Mistercosmic Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 This question instantly reminded me of Zibanejad's awful OT turnover in Game 4 of the ECF, which led to the Panthers getting a PP and eventually scoring. It's not just the lack of production but mistakes like these that create the negative narrative surrounding him. He regularly doesn't perform his best hockey during the playoffs as a true 1C should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albatrosss Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Just now, Mistercosmic said: This question instantly reminded me of Zibanejad's awful OT turnover in Game 4 of the ECF, which led to the Panthers getting a PP and eventually scoring. It's not just the lack of production but mistakes like these that create the negative narrative surrounding him. He regularly doesn't perform his best hockey during the playoffs as a true 1C should. Lots of times his playmaking skills totally disappear. Unless its a 2-on-1 i dont want him carrying the puck. Its almost always a turnover 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Br4d Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 2 years ago Zib was a #1 Center albeit not in the top tier. He's not a #1 Center at this point and the idea that this is on his linemates is kind of crazy. A #1 Center makes his linemates better. The decline started in '22-23 when his scoring at even strength against the better teams declined. Last season his EVS scoring declined vs everybody. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodka Drunkenski Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 7 hours ago, BrooksBurner said: Do you think he'll rank 8th over the next 5 years? It’s possible, we don’t know what kind of player he is playing without Kreider. I’m willing to give him a chance to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodka Drunkenski Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 (edited) 1 hour ago, Br4d said: 2 years ago Zib was a #1 Center albeit not in the top tier. He's not a #1 Center at this point and the idea that this is on his linemates is kind of crazy. A #1 Center makes his linemates better. The decline started in '22-23 when his scoring at even strength against the better teams declined. Last season his EVS scoring declined vs everybody. So his best season since 19/20 is when his the decline started, interesting 21/22 - 81GP, 49 EV 22/23 - 82GP, 50 EV 23/24 - 81GP, 45 EV Huge step down Edited June 14 by Vodka Drunkenski 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 I think both Zib and Tro are great second line centers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreakawayMachine Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Short answer: Nope Long answer: Noooooooooope 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 41 minutes ago, Vodka Drunkenski said: So his best season since 19/20 is when his the decline started, interesting 21/22 - 81GP, 49 EV 22/23 - 82GP, 50 EV 23/24 - 81GP, 45 EV Huge step down 35* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Lots of people hung on on the wrong question. Zib is without a doubt a 1C. Can they win with him? If they get him a productive RW and a LW that's not a parasite, sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valriera Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Zib is a fine 1C. It's unfair to compare him to Alexander Barkov, who is currently doing to Connor McDavid, the best player of the last twenty years, what he did to Mika. I think he's probably pretty underpaid all things considered. But that doesn't mean this guy is a championship player. Look at him, how he plays, and how he talks, and tell me with a straight face that this is who you want rolling out against Connor McDavid in the Stanley Cup Finals. Noooooooope. No thanks. That player is hard to find though. And the player we have is Zib. So the only logical move here is to get him a pair of wings that can do better than the obvious dumpster fire he has, and hope he works it out. But seriously, the recent history comparisons against Barkov are not fair. I've now watched this guy closely for two series. He's better than every skater in the league by a country mile, McDavid included. Literally takes zero strides off, he's impossible to play defense against, and impossible to play offense against. Ferraro used the phrase Kopitar in his prime who was the same way - Barkov is way better. Just a freak of a player. Let's not be unfair to Mika who will never be that good. Barkovs don't grow on trees, but fast, physical wingers do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm7302 Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 17 minutes ago, phillyb said: I think both Zib and Tro are great second line centers. Package one for a top tier #1? Talk about changing the dynamic... because we know it ain't Tro that would be shopped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 I think they just really need a top RW to play with him and that will really help. However, I still have issues with him in the sense of what's happening between the ears. He'll look amazing for a couple of weeks, then totally invisible the next. He goes too long being a complete non factor and it's annoying. I've alwys thought he was bi-polar or something, and I'm not even joking. He's not engaged nearly enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 10 minutes ago, Valriera said: Zib is a fine 1C. It's unfair to compare him to Alexander Barkov, who is currently doing to Connor McDavid, the best player of the last twenty years, what he did to Mika. I think he's probably pretty underpaid all things considered. But that doesn't mean this guy is a championship player. Look at him, how he plays, and how he talks, and tell me with a straight face that this is who you want rolling out against Connor McDavid in the Stanley Cup Finals. Noooooooope. No thanks. That player is hard to find though. And the player we have is Zib. So the only logical move here is to get him a pair of wings that can do better than the obvious dumpster fire he has, and hope he works it out. But seriously, the recent history comparisons against Barkov are not fair. I've now watched this guy closely for two series. He's better than every skater in the league by a country mile, McDavid included. Literally takes zero strides off, he's impossible to play defense against, and impossible to play offense against. Ferraro used the phrase Kopitar in his prime who was the same way - Barkov is way better. Just a freak of a player. Let's not be unfair to Mika who will never be that good. Barkovs don't grow on trees, but fast, physical wingers do. Agree with a lot of this, but don't forget Zib also shut down Barkov offensively that series. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Yeah, I do think Mika's defensive play may go underappreciated at times, or not even really noticed at all. In the playoffs, you have top guys shutting down other top guys. It happens often where some guys just cancel each other out almost. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valriera Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 7 minutes ago, Pete said: Agree with a lot of this, but don't forget Zib also shut down Barkov offensively that series. Idk I credit Igor for that more than anything. Too many high quality chances against head to head. But regardless Mika in his own zone looks similar to McDavid in his own zone right now so I think it’s probably the case that barkov is just an alien and unfair comparison point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 2 minutes ago, Valriera said: Idk I credit Igor for that more than anything. Too many high quality chances against head to head. But regardless Mika in his own zone looks similar to McDavid in his own zone right now so I think it’s probably the case that barkov is just an alien and unfair comparison point I can see that. I also think that a lot of people here would complain about Barkov if they watched him for 82 games. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Br4d Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 27 minutes ago, Valriera said: Zib is a fine 1C. It's unfair to compare him to Alexander Barkov, who is currently doing to Connor McDavid, the best player of the last twenty years, what he did to Mika. I think he's probably pretty underpaid all things considered. But that doesn't mean this guy is a championship player. Look at him, how he plays, and how he talks, and tell me with a straight face that this is who you want rolling out against Connor McDavid in the Stanley Cup Finals. Noooooooope. No thanks. That player is hard to find though. And the player we have is Zib. So the only logical move here is to get him a pair of wings that can do better than the obvious dumpster fire he has, and hope he works it out. But seriously, the recent history comparisons against Barkov are not fair. I've now watched this guy closely for two series. He's better than every skater in the league by a country mile, McDavid included. Literally takes zero strides off, he's impossible to play defense against, and impossible to play offense against. Ferraro used the phrase Kopitar in his prime who was the same way - Barkov is way better. Just a freak of a player. Let's not be unfair to Mika who will never be that good. Barkovs don't grow on trees, but fast, physical wingers do. Barkov is 28 and Mika is 31. That's a huge difference in competitive sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJWantsTheCup Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 I think Rangers fans are a unique fanbase. We almost don't seem happy unless we are complaining about something. Sometimes the complaints are justified and most of the times they are just reaching for something to complain about. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Just now, Br4d said: Barkov is 28 and Mika is 31. That's a huge difference in competitive sports. Yeah, that is another concern of mine. Mika is only going to get worse from here, not better. I still think he's got some good years left, but there are definitely more behind him than ahead of him. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 1 minute ago, Sharpshooter said: Yeah, that is another concern of mine. Mika is only going to get worse from here, not better. I still think he's got some good years left, but there are definitely more behind him than ahead of him. Barkov will turn 29 shortly and Mika just turned 31. It's not that big a difference. And I don't really know what that has to do with the conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 19 minutes ago, Pete said: Agree with a lot of this, but don't forget Zib also shut down Barkov offensively that series. No he didn’t. Igor did. Big difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpshooter Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Just now, Pete said: Barkov will turn 29 shortly and Mika just turned 31. It's not that big a difference. And I don't really know what that has to do with the conversation. It has nothing to do with the conversation, correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodka Drunkenski Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 43 minutes ago, BrooksBurner said: 35* apparently my math sucks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Just now, Vodka Drunkenski said: apparently my math sucks @RichieNextel305 math 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 4 minutes ago, BrooksBurner said: No he didn’t. Igor did. Big difference. I'm sure that's the way you see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now