Mike Ribeiro says he initially predicted that the NHL season would begin in December and he's holding to that claim. "That's why I didn't go overseas," he said on Thursday. "I believed we would have a lockout that would not last more than a month and a half and we would start a season at the start of December. These are smart businessmen and both parties are smart enough to not miss a full year. It looks like both sides have taken a step forward and I'm hoping we get a deal done soon." Ribeiro skated with his new Washington teammates in September, but of late he's been coaching the hockey teams of his two young sons and working out on his own.