GAME DAY: Nashville Predators @ Ottawa Senators :: 7:30pm ET :: Mon. Mar. 10th, 2014

There are red flags for sure.  He was cut from camp for the exact same play you are seeing now.  Whether the message wasn't received, the maturity level isn't there, or he's just wearing down being a younger player, who knows... but yes, these are red flags much like Turris had.  They can obviously be corrected with time, experience, and maturity but there are a lot of holes in his game and it is a cause for concern.

Everyone is saying he should be playing with more skill but he has been replaced on the top 2 lines right now and there is no where to play except with the grinders.  I obviously believe there should be more skill in Ottawa right now but face of the matter there isn't and Zibanejad's play hasn't earned him any kind of breaks right now. 

I would suspect when MacArthur comes back Michalek might be sent down to play with Zibanejad to give him a winger who had a bit of skill but other than that it's play on the bottom line or don't play at all.  Da Costa looked just fine playing that 4th center role when he was up here so no reason Zibanejad can't either.

If you gave out red flags for young players not being consistent, the league would be like a red flag ocean. These aren't red flags, they are things to work on.

He hasn't been replaced on the top two lines, well by Hemsky yes but that is obvious. They just don't want him to play wing which I agree with.

There is nothing to be concerned about. Unless you are a Nathan Mackinnon prospect you will have holes and you will take time to mature.

I'd give him a couple of games in the press box for sure.

Michalek absolutely should be playing with Zibby. That combo worked earlier in the season and should be tried again. And for god's sake, Pmac has to stop playing the smith line so Cussing much and give more mins to zibanejad.

Hoffman-Spezza-Hemsky
MacA-Turris-Ryan
Michalek-Zibby-Greening (TRUE THIRD LINE, GIVE THEM 3RD LINE MINUTES)
Condra-Smith-Neil

Michallica wrote:Michalek absolutely should be playing with Zibby.  That combo worked earlier in the season and should be tried again.  And for god's sake, Pmac has to stop playing the smith line so Cussing much and give more mins to zibanejad.

Hoffman-Spezza-Hemsky
MacA-Turris-Ryan
Michalek-Zibby-Greening (TRUE THIRD LINE, GIVE THEM 3RD LINE MINUTES)
Condra-Smith-Neil

Don't break up the Spezza line lol, seriously, why would you do that? Put Hoffman with Z-Bad and let them go. Unfortunately we can't really sit out Greening or Condra, because neither are really 3rd liners, but that's life I guess.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Michallica wrote:Michalek absolutely should be playing with Zibby.  That combo worked earlier in the season and should be tried again.  And for god's sake, Pmac has to stop playing the smith line so Cussing much and give more mins to zibanejad.

Hoffman-Spezza-Hemsky
MacA-Turris-Ryan
Michalek-Zibby-Greening (TRUE THIRD LINE, GIVE THEM 3RD LINE MINUTES)
Condra-Smith-Neil

Don't break up the Spezza line lol, seriously, why would you do that?  Put Hoffman with Z-Bad and let them go.  Unfortunately we can't really sit out Greening or Condra, because neither are really 3rd liners, but that's life I guess.

Dude the spezza line is essentially Hemsky and Spezza. You keep the duo together. michalek at this point is better served with zibanejad. And as my name states, i'm a michalek fan! That third line right there can be the real grinding two way line.

At the end of the day, none of our fools know their roles. We talk about identity, but how do you forge an identity when things are constantly changed? And that smith line needs to play less mins, PMAC needs to get that through his mustache up to his brain.

Ev wrote:If you gave out red flags for young players not being consistent, the league would be like a red flag ocean. These aren't red flags, they are things to work on.

He hasn't been replaced on the top two lines, well by Hemsky yes but that is obvious. They just don't want him to play wing which I agree with.

There is nothing to be concerned about. Unless you are a Nathan Mackinnon prospect you will have holes and you will take time to mature.

I'd give him a couple of games in the press box for sure.

Those issues are concerning despite in most cases being par for the course.  If they weren't concerning they would be ignored.  There is no reason to push the panic button (like sending him down) but to lay blame on Kassian or Condra for his poor play or the lack of talent with him in general is wrong.  He will get better with time for sure and more consistent but he hasn't earned the right to play with top 6 guys or much PP time with any kind of regularity.  The kid needs to have a seat for sure.

Michallica wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Michallica wrote:Michalek absolutely should be playing with Zibby.  That combo worked earlier in the season and should be tried again.  And for god's sake, Pmac has to stop playing the smith line so Cussing much and give more mins to zibanejad.

Hoffman-Spezza-Hemsky
MacA-Turris-Ryan
Michalek-Zibby-Greening (TRUE THIRD LINE, GIVE THEM 3RD LINE MINUTES)
Condra-Smith-Neil

Don't break up the Spezza line lol, seriously, why would you do that?  Put Hoffman with Z-Bad and let them go.  Unfortunately we can't really sit out Greening or Condra, because neither are really 3rd liners, but that's life I guess.

Dude the spezza line is essentially Hemsky and Spezza.  You keep the duo together. michalek at this point is better served with zibanejad.  And as my name states, i'm a michalek fan!  That third line right there can be the real grinding two way line.

At the end of the day, none of our fools know their roles.  We talk about identity, but how do you forge an identity when things are constantly changed?  And that smith line needs to play less mins, PMAC needs to get that through his mustache up to his brain.

I'll agree that MacLean is having a poor year. My disagreement is that we finally have a second line that's working - and Michalek's a huge part of it. If anything, put Ryan down with Zibanejad and keep Hoffman with Turris. But whatever, knowing MacLean he'd change it up after 2 shifts anyway.

People are complaining about P-Mac shuffling the lines, except they're calling for Michalek to be moved from the Spezza line after being very productive together...and then they're calling for ZBad to be moved and Condra to be benched and, and, and..... I think it's been kind of nice having a consistent lineup this past couple games and hope it continues as such. The team has 3 out of 4 pts over the past two games, let's not scare away this mini points streak.

tim1_2 wrote:People are complaining about P-Mac shuffling the lines, except they're calling for Michalek to be moved from the Spezza line after being very productive together...and then they're calling for ZBad to be moved and Condra to be benched and, and, and.....  I think it's been kind of nice having a consistent lineup this past couple games and hope it continues as such.  The team has 3 out of 4 pts over the past two games, let's not scare away this mini points streak.

you're kidding right? We've had one decent line and that too only played starting in the third period. meanwhile we got zibanejad rotting away doing zilch, that not only doesn't help the team but probably isn't good for his development either.

Yeah pmac has screwed with the lines a little too much. Doesn't mean what he's got right now is working either. When Macarthur gets back, guess what? He's going to HAVE to make changes to the lineup. The issue I'm trying to hammer is that he's gotta have some set lines when macarthur gets back and stop Cussing with them from hereforth.

Maybe MacArthur comes back and plays with Z-Bad and Neil, or Z-Bad and Condra. Right now I wouldn't mess with the top two lines.

SpezDispenser wrote:I don't think I'd send him down, but he's got no chance to contribute playing with Kassian and Condra.  When MacArthur comes back, hopefully Hoffman can give him a lift.  We could use another forward from Bingo at this point.

Like I said before, play him on the wing. Wait until next year when the hash marks are 5 feet apart and he'll do better on the draws.

To NEELY: Granted Zibanejad hasn't done much; 13 games without a goal. At one point in the season Michalek also went 13 games without a goal. Difference is Zibanejad is sucking paying with the likes of Kassian, Condra, Conacher, while Michalek was playing either with Spezza or Turris. You put Zibanejad out with Spezza he will get points.

Anyhow, my real point was that it looks like PMac is trying to get all 4 lines rolling, but we only have enough talent for 2 lines (especially with CMac out). When the team is not doing well wouldn't it make more sense to try and get your top two lines contributing before you try to roll four lines?

Have you seen Zibanejad's g/f? *That* there is the reason he's not doing well. In the immortal words of Mickey Goldmill, "Women weaken legs." And that's a lot of woman for a young kid.

meh she's nothing special

Ev wrote:meh she's nothing special

Hmm, maybe it was another player because doing a search now, it's not that one. Or maybe he's upgraded.

maybe Wiercioch

Uh damn Wiercioch, way to go!

wprager wrote:Have you seen Zibanejad's g/f?  *That* there is the reason he's not doing well.  In the immortal words of Mickey Goldmill, "Women weaken legs."  And that's a lot of woman for a young kid.

Her?

shabbs wrote:

wprager wrote:Have you seen Zibanejad's g/f?  *That* there is the reason he's not doing well.  In the immortal words of Mickey Goldmill, "Women weaken legs."  And that's a lot of woman for a young kid.

Her?

not that trade my woman for any of those girls but I could see how they might make their respective man happy.