The Biggest Troll Hockey Has Ever Seen....

Some players coast on their natural talent, but others have to fight their way into the NHL and do whatever it takes to stay there. Over the years, we’ve seen players sacrifice their skill set to make it and remain in the league. This is the story of one such player: an underrated and skilled forward in juniors who changed his game, battled his way to the top, and never backed down. And in the process he became one of the most hated, or beloved players depending on what team you cheered for during his tenure.
Matthew Barnaby fought over 400 times between juniors and the NHL, taking on everyone from Eric Lindros to tie domi to Zdeno Char Despite having a fighting record comparable to journeyman boxing legend Luis Peotchi, standing at just 6'0" and weighing 190 pounds barnaby would chirp, hit and scrap just about anyone. Get ready to hear about the fearless journey and the relentless spirit of Matthew Barnaby and how he was able to make it and stay in the best league in the world. #nhlplayoffs #hockey #nhl #matthewbarnaby #buffalosabres

[jug]

rob ray and barnaby having dinner together the night before and then fighting in the game is the most canadian hockey thing ever

[HALFDEADHERMAN]

In 1997 during the second round of the playoffs my best friend and I went to the Walden Galleria Mall for an afternoon lunch.
We entered at the lower level and rode the escalators up to the food court.
I had my Buffalo Sabres hat on and my buddy had his Eric Lindros jersey on.
As we approached the top of the escalator...
Matthew Barnaby stepped onto the down escalator, hair full of gel, wearing a white dress shirt and slacks.
I hollered LET'S GO BUFFALO at him as we rode past when my my buddy jumped on the opportunity to chirp him.
Barnaby turned to my friend and leaned over the divide, grinning ear to ear, revealing his BS front teeth and laughing a maniacal cackle.
A priceless and unforgettable afternoon running into a living legend and quite possibly the biggest troll in all of hockey lore.

[hughhoob]

That playing possum fight was the FUNNIEST thing I've seen in perhaps NHL history 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[PJSOUNDSS]

Mathews fathers name is Dwight Hewston. His mother and my grandmother were best friends while living in the Harrington Park Project's in downtown Ottawa. His father was never active in his life, but he knows who it is because it's the same man who is my grandfather.

My grandfather and his father passed away at 36 from a brain anerusym (the number look familiar) anyway. i wouldn't accept him as my father either, considering i have aunts and uncles all over Canada. He was in and out of prison, and there were dedicated facebook groups to locate the lost siblings.

I met him in 2015 at an alumni game, where his mother confirmed to him, his then wife Veronique, and myself and my mother what we already aware of, he is my uncle.

I have never spoken to him much since then, other than him sending me a jersey a few Christmases ago, but we speak to his brother Brent, who is disabled quite often.

Hope this was a fun and insightful little read!

[Kreege]

The NHL is sorely lacking these lunatic characters like Barnaby, Hextall, Ray, etc. that made the 80s and 90s hockey so special. All the players are sterile robots these days.

[mcbassinfaas]

barnaby was a fucking maniac loved that guy

[Smoke]

I was 13 years old when he was traded to Verdun in the QJMHL. He only played 33 games but boy oh boy do I remeber those moments!! He was one crazy SOB at that time and it was something attending to those games!

[rmick]

Sabres....Barnaby, May, Ray. Crazy trio

[joshdoldersum]

Yo man I wouldn't normally watch a 30 minute documentary from a channel I've never seen before, but this was really well done.

[romangagne]

Barnaby was a toughie no doubt about it. His feud with Lyle Odelein was legendary!

[connyjohnson]

The NHL needs a couple of new Barnabys. I miss this guy and his antics.

[FlamesEnjoyer]

I really thought this was gonna be about Sean avery

[charliemountain]

Mom wanted her sons to have the same last name...
Right. I'm sure that was for the boys.

[creekfishingny]

That clip of him and his mom waving to each other after he scored a hat trick actually brought tears to my eye ❤

[jarredschlaggel]

I grew up 30 mins outside Buffalo and am a Flyers fan.
He gave us fits but he was an absolute beauty.
I respect(ed) him because he wasn't a dirty player, just a gnat that could make your wires cross and take a penalty. He was probably responsible for hundreds of goals on pp's that he wasnt on and never got a point for it.
He was a pest and found a niché in the game to have a career playing a game he loved.

I hope and pray he is free of any head trauma or PTSD from the role he played.

I saw a pod with him a while back and it shed some light into his career. Pretty sure it's nasty knuckles. Check it out.

[thomasoconnor]

For everyone bringing up Sean Avery. Sean Avery learned from Barnaby. I watched a lot of Barnaby growing up and yeah, a twenty minute video does not suffice. Barnaby fought everyone. He wasn't a wimp like Avery. He would literally just stand there and laugh while getting hit.

[lwing]

I loved Matt in Buffalo he and Rob Ray were the heart and soul of Buffalo

[brandensimmons]

Matthew was the OG of Trolling
The Garth snow thing was always a great moment

[VioletDeliriums]

i love pests and instigators because they are funny, and matthew barnaby is one of my favorites of all time...i remember watching him in the 90s when he seemed to be the only Buffalo Sabres that was alive and seemed to care in the playoffs. I lived in Colorado in the late 90s and early 2000s, and I remember the trade deadline approaching and knew that he was available. i was so excited when they got him and he was instantly loved by the avs fans because he produced goals and excitement in is first week with them. after his first goal he saluted the crowd, and i thought it was the coolest thing ever. :)

[CaptainMaggott]

Me before tapping on the video: “Let me guess; it’s Matthew Barnaby, isn’t it?”

*literally 1 second in* Yep.