optional skate last night either.

 

[Atax]

Mika didnt show up to the optional skate last night either.

Shouldnt even be optional at this point. Unless your injured, you should be there.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Mika has pretty quickly become one of my least favourite Rangers ever. This core group wasn't good enough to get over the hump to start with, now they've been beaten down by failure and are ready to quietly decline into retirement.

 

[eco's bones]

I do think there is something going on with him. A week or so ago at the face-off with Miller going up to him and his leaving the ice was weird and his game has completely collapsed for at least a month. The way he's been playing the Rangers shouldn't be playing him. If you look at a game as a collective effort he's f***ing it up for everyone else and it's at a level past just skill/talent issues. Soft plays and out of position a lot. If it's depression, family issues---someone's sick, something to grieve about he shouldn't be playing if he can't handle mentally/psychologically what he's dealing with. It forces others to play up but even Brodzinski or Carrick as 2C would be an improvement right now.

As far as depression it is an issue that lots and lots of people deal with off and on or continually throughout their lives. Life can be nasty and there really aren't people that are immune to that.....maybe some lucky enough not to deal with all that much. Either or---Mika's been hurting the team and Valiquette etc. should be thinking seriously about scratching him because his play isn't up to an NHL standard right now.

 

[McRanger92]

I do think there is something going on with him. A week or so ago at the face-off with Miller going up to him and his leaving the ice was weird and his game has completely collapsed for at least a month. The way he's been playing the Rangers shouldn't be playing him. If you look at a game as a collective effort he's f***ing it up for everyone else and it's at a level past just skill/talent issues. Soft plays and out of position a lot. If it's depression, family issues---someone's sick, something to grieve about he shouldn't be playing if he can't handle mentally/psychologically what he's dealing with. It forces others to play up but even Brodzinski or Carrick as 2C would be an improvement right now.

As far as depression it is an issue that lots and lots of people deal with off and on or continually throughout their lives. Life can be nasty and there really aren't people that are immune to that.....maybe some lucky enough not to deal with all that much. Either or---Mika's been hurting the team and Valiquette etc. should be thinking seriously about scratching him because his play isn't up to an NHL standard right now.

The faceoff thing was weird and not well covered by the media or team. What gives? It does seem like he is going through something off the ice and it really is killing us.

 

[Captain Lindy]

The faceoff thing was weird and not well covered by the media or team. What gives? It does seem like he is going through something off the ice and it really is killing us.

What faceoff thing? I've been saying for at least a couple of years now that he looks depressed all the time.

 

[McRanger92]

What faceoff thing? I've been saying for at least a couple of years now that he looks depressed all the time.

He got thrown out of a faceoff, but the MSG camera angle didnt show what happened. Mika literally had a look on his face like he shat himself and got helped off the ice and to the locker room. He came back and it was barely mentioned again. I forget what game it was. Buffalo maybe?

 

[and 99 others]

Mika literally had a look on his face like he shat himself and got helped off the ice

the likeliest answer is he actually needed to poop. Everybody poops