Capitals center Mike Ribeiro is somewhat optimistic, telling CSNWashington.com he thinks a deal will be made to salvage at least half the season. “It feels different [than in 2004-05],” Ribeiro said. “Last time around we kind of knew it would be a long one, probably a full year.
“This time I think we’re more optimistic that [an agreement] might happen earlier. Hopefully, by the end of November, so we can have December with hockey. But [the owners’] game plan, at least in my opinion, is that they’ll start paying guys after a month and a half or two months, after they get the 20 percent they wanted.
“They want their 20 percent [rollback of salaries] and the players don’t want to give it back, so let’s just not play until the 20 percent is not spent.”
Ribeiro said he believes an extended lockout would be “breaking up what we built for the last six years” and can’t see the league’s owners allowing that to happen.
“I just don’t see them shutting down again for a full year,” he said. “It just doesn’t make sense for anyone. I guess those smart people need to get smarter and figure something out.”
