Somewhere around the middle of last season, or the end, Rangers fans started booing Marek Malik. For awhile, I actually agreed with these fans. I mean the guys 6'6", doesn't hit, is amazingly slow, and had an odd knock for goals going into our own net off of his stick. But, when you analyze his play more, he really does not deserve the harsh treatment he's been getting.
In his last 4 seasons, Malik has a combined plus/minus of +118. For two of those seasons, Malik was a member of the Rangers. During those two seasons Malik went +60. Now, while I think plus/minus is a somewhat bogus stat, to play down a +118 is like playing down the fact that a guy scored 40 goals because he had 25 minutes of ice time a game. Either way, he still scored 40 goals. And, either way, Malik has somehow managed to be on the ice for A LOT more goals for than goals against.
Now if you're a Ranger fan (one that hates Malik) you're probably thinking to yourself, 'Well being on Jagr's favored defensive pair sure helped him'. Somewhat true. But you've got to give the guy credit. Take a look at this website:
Malik's stats there do all the talking. Look at Rank #19 and then #161, Malik's defensive partner. Now, for most of the year, these two were on the same line. Malik was injured though, and missed 13 games. I can't say whether most of that differential comes from that 13 game differential or not, but it's likely that a decent amount of it did. Malik, with the help of Roszival, created the Rangers best defensive pair last year. Sure the occaisonal goal DID deflect off of his stick into the net, but he was easily the most steady defenseman.
This year, on opening night, when announcing the rosters, Marek Malik's name was met with a harsh chorus of "Boo's". He went on to record 3 assists. He received a decent amount of cheers when announced as a star of the game, which made me think that maybe, just maybe, Ranger fans would come around. But it was not to be. This time it actually was his fault. He played bad enough to receive a benching from Tom Renney. Since back though, he's played fantastically. In 5 games the only goal against he's been on the ice for was the Penguins powerplay goal where he kept Malkin's stick from moving in the slightest but Whitney's pass had so much power that it just deflected off of it and in. Malkin himself said that Lundqvist should have stopped that shot and that Malik defended him perfectly. He was also on, if you can count it, for Lecavalier's penalty shot goal as the victim of the "hook" that led to the penalty shot.
Earlier I mentioned the small facts that the guy is 6'6", doesn't hit, is very slow, and has the odd knack for having pucks go in the wrong net off of his own stick. The latter can't be helped. But, what he lacks in hitting ability and speed, he makes up for with great positioning. And while it looks like he's lumbering along with that big 6'6" frame, he's really not. But the more fickle Ranger fans look at Malik and think that he should be crushing people into the boards with his size. When he doesn't, booing seems to ensue.
Yet the boo's still rain on, and I'm at a loss as for why. Is it because Ranger fans are so bitter that they need to hate at least one member of their team at all times? When this poor guy makes a mistake, Ranger fans catch it and boo the guy mercilessly for it. When, say, Marc Staal makes a mistake, they just gloss right over it. I've always thought Ranger fans were fairly intelligent, but when I hear fans telling Malik to "get off the ice and go kill himself" I seriously start to question this assessment. I've always been of the idea that, as a fan, you should cheer your team, the entire team, regardless of like or dislike. It honestly disgusts me to be a Ranger fan when I hear boos, or worse yet people telling Malik to kill himself whenever he has possession of the puck.
I should probably start talking about things other than the Rangers, but sometimes Ranger fans really do annoy me.
Plain and simple really. New York fans need a whipping boy, be it deserved or not. When Poti left I wondered who the next whipping boy would be. The fans chose Malik. Now don't get me wrong, I do wish he would throw that big body of his around some, but as you mentioned, he is usually in position and the +/- speaks for itself. His +/- numbers were good before he came to the Rangers as well. The nay sayers then claim that the +/- stat means nothing. As if the NHL and all its associates are wasting their time keeping track of this stat. "Funny" how people that have no influence upon the league somehow know more than all those on the payroll. Don't let the idiots that spew that nonsense affect your conclusions about the fan base as a whole. There are plenty of smart Ranger fans out there. Just as there is for every team in every sport as well. The one thing they all have in common is the stupid fan, who unfortunately out number the smarter variety. You are not alone in being one who gets annoyed at his own fan base. I have that problem with all three teams I support. In my case tho, baseball is the most annoying bunch of them all...
Whatever... Malik deserves the boos he gets. People go over the line w/ the death threats and such, but it doesn't change the fact that he still stinks. Renney benched him for his brain farts already this season. The only reason why he's still part of the #1 paring is cause we currently have no one better to replace him night in and night out. That's not because of his greatness, but rather the Rangers lack of depth on the blue line. He's a decent, and I stress decent, defenseman at best.
Like Steveo318 stated, he was hated in Carolina too. What's the common denominator? MALIK.
I don't care what anyone says. Nobody was booing when he scored that goal in the shootout last year. I hate the what have you done for me lately mentality but such is sports.
He's just a scapegoat for Ranger fans who just HAVE to hate someone. At least Poti deserved it. Care to explain why you think Malik stinks? I think he's great position wise, has a long reach, and makes good passes out of the zone(better than any other D-man on this team at least). However he is prone to the occaisonal mental lapse and goal in his own net off his stick. Besides, he isn't the only person on this team who has brain farts. Roszival has been way worse this year. Why hasn't he been booed? And you're right we don't have anyone to replace Malik who, on a normal team would be a 4 or 5 defenseman. If he does "stink" it's because he's been thrust into a role he should not have been thrust into. Still, even though he's playing the role of first pair defenseman without the accompanying talent, he has performed exceptionally well. +60 in 2 years is great no matter who it is. Lidstrom is +61 in the same span. Chris Pronger is +29. I'm not saying Malik is as good as, or better, than either of these two, but I am saying that he's played well and Ranger fans won't recognize that. I'm thoroughly convinced that there is nothing that Malik can do to stop the booing. Anything short of the game-winning goal in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals would not appease some of these fans.
Steveo,
I had no idea he was hated there too. Any reasons why?
Last edited by nyrangerfan818 on November 1st at 12:44 PM.
It's just tradition. There's always some defenseman we have to boo, at all times, regardless of how he plays. It's why we booed Chad Pennington, too, and then cheered when he was injured.
Just because Malik though to make that circus move goal in the shoot out, doesnt mean he was the savior of 2 years past. Since then his play has fallen. He was one of the reasons why Buffalo got a leg up on us, with bone head plays like no-look back pass up the ice to a Saber etc., he NEVER uses his size i.e. Malkin a few games ago, and lumbers around like Frankenstein's monster in skates. I have to give the guy credit where credit is due, he has been playing better the last few games.
You want a whipping boy - Lets start booing Gomez. $10 million dollars for 4 points? Hmmmm something to think about...
The goal in the shootout against Washington was awesome! Not many defensemen have that skill with the puck. Let’s not forget that size doesn’t translate into an aggressive defenseman. It’s all about style. He is more of a heads up and finesse player (hence the famous goal), than an aggressive smash mouth type player. I think the NY fans are hard to please, but recently have become frustrated due to money badly spent on recent acquisition that have yet to be fruitful. Having said that, patience is running low and Malik has been a target due to his untimely poor play. Just like heroes turn into zeros overnight, Malik may be in a great position to be loved by the New York fans again once this team really starts gelling. My opinion!
Sorry you feel "Ranger" fans sometimes annoy you. Go watch a game at the Colliseum, plenty of empty seats there to not annoy you. In reference to your blog, Malik does suck and deserves every second of booing. Funny, he was out last night against the Devils, "D" didn't suffer for a nano second, in fact looked so much better. Rant all you want about it +/- RATING, he sucks. Didn't know you were suppose to play defense with your stick and not your body. He sucks and so does your blog, become an Islander fan please and go away (you probably secretly are) enjoy your fishsticks!!
Last edited by nyrMike59 on November 4th at 6:44 AM.
every player will make mistakes from time to time if rangers fans want to boo the should boo the hole team with the exeption of lunqvist whos kept them in every game,but wheres jagr, gomez, and drury. why arent they getting booed. heres a fact for ya rangers have the lowest goals against in the nhl and there at .500 so whats that tell you. I'd say your problem isnt on defence.arent you glad you spent all that money on gomez and drury.
nyrmike59
your an #### you finally have team worth cheering for at least for now so do everyone a favor and shut the "F" up
Last edited by Devils4 on November 4th at 11:01 AM.
I would actually feel humbled if you made a real argument or insulted me in an intelligent way. But you didn't, so say what you want, I don't care.
I guess the fact that the Devils goal was COMPLETELY Strudwick's fault doesn't mean that we missed Malik? And I guess you missed Strudwick not even being able to pass the puck to a guy 15 feet away every single time? Or the other opportunities they created when he was completely useless on D? Any intelligent Ranger fan that could see some form of reason would have realized this during that game.
And Mike, I guess Dan Girardi is a pathetic excuse for a defenseman too? After all, he uses his stick way more than his body too. Let's completely ignore the fact that he's the best defenseman on our team. He doesn't use his body as much as his stick, so he's useless I guess, eh?
Thanks Devils4, and you're completely correct. No one has performed up to expectations on the Rangers this year except Lundqvist and Dawes (since he's coming back). Drury and Gomez will come around though. Gomez with Prucha looked really promising yesterday.
Last edited by nyrangerfan818 on November 4th at 9:07 PM.
