Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad

[TheWrongWay]

This dude needs a mafia-style pow-wow.

You don’t hear of many folks in the mob with motivation issues or calling out sick.

 

[will1066]

Hopefully, Mika is okay:

Stripper at vegan club allegedly stabs DJ during show in caught-on-camera attack: ‘Possessed by a demon’

“I was standing in the DJ booth, next thing I know I felt like a 500-pound man punched me in the back like four times,” the DJ said.

nypost.com

He kept thinking about his dog, Strome.

 

[JohnC]

If teams knew how to measure the aging process scientifically, they could save a ton of money. But they don't. How do we differentiate between a Crosby, still effective well into his thirties, and a Zibanejad, a ghost of himself at 31? You can't. It's not effort or dedication. It's science. In my 60+ years as a hockey fan, I must admit this has been about the most abrupt falloff I have seen. Not unprecedented but as bad as I've seen. But there were signs, even last year. I'm sure the Rangers have put him through all sorts of medical tests and unless they are keeping something serious hidden from us, what we have is simply a player aging prematurely. Studying the aging process and what is called "life extension" is an emerging field in scientific research. You can bet the Ranger medical staff is well-versed in the research. At some point, this is going to have to be addressed. He is hurting the team. This will get worse. But I do feel for the guy, who, at age 31, can't do what he once did. It's not like he is in a "normal" profession where 31 is young. It's a sorry state and a major albatross around this team's proverbial neck.

I know it’s not the point you’re making, but one’s a t10 player of all time and one was maybe a t15 center in the league for a year or two. Pretty easy to differentiate

 

[alkurtz]

I know it’s not the point you’re making, but one’s a t10 player of all time and one was maybe a t15 center in the league for a year or two. Pretty easy to differentiate

I know, these are extreme cases. Most athletes fall off gradually after age 30. But, I'm sure we can find players of average+ ability who were effective into their mid-30s and players who were stars who fell off at age, say, 32. What is concerning about MZ is the abruptness of his decline. It wasn't gradual, although there were indications of it last year, it's as if he fell off a cliff. A comparable in baseball is Tim Anderson, who went from a star to being even worse than MZ in a few short years. He too is 31. Now, I don't know all the details about Anderson, whether there were extenuating circumstances or not, but his decline has been precipitous. The question with MZ is, if this is permanent, not the result of injuries, etc., what will the Rangers do?

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I’ve seen enough of Mika.

I used to be a fan but he is playing like a disinterested, heartless, passionless mope.

He gets tripped in the first period and just lays on the ice, getting up slowly while the play is going on and the puck goes right past him. Does this shit several times a game. Just gives up on the play like an entitled brat.

His entire line gets into it including Panarin and Fox and he just glides back to the bench, he needs to be the next to sit. He’s BEEN the next to be scratched and they should strip his A on top of it. What kind of leader does that shit?

if Drury can move him send him packing too. Had enough of him. Show some f***ing fire. There’s no compete in his game, it’s like he’s just wants to go for a skate, go through the motions and deposit his paycheck.

You can say all you want about his abilities declining and there may be some truth to that but his attitude and body language on the ice flat out f***ing sucks. There is zero push back in his game and even if your talent is waning you can still go out there an affect the game at points with sheer will power.

 

[n8]

I’ve seen enough of Mika.

I used to be a fan but he is playing like a disinterested, heartless, passionless mope.

He gets tripped in the first period and just lays on the ice, getting up slowly while the play is going on and the puck goes right past him. Does this shit several times a game. Just gives up on the play like an entitled brat.

His entire line gets into it including Panarin and Fox and he just glides back to the bench, he needs to be the next to sit. He’s BEEN the next to be scratched and they should strip his A on top of it. What kind of leader does that shit?

if Drury can move him send him packing too. Had enough of him. Show some f***ing fire. There’s no compete in his game, it’s like he’s just wants to go for a skate, go through the motions and deposit his paycheck.

You can say all you want about his abilities declining and there may be some truth to that but his attitude and body language on the ice flat out f***ing sucks. There is zero push back in his game and even if your talent is waning you can still go out there an affect the game at points with sheer will power.

Bleacher report had a hysterical article about different fantastical trade packages for Ziba like Ziba for Cozens or Ziba for a CHI 1st + Oliver Moore LOL. I mean if GMs have short memories and Drury can pull off a Scott Gomez trade, I'm all down for that. Yeah, Ziba is the Scott Gomez of our times now.

 

[WojtekWolski86]

I’ve seen enough of Mika.

I used to be a fan but he is playing like a disinterested, heartless, passionless mope.

He gets tripped in the first period and just lays on the ice, getting up slowly while the play is going on and the puck goes right past him. Does this shit several times a game. Just gives up on the play like an entitled brat.

His entire line gets into it including Panarin and Fox and he just glides back to the bench, he needs to be the next to sit. He’s BEEN the next to be scratched and they should strip his A on top of it. What kind of leader does that shit?

if Drury can move him send him packing too. Had enough of him. Show some f***ing fire. There’s no compete in his game, it’s like he’s just wants to go for a skate, go through the motions and deposit his paycheck.

You can say all you want about his abilities declining and there may be some truth to that but his attitude and body language on the ice flat out f***ing sucks. There is zero push back in his game and even if your talent is waning you can still go out there an affect the game at points with sheer will power.

We've watched guys like Perry, Thornton, Lecavlier who started at 18 and fall off a ceiling almost overnight. The difference? They looked like they gave a shit and adapted to a new role.

Mika looks retired on the ice. Zero interest or care. He's on the ice for a goal and watches the puck go in and he just turns to the bench and glides off the ice.

f*** man at least show you give a shit, even a nugget. He looks like someone that is just collecting the paycheck.

 

[Captain Monglobster]

I’ve seen enough of Mika.

I used to be a fan but he is playing like a disinterested, heartless, passionless mope.

He gets tripped in the first period and just lays on the ice, getting up slowly while the play is going on and the puck goes right past him. Does this shit several times a game. Just gives up on the play like an entitled brat.

His entire line gets into it including Panarin and Fox and he just glides back to the bench, he needs to be the next to sit. He’s BEEN the next to be scratched and they should strip his A on top of it. What kind of leader does that shit?

if Drury can move him send him packing too. Had enough of him. Show some f***ing fire. There’s no compete in his game, it’s like he’s just wants to go for a skate, go through the motions and deposit his paycheck.

You can say all you want about his abilities declining and there may be some truth to that but his attitude and body language on the ice flat out f***ing sucks. There is zero push back in his game and even if your talent is waning you can still go out there an affect the game at points with sheer will power.

Im convinced this team cannot move forward until the wonder twins are gone. Thank you for all youve done you had your shot. Nothing will change until these two are no longer the longest tenured Rangers.

 

[nyr2k2]

The disinterest you see with him is reminiscent of the Dark Ages guys like Quintal and Kamensky who were just here for a paycheck.

 

[McRanger92]

The disinterest you see with him is reminiscent of the Dark Ages guys like Quintal and Kamensky who were just here for a paycheck.

How has he not been scratched?

 

[nyr2k2]

How has he not been scratched?

Yeah, I've generally defended Laviolette, because a coach can only do so much when most of your good players appear to not care, but there's no defense for continuing to play him at this point.

 

[BowB4Bolts]

I've got half a bag of used pucks - to use in a trade for Zibby..

Deal??

 

[Cusedog]

I am unable to continue to watch Meeka bend at the waste and reach out with his stick like he is vacuuming the family room.
The Disc Jockey is not wanted on that wall Code Red for Meeka

 

[17futurecap]

 

[Mike in Houston]

I saw Mika hit someone today. It was his own teammate. Knocked him down on the power play entering the zone. I chuckled.

 

[Trxjw]

I've got half a bag of used pucks - to use in a trade for Zibby..

Deal??

Keep the pucks and I'll throw in a crisp high-five after you load him into your truck.

 

[Raspewtin]

I've got half a bag of used pucks - to use in a trade for Zibby..

Deal??

overpayment

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

Isn't it crazy to think that when we were targeting Eichel a few years ago, people were saying Eichel-Zibanejad would be the best 1-2 center punch in the league?

 

[DanielBrassard]

Isn't it crazy to think that when we were targeting Eichel a few years ago, people were saying Eichel-Zibanejad would be the best 1-2 center punch in the league?

the smart move was trade Zibanejad and then trade for Eichel. Would have avoided signing him through his decline years. If only the Rangers had the foresight.

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

Don't care for that term "stuck". It's not like he _______, (rhymes with stuck).

Still feel that way, Larry?

We're STUCK with him.

 

[Brother Mouzone]

 

[TheWrongWay]

If teams knew how to measure the aging process scientifically, they could save a ton of money. But they don't. How do we differentiate between a Crosby, still effective well into his thirties, and a Zibanejad, a ghost of himself at 31? You can't. It's not effort or dedication. It's science. In my 60+ years as a hockey fan, I must admit this has been about the most abrupt falloff I have seen. Not unprecedented but as bad as I've seen. But there were signs, even last year. I'm sure the Rangers have put him through all sorts of medical tests and unless they are keeping something serious hidden from us, what we have is simply a player aging prematurely. Studying the aging process and what is called "life extension" is an emerging field in scientific research. You can bet the Ranger medical staff is well-versed in the research. At some point, this is going to have to be addressed. He is hurting the team. This will get worse. But I do feel for the guy, who, at age 31, can't do what he once did. It's not like he is in a "normal" profession where 31 is young. It's a sorry state and a major albatross around this team's proverbial neck.

I will not dismiss the science premise because all players will eventually fall off. But when you hear of Crosby (Jagr, Kobe, Jordan, Bird, etc) doing excessive extra practice and work, and Mika unable to attend optional practices, I don't think science paints the entire picture.

Even with a substantial physical falloff, any 31-year-old should be able to take two extra strides to complete a back check.

So yes, he may have a valid decline, but he also looks heartless, gutless, and checked out.

I'd be sitting him every game because he's a black hole, contributing little and making almost everything around him worse.

 

[Synergy27]

I will not dismiss the science premise because all players will eventually fall off. But when you hear of Crosby (Jagr, Kobe, Jordan, Bird, etc) doing excessive extra practice and work, and Mika unable to attend optional practices, I don't think science paints the entire picture.

Even with a substantial physical falloff, any 31-year-old should be able to take two extra strides to complete a back check.

So yes, he may have a valid decline, but he also looks heartless, gutless, and checked out.

I'd be sitting him every game because he's a black hole, contributing little and making almost everything around him worse.

There really is something to the “intangibles” that a lot of people like to discount nowadays.

Crosby and MacKinnon have a drive to be the best that others simply don’t. Yes, they are insanely skilled but that drive is a true separator.

We rip on Mika for being a DJ, but seriously, the best of the best don’t have other hobbies. They are obsessed. Like unhealthy. Watch the Michael Jordan documentary.

Mika ain’t it. He never was. Most people aren’t. Even at the highest level.

 

[TheWrongWay]

There really is something to the “intangibles” that a lot of people like to discount nowadays.

Crosby and MacKinnon have a drive to be the best that others simply don’t. Yes, they are insanely skilled but that drive is a true separator.

We rip on Mika for being a DJ, but seriously, the best of the best don’t have other hobbies. They are obsessed. Like unhealthy. Watch the Michael Jordan documentary.

Mika ain’t it. He never was. Most people aren’t. Even at the highest level.

That win at all costs "it" has always fascinated me.

Someone like Larry Bird breaking his leg and shooting free throws in a cast for hours on end or with such bad back injuries in his later career that he'd lay on the floor because it was too painful to sit on the bench.

Or an article I read where neurologists were saying they now have more awareness and can see that Muhammad Ali was exhibiting signs of Parkinson's as early as his mid-twenties. And this dude kept boxing for another decade-plus, with the article estimating he took an additional 12-20k shots to the head. Ouch.

In such scenarios, I don't think winning is worth that level of potential ongoing suffering. I am not wired to subject myself to that and can understand anyone who is not. However, the crazy win-at-all-cost types do often tend to win.

For the typical athlete, if you're healthy and can compete within the normal range of risk any athlete has, I cannot see any reason not to try your best.