I for one think he could have been traded, but the return would have been of so little value that he's worth more if he can help the Whale in the playoffs.
they dealt EC and Wolski..........got Wellman and Scott
Zuke is still an option. Its not like he sucking in the minors. He's doing great
Zuccarello isn't an option for this team IMO. He simply is not strong or fast enough to be effective in this system as anything other than a PP specialist. I really like Zuccarello and think he could be successful in the right system, but on a team where defense is the first order of business, and offense comes in the form of counterattack and puck possession, he isn't going to add anything.
Where would he slide in? He's a top-6 or bust player. He isn't going to overtake any of Gaborik, Callahan, Hagelin, or Anisimov. And playing him in the bottom-6 would make not a lick of sense, even over a barely-NHLer John Mitchell, simply because he doesn't fit in such a situation.
Zuccarello isn't an option for this team IMO. He simply is not strong or fast enough to be effective in this system as anything other than a PP specialist. I really like Zuccarello and think he could be successful in the right system, but on a team where defense is the first order of business, and offense comes in the form of counterattack and puck possession, he isn't going to add anything.
Where would he slide in? He's a top-6 or bust player. He isn't going to overtake any of Gaborik, Callahan, Hagelin, or Anisimov. And playing him in the bottom-6 would make not a lick of sense, even over a barely-NHLer John Mitchell, simply because he doesn't fit in such a situation.
Ok, so that means they play a completely different hockey in Hartford where he obviously is a success. Strange way to prepare players for the big club..
Ok, so that means they play a completely different hockey in Hartford where he obviously is a success. Strange way to prepare players for the big club..
Ok, so that means they play a completely different hockey in Hartford where he obviously is a success. Strange way to prepare players for the big club..
The AHL is different from the NHL. It's played at a far slower pace, one of the reasons Zuccarello is so successful there. His lack of speed doesn't hinder him in the minors like it would and has done in the NHL. Also, the difference is leagues in terms of talent is quite large.
I don't really know the style the Whale play, to be honest. I remember hearing they prepare the defenseman on the Whale to play the style the Rangers' D plays, but I'm not sure of the system they have put into place.
As a NHL rookie (not to mention a North American rookie) he was #1 in points per power play minute played and #3 in points per overall minute played for the 2010-2011 NY Rangers. I do not see that as a guy that did not show positive signs.
I believe that MZA will become a legit NHL player. My fear is like former Rangers Marc Savard, Dave Gagner, and PA Parenteau it will be for another club.
I wish the Rangers would have traded him for anything at this point - it's not like he'll re-sign with them if they don't play him in the NHL.
So unless the Rangers planned on having him come up at some point this year, why in the world would they hang on to him? It seems like poor asset management.
I wish the Rangers would have traded him for anything at this point - it's not like he'll re-sign with them if they don't play him in the NHL.
So unless the Rangers planned on having him come up at some point this year, why in the world would they hang on to him? It seems like poor asset management.
Very cheap insurance against injury or offensive slump. Also may have needed him as a call up or part of a possible last minute Nash trade. Makes total sense to me especially as close to the vest as the Rangers played things at the trading deadline.
As a NHL rookie (not to mention a North American rookie) he was #1 in points per power play minute played and #3 in points per overall minute played for the 2010-2011 NY Rangers. I do not see that as a guy that did not show positive signs.
I believe that MZA will become a legit NHL player. My fear is like former Rangers Marc Savard, Dave Gagner, and PA Parenteau it will be for another club.
I actually had a feeling PAP could succeed elsewhere (not the way he has the past 2 or so seasons that is, but do well nonetheless). Have that same feeling with MZA.
Interesting to see all those norwegians all coming into this board because of him, now bashing him with ZERO knowledge about his play. Have you ever been on a NHL/AHL match except from your playstation maybe? Have you seen him play lately? ##### no.
Interesting to see all those norwegians all coming into this board because of him, now bashing him with ZERO knowledge about his play. Have you ever been on a NHL/AHL match except from your playstation maybe? Have you seen him play lately? ##### no.
I don't see any norwegians bashing him. Simply stating you don't think he is good enough for this team (you know the one that's first in the conference) is not bashing.
I can only speak for myself, but I do watch most of the Whale games. To me what he does in the AHL does not prove that he should be up with the big club. He does excellent offensively, but still has trouble defensively. As I said, I think he could make it somewhere in the NHL. Just not here.
I don't see any norwegians bashing him. Simply stating you don't think he is good enough for this team (you know the one that's first in the conference) is not bashing.
I can only speak for myself, but I do watch most of the Whale games. To me what he does in the AHL does not prove that he should be up with the big club. He does excellent offensively, but still has trouble defensively. As I said, I think he could make it somewhere in the NHL. Just not here.
How can you say he struggles defensively when he has one of the highest +- score on the team?
I don't see any norwegians bashing him. Simply stating you don't think he is good enough for this team (you know the one that's first in the conference) is not bashing.
I can only speak for myself, but I do watch most of the Whale games. To me what he does in the AHL does not prove that he should be up with the big club. He does excellent offensively, but still has trouble defensively. As I said, I think he could make it somewhere in the NHL. Just not here.
He is leading the current Whale with a +/- 8,
Deveaux plus 5
Erixon plus 1
JAM is mius 1
Newberry minus 3
Like every player out there he has his strenghts and flaws..
He's improved alot from last year,still has work to do but could contribute in the NHL for sure..
Is he the best?no..is he the worst?nope..
I still stand by my claim that his first game this season buried him, a stupid penalty on the first shift and a missed penalty shot ruined it for him.
I still think he'll be back soon and play 8-12 games before being sent down to AHL to help the whales in the play off's there..
As for his future, I don't see him leaving for Europe as NHL is his dream and money isn't the motivation for him.
I'm also not a fan of the bashing by some rangers "fans" whenever his name is brought up. From reading some posts it seems he pissed in someone's tea and drove over the neighbour cat..
How can you say he struggles defensively when he has one of the highest +- score on the team?
The +- is one of the most misleading stats in hockey. A +8 is nice to have by all means, but it really doesn't say anything about his defensive ability.
He has a lot of the same problems in his own zone that we saw in the NHL: Not being able to clear the zone (though when he does it's often with a very nice, creative pass), not being able to win battles along the boards, falling down.
I'm not saying he is a defensive liability in the A, cause he isn't, but he does struggle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fredrikstad
Deveaux plus 5
Erixon plus 1
JAM is mius 1 Newberry minus 3
This just shows how little you can use the +- stat to judge a players defensive abilities. No one in their right mind would claim that MZA is a better defensive forward than Newbury or Deveaux.
The +- is one of the most misleading stats in hockey. A +8 is nice to have by all means, but it really doesn't say anything about his defensive ability.
He has a lot of the same problems in his own zone that we saw in the NHL: Not being able to clear the zone (though when he does it's often with a very nice, creative pass), not being able to win battles along the boards, falling down.
I'm not saying he is a defensive liability in the A, cause he isn't, but he does struggle.
This just shows how little you can use the +- stat to judge a players defensive abilities. No one in their right mind would claim that MZA is a better defensive forward than Newbury or Deveaux.
Of course the plus/minus stat isnt telling the whole story, but a solid plus says that you does alot of things right both offensive and defensive. And its alot more to it than winning battles along the boards, i.e reading passes,checking hard,placement etc.
I`m sure you would have used the stats hard against him if he had -8 as "proof" of his failure.
The +- is one of the most misleading stats in hockey. A +8 is nice to have by all means, but it really doesn't say anything about his defensive ability.
He has a lot of the same problems in his own zone that we saw in the NHL: Not being able to clear the zone (though when he does it's often with a very nice, creative pass), not being able to win battles along the boards, falling down.
I'm not saying he is a defensive liability in the A, cause he isn't, but he does struggle.
This just shows how little you can use the +- stat to judge a players defensive abilities. No one in their right mind would claim that MZA is a better defensive forward than Newbury or Deveaux.
I really don't get that. +/- tells how many times he was on the ice when they score less how many times he was on the ice when the let one in. Not counting PK (Zucc doesn't play that much) and PP (his main asset). What part of the equation is left out of this doesn't tell a lot? He looks like a clown on the ice defensively but lucky bounces just keeps happening all through his career? Can't really blame it on his teammates either, as they all lag him with respect to the +/-.
The +- is one of the most misleading stats in hockey. A +8 is nice to have by all means, but it really doesn't say anything about his defensive ability.
He has a lot of the same problems in his own zone that we saw in the NHL: Not being able to clear the zone (though when he does it's often with a very nice, creative pass), not being able to win battles along the boards, falling down.
I'm not saying he is a defensive liability in the A, cause he isn't, but he does struggle.
This just shows how little you can use the +- stat to judge a players defensive abilities. No one in their right mind would claim that MZA is a better defensive forward than Newbury or Deveaux.
Plus minus isnt a perfect stat but when MZA has the highest on the team and has never been a minus player in 5 seasons it does show his offensive contributions have been greater than any defensive lapses. I actually saw a guy that was always first on his line to back check when he played for the Rangers
