The advertisement on Mike Ribeiro is that he is a strong player, and he makes teammates around him better.
Observers point to Ribeiro’s playmaking ability, his penchant for finding players in the right spot at the right time and his knack for not making a bad pass as attributes any team would cherish.
When talks this past summer between Ribeiro and the Washington Capitals, the team for which he played in 2012-13, broke down, he quickly picked up the phone and dialed on old friend.
It’s likely Ribeiro had Phoenix coach Dave Tippett on his speed dial because Ribeiro immediately reached out to his old coach. The two had a history in Dallas when Tippett coached the Stars, and Ribeiro was his main playmaker. The two eventually parted ways, but Ribeiro kept Tippett on his radar screen.
To recognize Ribeiro’s talent level and in the hopes of building a respectable power play, Tippett immediately answered the phone. Quickly, Phoenix general manager Don Maloney produced a four-year, $22 million contract, according to CapGeek.com. Ribeiro instantly signed and repaired to the desert.
At just past the one-quarter mark of the season, Rib ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Mark Brown
How Mike Ribeiro Has Ignited the Phoenix Coyotes Power Play in 2013-14
December 10th, 2013 by Mark Brown Leave a reply »
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