I think the decision about the rest of his season will be made after saturdays game.
Right now he has 1 point in 3 games, but in these games I feel he's been among the teams top 5 players every game...
Kind of like finishing an event in the special olympics.
Noone has played well outside of the Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik line as of late. If Zuccarello gets limited 4th line minutes with ample powerplay time, I have no problem with that. Hes a very creative offensive player. Unfortunately, hes a liability at even strength.
Kind of like finishing an event in the special olympics.
Noone has played well outside of the Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik line as of late. If Zuccarello gets limited 4th line minutes with ample powerplay time, I have no problem with that. Hes a very creative offensive player. Unfortunately, hes a liability at even strength.
I think he looked good the few times he played last night, especially at the end of 3rd where Torts put him with Dubi. They created some havoc there. I belive Torts doubble shifted their line and the Richards line a few times.
One could see that he was pretty frustrated with the situation.
For those who don't know what he said, he said(Not directly translated):
Disappointing game by the Rangers(us). When they(we) aren't playing well, they will lose games in the NHL. Didn't get to play too much today, team were not much on the PP and a little bit more on the PK. Crosby looked rusty of course, but obviously one could see that the qualities are there and the Pens are a good team.
Difficult to play when there isn't much time on the ice, but that's how it is. I don't decide that.
Zuccarello paired with Scott and Rupp during practice today. Mitchell moved up.
Hehe, Wow! Predicting 3 goals from that line tomorrow. It turns out that Scott is a fantastic finisher and finally someone nets Zuccarellos passes Rupp with 2 assists Zuccarello With 1+2 and The Scott with 2 goals. Cant wait
MZA was a +5 in the AHL despite scoring 36 points. He's -2 in 6 games in the NHL this year. He's fantastic on the PP but hasn't shown the ability to defend 5 on 5.
MZA was a +5 in the AHL despite scoring 36 points. He's -2 in 6 games in the NHL this year. He's fantastic on the PP but hasn't shown the ability to defend 5 on 5.
He has been playing limited ES minutes on the lower lines. No one on the lower lines has been scoring so it is not difficult to be a minus player. There have been 3~4 plays that he has made that should have ended up in goals that players just flubbed.
None of the goals that he has been on the ice for have been because of his lack of defense. Last night, he was one of better forwards in his own end.
Why Mitchell gets promoted is beyond me. I thought he was mediocre last night. If Artie is out, Torts could slot Zuc with Step and Cally and see how they look.
He has been playing limited ES minutes on the lower lines. No one on the lower lines has been scoring so it is not difficult to be a minus player. There have been 3~4 plays that he has made that should have ended up in goals that players just flubbed.
How would you explain his flat +/- in the AHL despite scoring at a high clip? Are all his points on the PP?
Could clearly see it in the game vs Carolina and the game against Peguins, he cannot put the puck in the net! He is a decent playmaker but he isn’t the natural goalscorer. Those scoring chances he had against Carolina and the big chance against Peguins (late in the 3rd) he should had buried them all. No offense to Mats, but that’s not bad luck that’s lack of skill !
He can be a big star in the AHL or in a league like Russian KHL, would fit him much better. I just don’t think he has what it takes to be an NHL player. The key attribute hes missing is strength. And I can’t see how a player who has so much lack of strength can become a regular NHL player.
How would you explain his flat +/- in the AHL despite scoring at a high clip? Are all his points on the PP?
He's been one of the players with the highest TOI too, and he's been used alot defensivly there too. Stuff like that naturaly leads to him getting his share of goals against too.
I think it's baffeling that they promote Mitchell over Zuccarello though, instead of making the fourth line playable for it's purpose, they are making it totaly negatable, and I wonder how tired the top two lines are gonna be come april if they have to log 20+ mins each every match.
Can someone who actually watched him in the AHL comment on how he looked in his own zone? It's hard to believe that Torts has a vendetta against MZA when this team is struggling to score.
Can someone who actually watched him in the AHL comment on how he looked in his own zone? It's hard to believe that Torts has a vendetta against MZA when this team is struggling to score.
I did watch many, but he wasn't very noticibal on defense, meaning that he didn't do anything wrong either. He's pretty good at quick takeaways, but I can't find his statistics in this area online.
I don't think Torts have a vendetta, but he obviously don't have confidence in him when its +/- 1 goal. If it's two goals behind and he need goals, Zuccarello is on, like he were against the Pens.
I find it baffeling that he's put on the 4th line with Rupp and Scott during practice though. Should have been on the third with Mitchell and Boyle instead.
How would you explain his flat +/- in the AHL despite scoring at a high clip? Are all his points on the PP?
You cant look at things in a vacuum. For most the season Zooks was one of the highest plus minus on that Whale team. Zooks doesnt play goal nor control the other 11 guys on the ice. Brian Leetch had seasons where he had the worst minus on the Rangers team. Did that mean he was a bad player? No it meant he was a good player playing a lot of minutes on not so great defensive team.
Now Ill reverse your question can you explain how Zooks is such a horrible defensive player yet has bever had a negative plus minus?
Mitchell moved up? Lol, really?
He had two chances served on a silver platter last night and couldnt score, sure sounds like the right move to me
And just when it seemed like Torts were sort of coming to his senses, haha
Haven´t seen th latest game because of work and my lil´ son Paul-Oscar. Can somebody write me a lil´ summary about how he looked and played since his call up? Thanks guys!
Rupp with 2 assists Zuccarello With 1+2 and The Scott with 2 goals. Cant wait
