Former NHL right winger Matthew Barnaby was known for getting under opponents’ skins during his playing career. But decades later, it’s clear one person still gets under his: former teammate and goalie Dominik Hasek.
Barnaby was recently a guest on the “Clearing the Crease” podcast and described his disdain for Hasek during the time the two were with the Buffalo Sabres.
“He was dominant and the best of all time, but as a teammate and the (bleep) I saw this guy do and pull with teammates and fans, nah,” Barnaby said. “Listen, he’s not a great dude at all, and when I say great, that’s not what I want to use. This guy can be a serial (bleep) at times. Now I’m sure he’s 75 years old now and a lot better (Hasek is 60). But no, I wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire.”
Barnaby and Hasek played together from 1992 to March 1999, when Barnaby was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. During that run, the Sabres made the playoffs four times, including an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals. The year Barnaby was traded, the Sabres went to the Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Dallas Stars in six games.
Barnaby accused Hasek of quitting on the Sabres during a playoff game. Barnaby said Hasek once left a game, telling trainers he had a knee injury. When the trainer told Hasek he would be fine in two to three days, Barnaby alleges that Hasek said he would be better in two to three weeks.
Barnaby also said he heard former Buffalo News columnist Jim Kelley saw Hasek and another Sabres player running out of the arena later that night.
Barnaby said then-Sabres team president Doug Moss offered him $50,000 not to “take a run” or attack Hasek, after Barnaby had mentioned in a Sports Illustrated story that he might. Barnaby took the money but still found a way to engage Hasek.
“I hate the (bleep) dude,” Barnaby said. “I know he’s the best in the world, but he’s a (bleep). What he was doing to (former Sabres head coach) Ted Nolan was not right… I can still be bought. No problem, no question. I’m a very loyal guy and I would never do anything to my friends for money. But if you want to pay me not to run over someone, I’m OK.”
“On the first day of training camp, I slash him in the hand and I get called off the ice,” Barnaby continued. “They’re like, ‘You said you wouldn’t run him.’ I said I didn’t run him. I slashed him. If you want to give me another 50 grand, give me another 50 grand, then I won’t slash him.”