C Mika Zibanejad (2011, 6th overall, Ottawa)
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Yes, give him a blueprint and the pieces and can put a sauna together and then win the sauna competition. (Along with some Iranian stereotype that I can't think of)
Son of Krypton
Registered User
A kid with tremendous, and I mean tremendous, potential. A real good ol' solid "boom or bust" type. I think he have more potential then Landeskog.
The kid plays a typical goto forward style of hockey, and carries the load really well. He is a great skater for his age, got good size and a very good shot. His biggest strength is his slick moves. Reminds me of AO for sure. He is also very poised for a kid his age, plays well on the point of the PP in the SEL et c. A good hitter.
But, he also -- and please do not misunderstand me -- have all the flaws (and with flaws, I am comparing him with the avg of like the top 15 forwards in a 1st round in a NHL draft) that comes with being a classic goto scoring winger(I see him more of a winger then /center). Some players can face players as good as themselves, and still stand out. Those type of players basically always become good NHLer, at least. MZ isn't that type. You want him on a scoring line and you want him in a goto position down the road. Now I am not saying that the kid have a bunch of flaws, that he is like Zherdev or can't hit or something like that. He don't. But the differnce between say MZ and MPS for example is that a MPS can adopt and play like a solid 2-way game even if he have a hard time establishing himself as a scoring forward in the NHL. MPS is a good example of a player who can buy himself time that way.
MZ have IMO more of a narrow window to establish himself, and could face some adversity breaking into the league. He definitely needs at least one more year in the SEL, preferrebly two.
If MZ drops into like the 10-15 range, one team will get a ticket to make like a Marian Hossa type of pick. MZ definitely have the raw potential to become like a top 10-15 scoring forward in the NHL.
The kid plays a typical goto forward style of hockey, and carries the load really well. He is a great skater for his age, got good size and a very good shot. His biggest strength is his slick moves. Reminds me of AO for sure. He is also very poised for a kid his age, plays well on the point of the PP in the SEL et c. A good hitter.
But, he also -- and please do not misunderstand me -- have all the flaws (and with flaws, I am comparing him with the avg of like the top 15 forwards in a 1st round in a NHL draft) that comes with being a classic goto scoring winger(I see him more of a winger then /center). Some players can face players as good as themselves, and still stand out. Those type of players basically always become good NHLer, at least. MZ isn't that type. You want him on a scoring line and you want him in a goto position down the road. Now I am not saying that the kid have a bunch of flaws, that he is like Zherdev or can't hit or something like that. He don't. But the differnce between say MZ and MPS for example is that a MPS can adopt and play like a solid 2-way game even if he have a hard time establishing himself as a scoring forward in the NHL. MPS is a good example of a player who can buy himself time that way.
MZ have IMO more of a narrow window to establish himself, and could face some adversity breaking into the league. He definitely needs at least one more year in the SEL, preferrebly two.
If MZ drops into like the 10-15 range, one team will get a ticket to make like a Marian Hossa type of pick. MZ definitely have the raw potential to become like a top 10-15 scoring forward in the NHL.
bottomofthefoodchain
Registered User
I'm really impressed by this kid, even though I despise the team he plays for 
Unlike Ola I think he's a pretty sure thing, because even if he doesn't make it as a scorer, he still has enough size and grit to be a role player.
Unlike Ola I think he's a pretty sure thing, because even if he doesn't make it as a scorer, he still has enough size and grit to be a role player.
I'm really impressed by this kid, even though I despise the team he plays for
Unlike Ola I think he's a pretty sure thing, because even if he doesn't make it as a scorer, he still has enough size and grit to be a role player.
Absolutely agree. He can hit, he's showing signs of a great two-way game, he's 17 and kills penalties in the SEL playoffs. Of course he could be a bottom-6 as well.
What I can give you, Ola, is that he may be better suited on wing. But it's a decision you have to make, on the wing you get him the puck closer to the net and his aggressive forecheck will be more useful, but he's on the other hand great in the defensive end as a center and along the boards as well. Tough choices, but pleasant ones.
I'm really impressed by this kid, even though I despise the team he plays for
Unlike Ola I think he's a pretty sure thing, because even if he doesn't make it as a scorer, he still has enough size and grit to be a role player.
Its possible that he is a sure thing, but I've not seen enough of him to feel safe making a statement like that.
If nothing else worries me, I've seen plenty of kids like him through the years and you know that with his skill-package, expectations will be sky high and there is plenty and further plenty examples of players through the years with that kind of skill-set who instead of becoming like "avg" NHLers, decent 2nd lineers, breaks down under the pressure and becomes like complete busts instead.
Like had Pavel Brendl been a 7th round pick I am sure he would been like a one-dimensional shooter scoring like 25-30 goals on a small market team these days, everyone would have loved him from the get go. Instead he was expected to score 90 pts and he couldn't handle that pressure quite frankly.
As for his window of opertunity in terms of potential roles in the NHL (why I label him a boom/bust type of prospect), I am very confident that I am right, and I am very confident that I can't convince you guys to change your mind (
), I've been in many discussions like this before. So we just have to agree to disagree.
But this is how I see it. And like I wrote above. He ain't Niko Zherdev II. He aint one dimensional in the sense that he only can do certain things but looks completely lost in other areas. He can hit. He can play defense. If he establish himself in the NHL, becomes a star, I am even sure he could develop those area's into a level where they stand out in a positive way.
BUT, things, for guys like him, and not to say never, but seldom plays out the way you describes. This is (probably) why.
MZ will play another year in the SEL. He'll be like 20 when he moves to NA. Inorder to get into the NHL, he'll compete with a bunch of very solid 3rd and 4th line checkers from the age of 22-23 to 29-30. "Waiver fodder". AHLers. Other draft picks.
With his potential, he'll get into the NHL for sure. People will wanna give him a look. And at the age of 20 he will not be a good defensive checker at the NHL. He will get in because his offensive upside. And if he doesn't get it done offensively, if he doesn't put it together offensively, after 1-2 years, a coach will start to compare him with those fully developed specialist checkers.
MZ isn't a shy player. That can make him a star. He trys very hard moves, and nowadays pull them off at the SEL level. He will also always try those moves. Its just his nature. The problem starts for him if he ends up at a level were the marginals are so small and competition so good that he can't pull them off anymore. Instead of getting a kid who is in a positive environment, you'll get a kid who will fail the expectations and ends up in a negative environment because people will want more from him.
In the end, I do feel the above point is mute -- because I would bet that he will be able to establish himself in the NHL and become a very good player. The team who gets him will get a kid who really have a ton of hockey in him. Who even can become a mega-star. But he have a long way to go, and I if things along that road don't always head in the right direction -- player-types like him very often have a hard time settling in like strong defensive 3rd lineers, even if the raw talent is there.
), I've been in many discussions like this before. So we just have to agree to disagree.But this is how I see it. And like I wrote above. He ain't Niko Zherdev II. He aint one dimensional in the sense that he only can do certain things but looks completely lost in other areas. He can hit. He can play defense. If he establish himself in the NHL, becomes a star, I am even sure he could develop those area's into a level where they stand out in a positive way.
BUT, things, for guys like him, and not to say never, but seldom plays out the way you describes. This is (probably) why.
MZ will play another year in the SEL. He'll be like 20 when he moves to NA. Inorder to get into the NHL, he'll compete with a bunch of very solid 3rd and 4th line checkers from the age of 22-23 to 29-30. "Waiver fodder". AHLers. Other draft picks.
With his potential, he'll get into the NHL for sure. People will wanna give him a look. And at the age of 20 he will not be a good defensive checker at the NHL. He will get in because his offensive upside. And if he doesn't get it done offensively, if he doesn't put it together offensively, after 1-2 years, a coach will start to compare him with those fully developed specialist checkers.
MZ isn't a shy player. That can make him a star. He trys very hard moves, and nowadays pull them off at the SEL level. He will also always try those moves. Its just his nature. The problem starts for him if he ends up at a level were the marginals are so small and competition so good that he can't pull them off anymore. Instead of getting a kid who is in a positive environment, you'll get a kid who will fail the expectations and ends up in a negative environment because people will want more from him.
In the end, I do feel the above point is mute -- because I would bet that he will be able to establish himself in the NHL and become a very good player. The team who gets him will get a kid who really have a ton of hockey in him. Who even can become a mega-star. But he have a long way to go, and I if things along that road don't always head in the right direction -- player-types like him very often have a hard time settling in like strong defensive 3rd lineers, even if the raw talent is there.
Ola, let's be honest - you are drawing pretty far reaching conclusions about a kid who hasn't yet had his 18th birthday. How could you possibly know how he will cope with adversity, what kind of changes he will be able to make to his game, etc?
You are not going to convince anybody, because you have no evidence to support your predictions. At least wait and see what happens in this year's SEL play offs, his first full season in SEL and the 2012 WJC, before you make those kind of statements.
You are not going to convince anybody, because you have no evidence to support your predictions. At least wait and see what happens in this year's SEL play offs, his first full season in SEL and the 2012 WJC, before you make those kind of statements.
nanzenkills
Registered User
As for his window of opertunity in terms of potential roles in the NHL (why I label him a boom/bust type of prospect), I am very confident that I am right, and I am very confident that I can't convince you guys to change your mind (
But this is how I see it. And like I wrote above. He ain't Niko Zherdev II. He aint one dimensional in the sense that he only can do certain things but looks completely lost in other areas. He can hit. He can play defense. If he establish himself in the NHL, becomes a star, I am even sure he could develop those area's into a level where they stand out in a positive way.
BUT, things, for guys like him, and not to say never, but seldom plays out the way you describes. This is (probably) why.
MZ will play another year in the SEL. He'll be like 20 when he moves to NA. Inorder to get into the NHL, he'll compete with a bunch of very solid 3rd and 4th line checkers from the age of 22-23 to 29-30. "Waiver fodder". AHLers. Other draft picks.
With his potential, he'll get into the NHL for sure. People will wanna give him a look. And at the age of 20 he will not be a good defensive checker at the NHL. He will get in because his offensive upside. And if he doesn't get it done offensively, if he doesn't put it together offensively, after 1-2 years, a coach will start to compare him with those fully developed specialist checkers.
MZ isn't a shy player. That can make him a star. He trys very hard moves, and nowadays pull them off at the SEL level. He will also always try those moves. Its just his nature. The problem starts for him if he ends up at a level were the marginals are so small and competition so good that he can't pull them off anymore. Instead of getting a kid who is in a positive environment, you'll get a kid who will fail the expectations and ends up in a negative environment because people will want more from him.
In the end, I do feel the above point is mute -- because I would bet that he will be able to establish himself in the NHL and become a very good player. The team who gets him will get a kid who really have a ton of hockey in him. Who even can become a mega-star. But he have a long way to go, and I if things along that road don't always head in the right direction -- player-types like him very often have a hard time settling in like strong defensive 3rd lineers, even if the raw talent is there.
Most of what you said could be applied to any offensive prospect trying to break into the NHL. It doesn't really explain why you think Zibanejad himself is boom-or-bust. With what has been said about his size and grit, I would think that Zibanejad is actually a safer pick, because those attributes should let him transition into a checking/defensive role, if necessary, more easily than with most offensive prospects.
For those who understand Swedish here's a pretty interesting interview: http://www.svenskafans.com/fantv/program/54.aspx
He's learning to handle the media, which is a good thing.
He's learning to handle the media, which is a good thing.
ReginKarlssonLehner
Let's Win It All
Nah, I mean take a Mattias Tedenby for example. Its not unusual that a player like that never breaksout, but becomes more of a 2nd/3rd line energy type of player. On the other side you have a player like Fabian Brunnström who can do tremendous things on the ice, but who you still only really want in a big offensive role.
Maybe I am exagerating a bit, there are players like say Peter Mueller or Wojtek Wolski who gets by on what today is 3rd lines basically, and contributes for sure. Steve Bernier.
But let me put it like that, I doubt anyone who not have seen Zibanejad understands just how tremendously gifted he is. Soon, when he gets into the spotlight more, the hype will come like a tsunami. Expectations will be sky-high. Is he ready for that? I mean, it takes a lot to make it no matter what. And many of the most hyped players have acustomed to it living under that kind of expectations for years. The kid could stand out in the NHL in 2-3 years. For sure. Then he will boom. But if the hype-flood-wave-hits him like is expected, and he then needs more time, he just do not have the style that fits well in playing a smaller role on like a 3rd line in the NHL when growing up so to speak. He needs room, and in the SEL for example, he is able to create that room for himself. As long as he is able to do that he is fine. But he is not the type that does well playing against players just as good as him, he plays with small marginals et c.
I agree, that was an interesting read. Obviously he could be wrong in the doubts he expresses, but I get the sense that that is acknowledged.
Makes you think he'd do well to hang on in Sweden for a bit, which is in any case normally the s,art thing to do development-wise.
The Saw Is the Law
Registered User
- Jul 31, 2010
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- 51
Same watching if his worth of his hype
will be posting after game. watching lulea player konstantin komarek aswell he impressed me earlier when i saw him. He is 2011 draftee aswell. What they handed to zibanejad beginning of the game?
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Same watching if his worth of his hype
Updates please
Is it streaming?
The Saw Is the Law
Registered User
- Jul 31, 2010
- 2,224
- 51
Updates please
I'm impressed. Better than i tought. Definitely TOP20 pick. ~15min played and he have +1.
Yep. But the stream is for Finland only.
Watchin' Zibanejad tonight you gotta be impressed. Not so much the tip that lead to the goal, but the shift following it. Carrying the puck up ice, fighting through checks along the boards and later on a nifty little pass that almost lead to a goal.
He's been one of the best players on the ice thus far.
He's been one of the best players on the ice thus far.
Was quite invisible at the beginning but after that he gave couple nice passes and he was strong at boards. Decent start for the game, his other linemates were clearly more visible tho. His physical game is sick for that age for sure.
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