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Ribeiro’s ‘behavioral issues’ led to buyout, says Maloney

MikeRibeiro

It didn’t take long for questions to be answered about the Mike Ribeiro buyout in Arizona.

“Mike had some real behavioral issues we felt we could not tolerate going forward,” Coyotes GM Don Maloney said, per the Arizona Republic.

He then went on to explain...

#Coyotes weren’t naive when they acquired Ribeiro last summer, but Maloney thought they could manage. Called it “mistake” now.

— Sarah McLellan (@azc_mclellan) June 27, 2014


Maloney said this move was purely about behavioral issues and not cost-saving move. Ribeiro has been seeking help this summer, Maloney said.

— Sarah McLellan (@azc_mclellan) June 27, 2014


Ribeiro has a history of behavioral issues. In 2010, he was arrested on a public intoxication charge while playing for Dallas; during the 2013 campaign in Washington, he owned up to his active nightlife and reputation as a guy that liked to party. From NHL.com:

“It starts with better decisions,” Ribeiro said. “Instead of after a game going to have beer with the boys, I’ll go home. Instead of going to bed at four in the morning, I’ll go to bed at 12 at night. I eat better, I take better care of my body … I’m just more focused not on myself, but on being there for my family and helping my team win.”

Ribeiro said that he wants to be there for his family, because wife Tamara and children Mikael, 12, Noah, 8, and Viktoria, 7, have been there for him through professional triumphs and personal challenges, helping him, “become a better person,” in the process.

Finally, it’s worth noting Maloney had a parting shot...

Maloney on being out a 1st-line center again: “Let’s be honest. We were out a top-line center for the last 40 games anyway. We all saw it.”

— Craig Morgan (@cmorganfoxaz) June 27, 2014

Related: Coyotes considering Ribeiro buyout (Update: It’s done)