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Ribeiro excited to be reunited with Tippett in Phoenix

Mike Ribeiro

Washington Capitals center Mike Ribeiro (9) pauses in the first period of Game 5 first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey series against the New York Rangers, Friday, May 10, 2013 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

AP

Mike Ribeiro signing with the Phoenix Coyotes may have caught some by surprise, but he had special motivation to head to the desert.

Coyotes coach Dave Tippett knows Ribeiro well from their three seasons together in Dallas and for Ribeiro, he couldn’t wait to get back together with his old mentor as NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman shares.

“I think that was my No. 1 goal” he said. “To go somewhere knowing the coach and knowing a little bit of what they were looking for and what my role was going to be and being comfortable, and being able to communicate with the coach. He’s done a great job there in Phoenix. He knows what he can get from me and I know what he wants and I’m ready to work for that.”

Ribeiro had two of his biggest seasons as a pro under Tippett. In 2007-2008 he had 27 goals and 56 assists for a career-high 83 points. He followed that up with 78 points the next year.

While his production hasn’t been quite that high lately, if he can bring his deft touch in setting others up, the Coyotes will be more than happy to have it.