"We Need Balance": Mike Sullivan Reveals The Reasoning Behind Controversial Move With The Rangers
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Death, taxes, and Mika Zibanejad at center. These are things we always expected to see last year. This year will be no different, as Mike Sullivan's hands are tied with Vinnie Trocheck out of the lineup. He's put Zibanejad back into the 2C position, which we saw him struggle with last year. Fans aren't happy.
The New York Rangers' old status quo has re-emerged as Mike Sullivan will be placing forward Mika Zibanejad in the 2C position tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Rangers will be following up their win against the Buffalo Sabres with a road trip to PPG Paints Arena in an effort to notch another "W" on the win column.
Well, Head Coach Mike Sullivan has changed up the lineup so much it has irritated fans.
Here's his rationalization of placing Mika Zibanejad back in a position he was struggling in:
"Because I think we need balance. We need to give some of our other offensive people a center iceman that can think the game at their level and give them an opportunity to set them up for success. I feel like when we have J.T. and Mika in our top two center positions, and now we surround them with some of the people that we have that we think are gifted offensively, those two guys can think the game along those terms. So I just think the balance part of it is an important element. We feel like, when Troch was out of the lineup, it was a necessary choice to put Mika back in the middle."
Does Mika Zibanejad Belong Back In A Position He Was Struggling in?
Arguably, no. This isn't a winning argument, especially when the Rangers need Zibanejad to return to being a regular producer in the lineup.
After the Miller trade in March, we'd see Zibanejad return to form, scoring 15 points (4-11) alongside the newly-acquired forward.
Now, it seems as if the Rangers are unintentionally ready for a slide back into despondency as Vinnie Trocheck remains week-to-week.
We'll see if it is detrimental to the lineup or not tonight.
Previously on NY Rangers Insider
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 11 | 52 ANSWERS "We Need Balance": Mike Sullivan Reveals The Reasoning Behind Controversial Move With The Rangers Do you think Coach Mike Sullivan of the New York Rangers is wrong with this move of forward Mika Zibanejad? | ||
| Yes | 6 | 11.5 % |
| No | 46 | 88.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
