Washington Capitals happy with Mike Ribeiro, see him as solution to problems -NHL Update
Mike Ribeiro is definitely one of the most misunderstood and underrated players in the National Hockey League (NHL), but the Washington Capitals seem to have struck gold with their recent statements after having acquired the veteran centre.
Washington Capitals general manager, George McPhee, is delighted to have found a solution to their second line woes and hope to fixate Ribeiro in the second shift centre spot to provide a more physical and offensive depth to their game play.
"We have flexibility now," McPhee said. "You can move [Laich] in and out, center or wing, Johansson center or wing and Perreault and [Jay] Beagle center or wing. I like having that flexibility depending on how your team is playing, or who you're playing
against... Ribeiro brings us some real good playmaking and hockey sense."
With the loss of a number of players like Dennis Wideman and Alexander Semin over this year’s free agency and the probability of defenseman, Mike Green, not making a comeback with Washington, the Capitals are looking to adapt with what they currently have.
As Dallas Stars struggled, they were obviously looking for a chance as well after the Texas based team missed the playoffs after a lukewarm run during the 2011-2012 NHL regular season.
"I kind of knew I was probably going to get traded, I just didn't know where," Ribeiro said. "We changed coaches twice and we didn't make the playoffs the last four years so you figure that the next thing they may do is trade the top salary or the top player,
so I was waiting for it."
The 32-year-old has one-year to prove to Washington Capitals that he is what they have been needing all along. With next season being his last on a five-year, $25 million contract, Capitals are giving him $5 million and hope to re-sign him after the veteran
becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2013.
Mike Ribeiro was drafted as the 45th overall back in round-two of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by Montreal Canadiens. He has 63 points (18 goals, 45 assists) in 74 games played.
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