The Western Conference playoffs were without a regular presence last year: Dallas didn't make it, for just the third time since 1993. How did that happen? Stars forward Mike Ribeiro cited a slow start -- the team went 7-11-4 in the first 22 games.
"The first 20 games or so weren't that easy," Ribeiro told FanHouse. "Maybe we were too comfortable and thought we'd do the same thing as before. It didn't happen. Then we had a bunch of injuries and we were chasing. It's much harder when you're chasing."
Some notable contributors were sidelined, including captain Brenden Morrow to a torn ACL and center Brad Richards, first to a broken wrist and then to a broken hand on the opposite arm.
"They'll want a different attitude, a winning attitude, a more disciplined approach and to get back to the playoffs. They want us to get the job done." "Those are pretty good leaders," Ribeiro said. "Morrow , Richards and Steve Ott, Jere Lehtinen. That's a lot of key players who produce offensively. When you lose your captain for the full year, I'm sure he's hungry to come back and play. Richards, too. Especially with the new staff, we have to prove ourselves."
The Stars are back to better health for 2009-'10, but too late for the previous regime: Joe Nieuwendyk was named the team's general manager, while Brett Hull and Les Jackson were reassigned; Dave Tippett was fired and Nieuwendyk brought in Marc Crawford to coach the team.
Ribeiro doesn't know Crawford well, but he said that Nieuwendyk's longtime ties with the team mean that many of the players know him and are comfortable with him. That doesn't mean that they think Nieuwendyk will take it easy on anyone.
"They'll want a different attitude, a winning attitude, a more disciplined approach and to get back to the playoffs," Ribeiro said. "They want us to get the job done.
"I don't know what the lines will be, exactly, who will play with who. Guys are anxious to see who they're playing with and to have a new start. We do have to prove ourselves and it's a challenge."
After last season, Ribeiro is going to concentrate on details -- staying in the play, working hard on the defensive side. Without some of their better players last season, Ribeiro and the rest of the Stars had to cheat more, and, he said, "That costs you defensively."
Ribeiro hasn't been following some of the Stars' other offseason news, detailing owner Tom Hicks' financial difficulties. Hicks isn't expected to sell the team, even though he might unload the Texas Rangers.
"He doesn't call me to let me know what's up," Ribeiro said with a laugh. "I just work here and try to win."
