Hockeybird.com: Interview With #36 Matthew Barnaby

Hello New York and everywhere else, welcome back to the Birdcage. A few days ago I was very surprised to open my e-mail and find a note from #36 Matthew Barnaby. He wanted to thank Hockeybird for it's support while he was a Ranger. Well, I was floored. I just had to ask if he'd come on with us for a few questions and to my delight he agreed. So folks....Here's Matthew !

BIRD: Matthew, thanks for taking the time to do this and welcome to Hockeybird. It's become quite obvious that you enjoyed your stay here in NY, what was it that made it so special to you ?

MATT: The fans have been great to me and my family. I know they want to win and they are frustrated, but they appreciate an honest effort and they know the game.

BIRD: In your journal on mattbarnaby.com you posted in late August that "No Golf in May 2004" was a team motto. For some of you it's fulfilled. How exciting is it to know you'll be playing in the playoffs ?

MATT: I am very happy. All a player wants is an opportunity. I believed that we (the Rangers) were going to be there.

BIRD: You played on a line that had some good success with Moose and Simon....how much fun was that ?

MATT: It was really fun. There were not a lot of expectations, so we would just try to stir things up. We want you to not want to play against us. We want to irritate, upset and befuddle!

BIRD: What made an Islander - Ranger game so different for you and your ex-teammates ? The results gave us fans some of the few happy moments of the season.

MATT: I wish we would have given them more. We know that is an important rivalry and we definitely felt the emotion. We were confident against them and I think we were in their heads. It almost has a play-off feeling to it.

BIRD:There have been rumblings of a divided locker room in NY. Care to comment on that ?

MATT: The truth is that anytime a team does not perform to expectations, there will be some conflict. Everyone is upset because we know we have the talent to play with anyone. I don’t think the guys were divided as much as frustrated. If we were winning, there would have been a lot more smiles.

BIRD: Besides yourself, how many of the other guys are aware of sites like Hockeybird and do they visit much ?

MATT: Every guy has a computer and they are on them a lot. I am not sure what sites they check out. I think more google searches and stuff.

BIRD: You have always taken the time to sign autographs and chat with fans, how cool is it to know that some many fans, not just us here in NY...but allover are fans of yours and appreciate what you bring to the game.

MATT: No need to thank me. I appreciate the fans. I go to bed every night and thank God that he let me make it to the NHL. When I was a kid, if I got a puck at a game, it kept me happy for a month. I dreamed of the NHL, but it was not overly realistic. At 16, I was about 5’8 and 140lbs. I never had a father and my mom and brother went without many times to allow me to buy a stick or travel to a tournament. My mom mortgaged our house to keep me in hockey.

When someone pays to come watch me play, I want them to say “that Barnaby guy is crazy and he never stops.” I think it may be one kids only game that year and I want him to have fun, maybe get a puck and keep following the game.

BIRD: One night, Dec. 20th I think in Ottawa this year you fought Zdeno Chara(he happens to be a good guy, I skated with him when he was an
Islander....great skill for a big guy) not once, but twice. Are you nuts ?

MATT: That’s what I do. If I back down from anyone, I become another player that can be replaced. I want to be an energy and a problem for the other team. I may not win. But, I am like a mosquito that you can’t kill.

MATT: You have to pick your spots. Some fans don’t get it. You can’t fight every time you are challenged – it has to make sense. If you fight just to fight it is very selfish. Rob Ray uses to fight good players and point to his head and say “stupid” meaning that they are now sitting off the ice with a guy (Robbie!) who scores one goal a year…maybe. If you are behind or someone attacks a teammate, you wanna go.

BIRD: Can you comment on your plans for the next NHL season....in other words, will you come back to the NYR if asked ?

MATT: I am a free agent and I will explore the market. I love the Rangers and they gave me an opportunity when my stock was kind of low. I would absolutely want to talk with the Rangers.

BIRD: How confident as a team are your Avs right now ? Any guys there better than you thought they were ?

MATT: They have all been great and are solid guys. The team has won it before and we believe we can win it again. I am on board!

MATT: The coach doesn’t play. He put together a team with an incredible amount of talent and we did not perform. We, the players, need to be accountable. If everyone would have performed at the level they are capable of, we would have been a locomotive.

Rightbug: When you first came to the Rangers you were struggling offensively and felt that Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh had not utilized your skills to their fullest extent, pigeon holing you as a low minute enforcer. Do you feel vindicated now and was it difficult mentally to reject those labels and return to the multi dimensional player you had been earlier in your career?

MATT: It is all about situations. If you are on the 4th line and the coach doesn’t believe in you, you only get 4-8 shifts and you are afraid not to make a mistake. You can’t play your best. It erodes your confidence and it makes you doubt yourself. The Rangers gave me great opportunities and I believe I responded well for them. Look at the last 2 years and compare ice time to production – goals, assists, +/- and you tell me what you see.

Rightbug: Since coming to the Rangers you've put up numbers that come close to your career highs while playing under often times trying circumstances. Since going to Colorado you've scored 5 points in 4 games, including two game winners. Do you feel you're playing the best hockey of your career now?

MATT: I feel I can add value to any team. I am a confident player right now and I want the cup!

Rightbug: A hypothetical question, bearing in mind that there may be a lock out next season and that your decision of where to play when play resumes will be a personal one that might take a lot of thought -- should you return to the Rangers, many people are calling for you to wear the C. How would you feel about a leadership role like that?

MATT: I would be honored beyond words and I would make the fans proud every night.

Rightbug: You and Eric Lindros, who used to be such rivals, have, by all accounts, become good friends. Do you feel that you have influenced each other both in your play on the ice and your positive attitude off of it?

MATT: I am glad you asked this. Eric is a great guy. I wish the fans would appreciate his talents and not bog down on his opportunities. Eric cares as much as the next guy – he wants to win more than any fan, I promise you. He has handled himself exceptionally and he wants what you want. It is not realistic for everyone to meet him, but I had some ideas before and I now call him a friend. A VERY strong friend.

Rightbug: How is Matt Jr doing? Is he following in his dad's footsteps and, if so, have you had a chance to get out and see him play?

MATT: No, he is not following in my footsteps, he is actually a skilled player. He is amazing. He is not yet 6, but he plays with 7 to 10 year olds and holds his own. He has a stick in his hand 5-6 hours a day. Just check out our floors if you don’t believe me. In Buffalo, we have a basement with an area with a goal for him to shoot at. We play a little one on one.

MATT: I like a variety. It all depends on my mood. I usually listen to the Wiggles the most.

MATT: Well, I have a friend who works at Blockbuster and he offered to rent space on my teeth. He wanted to put his ticket logo on my tooth. I was going to be NASCAR mouth. I should put a pic of that on my site!

BIRD: Open segment.....anything you want to say to Hockeybird readers or NYR fans.

MATT: Thanks for being awesome fans and I appreciate the way I have been treated. I am sorry we failed to make the play-offs, the fans deserve much more. I thanked the fans on the Rangers site and I wanted to thank them again here. I appreciate your support.

Well now.....there you have it. The NY fans fell in love with Matt and if you didn't already know why, now you do. Huge thanks to Matthew for taking the time to contact us and do this interview. I'd love to see him lift the Cup....how sweet would that be ?

Great interview Bird! It is not everyday that a big-time player takes the time out of his day to do an interview for a fan site. Matthew is a great guy and it would be great if he returned to the team next season.

How about a Toronto-Colorado Stanley Cup? Leetchie vs. Barns. Oh, baby!

Posted by: Ben on March 31, 2004 03:49 PM

Wonderful interview. Barny I know you're reading this, you used to by one of my least liked hockey players and when the Rangers traded for you I was dissapointed. But since then in the last 3 years playing for this team I realized just how under-appreciated you were by other teams and myself, and you quickly grew to be one of my favorite Rangers ever. While I'm bummed that you were traded away I still hope that you'll return to the Rangers next year. You were one of the few players to play 100% game in and game out and are loved by the fans. You've certainly changed my views about you and it's great to see that you're doing well in Colorado. Best of luck in the playoffs!

Posted by: Papagolash on March 31, 2004 05:08 PM

Fantastic interview, and great job by Barnaby for doing it. I used to remember watching him play in Buffalo and thinking he was a clown. Now I watch him and think he's a solid hockey player. And he's missed as a Ranger. Out of anyone that had to leave, I'm hoping he's the one guy that finds his way back.

Matt Barnaby also hinted at a personal life that is not so traditional, and perhaps he and his family should be given credit for what they overcame. He seems to be an interesting guy, beyond being a class individual and a great player. I hope he continues to be a friend of Hockeybird because he's the kind of guy you always want to root for.

Posted by: Leedsy on April 1, 2004 12:39 AM

Dammit Bird.

You forgot to ask Matt how many Croton watches he's collected for doing between periods radio interview.

Posted by: :8= on April 1, 2004 01:48 AM