Stars Acquire Ribeiro from Montreal for Niinimaa

[VodkaFish]

FRISCO, Tex. – Dallas Stars General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today that the club has acquired center Mike Ribeiro and a sixth round pick in 2008 from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Janne Niinimaa and a fifth round selection in 2007.

“Mike is a skilled playmaker that will provide offense to our group both five-on-five and on the power play,” said Armstrong. “We are glad to have him in Dallas as we head into regular season play next week.”

Ribeiro, 26, appeared in 79 games with Montreal last season, recording 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points with 36 penalty minutes. Among team leaders, he ranked third in power play goals (8), fourth in assists and fourth in points. He also played in all six playoff games with the Canadiens last year, collecting two assists.

The 6-0, 175-pound center registered his best offensive NHL season with Montreal in 2003-04 when he notched 20 goals and 45 assists for 65 points with a +15 rating in 81 games. During the ’03-04 season, Ribeiro led Montreal in points, assists, was second in game-winning goals (5), tied for second in plus/minus and in power play goals (7), and was third in goals. In 11 post-season outings with Montreal in 2004, he tallied two goals and one assist for three points with 18 penalty minutes.

Montreal’s second round draft selection (45th overall) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Ribeiro has appeared in 276 career NHL games and collected 50 goals and 103 assists for 153 points with 21 power play goals and 92 penalty minutes. The Montreal, Quebec native played in the 2001-02 NHL YoungStars game during the NHL All-Star Weekend, registering four points (1-3-4).

During two seasons (1997 – 1999) in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Ribeiro registered 107 goals and 185 assists for 292 points in 136 games. He led the league in ’97-98 in assists (85) and in ’98-99 in goals (67), assists (100) and points (167).

Niinimaa, 31, will be playing in his 10th season in the National Hockey League. In 700 career regular season games, the 6’1’’, 220-pound defenseman scored 54 goals and added 262 assists for a total of 316 points. He registered 697 penalty minutes and posted a plus/minus rating of +56. In the playoffs, Niinimaa took part in 59 games, collecting 24 points, including three goals, and 60 penalty minutes.

Niinimaa, a native of Raahe, Finland, started the 2005-06 season with the New York Islanders, for which he recorded 10 points, including one goal, and 62 penalty minutes in 41 games. On January 10, 2006, he was traded to the Dallas Stars, along with a 5th round pick in 2007, in return for John Erskine and a 2nd round pick in 2006. With the Stars, he registered six points, including two goals, and 24 penalty minutes in 22 games.

Selected in the 2nd round (36th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1993, Niinimaa played for the Flyers from 1996 through 1998. During his first season with the Flyers, he had 40 assists, a career-high. On March 24, 1998, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Dan McGillis and a 2nd round pick in 1998. With the Oilers, he had career-best 46 points and 12 goals, in 82 games.

[paint huffer]

With so many tough guys in the Pacific division, if Ribeiro trys pulling any of his crap we can hope he'll have to answer to any one of a bunch of very tough men he'll be playing against quite often. But then again, the Northeast division is no slouch when it comes to toughness and Ribeiro thrived there. Still, here's to hoping!

[Thrillhouse]

Bruins fans around the world are shedding a tear.

[Isles4life]

Well, Ribeiro's a piece of garbage. Can't say I'm sad to have to see less of him because he never does actually get his *ss kicked even though he deserves. But did Montreal really need to get Niinimaa? The guy absolutely sucks. There are defensemen being released each day that are just as effective as him and a lot cheaper.

[Blouin]

Dallas wins this trade. Getting a 51 point scorer for an average D-man

[BGDDYKWL]

I don't know much about Ribeiro, and don't watch the Habs terribly often, but judging by the numbers he's put up the past two seasons, this is an absolute steal for the Stars. You get rid of a guy who has been getting worse since 2001, and was terrible last year, bring in a 50-60+ point forward, and you save over a million dollars.

[canuck2]

Great trade for montreal for getting rid of this windbag. I didnt think we could get a bag of pucks for this guy. Niinimaa is a good risk. At least he has a sack.

[forsberg21]

that was a horrible trade for montreal. Ribeiro is a 1st line guy in a year or 2. Niinimaa isnt all that great.

[Unforgiven]

I hate Ribeiro. A lot. But we could have got more for him. We need to get someone with some offensive talent and he was the perfect bargaining chip. With our current lineup of Defensemen, I don't see any room for Niinimaa. Why trade away a second line center who puts up 50 points, for a 5th defensemen?

Mind you, we also traded a Vezina/Hart winner for a goaltender who is going to spend the vast majority of his career in the minors, too. I hope Gainey chokes.

[BM24]

I absolutely hate Ribeiro as I am sure most on this board do, but he is more valuable than Niinimaa.

Good trade for Dallas.

[yatyas]

Can anyone tell me why he is so hated? I know nothing about this guy.

[KolMartin229]

Originally Posted by yatyas

Can anyone tell me why he is so hated? I know nothing about this guy.

Pretty big diver, as he showed that one year in the playoffs..

[HordiBrusk29]

I don't like either player but Dallas definitely wins this trade hands down. Although I guess it's better having Niinimmaa on the big club rather than Traverse.

[Colt Seavers]

Originally Posted by canuck2

Great trade for montreal for getting rid of this windbag. I didnt think we could get a bag of pucks for this guy. Niinimaa is a good risk. At least he has a sack.

Dallas just picked up a new groupie in Canuck2! Ribeiro sfan club prez!!! And you like-Aaron Downey also,right?

[NJDevils17]

i think dallas definitley won that trade. niinimaa wasn't all that good last year and took a lot of minor penalties while he was an islander. if this trade was made back when niinimaa was on the oilers, i would have said it would be even, but mike ribiero is a good player. the stars are now loaded at center with modano, lindros, ribiero, halpern, stefan. the only question is, who will be on the 2nd line?