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Caps letting Ribeiro go to market

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’s time in the nation’s capital will be brief.

The Capitals have informed the pending UFA he won’t be given a new deal, according to RDS’ Renaud Lavoie. The news comes after Ribeiro spent just one lockout-shortened season in Washington, after being acquired at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Ribeiro, 33, did enjoy a tremendous 2013 campaign, scoring 49 points in 48 games as the Caps won the Southeast Division. He finished tied for 11th in NHL scoring (with Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf and Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk) and finished just seven points back of teammate Alex Ovechkin, who captured the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

The former Canadien and Star will see his five-year, $25 million deal expire on July 5.

It became evident in early June that talks between Washington and Ribeiro were stalling -- coming off one of the finest seasons of his 12-year career, he was likely looking for a payday.

The Caps, meanwhile, are about $5.5 million away from the salary cap ceiling, and still need to get deals done with RFAs Marcus Johansson and Karl Alzner.