The Zuccarello Appreciation Thread (Videos inside)

[NickyFotiu]

That goal was all on our D, turnover by Falk and Moore who allowed a huge open area.

But Zucc once again made a pass when he was in a perfect shooting position, I don't understand why AV lets him play like that.

AV just needs to sit with him man to man. Tell Zooks I know you are a very unselfish player but we need you to score so please play a bit more selfishly. He has a good shot and good hands. He just needs to tweek his pass first mentality a little.

 

[MrAlmost]

Stepan couldn't have been the worst player on the ice. He didn't play. Right?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I love it...so if MZA springs 2 breakaways, it's his fault for not having "Actual production"

but if the defenseman bobbles a very playable puck, gets caught completely flat footed, and the other defenseman doesnt play the play correctly...its mzas fault.

seriously man, you must be the most unhappy person alive.

I assure you Im not. I have a very attractive wife and a solid career -- not playing favorites has helped me.

Go through this thread from the start of the season, my opinions go from Zuccarello is playing like crap, to Zuccarello is playing well, to Zuccarello is making some boneheaded plays and not very productive again. Can any sane person without a fanboy mentality towards Zuccarello argue thats how his season has gone?

 

[NYR Viper]

I assure you Im not. I have a very attractive wife and a solid career -- not playing favorites has helped me.

Go through this thread from the start of the season, my opinions go from Zuccarello is playing like crap, to Zuccarello is playing well, to Zuccarello is making some boneheaded plays and not very productive again. Can any sane person without a fanboy mentality towards Zuccarello argue thats how his season has gone?

He needs to shoot more, but he has played well.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

He needs to shoot more, but he has played well.

Sure, shooting would certainly eliminate the idiotic passes.

 

[Idlerlee]

Because that play led to a goal against - the other play did not lead to a goal for.

Zuccarello continues to be, on this board anyway, the NHL's all-time leader in creative plays that do not lead to actual production.

Actually, Zucc did his job to recover his mistake by hustling down to cover Moores man since Falk had crapped the bucket. Moore was now free to level Thornton or at the very least block the shot.

He did neither. Can blame that play all you want, but its a very obvious fact that the D-men who should have stopped it, failed at their jobs

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Falk and Moore were far more to blame on that play than Zucc, although it was an ill-timed pass. Like the post above says, at least he backchecked hard and got into position, Moore just misplayed his man.

 

[NYR Viper]

Sure, shooting would certainly eliminate the idiotic passes.

I actually think him shooting a bit more would help open up some of those lanes as well that seem to be getting picked off now.

This happens to skill players.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I assure you Im not. I have a very attractive wife and a solid career -- not playing favorites has helped me.

Go through this thread from the start of the season, my opinions go from Zuccarello is playing like crap, to Zuccarello is playing well, to Zuccarello is making some boneheaded plays and not very productive again. Can any sane person without a fanboy mentality towards Zuccarello argue thats how his season has gone?

Would you still be saying that if Kreider finished on his chances?

 

[NYR Viper]

To be fair to Moore, he probably was thinking he would rather have Shawn ****ing Thornton come down and take a bad angle shot on Hank than give even a 10% chance of a cross ice pass to his partner. Who honestly thought Thornton could shoot the puck like that? I didn't.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Would you still be saying that if Kreider finished on his chances?

That I have a hot wife and good job? Yes.

That Zuccarello makes some silly plays inside the oppositions blue line? Yes.

 

[NYR Viper]

That I have a hot wife and good job? Yes.

That Zuccarello makes some silly plays inside the oppositions blue line? Yes.

He is overly creative at times. The team has to live with it. This is what skilled players do unless they are superstars.

 

[Idlerlee]

He is overly creative at times. The team has to live with it. This is what skilled players do unless they are superstars.

Both breakaway passes to Kreider, especially the 2nd one went through the sticks of 3 or 4 Boston players.

The only difference is that if it had failed, it wouldnt have caused a immediate scoring threat against.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

That I have a hot wife and good job? Yes.

That Zuccarello makes some silly plays inside the oppositions blue line? Yes.

No that he hasn't had production.

 

[Bardof425*]

Sure, shooting would certainly eliminate the idiotic passes.

It would also eliminate some of the great dishes as well. He needs to shoot more, but his distribution skills are pretty damn good.

 

[Wolfy*]

Moment of the game: Zucc and Chara going at it, and the hobbit sends Goliath to the penalty box

 

[MrAlmost]

Zuke had his best game of the last three against Boston. CK has to finish on AT LEAST one of his 4 or 5 prime goal scoring opportunities. Yes, Zuke has to shoot more and I am just as pissed as Bleed about that, but he played well and you can't say other wise unless you have some bias about a player that clouds your judgement. Bleed, you are calling out the "fanboys" that should not be praising Zuke's whole season thus far due to up and down play, but you are now kinda being overly critical of his play simply because he didnt get on the scoresheet in a 2 to 1 game against Boston and two 1 to nothing games. He is streaky, but he's talented and plays well with our more talented players. Not to mention he works hard every shift which you have to respect.

 

[ajdj10]

Zuke had his best game of the last three against Boston. CK has to finish on AT LEAST one of his 4 or 5 prime goal scoring opportunities. Yes, Zuke has to shoot more and I am just as pissed as Bleed about that, but he played well and you can't say other wise unless you have some bias about a player that clouds your judgement. Bleed, you are calling out the "fanboys" that should not be praising Zuke's whole season thus far due to up and down play, but you are now kinda being overly critical of his play simply because he didnt get on the scoresheet in a 2 to 1 game against Boston and two 1 to nothing games. He is streaky, but he's talented and plays well with our more talented players. Not to mention he works hard every shift which you have to respect.

But...but...he's short...

 

[Ilovemymum]

Zuke had his best game of the last three against Boston. CK has to finish on AT LEAST one of his 4 or 5 prime goal scoring opportunities. Yes, Zuke has to shoot more and I am just as pissed as Bleed about that, but he played well and you can't say other wise unless you have some bias about a player that clouds your judgement. Bleed, you are calling out the "fanboys" that should not be praising Zuke's whole season thus far due to up and down play, but you are now kinda being overly critical of his play simply because he didnt get on the scoresheet in a 2 to 1 game against Boston and two 1 to nothing games. He is streaky, but he's talented and plays well with our more talented players. Not to mention he works hard every shift which you have to respect.

Thank you for putting Things in perspective. More in line with the thread title than some other series in here.

 

[fredrikstad]

I assure you Im not. I have a very attractive wife and a solid career -- not playing favorites has helped me.

Go through this thread from the start of the season, my opinions go from Zuccarello is playing like crap, to Zuccarello is playing well, to Zuccarello is making some boneheaded plays and not very productive again. Can any sane person without a fanboy mentality towards Zuccarello argue thats how his season has gone?

If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife.

 

[Idlerlee]

Oh that reminds me, not a single person said he's being overmatched in the game vs. Boston.

size issue dead!! *blows trumpet*

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Zuke had his best game of the last three against Boston. CK has to finish on AT LEAST one of his 4 or 5 prime goal scoring opportunities. Yes, Zuke has to shoot more and I am just as pissed as Bleed about that, but he played well and you can't say other wise unless you have some bias about a player that clouds your judgement. Bleed, you are calling out the "fanboys" that should not be praising Zuke's whole season thus far due to up and down play, but you are now kinda being overly critical of his play simply because he didnt get on the scoresheet in a 2 to 1 game against Boston and two 1 to nothing games. He is streaky, but he's talented and plays well with our more talented players. Not to mention he works hard every shift which you have to respect.

I am not criticizing that he didn't score just last game. I am criticizing that his style of play, overall, is a rollercoaster. Maybe some people like that, I dont. I think the NHL, in this day and age, is more about limiting mistakes than high risk offensive play.

Now, all would be forgiven if Zuccarello was a 60-70 point player - but here he is sitting at .5 PPG production again. Is the risk worth the reward? How long until we stop blaming others for his lack of offensive production?

 

[Trxjw]

To be fair to Moore, he probably was thinking he would rather have Shawn ****ing Thornton come down and take a bad angle shot on Hank than give even a 10% chance of a cross ice pass to his partner. Who honestly thought Thornton could shoot the puck like that? I didn't.

Zucc caught the 2nd guy on the backcheck. Moore needs to recognize that and play Thornton. It's those kinds of plays that he needs to start to understand before he can start getting 2nd pairing minutes.

As for Zucc, I think his play has been fine, but he HAS to start shooting. Not only is he passing up great chances, but he's absolutely telegraphing the passes he tries to make in those scenarios.

 

[Idlerlee]

Now, all would be forgiven if Zuccarello was a 60-70 point player - but here he is sitting at .5 PPG production again. Is the risk worth the reward? How long until we stop blaming others for his lack of offensive production?

A player does not a team make. Linemates does a team make. The Streiderellos are combined for 35 of the forwards 95 points. 2-3-4 of the forwards total.

I really do not understand why you point the finger at one man when the entire collective is failing to produce. Like, whats the point.

Like conveniently ignoring that he single handedly sent Kreider alone vs. Rask twice in one game. If thats not doing your part in helping production, then what is

 

[Glennsoe]

We've scored 3 goals in 3 games..

Yeah...let's point fingers at one guy...one *** guy...