Who is the 2nd best player born or raised in WNY?

[GASabresIUFAN]

Obviously Patrick Kane is the best NHL player born or raised in WNY.   He leads WNYers in goals, assists and games and is a first ballot HOFer when he becomes eligible.  

I was watching the inept 5 min pp and my mind began to wander.  I was thinking about Gilbert being from Buffalo and how most of the guys from WNY were depth or AAAA players with some notable exceptions.  Names like Marchant, the Foligno brothers, the Gionta brothers, Stempniak, Callahan and Amherst raised Brooks Orpik came to mind.  If we expand the definition of WNY to extend to Syracuse or Ithaca we can add Tuch, Dustin Brown and Connolly.   Anyone else?  

So who is the 2nd best player born or raised in WNY?

 

 

[mjd1001]

Its a tough question. Just even with the players you mentioned above, I can make a case for a few of them.  No one really clear cut to me unless I can think about it a lot more.

[Doohicksie]

Dennis Gilbert.

[inkman]

I think it’s Brian Gionta I don’t think it’s really that close.  

[Porous Five Hole]

It’s either Nick Foligno or Brian Gionta.

Nick has played over 1200 nhl games is impressive. But I agree with Inkman..Jeep had almost 600 points, won a cup, and was the captain of the frickin Canadians. The only other American to ever do that was Chris Chelios.  

[shrader]

The Gionta brothers? There’s no way Stephen escapes that AAAA label. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

What about Brooks Orpik. 1000 games, 2 Cups and what a great shutdown D

Ithaca’s Dustin Brown also comes to mind.  Nearly 1300 games 700+ points and 2Cups.  Do we consider Ithaca WNY or central NY.  It is West of Syracuse.

Edited 53 minutes ago by GASabresIUFAN

[SwampD]

18 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

What about Brooks Orpik. 1000 games, 2 Cups and way a great shutdown D

Ithaca’s Dustin Brown also comes to mind.  Nearly 1300 games 700+ points and 2Cups.  Do we consider Ithaca WNY or central NY.  It is West of Syracuse.

No.

I'm just curious, what caused you to start this thread,… during the game?

[JoeSchmoe]

[GASabresIUFAN]

21 minutes ago, JoeSchmoe said:

I bought a Kennedy Jersey to celebrate a WNY kid playing for the Sabres.  I thought then he’d have a nice career in Buffalo but then arbitration happened.

[PerreaultForever]

Nick Foligno.