In 36 Days...

  Well you guys know the drill... 36 days from now the Pens will open their season Thursday October 9th at 7:08PM against the Anaheim Ducks. Sorry for the posts being delayed / a day behind until yesterday as college has taken over. Not so much the school work, but the bonding, wings and drinking. I swear from here on out we'll try to be more prompt (but no guarantees so). While many players have worn the 36 sweater including Jock Callander, Pat Neaton, Greg Andrusak, Corey Foster, Brad Lauer, J.J. Daigneault, minor league warrior Tom Kostopoulos, Andre Roy, Connor James, John Curry, Jeff Zatkoff and THE Juicy J, however no one wore it better than Matthew Barnaby.    

Matthew Barnaby was selected 83rd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 4th round of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Simply put, Barnaby was a douche, a goon, an agitator and last year even though he is 41 years old, someone the Penguins could have used. Barnaby was someone you did not want to have to deal with all game and by far a warrior. Barnaby was a winger although that's basically irrelevant because lord knows he was not expected to score goals. Barnaby began his full-time during the 1995-1996 season where he recorded a career high 335 penalty minutes (good God). There's so many incidents involving Matthew Barnaby that I encourage you to view this post on a real computer where the YouTube links will work. Matthew Barnaby smiles, fights and kills people and it's basically a from of art. 

Graves Barnaby (F Graves)

Barnaby in a Video

Garth Snow vs Barnaby

Ross the Boss Ray vs Barnaby

What you just saw or tried to see was just a short sampling of Barnaby's beautiful smile and his ability to fight / end careers. After completing seven seasons with the Sabres during the 1998-1999 season, Barnaby was traded to our beloved Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Stu Barnes. Barnaby ended up playing 129 games for the Penguins before he was traded to Tampa February 1st, 2001 for future Penguin sensation Wayne Primeau. With the Penguins Barnaby recorded 15 goals, 18 assists for 33 points. Barnaby was a career -14 for the Penguins (so you guys hate him because +/- is all that matters) with 399 PIMs (what a goon).  After Tampa, Barnaby went to play for the Rangers where he scored 21 points in just 48 games. Barnaby played 196 games for the Rags before he was dealt to the Avalanche for two random jabronis on during the 2003-2004 season. On July 2nd, 2004 Barnaby signed a three year deal with the Blackhawks. Barnaby endured the lockout and played his first season with the Blackhawks during the 2005-2006 campaign. After the season because of the lockout / rust and or whatever reason, he was bought out that offseason. That offseason Barnaby signed with the Dallas Stars where he would end up retiring. Barnaby recorded his 300th (and final point) that season before suffering a concussion injury which forced him into retirement before the 2007-2008 season. 

Barnaby then went on to become a broadcaster for the Sabres after taking some guy's job. Then Barnaby joined #TeamESPN (sad face) in October 2008 after suck ass coach (then ESPN analyst) Barry Melrose went back to coach the Bolts for like 3 games before he realized he sucked at life. In 2011 Barnaby's contract with ESPN was terminated due to suspicion of a DWI charge. Now Barnaby is basically a no one with a Twitter account that people ask their hockey opinion's to. In all honesty, Barnaby did his job as a goon and not much more. What a guy. What a goon. Apparently he donates to charity often which is cool tbh, but honestly like I wish I could write more but it's Matt Barnaby. 

Those PIMS tho

Stay tuned tomorrow to see who #35 is. And trust me, at least it'll be made on the same day we're promising.