During the 1990s, few players were more feared than Matthew Barnaby. But his Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Jaromir Jagr certainly wasn’t intimidated by him. And that’s why he didn’t shy away from pulling one of the all-time jokes about Barnaby in the locker room.
Matthew Barnaby was drafted in the fourth round by the Buffalo Sabres, where he became popular for his fearless style of play and willingness to drop the gloves. But he could also contribute offensively, something he proved in the 1996-1997 season when he tallied 43 points in 68 games.
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Played with Jaromir Jagr
During the 1998-1999 season, Barnaby was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he met Jaromir Jagr. By that time, Jagr was already a major star, having won two Stanley Cups, an Olympic gold medal, and several individual honors. But that didn’t stop him from having fun off the ice.
Speaking to Triblive before Jagr’s jersey was retired in Pittsburgh in 2024, Barnaby recalled how Jagr loved to joke around and was always teasing his teammates.
Nastiest joke ever
“It always seemed like he was laughing,” Barnaby said.
He especially remembers one unforgettable joke Jagr made about his wife – that has to go down as one of the nastiest jokes ever.
“I was in the shower. He said, ‘I feel sorry for your wife that she has to have that come home to her.’ You don’t see that, especially from star players. They’re a lot more reserved than he was. He was always joking around, always making fun, always making fun of me. Those are the things that stand out to me because those are the things you miss,” Barnaby recalls.
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