For Nashville Predators fans, there are officially 63 days left until the puck drops in Smashville!
Nashville Predators fans keep inching closer to the start of the 2016-17 NHL season. Today lets look at our #63 Mike Ribeiro.
Michael Tavares Ribeiro began his professional career playing with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the QMJHL. Ribs spent two fabulous seasons with the Huskies helping to find the net on more than a few occasions. Mike helped the offense find the net 292 (107g-185a) times in the 136 games he played. His offensive awareness landed him in his hometown of Montreal with the 45th pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
Even though Mike was everything you needed in a top line center, he bounced back-in-forth from the AHL to the NHL between 1999-2006. Ribeiro was never able to get the wheels turning in Montreal as he only played in 284 of the possible 492 games that were played during his time as a Canadien. Just as Mike was turning his bad fortunes around in Montreal, he found himself traded to the Dallas Stars only weeks before the 2006-07 season.
With only one year on his contract in Dallas, Ribeiro made the most of it by leading the team in points (59) which helped him land another contract with the Stars. Everything seemed to click while in Dallas as he went on to have a career high in goals (27), assists (56), and points (83) during the 2007-08 season.
Even though he lit the lamp for the Stars, he was still criticized for his lack of toughness by the Stars fans and media. Therefore, during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Ribeiro was traded to the Washington Capitals for Cody Eakin.
Mike only spent one season with the Capitals playing alongside Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom and averaged a point-per-game by scoring 49 points in 48 games.
Seeking a long-term deal, the Caps allowed Ribs to become an unrestricted free agent where he was reunited with his former coach, David Tippett in Glendale, Arizona with the Phoenix Coyotes. Ribeiro signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Coyotes but only lasted one season in Phoenix. After the 2013-14 NHL season, which was the worst statistical season for Ribs, the Coyotes bought-out his contract due to behavioural issues related to alcohol use.
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Weeks after being bought-out in Phoenix, Ribeiro signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Nashville Predators.
During his first season in Smashville, Ribeiro helped lead the Predators to the playoffs alongside then rookie Filip Forsberg and veteran James Neal. To avoid free agency, Ribs signed a two-year, $7 million extension in Nashville. Even though he finished second in scoring in his first season with the Preds, his second season was one to forget, especially towards the end.
When the Nashville Predators acquired Ryan Johansen from Columbus, Ribs dropped to the second line with Craig Smith and Forsberg. The second line tandem led Nashville in scoring and to the second round of the NHL playoffs. Once the playoffs hit, Ribeiro seemed a stride slower than everyone else on the ice. Frustration from the front office, media, and fans led to Ribeiro being benched in the playoffs for rookie Pontus Aberg.
2016-17 is an extremely important season for Mike Ribeiro. Not only is it important for his safety on the Predators roster, it’s important that he proves that his career is alive. The Predators are a stacked team next season and Ribeiro’s offensive awareness is key for a long April playoff run.
Next: Is One Preds Trade Better?
Stay tuned to Predlines as we continue our jersey countdown until the puck drops in 63 days in Smashville against the Chicago Blackhawks.