Player Discussion Mika Zibanejad

[Kords]

I always said he was a really good 2C on a cup team. Now that he's actually the clear 2C, i'm gonna go ahead and walk back that "really good" qualifier.

 

[duhmetreE]

he has an identity crisis.

problem is, he may think he's playing well. Nothing will change then, especially because we're winning.

 

[Brutananadilewski]

Buyout.

It would count against the cap for 12 years!!!!


....

 

[Mike in Houston]

It’s crazy we are winning all these games with Mika literally doing NOTHING.

Healthy scratch this guy.

This is a bit extreme. He just needs to shave his head.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

he has an identity crisis.

problem is, he may think he's playing well. Nothing will change then, especially because we're winning.

The org babies him .

If Johnny G and Huberdeau can be benched for playing like clowns , why can't Zib?

 

[will1066]

They're not even running the one-timer setpiece anymore. Honestly I don't think he had a bad game. He deferred a lot tonight, like a player with zero confidence

 

[inranger94]

Mika is playing like zibaneshit.

 

[bl02]

15 games in anyone wanna guess the only other first line center without a 5 on 5 goal? Matty Berniers.
I just ran thru each team and only came up with one other guy.

 

[huerter]

They're not even running the one-timer setpiece anymore. Honestly I don't think he had a bad game. He deferred a lot tonight, like a player with zero confidence

I was so bitter on the 3rd period PP when we didn't get into our setup. Makes no sense.

 

[huerter]

The org babies him .

If Johnny G and Huberdeau can be benched for playing like clowns , why can't Zib?

One guy is a +7, one is a -6, and one is a -11. One is a 20 min two way center and the other two are offensive minded wingers.

You do the math.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

One guy is a +7, one is a -6, and one is a -11. One is a 20 min two way center and the other two are offensive minded wingers.

You do the math.

Zib is a defensive center at this point

 

[duhmetreE]

They're not even running the one-timer setpiece anymore. Honestly I don't think he had a bad game. He deferred a lot tonight, like a player with zero confidence

They are 100% trying to set him up in the slot. Which I don’t mind. I rather he use his wrist shot but kreider can’t vacate the front just to force that

 

[2014nyr]

he's got no choice...he has to shave his melon. guy has been tits on a bull all year, aerodynamic panarin is in the hart convo. do what works mika

 

[huerter]

Is the point of 5 on 5 play to get schmoints or to outscore the opponent. If it's the latter then he's our best. While getting tough matchups. And while in a slump. #MikaMagic

Edit: Looked it up and he's 7th in the whole league in EV GF%. I wonder if any of the top 6 are getting flack (Tarasenko is #1 and he's nubs so it's quite possible!!!)

 

[mrmovies779]

I'm not worried at all.The team is playing well and his line just hasn't buried their chances yet...and they will.He will get hot and next thing you know is he hits 35+ goals again and 75+ points.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Is the point of 5 on 5 play to get schmoints or to outscore the opponent. If it's the latter then he's our best. While getting tough matchups. And while in a slump. #MikaMagic

Edit: Looked it up and he's 7th in the whole league in EV GF%. I wonder if any of the top 6 are getting flack (Tarasenko is #1 and he's nubs so it's quite possible!!!)

This is why fancy stats are a complete joke sometimes. Zibanejad has been absolutely invisible, a shell of his best self, he has no drive, no motor, he's floating and aloof. Every one can see it. It's getting to the end of November and the guy has 3 EV points, 1 EV goal. Jimmy Vesey scored more EV goals last night than Zibanejad has in 2 months of the season. Jimmy Vesey has more EV points. Zibanejad has one point in the last 6 games (a PP assist).

 

[Brutananadilewski]

This is why fancy stats are a complete joke sometimes. Zibanejad has been absolutely invisible, a shell of his best self, he has no drive, no motor, he's floating and aloof. Every one can see it. It's getting to the end of November and the guy has 3 EV points, 1 EV goal. Jimmy Vesey scored more EV goals last night than Zibanejad has in 2 months of the season. Jimmy Vesey has more EV points. Zibanejad has one point in the last 6 games (a PP assist).

Breadman has as many goals as Zibs has points. Laf already has 1 more point without seeing as much PP time.

The jokes write themselves...just don't say them because "political."

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

 

[RickChartraw]

The less than 5% shooting percentage will not last. Just needs some of Jobu's rum.

 

[JMan74]

he has an identity crisis.

problem is, he may think he's playing well. Nothing will change then, especially because we're winning.

Help me understand..... this guy is normally a slow starter. Most of us get that. However this start is waaaaay slow.

Is it personal life, is it the system? Some players like different systems better than others. He was one of the few that excelled in GGs system.

Just having an off year? Playing hurt with an undisclosed injury?

Its frustrating because if he plays like we are used to and getting Fox back, this team is pretty loaded as is especially with Laffy and Panny playing the way they are.

 

[duhmetreE]

Help me understand..... this guy is normally a slow starter. Most of us get that. However this start is waaaaay slow.

Is it personal life, is it the system? Some players like different systems better than others. He was one of the few that excelled in GGs system.

Just having an off year? Playing hurt with an undisclosed injury?

Its frustrating because if he plays like we are used to and getting Fox back, this team is pretty loaded as is especially with Laffy and Panny playing the way they are.

This narrative started over covid. He started real slow in 2020-2021 because he had covid late camp. 2022 was the one stand alone season that he had no 'excuses' for starting slow. So, I don't put much weight into it that narrative. He didn't start slow last year.

He just looks lost. Doesn't know what he wants to do. He became a different player under Gallant. He needs to re-establish an identity. Being a matchup defensive center is not what he's getting paid for.

 

[B17 Apricots]

The guy needs to go get some ground bison and venison

 

[Kravtsov420]

The guy needs to go get some ground bison and venison

Woah there let’s not get political, LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE

 

[JMan74]

So many other players are responding to this new system. They need to figure out how to reinvigorate Zibs game. I don't want him becoming essentially what Panarin was in GGs system...which was a totally misutilized player.

 

[huerter]

This is why fancy stats are a complete joke sometimes. Zibanejad has been absolutely invisible, a shell of his best self, he has no drive, no motor, he's floating and aloof. Every one can see it. It's getting to the end of November and the guy has 3 EV points, 1 EV goal. Jimmy Vesey scored more EV goals last night than Zibanejad has in 2 months of the season. Jimmy Vesey has more EV points. Zibanejad has one point in the last 6 games (a PP assist).

EV GF% is only fancy if you failed first grade math.

Mika has been on the ice for 3 EV goals against? Brayden Point has been on the ice for 24 against. That seems like something that matters.

I’ll definitely concede that from his first shift last night he was looking rusty with his touches but that doesn’t mean he’s floating and not giving effort.