Luso Canadians Mike Ribeiro, John Tavares & Justin Azevedo - TalkSoccer

**jec1** · 13-12-2007, 11:13 PM

Mike is arguably our best luso-hockey player in the NHL right now. 13 goals, 14 assists, a total of 27 pts! Last season was his best, achieving 59 pts in 81 games. I think being traded was the best move for his career. He even made the FHM top hot forwards list. With dallas, he is improving in many ways.... looks like it's the right system cause he's a speedy winger and they play an open game.

Soon, John tavares will be the next portuguese star to make the big leagues. He already is vying for a spot with the canadian juniors in the christmas classic showdown. All he has to do is improve his skating but it seems this year, JT is working on other parts of his game. The kid is having another fantastic year.

**jec1** · 13-12-2007, 11:15 PM

What a pass!

TalkSoccer Media Player

**Frank Cunha** · 14-12-2007, 12:56 AM

the more the better, let me see if I got any rep's to give you

**jec1** · 22-12-2007, 07:33 AM

Mike is on fire, scored two goals last night.... Including the OT winner which gives him 18 goals on the season.

Why did the Habs let him go?

**Frank Cunha** · 24-12-2007, 01:32 AM

is this his best season?

**jec1** · 24-12-2007, 08:27 PM

^^ Yes, he scored a goal and added two assists last night.... he's like ronaldo, an important figure on this team, without ribeiro, they suck!

19 goals, 20 Assists -- he's almost surpassing his breakout season last year.

Check out his stats!

Mike Ribeiro - Dallas Stars - NHL - Yahoo! Sports

**jec1** · 24-12-2007, 08:30 PM

CBS, Ribeiro sticks it to his former team

Dallas Stars, Mike Ribeiro, Brenden Morrow, Antti Miettinen, National Hockey League, Montreal Canadiens - CBSSports.com

Jager must be pissed

**jec1** · 24-12-2007, 08:39 PM

Article by Pierre Labrun

The 27-year-old Montreal native hit the Christmas holiday with 39 points (19-20) in 34 games on pace for a career-high 94 points this season. He's a bargain at US$2.8 million for sure. But a raise is coming.

Ribeiro is slated for unrestricted free agency July 1, but before fans of other NHL teams can start licking their lips, sources tell Sportsnet.ca that contract talks are already under way between the Stars and the Ribeiro camp. Word is a deal should be done well before the end of the season.

Why not stay in Dallas if you're Ribeiro? The Stars gave him a chance to become a No. 1 centre and the go-to offensive guy. He never got that chance in Montreal with captain Saku Koivu standing the way.

Might be worth remembering who is responsible for stealing him from the Habs. That would be Doug Armstrong, fired as Stars GM earlier this season. Armstrong got Ribeiro from Montreal on Sept. 30, 2006, as well as the Habs' sixth-round draft choice in 2008 in exchange for defenceman Janne Niinimaa and a fifth-round pick in 2007. Niinimaa is now playing in Davos, Switzerland, after a mediocre stint with the Habs last season.

In defence of Habs' GM Bob Gainey, I highly doubt Ribeiro would have ever blossomed this way in Montreal. There were off-ice distractions in Ribeiro's hometown and the move to Dallas allowed him to focus more on his craft.

Quote:

"Maturity comes into play," Ribeiro told me in a November interview. "When I was younger I was thinking less about training then I'm doing now. I'm in better shape than I was before. I also know the game better, too, and playing with confidence

."

Ribeiro is on fire and so is his team. The Stars are second in the Western Conference with 46 points (21-12-4). It's the same team the fired Armstrong put together. In fact, only Detroit and Ottawa have gathered more regular-season points in the standings since the beginning of the 2002-03 than the Stars during that period.

**Frank Cunha** · 24-12-2007, 08:46 PM

how old is Ribeiro?

by the way let me know when he plays on national tv

**jec1** · 24-12-2007, 08:52 PM

He's 27 year old. I think dallas is a perfect system for him. When he was in montreal, it was different circumstances. Being from montreal, the pressure got to him -- he didn't fair well, struggled.

With dallas, he has a chance to be the # 1 centre. When he plays against NJ Devils, you can see him play. So smooth, great stick handling and a good passer as you can see last night's goal was a beauty, mind you.... he beat carey price, who's a good young keeper stick high.

**Frank Cunha** · 24-12-2007, 08:54 PM

I'm going to forward this information to my son Frank, he get's tickets for the devils games

**jec1** · 24-12-2007, 08:58 PM

Here's the video.... #63 is his jersey!

Video Highlights, Interviews, Stories - sportsnet.ca

The sports caster "You remember me"

**Frank Cunha** · 24-12-2007, 09:05 PM

Bob Orr he was the great defender the could put the puck in the net, for the Boston Bruins

**jec1** · 24-12-2007, 09:09 PM

Yes, Hockey & Soccer are both similar. You got your back line, forwards and a keeper.... Hockey is more violent but the fans are neutral. I remember a fan jumping over the boards to fight with a tie domi he instigated the mess, bad move on his part. Much like the NFL, injuries will come and go.

I love it! fast, skillful and passing.... Should their be fighting in the NHL? people say it's part of the game. Just last week, I saw a brutal fight.... the guy got knocked out.

**Frank Cunha** · 24-12-2007, 09:26 PM

you can vote for Mike Ribeiro
http://www.talksoccer.net/forum/port...lete-year.html