Mika Zibanejad finally breaking out?

[Vesa Awesaka]

20 points in last 25 games (since the start of December)

Point per game last 8

Most importantly hes finally not being sheltered like he was the last two years. Starting mostly in the offensive zone against lowend competition.

Is the 21 year old finally starting to put it together after being criticized for coming to camp heavy and throwing up after bag skates to start the year?

Bobby Ryan has obviously been a HUGE factor in helping both Zibby and Hoffman along. Its rare you see such complete play at both ends coupled with leadership, playmaking, physicality and scoring.

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[Jerk Store*]

Zibby's been playing great hockey and Ryan has been leading by example all season long.

 

[Baby Ryan]

No kidding, Ryan has been a blood thirsty beast the past while. Karlsson's rise back to form has also helped

 

[Tripod]

Nice to see him rebounding. Should be a #2 C for years to come.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Bobby Ryan ye

 

[Othello*]

Good numbers considering he went the first 12 games of the season without a point lol

 

[Poulin 0n My St1ck]

But can he spell "intensity"?

 

[Parliament]

One aspect of Zibanejads game that I feel is under appreciated or not discussed as much as it should be is his hits. He has a total of 87 in 46 games which is good enough to put him 5th on our team for that category, the only forward above him is neil with 115 in 32 games.

Anyway, I was going to come in here and suggest Mark Stone has had a better "break out" recently(not that should take anything away from mika), but to my surprise Zibanejad as been the better player in the last 25 games.

Mika since the start of DEC. = 25 games played, 10g, 10a, +4. 5 PPP, 52 Hits and 9 blocked shots
Stone since the start of DEC. = 24 games played, 7g, 11a, +7, 3 PPP, 13 Hits and 16 blocked shots

That being said, since 2015 started Stone has been better offensively. In the last 12 games he has 11 points (4g, 7a), while Zibanejad has 8. Needless to say, without even mentioning Hoffman it would seem like a few of our young guys are starting to make big contributions offensively.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

One aspect of Zibanejads game that I feel is under appreciated or not discussed as much as it should be is his hits. He has a total of 87 in 46 games which is good enough to put him 5th on our team for that category, the only forward above him is neil with 115 in 32 games.

Anyway, I was going to come in here and suggest Mark Stone has had a better "break out" recently(not that should take anything away from mika), but to my surprise Zibanejad as been the better player in the last 25 games.

Mika since the start of DEC. = 25 games played, 10g, 10a, +4. 5 PPP, 52 Hits and 9 blocked shots
Stone since the start of DEC. = 24 games played, 7g, 11a, +7, 3 PPP, 13 Hits and 16 blocked shots

That being said, since 2015 started Stone has been better offensively. In the last 12 games he has 11 points (4g, 7a), while Zibanejad has 8. Needless to say, without even mentioning Hoffman it would seem like a few of our young guys are starting to make big contributions offensively.

Stone has contributed in a lot of unique ways this season. Moving up and down the line and always being a threat to steal the puck well generally putting up points. Stone is also slightly older then Zibby and had a much more established scoring touch before he made the NHL. It seemed like zibby was trying to find out what he was when he was behind turris and spezza. Hope Zibby, Stone and Hoffman keeps it up so we'll have a nice future in ottawa. Ryan providing advice to Zibby seems to of helped him figure out how to play with top 6 players and ryan's faith/praise in hoffman has helped him have to confidence to hold the puck and wait for opportunities. Lets not kid ourselves though.. He might have been struggling early because he came to camp out of shape. Maybe the extra weight wasnt muscle and maybe him throwing up during practices was an indicator of this.

 

[Benttheknee]

I have gotten the impression from interviews etc. that Zibanejad is not interested in the off season training regimes that most players do. This results in pretty weak starts but strong finishes as he gets into game shape.

Certainly the last 2 seasons have started slow and finished well.

Hey Zibanjed. If you want to make a killing, workout in the summer before your next contract!

If you want to be a star, do it every summer!

 

[LuckyPierre]

In spite of his uptick in production, he's skating like a winger at centre. Doesn't have his head on a swivel enough, and misses opportunities to burst into open spaces. Part of his improved play can certainly be attributed to Bobby Ryan going into beastmode for the last month, but yes, he's been hungry around the net lately.

 

[HockeyGuy1975]

Zibanejad is one of those guys whose draft stock rose quickly in the months leading up to the draft and, as a result, he was picked too high and tagged with unrealistic expectations. It happens in every draft. In his case, he doesn't have the skill or hockey IQ to be a star. He will be a decent 2nd and effective 3rd liner.

 

[Sensinitis]

Zibanejad is one of those guys whose draft stock rose quickly in the months leading up to the draft and, as a result, he was picked too high and tagged with unrealistic expectations. It happens in every draft. In his case, he doesn't have the skill or hockey IQ to be a star. He will be a decent 2nd and effective 3rd liner.

We'll see

 

[The Expert]

This thread should be about Bobby Ryan. The guy has been an absolute monster all year long. Ryan has had a much bigger impact on Zibanejad than Hoffman. Zibanejad is still making questionable decisions and still hasn't figured out when/how to best use his size and aggressiveness.

One aspect of Zibanejads game that I feel is under appreciated or not discussed as much as it should be is his hits. He has a total of 87 in 46 games which is good enough to put him 5th on our team for that category, the only forward above him is neil with 115 in 32 games.

Anyway, I was going to come in here and suggest Mark Stone has had a better "break out" recently(not that should take anything away from mika), but to my surprise Zibanejad as been the better player in the last 25 games.

Mika since the start of DEC. = 25 games played, 10g, 10a, +4. 5 PPP, 52 Hits and 9 blocked shots
Stone since the start of DEC. = 24 games played, 7g, 11a, +7, 3 PPP, 13 Hits and 16 blocked shots

That being said, since 2015 started Stone has been better offensively. In the last 12 games he has 11 points (4g, 7a), while Zibanejad has 8. Needless to say, without even mentioning Hoffman it would seem like a few of our young guys are starting to make big contributions offensively.

Mika has not been the better player in the last 25 games, you were right the first time. I don't think that part of his game is unappreciated at all. In fact, it's one of the things he still really needs to work on. In the offensive zone, Zibanejad still gets outmuscled off the puck and loses body position far too easily, often against smaller guys. He has all the physical tools, but so far has usually lacked the mindset to use them.

Stone has used his size much better in the offensive zone.

 

[izzy]

Agreed, Ryan has been unreal.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Is the 21 year old finally starting to put it together

Woah. The expectations for 20 yr old kids from Europe is always amazing.

Just takes time. And he has already been a pretty good player. That being said his development has been going further, as it should, but never guaranteed. So yeah, Ottawa should be happy with their pick.

 

[AvsGuy]

Ryan's stats look decent but not unreal. How's he been unreal? Our of curiosity. Always liked him as a player.

Looking at the Sens individual stats, what's up with Alex Chiasson? Thought he'd perform better as the centerpiece of the Spezza trade.

 

[izzy]

Ryan's stats look decent but not unreal. How's he been unreal? Our of curiosity. Always liked him as a player.

Looking at the Sens individual stats, what's up with Alex Chiasson? Thought he'd perform better as the centerpiece of the Spezza trade.

Watching him play has just been impressive. He's very calm, sick hands, controls the play when he's out there and sees the ice really well. Once Ottawa gets a bit better all around I think Ryan will be up there in the top 10-15 for points for a few years (if he stays there).

 

[Micklebot]

Ryan's stats look decent but not unreal. How's he been unreal? Our of curiosity. Always liked him as a player.

Looking at the Sens individual stats, what's up with Alex Chiasson? Thought he'd perform better as the centerpiece of the Spezza trade.

Ryan's really played a more well rounded game this year, and has steped up his game and carried the team when they came out flat, or needed that big push.

He also had a bit of a slow start a played through a broken finger for a bit, but has been a pt per game in his last two months (24 pts in last 22 games).

edit: Unreal is probably also relative to that poster's expectations for him.

 

[Jtown]

Watching him play has just been impressive. He's very calm, sick hands, controls the play when he's out there and sees the ice really well. Once Ottawa gets a bit better all around I think Ryan will be up there in the top 10-15 for points for a few years (if he stays there).

This is wishful thinking. Ryan is no young pup and will eventually start to decline like all players. He has never demonstrated that he will ever be capable of being a top 10-15 in point production.

 

[Benjamin]

Ryan's stats look decent but not unreal. How's he been unreal? Our of curiosity. Always liked him as a player.

Looking at the Sens individual stats, what's up with Alex Chiasson? Thought he'd perform better as the centerpiece of the Spezza trade.

Its the stuff Ryan is doing without the puck(Physical, leadership, probably the best defensive forward for the Sens) and how timely his scoring has been.

Pretty much every aspect of Ryan is better this season compared to last season. Specifically skating, playmaking and defense.

 

[HockeyThoughts]

Finally? He's 21 in only his 3rd NHL season..

 

[CraigsList]

Give him Proactiv.

 

[Ismellofhockey]

Zibanejad is one of those guys whose draft stock rose quickly in the months leading up to the draft and, as a result, he was picked too high and tagged with unrealistic expectations. It happens in every draft. In his case, he doesn't have the skill or hockey IQ to be a star. He will be a decent 2nd and effective 3rd liner.

Erik Karlsson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson also saw their stock rise quickly before draft day, and they turned out pretty good. You can't make a blanket statement like that. Often enough, guys fall for a reason, and rise for a reason. Time will tell with Zibanejad. Last year, I might have agreed with you. This year, he's showing better smarts and better ability with the puck. Not quite where you see top line potential yet, but he's still young.

 

[HarrisonFord]

He's on pace for 22g, 22a, 44p so it really depends on what kind of expectations you have for him