I watched every.....

AB Habman · Guru

I watched every.....

norskipaul · Senior Member

Kinda nice to hear someone say something good about the guy for a change...

Muller93 · Guru

Ribero. What can I say. Ab, did you not notice the numerous times that Ribero broke out from the defensive zone with the puck, only to have both his wingers blow past him and actually have to slow down before going offside?

Ribero is a gifted puck handler and has the skill to find the open man. I give him that. But he is not hard on the puck and is a weak skater. Thus he is offensively pretty useless most nights.

Do you recall the play I think in the third period where he controlled the puck in the offensive zone for about 30 seconds looking for an open man? To someone who does not understand the game, that looked impressive. But if you watch, Florida just played positional hockey and gave him nothing. He was too slow. In juniors, he would have exposed a weak player and been successful. But at this level you need speed to move the defense around and out of position. He is just slow and weak on the puck.

He will get is occassional goals and assists because he does hve puck handling skill and vision. But what it all boils down to is, he is just not a good enough second line center. Period. When the going gets even tougher in the playoffs, we cannot rely on him.

Unfortunatly, Koivu is carrying this team again. This is a long season and with Ribero as the center of our so called second scoring line...Koivu is in for a loooonnngg season.

All I can say is thank god for Higgins and Ryder because they actually make this line somewhat functional. But I wonder how long it will be before Bonk or even Plekanec center this line? I imagine Gainey, being the patient guy he is, will give Ribero a good 40-50 games before yanking him.

AB Habman · Guru

Muller, he is not a slow or terrible skater. His skating is adequate for the NHL. But nothing I can say will change your mind as you are entitled to your opinion of hatred for him. You can pick apart every scenario of the game and come up with a fault from each player such as Saks with a clear chance in the crease but couldn't fire the puck up stairs above Luongo's pads into the wide open net.

I will stick to my opinion that every player played well including Ribs. I will agree with you on the Saks comment. He played very well dispite some inefficencies to barry a few more chances but he more than made up for it.

plouf · Guru

Speaking as someone who's never had a problem with Ribeiro's attitude (I think it's good for a team to have a couple of cocky players to keep things edgy), and as someone who would like to see Ribeiro make it, I really have to strongly agree with muller93 on this one. It's not just prejudice against Ribeiro, it's watching what happens to the team when he's on the ice.

Right now he is often not in synch with his linemates and poses no real threat too much of the time. Defensively he's a nightmare. Ryder has to take some of the blame for the way the line is playing, but I think Ribeiro is more of a culprit here.

I think it comes down to skating, which can be improved with hard work (see Ryder). Nobody questions his awesome skills. It's just that he is not really able to take advantage of them right now, partly because of the fact that he can't blow by people or beat anyone one-on-one (which is the essence of what muller93 is saying) and what we need on the second line (especially if his defensive play is poor) is someone who provides a real threat.

I really do want Ribeiro to do well, but I'm not happy with his play so far.

Muller93 · Guru

Thanks for the support Plouf. As a hab fan, I wish Ribero all the best. I pull for him game after game.

I have been a avid hockey fan for a long time, not many habs games I have missed. I just get the sense that Ribero lacks all the required tools to be a useful second line center. The way I see it, you need a couple of skills in this league( Speed, size, grit, power, intensity, heart, puck handeling). Pick a couple. All Ribero has is puck handeling ability( its pretty fun to watch but ultimately a waste of time).

If this team wants to have any chance of beating Ottawa, Phili, Tampa in the playoffs. We need the following:

1. Real second line center

2. Theo, yes we need theo to be at his best

3 another d-man so we don't play Streit( although I thought he played OK against Florida).

If all of the above are addressed before the playoffs, I like Montreal to upset some big teams.

Johab · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

Ribero. What can I say. Ab, did you not notice the numerous times that Ribero broke out from the defensive zone with the puck, only to have both his wingers blow past him and actually have to slow down before going offside?

This point is terrible, im sorry Muller but this is something i just have to disagree with. Most of the time ANY wingers will blow by the center or anyone for that matter with the puck because 1) they dont have the puck, its easier to skate! you dont have the other team trying to get the puck from you, you dont have to think what your going to do with it, you dont have to keep control of the puck while moving. and 2) because wingers are suppose to get ahead of the center, drop back a bit and then make sure they are open. Forward passes are much easier than back passes and they are much more accurate. If rebeiro, or any player for that matter were to come in over the line way ahead of everyone every time, then we would be watching dump and chase hockey ALL night. I have watched EVERY game this year, with an exception to a few. But i did catch the Florida game and i have to say Rebeiro had a good game. HE regularly has good games, and he isnt THAT bad in the defensive zone. He does go back to get the puck, and he has weaved some nice passes towards Higgins and Ryder and they just havent finished.

plouf · Guru

Well obviously the centreman is often going to be a ways behind the wingers. But if wingers are having to stop at the line something is not working right. I think the point was simply that Ribeiro is either too far behind his wingers or he is easily caught by a forecheck because he's not strong on the puck and can't beat guys who barrel down on him.

He's looking better offensively lately, I agree. And he can pass.

Maybe I'm blind, but I'm seeing some awful defensive play though. Trying isn't really enough. I've watched too many whole shifts where the Ribeiro line couldn't get the puck back or out of our end.

Anyway, we're 13-3-3. So obviously things aren't that bad. Just seems to good to be true?

Muller93 · Guru

Johab. I Usually find your post very good. But I gotta say you are way off base with the speed/wingers thing. In any competive level of hockey( Juniors and up), you have to hit the offensive blueline with speed. If the wingers need to slow down to let the puck controller "catch up", you lose all mommentum entering the offensive zone. Watch either Koivu or Begin when they have the puck, they actually preceed the wingers most times. This is hockey 101 Johab.

That is why the center of all lines is typically the best skater on the line. In the defensive zone, the center plays down low while the winger play the boards. Therefore the center has to play catch up with those wingers on the turnaround. He needs to be more than just an adequate skater as AB stated. That is not sufficient.

Sorry Johab, but if the wingers slow down, then the defensmen simply hold firm on the blueline and leave no where for the puck controller to go. If the wingers hit the blueline with speed this backs the defense up because they have to eliminate a potential pass behind them. The game becomes more of a science at high levels like AHL/NHL. The defense is positional and smart. They are quick to recognize when wingers slow down and then simply eliminate the puck controller, and this is part of Ribero's problem.

Also, as plouf said, you can "try hard" defensively but so what. He gets pushed off the puck, has terrible body position and panics down low. He actually does REALLY suck defensively.

On a positive note, when his line does gain offensive zone puck position, Ribero is one of the best at finding his wingers. Real nice passes and he can score if open. My worry is, with only this to offer, he needs 80-90 points to make up for his other glaring weaknesses

-- Edited by Muller93 at 21:24, 2005-11-17

AB Habman · Guru

I'll say it again, Ribs is an adequate NHL skater. His strengths are play making, stick handling, reading plays and can put the puck in the net. He is also smart at gaining the zone. He doesn't do it with blazing speed but rather with his head up looking for the best possible way whether it's with a pass or skating it in. I prefer this method than a player cruising in with his head down into traffic and then losing the puck while his linemates are open. I noticed Ryder do this on a few occasions. Now, I'm not saying I dislike Ryder but rather that no one is perfect every time.

Jonny G · Senior Member

Like I said in a different thread, Ribs is -5. That means more harm than good is being done when he's on the ice (or in the box).

He is talented. If he's around to stay, I hope that he learns d-zone coverage.

heet_150 · Guru

Speaking of Ribero, why is he always the one sent to serve the bench penalties. That alone should send a message that CJ has more use for him in the box than on the ice.

Nil d · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

Speaking of Ribero, why is he always the one sent to serve the bench penalties. That alone should send a message that CJ has more use for him in the box than on the ice.

Or you could read into that that CJ wants him to be the first guy out of the gate when the penalty is over. I had noticed and was wondering about that myself. Barry33? Any insight?