It's Mika's own fault that he's become a lightning rod for controversy.
It's Mika's own fault that the best he could do with his obese contract last season was to emerge with a disgusting MINUS-24 in the Plus-Minus ratings. (And Matt Rempe is Plus-6! Egad, what a cad!)
And it's also Mika's fault that he demanded – and got – a no-trade clause in his stunningly imbalanced contract.
Keen students of Rangerography keep slurping the noodles in their soup trying to figure out what to do with Mika other than pray – that he re-finds his game at age 32.
Rangerographer Larry (Master Blaster) Hirsch, who knows from A to Z, is as confused as anyone over Z
"If – as it appears – Mika would rather be a second-line winger, that tells me the big-salaried player doesn't want the responsibility that goes with a number one center," says Blaster.
"It also seems as if the Garden brass is treating him with kid gloves, as if he's a latter-day Wayne Gretzky."
What this means is that the one-on-ones new coach Mike Sullivan has had with Mika will only bear fruit in season if The Z man realizes that backchecking is not going out of style with rock 'n roll and plain lox.
Like others, Hirsch says "Trade Him" but that crippling contract clause makes it harder to move him than a Sixth Avenue taxi a day before Chrstmas.
"Since they can't trade him," Blaster said. "Sullivan may have to deal with the possibility that Zibanejad will be a distraction in the room, especially with the younger players."
How Can The Rangers Get More Out Of Mika Zibanejad?
It's Friday, folks, and you all know what that means; it's Ask The Maven time. Today's question is from Hal Cringe of Mahwah. (Take it away, Hal.)
Maybe yes, maybe no. Like Z among the players, Sully is one of the highest-paid in the coaching biz; so let's see if he can earn his dough and turn Mika into a shiny sedan in The Used Player Lot.
"And I say," Hirsch concludes, "give Sully a chance to coach the players and team in his image as coach without being a baby-sitter."
But the baby is sitting in the corner counting his moolah! And thinking like The Maven's Mad Magazine idol Alfred E. Newman.
"What? Me Worry?" No way, Jose!