Ribs

AB Habman · Guru

Ribs

barry33 · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

Good to see the coaches give Ribs a chance to show his skill. Let's face it..the guy is skilled and has been one of the better play makers on the club the last few years. That line will defend with offense. Let them play and be creative!

Seems like he's also out of everyones doghouse on this board. Is it out of respect for Gainey because he fooled you all by resigning hiAb- wham? How long of a leash will he have with Mulsy and Johnny?

For as hated as he has been, he has been one of our top point getters in the last few seasons. Not bad for a depth centermen.

This may be the season he establishes himself on first line. Good luck Ribs!

Ab- what choice do we have but to support him?!?? He will be centering our top line this season. Gainey was unable to land a replacement and that is the ONLY reason he is still in a habs uniform. That is why BG "fooled everyone by re-signing him". Gainey himself has called Ribs an "experiment". Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Let's be realistic here. As far as "giving him a chance", how many chances does the guy deserve? He has loafed and dived his way through his time in Montreal and now has finally clued in to the fact that this is it.

I stated before. A fire hydrant should be able to score 20 goals playing between the likes of Samsonov and Kovalev so why would Ribs NOT be better this season? His stats will automatically be better. That is a given. Where I want to see improvement is in his effort defensively and his willingness to take a hit and go in the corners to get the job done. I want to see him pay the price! If he does that I will begin to respetc him more.

JohnM · Guru

His leash is very short. He needs to come up with a big season between Samsonov and Kovy. I am sure if he pulls his usual crap he will be easily replaced on that line.

Having said that, the season hasn't started yet and he is a Hab so right now he has my full support.

Power · Veteran Member

AB Habman wrote:

Good to see the coaches give Ribs a chance to show his skill. Let's face it..the guy is skilled and has been one of the better play makers on the club the last few years. That line will defend with offense. Let them play and be creative!

Seems like he's also out of everyones doghouse on this board. Is it out of respect for Gainey because he fooled you all by resigning him? How long of a leash will he have with Mulsy and Johnny?

This may be the season he establishes himself on first line. Good luck Ribs!

No I think that everyone on here wait until season starts and looks how he manages to do his job, not like you and especially ando who have been bashing and condemning saks and his doing in off season, last season and forthcoming season for last couple weeks or so.

Ribs has been flabby, soft and he has never helped D in his life, these facts say that he has not been right man for first line. I hope also that he has grown up and he can be the man that everyone hopes that he can be. A solid first line center what this team has been missing for so long. With those wingers it should be easy to have 20-30 points more than Saks, or bye bye Ribs.

barry33 · Guru

Well put Power. But I am also expecting bigger and better things out of our Captain this year. Ryder and Higgins will be better wingers for him this year and if Carbo is able to give Koivu some rest on the second line, I feel it will actually increase his point production. Boy if we can get more production out of Ribs AND Koivu, we will turn a few heads!

plouf · Guru

If all goes well, the Russian boys Kovalev and Samsonov will be a happy pair, and this can only be good for Ribeiro's stats. But stats aren't the whole story. Ribeiro was arguably playing the best hockey of his life in the second half of last season, and he wasn't putting up great numbers at all. I agree with Barry. We want to see a more complete hockey player. I hear Ribeiro has worked on his skating. That's a good thing. I actually LIKE his loopy antics on the ice (up to a point), because every team needs a rat who gets under the opposition's skin.

As for Koivu-Higgins-Ryder. In theory this is a really good second line. Koivu and Higgins seem to have chemistry and Higgins was one of the best Habs last year; I'm looking for Ryder to bounce back with 35 goals and better all around play; and Koivu is definitely best suited as a second-line centre with less checking attention and less minutes (although I still hope to see him on the half-boards on the power play, where he's a force).

Even the third line looks interesting: Perezhogin, Plekanec, Johnson.

AB Habman · Guru

barry33 wrote A fire hydrant should be able to score 20 goals playing between the likes of Samsonov and Kovalev so why would Ribs NOT be better this season?

Then why isn't Saks in between them? Chemistry has alot to do with it also! Sometimes it's harder to play between two talented but unpredictable players. I can see Ribs gaining the blue line..passing it off and not getting it back even if he placed himself in a scoring position. They just may not feel like sharing. Samy like Kovy can be a puck hog on any given night.

Since Ribs isn't really known as a goal scorer but a passer...I'd say if he racks up the assists, he is doing his job.

plouf · Guru

Having Koivu and Kovalev on different lines is a good idea in my opinion. Koivu seems to have chemistry with the young guys, and Kovalev is best when he has the puck a lot (I'm not sure chemistry is something Kovalev really has ever had with anyone). Ribeiro understands he is second banana with Kovy, and so he concentrates more on defense than he would on line that he might feel he has to carry. And it gives us two credible lines.

barry33 · Guru

AB Habman wrote:

barry33 wrote A fire hydrant should be able to score 20 goals playing between the likes of Samsonov and Kovalev so why would Ribs NOT be better this season?

Then why isn't Saks in between them? Chemistry has alot to do with it also! Sometimes it's harder to play between two talented but unpredictable players. I can see Ribs gaining the blue line..passing it off and not getting it back even if he placed himself in a scoring position. They just may not feel like sharing. Samy like Kovy can be a puck hog on any given night.

Since Ribs isn't really known as a goal scorer but a passer...I'd say if he racks up the assists, he is doing his job.

One thing you also need to remember. Ribs stated last year..and I quote " I do not feel comfortable having to play against the other teams' checking lines. I would rather not"

Guess what Mike? Playing on a line with Kovalev and Samsonov who do you think the opposition will put out against you? Suck it up an dget used to it.

AB Habman · Guru

barry33 wrote:

AB Habman wrote:

barry33 wrote A fire hydrant should be able to score 20 goals playing between the likes of Samsonov and Kovalev so why would Ribs NOT be better this season?

Then why isn't Saks in between them? Chemistry has alot to do with it also! Sometimes it's harder to play between two talented but unpredictable players. I can see Ribs gaining the blue line..passing it off and not getting it back even if he placed himself in a scoring position. They just may not feel like sharing. Samy like Kovy can be a puck hog on any given night.

Since Ribs isn't really known as a goal scorer but a passer...I'd say if he racks up the assists, he is doing his job.

One thing you also need to remember. Ribs stated last year..and I quote " I do not feel comfortable having to play against the other teams' checking lines. I would rather not"

Guess what Mike? Playing on a line with Kovalev and Samsonov who do you think the opposition will put out against you? Suck it up an dget used to it.

Good thought Barry. I hope Saks takes advantage of this and less ice time to produce more consistantly and carry more energy into all the games. So in effect this could also be why Gainey felt he had no choice but to sign Ribs. He's the only center that has the potential to take the load off Saks.

Man, is that big hole down the middle been a losing battle for Gainey!

JohnM · Guru

"Centre Mike Ribeiro didn't appear to be on the same page as his wingers, Samsonov and Alex Kovalev. Ribeiro took skating lessons during the offseason to improve his speed, but he seemed to be a step behind.

The idea going into training camp called for Ribeiro to use his playmaking skills to get the puck to his talented linemates, but as time wound down last night, Ribeiro had four shots on net, Kovalev one and Samsonov one."

Uh-oh, could be a long season for Ribs.

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

"Centre Mike Ribeiro didn't appear to be on the same page as his wingers, Samsonov and Alex Kovalev. Ribeiro took skating lessons during the offseason to improve his speed, but he seemed to be a step behind.

The idea going into training camp called for Ribeiro to use his playmaking skills to get the puck to his talented linemates, but as time wound down last night, Ribeiro had four shots on net, Kovalev one and Samsonov one."

Uh-oh, could be a long season for Ribs.

Johnny- what worries me about that line is this..you have THREE guys who are in love with the puck. BG talked about Ribs' playmaking skills. I do not see it. I see a guy who wants to keep the puck and do it all. I think Saks, who is much less puck-selfish, may be a better fit on that line.

JohnM · Guru

That leads me to my next question Barry... When 10 games have gone by and if Ribs still isn't gelling, then you may have to put Saku on that line. At that point we would be a one line team again... What do we do then?

heet_150 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

That leads me to my next question Barry... When 10 games have gone by and if Ribs still isn't gelling, then you may have to put Saku on that line. At that point we would be a one line team again... What do we do then?

We have seen that the Habs have some young talent, so why not try a Samsonov-Perezhogin-Kovalev line and relegate Ribiero to the third line?

I am, however, ever hopeful that this is the year that Ribiero becomes part of the team, and we won't need GC to make a decision like this.

barry33 · Guru

JohnM wrote:

That leads me to my next question Barry... When 10 games have gone by and if Ribs still isn't gelling, then you may have to put Saku on that line. At that point we would be a one line team again... What do we do then?

BG continues his quest for another center and we pray lol

heet_150 · Guru

barry33 wrote:

BG continues his quest for another center and we pray lol

You know Barry, all kidding aside, if you look at the Habs' lineup, there is a fair amount of talent on the wings. I am hoping that BG can put together something marketable and get a center. I don't wan't to say who I would like to see traded, as I don't want any of these guys to go, but hockey is hockey and I want to see the Habs improve their chances.

barry33 · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

barry33 wrote:

BG continues his quest for another center and we pray lol

You know Barry, all kidding aside, if you look at the Habs' lineup, there is a fair amount of talent on the wings. I am hoping that BG can put together something marketable and get a center. I don't wan't to say who I would like to see traded, as I don't want any of these guys to go, but hockey is hockey and I want to see the Habs improve their chances.

In all fairness to Ribs, I dont think we should panic because of 2 games. These are 2 pretty talented guys he is now playing with and, although he would never admit it, I am betting he is a tad intimidated out there. But I agree with you. I think Souray or Markov and a winger will be gone sometime this season for a number one center. It needs to be done.

Fatherhab · Senior Member

The problem I see with this Combo right now is no one will go to the net, lots of fancy play but we need someone to to the net. Months ago, I suggest that we try Higgins at centre, he has size, skating ability and isn't afraid to go to the net or corners for that matter, Carbo needs to experiment

plouf · Guru

Or why not Bonk?

He is defensively responsible, is willing to take punishment (even if he doesn't dish out much), and he's got some skills even if his goal-scoring touch has deserted him. And can he really be much slower than Ribeiro?

steevo · Member

just a thought ....showcase for month or 2 then trade and use higgins or chip in his spot and we will all have a merry xmas .....again just a thought

heet_150 · Guru

plouf wrote:

Or why not Bonk?

He is defensively responsible, is willing to take punishment (even if he doesn't dish out much), and he's got some skills even if his goal-scoring touch has deserted him. And can he really be much slower than Ribeiro?

With the exception of Ando, I don't think anyone else here admits to being a fan of Bonk as I have. However, I seem to recall Bonk looking very out of place replacing Koivu in the playoffs. Put him between two very quick guys like Kovalev and Samsonov, and I think he'll make Ribiero look like Mike Gartner.