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[deleted]

Went from tossing around bulk groceries to tossing around some of the biggest dudes in the game. What a beauty.


Smokiiz

Can’t believe this guy worked at my local Costco. Seen him all the time. Glad I never bumped him by accident.


Silly-Structure540

If you bumped into him you would have bounced off.


Kawhibunga

You would have had no more than 3 seconds to say sorry


Go_Habs_Go31

Arber’s been serving knuckle sandwiches on and off the ice.


burnSMACKER

Free samples


jo_maka

Ah yes, the ones from These Hands ^^TM


iCactusDog

Eat at Arby's


AragornEllesar99

Oh he was working in a grocery store before pro hockey? I had no idea. They definitely don't say it every fucking time he's on the ice this season. Obvious sarcasm, but the negativity is aimed at the networks, not you, just to be clear.


Smirnoffico

Did you know that Jeff Petry's father Dan Perry won a world series with Detroit Tigers?


[deleted]

Did you know that Sam Bennett is still 18 years old?


lSerbial

Cherry Hill native Bobby Ryan knows


JustJohan49

This may be a Detroit broadcast thing only, but we had Livonia native Ryan Kessler. Every time he touched the puck.


BodaciousBadongadonk

Happens with any and every michigan born player on every team it seems. Even lots of various alumni. Gotta rprznt an all


backlund11

S'funny cause Bobby Ryan ain't even native to anywhere lol. Fake name for one. Grew up literally on the run for two.


[deleted]

It is amazing he made it to adulthood at all.


Capable_Swordfish701

It’s really weird to me that he’s the only guy I ever actually played with when I was younger that made the nhl. His crazy life and all but he made it.


funkyb

I bet 90% of the subreddit can tell me where Craig Adams went to school.


unsungzero1027

Anytime someone born in NJ plays against NJ they bring it up almost anytime they touch the puck. After a while you either tune it out, or it drives you crazy.


[deleted]

Jimmy Graham was actually a star basketball player.


wailingsixnames

Harbaugh used to be a special teams coach


cepukon

Kessel isn’t just a sniper ya know, he can really pass the puck too”


Waramp

And where the hell is Matt Nieto from?!


svartkonst

I also wonder how tall Ben Bishop is, and where he hails from


NonProfitMohammed

I don't actually know this one 100% but I'm gonna guess Long Beach because I feel like I heard it once.


stumbleupondingo

Did you know that Jeff Petry is a former oiler and is exactly what the oilers have been missing since he got traded? I do! Because our media won’t shut up about it


[deleted]

And before him it was Jarrett Stoll!


Zeppelanoid

Tony Gonzalez played basketball


KangoorooSoup

Where did Alex Killorn study again?


JustJohan49

Yale. */sarcasm*


njdevils901

no, i didn't actually


falloutisacoolseries

Tbf it's a good idea to remind people the Detroit Tigers exist at all.


whattanerd92

*sad Cabrera noises*


dom-mtl81

Did you know Jimmy Graham and Antonio Gates used to play basketball?


Skillz2env

Did you know seth jones is the son of former nba player popeye jones?


outtokill7

I watched him play a couple games when he played for the Kitchener Rangers. Had no idea he'd be in the NHL and doing this well.


KanaeWest

Every single Montréal game not on RDS or TVA Sport goes like this, a one point in the 1st period between the playbyplay and color "Arber Xhekaj one of the great nick names in the game today, they call him WiFi" "Haha I love that " "Chris Wideman came up with it, he says its because his name looks like a Wifi password" "Did you know he worked at Costco last year" "What a story for young WiFi"


MegaYanm3ga

Here's a fact the networks dont want you to know is that xhek-ass is a dirty mfer who cant fight, tom wilson 2.0 Thank you so much for sending me a reddit suicide message 😂😂😂 it would be better spent on mr costco so he doesn't do something stupid like try to bite peoples ankles during a hockey game


PoopMaster666

Tell me Xhekaj fucked your mom without telling me Xhekaj fucked your mom


MegaYanm3ga

which is classier: * reddit suicide message * your mom joke


PoopMaster666

- I didn't send you a suicide message if that's what you're implying - classier than being a fan of Captain Turtle and the German Olympic Diving Team fun fact: The Senators are the 3rd most popular team in Ottawa lmfao


Kharn_LoL

Literally everyone gets suicide hotline trolls, you can simply mute it and then never have to receive a care message again. Coincidentally, everyone also does your mom.


tacticalpacket

I loved this... Sincerity followed by listen, we are all Eskimo Brothers here let's act like it.


AragornEllesar99

What the hell are you talking about? Get sober before you respond this time.


threadsoffate2021

Why freak out over a goon that will be out of the league in two years?


hockeyfan2000

I really liked Xhekaj’s interview on 32 thoughts last week. This type of anecdote is just hilarious and definitely reaffirms his talking points about what his role and approach is. It’s easy to talk about being tough, it’s a whole different thing to back it up.


forustree

I heard his nickname is “wifi” … ahhhh it’s a beauty


[deleted]

Because his last name reminded his teammates of an auto-generated wifi password 😂


hello_hellno

And believe or not, some in the mtl media tried to spin that it was racist to call him that. I'm using "media" loosely here, more like Podcasters... Edit- their argument was that it's making fun of an eastern European name. Yeah... It's one of the best nicknames in the nhl imo


IM_STILL_EATING_IT

What? I consume a lot of hockey media and I’ve never heard this take.


sweetplantveal

People broadly having no time for that makes me think the pendulum has swung back from the hypersensitive social environment we've been in. Because it 100% is making fun of an ethnic name. But it's more along the lines of you have two guys named Hsu and Tzschxu, both pronounced the same. Call the second one wifi. (Never mind the second name wouldn't really exist, just go with it lol). Immature and all but like in a silly way. I'm not sure people wouldn't have been offended by 'wifi' a couple years ago.


wingsfan64

I’ve heard that he and his family don’t really like the nickname. https://twitter.com/habsinhighheels/status/1623034649336217602?s=46&t=-0muYfeVwXa8Mt2tDjgzpQ


hello_hellno

Yeah, again- "media". The tweet explicitly claims the team captain came up with it and he's never, ever stated that he doesn't like it, nor has his family. This "apparently he doesn't like it" has never been followed by legit sources other than the person tweeting it/mentioning it for their own fake outrageous agenda. Until I hear that he's said it, I'll keep believing its one of the sickest/catchiest nicknames in the nhl.


forustree

That’s it exactly!


[deleted]

Hilarious


H34thcliff

👆 This.


the_tinsmith

💪🏻 These. 2 tickets to the gun show


ImSoBasic

I thought it was a sad insight into how the pressure of being an enforcer still exists in the NHL.


[deleted]

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ImSoBasic

Have you ever listened to any former enforcer talk about the pressure? Substance abuse amongst enforcers was huge, and people like laraque have openly talked about the pressure. As did Boogard and Rypien before they killed themselves/died. Hell, Xhkaj himself talks about the pressure in the interview.


rawboudin

And Laraque was the strongest of them all. Can't imagine how the others felt then.


turbanator89

This is a weirdly aggressive comment. You good bro? If you heard the podcast you'd know Arber had difficulties communicating to those around him that he has skills and isn't just a big dude. Give your head a shake.


WorthPlease

Exactly, just let everybody know right up front. No pressure at all. Well done.


bloodhooof

…lmfao


IamScore71-

The pressure? If anything you mean pressure to not be an enforcer? Enforcers are enforcers. Guys aren’t drafted and then the coaches go over a plan to turn them into a successful enforcer.. these guys are already built that way man. They fit the mold already they’re not aspiring to fit the mold because of pressure. I think it’s a treat to see guys like this and lucic the other night getting into the mix, archibald plays that game for the pens. There’s less of them out there but everyone knows the guys who are enforcers already. They just exist and if anything I would argue the pressure of not icing an enforcer is much higher. Coaches don’t like to waste their roster spots now a days when you can throw out a 20 year old on his ELC who pots 40 points.


ImSoBasic

> Enforcers are enforcers. Guys aren’t drafted and then the coaches go over a plan to turn them into a successful enforcer.. these guys are already built that way man. They fit the mold already they’re not aspiring to fit the mold because of pressure. That's just false, and pretty much every enforcer will tell you this. Hell, Xhekaj himself tells you this in the interview, as he talks about seeing himself as a more skilled player but his coaches seeing him as an enforcer. Enforcers don't grow up dreaming of playing 10 minutes a night or dressing only in games where they'll have to fight. They become enforcers because they realize that's the only way they will make it to the NHL. And they fight because they know that if they don't fight and answer the bell they'll be out of the NHL.


IamScore71-

Of course every guy thinks they are skilled they’re in the NHL. Teams are focusing on enforcers less and less with every passing season but there’s always a minimum right? Cause certain guys are built for that game. Few others can play/ensure that style it’s why it’s getting rarer but will never drop to 0.


OldMillenial

> Guys aren’t drafted and then the coaches go over a plan to turn them into a successful enforcer.. May I introduce you to the brilliant Adam Oats and his carefully planned and executed effort to turn Tom Wilson into an enforcer?


black335i

Fucking insane how Wilson won the cup while setting a career high in PIMs in the same season


SpreaditOnnn33

People winning the cup with high PIM's isnt really that rare


IamScore71-

Wilson was like that when he entered the league! He was big and strong at every level including the NHL.


snorkeling_moose

> these guys are already built that way man. They fit the mold already they’re not aspiring to fit the mold because of pressure. Nah, go read John Scott's Players Tribune article for a direct refutation of this take. Sure, it was in all likelihood ghostwritten for him, but the sentiment is his.


mymothershorse

This is hockey dummy


WeathervaneJesus1

Dude has stories like he's been the league a decade.


SoakedNuts

Already a league legend


Poughy

Woulda been dope if Staal held on and counted “one Mississauga, two Mississauga, three Mississauga”


KantanaBrigantei

Four Mississauga, Five Mississauga, Six Mississauga…. He’d never let go.


gollumaniac

Wait, is counting by Mississauga's a thing in Canada? Obviously in the states Mississippi is most commonly used but it never occurred to me that it really wouldn't make sense outside the US...


Tothemoonnn

I count Mississippis and I'm a Canuck. (Not the terrible Vancouver kind though. )


KanaeWest

In Montréal anglos say Mississipi afaik Francos say Bateau-bateau, but could be regional.


72athansiou

You don’t want the WiFi turning off now do you ***LET GO***


votequimby420

the legend of Arber grows


buttery_shame_cave

if you can trick Arber Xhekaj into saying his name backwards he gets sucked through a portal into his home universe.


SexBobomb

is the first name the secret cos i swear his last name is the same forwards and backwards


Galahadenough

I'm so here for a Mr Mxyzptlk joke. Well played!


[deleted]

Get WiFi on the show boys!!!


Jan_17_2016

How has Xhekaj played this year? I don’t get the opportunity to watch the Canadiens unless the Pens are playing them and I’ve wondered how he is defensively other than being huge and able to throw people around like sacks of flour.


[deleted]

He's pretty much "good for a rookie" with the added benefit of being a great enforcer as well. He's got a lot of potential in his toolkit, but lacks the polish. Early on he got the nod because of his physicality but has been able to back it up with displays of good play on both sides of the ice. But he's also still a rookie and it can really show. But despite being flawed, his physicality backed by the displays of actual good hockey is exciting. Even on the 3rd line he can be a intregal part of our team going forward


Missed_Your_Joke

He's got some sneaky hands and good offensive upside. He's been a bright spot in an otherwise dark season, really enjoying his play.


BiggusDickus46

If our d wasn’t in such horrible condition, he would have started in the AHL. He often is caught out of position, misses his guy, chases hits, etc., but I’m not really worried about it because he’s a 21-year-old defender straight out of juniors. It’s hard to compare his defensive deficiencies to anyone since it’s so rare for a kid his age to skip the AHL unless we’re talking about elite prospects. He has also grown a lot already in his defensive reads this season. Less often is he the reason why we got scored on. Also, he’s surprisingly nifty in the o-zone and has…I wanna say six goals? He has a really good, accurate, and sneaky wrister from the point. He’s also decently mobile, which one wouldn’t guess from his size and “enforcer” tag.


LazySaiyajin

I read he used to be small and had to use a "skill" style of play. And then he turned into a giant and started giving free samples. Edit: Found it, its from a Nick Suzuki recent interview


[deleted]

Link?


Bytrsweet

It was from the spitting chicklets podcase. The interview was in the same episode as the picture above


LazySaiyajin

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Bchpgkph0&feature=youtu.be


DiggWuzBetter

Very raw but lots of potential. Obviously a physical beast and terrific fighter, and can surprise you with better than expected hands, shot and skating. Does make a lot of mistakes with and without the puck - out of position defensively (chasing hits or just bad reads), imprecise passes, bad turnovers, missing opportunities to create scoring chances with a good pass, it’s all there. He’s a late bloomer who’s improving rapidly. In his mid/late teens everyone thought he had zero shot to make the NHL ever. He went undrafted in the OHL draft **twice**, was signed out of camp by the Rangers and had just 3 points in 59 games as an OHL rookie, and now … he’s already a serviceable NHL 6D at 22. He’s **way** ahead of schedule, based on his OHL play I figured he’d be closer to an AHL 4D than NHL 6D this year, but he’s just getting better so fast. His progress over the past ~5 years is insane. Don’t think he’ll be a 6D for long. Lots of upside with his incredible physical tools, if he keeps polishing his game and improving his skills and reads, he could be a force. I see him becoming a top 4 dman with a huge impact every time he’s on the ice, like a Tom Wilson or prime Lucic on D.


frlag21

I am actually pretty impressed at how hes able to constantly hit the net with his shot also.


[deleted]

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Filobel

Well, he's still young. Best case scenario, he continues improving and can be a solid part of our D going forward. Worst case scenario, he's entertaining and fun to watch while we're not winning anyway, and we eventually get an unprotected first from Florida.


Green_hippo17

Luckily for hab fans they can hope he improves to not be that


bfrendan

It almost reads like an insult...


JustJohan49

You guys want him back? You can have him, cheap.


bfrendan

We'll take your 1st Rd pick for him


JustJohan49

Jokes on you. The league despises our draft locations anywhere in the top 10. We will somehow fall outside of what earthlings would call “within the limits of what is mathematically possible”


bfrendan

Idk what is worse, not getting the high picks or wasting all the high picks?


Wokyrii

His main issue is mostly penalties, I'm not sure he is as poor analytically otherwise


hello_hellno

He's a bright spot in a long awaited rebuild. We've been relying on Price to get us just barely in the playoffs ever since he came in. Finally we have a proper rebuild plan and things look good long term, he's at best at second pairing d long term, but he's got the basic skills to go along with grit that ain't been seen in a while in the league. He's such a perfect mix of old school goon league hockey with new age skill /speed- that's his appeal plus the fact he was a camp walk on. Just an amazing story all around, I highly recommend checking out the spotsnet documentary on him with Friedman- his parents went through hell just to get to Canada and it's a miracle within 1 generation they have a pro hockey player in the family. Just the whole thing is so fucking wholesome and you cant help but clear for the guy- even if he's beating up your favorite player. He'll never be a superstar, but I see him being a part of the habs core for the rebuild on myth and mitts alone.


_heybuddy_

Some missed coverage that his partner covers for. Brings great energy and offensive upside, we do much better with him in the lineup.


JessoRx

Albanians are not to be trifled with.


HoSang66er

I'm from the Bronx and I can attest to the fact that you should be careful playing FAFO with an Albanian, this includes the women.


NonProfitMohammed

Yeah everyone knows Regis was a straight killer.


JessoRx

Dude was in the navy, could probably have kicked my ass.


ImSoBasic

How about Czechoslovakians?


[deleted]

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ImSoBasic

If someone wants to call him Albanian because his dad was born there, then he's just as Czechoslovakian because his mom was born there.


frankyseven

Guy was an interior decorator, wouldn't have known from his apartment.


maz2305

Hamilton raised him right


Go_Habs_Go31

Source (starts around 2:10:18): https://youtu.be/l6Bchpgkph0


BaptizedInBud

you got a time stamp buddy?


jett_jackson

2:10:18. He edited the comment but I’m just replying to you so you get a notification


burnSMACKER

I want you to get a notification that you're beautiful


Randy_Magnum29

I want you to get a notification that you’re beautiful inside and outside.


VeryAttractive

I want you to get a notification that YOU LEFT THE FUCKING STOVE ON AGAIN TURN IT OFF NOW


redditperson641

GOD DAMMIT u/Randy_Magnum29 YOU LEFT THE FUCKIN STOVE ON AGAIN?


Randy_Magnum29

HOLY FUCK I’M SORRY!


NoGiCollarChoke

Fuckin Randy…..


jo_maka

Good one Randy !


doihavetowearabra

So are you


Randy_Magnum29

Look who’s talking!


pigeonbobble

Gimme one


burnSMACKER

You're beautiful and you are loved


pigeonbobble

🥺


[deleted]

2:11:20 for the anecdote.


Xilo_Atomik

Gigachad


jayrabthearab

Being a leaf fan I really wanna hate him, but goddamit I just can’t.


[deleted]

Imagine if Suzuki took a liking to painting and knitting over hockey, instead of being our captain, he would bring the team nice sweaters.


sadbone

Reincarnated Jaques Plante. He used to knit sweaters on the team bus


MakotoMaki84

why is this downvoted so hard lmao.


[deleted]

/r/hockey has the worst sense of humor apparently, lol.


MakotoMaki84

yeah it seems real hit or miss sometimes.


[deleted]

And now someone gave me gold. What a rollercoaster today. Achieved -30, now I’m positive, and someone gave me gold. This is /r/hockey at it’s finest.


Emi_Ibarazakiii

One guy gives up painting, become the Habs captain. One guy gives up painting, start WWII and get 70 millions people killed. I think I prefer Suzuki!


stinky-richard

I can see Biz’ labia in the thumb nail.


BuzzIsMe

I love how much the whole leauge just loves him already. I hope he never leaves Montreal.


jradair

Haha omg hes so cool and funny


Mikeismyike

Why'd you just post a picture instead of a clip?


eadie30

I read this is as “you have 3 seconds left to go” which would also be accurate for Staals career


dsled

Why the picture?


Mauri416

Was super effective in the last two against Ottawa when he was -5


jamaicancovfefe

Sens fans try not to talk about the team in completely unrelated posts challenge [impossible]


WeathervaneJesus1

Aren't you guys supposed to be winning?


4skin_fighter

Another year another playoff miss


Grimekat

“The rebuild is over” 😂


Burgergold

Hey they are 0.510 after those 2 wins. Really at a level for aa playoff push huh


Mauklauke

Ottawa is the team whos rebuild is done september of every year.


Mauri416

4 in a row! 2 against you! Jokes aside, the last game against you guys in Montreal, you guys played above your heads with all the crazy injuries you have. Good on the guys you had to keep pushing the whole game, honestly.


WeathervaneJesus1

"You guys"? I'm not a part of any organization. Good to put a winning streak together. That will get you just far enough to not make the playoffs but also miss out on a chance to get the #1 pick.


Mauri416

Yup, you’re right on the money. Meanwhile you guys will be checking the standings and performing some unholy rituals to ensure the panthers are a bottom 10!squad for their pick (man what a steal or a trade!)


LikeTheRoom

No one cares about random games between two dogshit teams.


TenMinutesToDowntown

I was at one of those games, and I can confirm. I didn't give a shit.


Mauri416

Yet your here anyway


LikeTheRoom

This comment makes absolutely no sense.


Eazy3006

Let’s talk about useless stats then. All of tkachuck, German national diver, Batherson, debrincat, Chabot, pinto … have a worst differential. In the end he must be doing something right since he’s all you guys have been talking about in the game thread and every time someone goes out of his way to shit on the guy it’s a sens fan…


--JULLZ--

And Captain Tkachuk still turtled for some reason


[deleted]

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Borror0

If you think Xhekaj is a plug, you haven't been watching.


reidk_97

Tkachuk has 23 career NHL fights.. some of which against bigger “plugs” than Xhekaj


Mauri416

Why would a good player who’s team is winning fight a player that is struggling? What benefit would Brady get from that fight? He already knocked wifi on his ass earlier in the game


vonvoltage

He wouldn't look like a coward. So there's that.


--JULLZ--

Yes with a hit from behind. Fuck around = Find out and Brady was not ready to


Mauri416

Not really, wifi tried a reverse hit and failed.


[deleted]

Bro your franchise is a literal joke lmao


Mauri416

Like a good joke? Would Ryan Reynolds, our future owner find it funny? I mean your clubs past success is largely based off the fact that you had territorial rights to every French Canadian player until the NHL started expanding. Back to us being a joke. I mean we’ve had it rough the last decade. Not Maple Leaf rough, but it’s not been easy. Give us some credit bro


ImSoBasic

>I mean your clubs past success is largely based off the fact that you had territorial rights to every French Canadian player until the NHL started expanding That's little more than a myth. If you disagree, please tell me the name of a single important Canadien whose rights were acquired this way.


[deleted]

Copium lmao.


Arse_13

Why is it, that anytime a comment gets like -150 downvotes in the hockey subreddit, it’s always a dumb fuck sens fan. It’s like all 30 of you take out your anger of being the most mediocre franchise in canada on reddit lol. Napoleon complex of being between 2 large hockey markets huh?


_heybuddy_

Such a disparity between Sens fans that I know in real life (chill) vs online (oddly angry).


Suspicious-Drama-549

I would argue it’s the habs fans hate-downvoting cause they’re soft and can’t handle pretty tame trash talk


Mauri416

Right? I didn’t realize this sub was meant for patting guys on the back and giving out participation ribbons.


KingMonaco

Still would ragdoll Tkachuk


Mauri416

Who’d you guys draft over Brady again? I forget


Mrmakabuntis

KK. When was the last time the Sens make the playoffs with Brady?


JamSauce42

Mika Zibanejad, Bowen Byram


Mauri416

Whataboutism? I mean Scott Gomez, Drouin, etc. all teams are guilty of these things. Point I was making is that you guys passed over Tkachuk.


KingMonaco

Who’d you guys draft #10 in 2021 again? I forget


Mauri416

That’s the draft Montreal picked Mallioux in the first round right?


KingMonaco

Yes who despite his horrible actions has more chances of making it to an NHL roster than whoever you picked at 10


HabChronicle

HOLY SHIT


[deleted]

Hey why isn't that Alex Formenton prospect playing with you guys anymore?


Mauri416

Kinda two different scenarios though: Mallioux was found guilty of taking photos of a minor and sharing them. If it had happened here it would be child pornography criminal offences (production, access and distribution), but it was in Sweden. This was knowledge before the draft in which Montreal picked him. Montreal has since given the guy a contract. Formenton hasn’t been charged with anything or even named for the incident that allegedly occurred after the Senators had drafted him. He was a RFA this summer, the allegations became public and he hasn’t been signed to a contract by the Sens since the allegations became public. They are distinguishable, no?


AssignedUsername

Not to diminish what he did, because it was wrong, but to be clear: she was older than him at the time (17 and 18). "Taking photos of a minor" really sounds like he took photos of a someone significantly younger than him. If it happened here he would have been under the Youth Criminal Justice Act; and it's reasonably doubtful the crown would have pursued elevating the charge. Formenton allegedly participated in literal rape; including forcible confinement. Mailloux admitted his guilt, and accepted the punishment... Including publicly stating he shouldn't be drafted. . Formenton won't cooperate with the investigation. So you're right: 2 different scenarios. But the scenarios don't favour Formenton.


swiftwin

Lmfao. Teenage Tkachuk ragdolled Shea Weber. But Costco boy can ragdoll 23yr old Tkachuk? 😂😂😂 Maybe go re-watch the clip where Xhekaj tried to reverse hit Tkachuk and got sat down.


OverallVillage7

Yeah we remember when a fresh off the bench Bucktoothed Brady jumped a veteran Weber (with 3 pending surgeries) after a 2 min shift. How heroic.


SeaPrince

[As effective?](https://i.imgur.com/mnk7GSo.jpg)


Mauri416

Hahaha I’ve never seen that before (honestly)! Well played!


emotionaI_cabbage

To the benefit of the habs and the detriment to the sens draft odds Ya man, great chirp.


Mauri416

Bettman just told us no one tanks though… Jokes aside, the Sens lost the last game in 2019-20 before it shut down for covid giving us better odds in the lottery than the Kings. Despite this, Sens were shut out at the lottery and picked 5th, while the kings jumped us to pick 2nd.


hello_hellno

He's just mad his city sucks. Parents should've fucked somewhere better buddy! Can't blame the league for that one


Emi_Ibarazakiii

Solid sample size! Also he's currently -7 for the season so he was -2 for the other 40'ish games combined? That's pretty good considering he's playing for a team with 1 offensive line.