He had a couple of monsterous, momentum crushing turnovers last night, though. I've noticed quite a few uncharacteristic bobbles in each game so far, too. He's made me feel anything but at ease. He's had some pretty good defensive plays, and I do appreciate his effort level, and willingness to engage physically despite his modest build. That said, he's looked exactly like a 600kay career AHLer through the first five games. Tim Kennedy has been more effective.
I do fully expect him to improve, but I'm absolutely getting impatient. We signed a guy supposed to be nearly a point per game player. We are five games in. I want more and I want it now. He has not yet looked like anything approaching a difference maker. I really hope we see at least a flash of SOMETHING tomorrow.
His lack of contribution is becoming the elephant in the room. I'm starting to notice Nash outright avoid talking about Ribeiro, when just four games ago he couldn't shut up about him. Tippett doesn't get asked about him in pressers, when two weeks ago it's all anyone ever asked him to talk about.
This needs to get fixed before it becomes a story. He's got tomorrow to do that, but not much longer before people really start to notice and his lack of contribution takes on a life of its own.