‘Numminen’s longevity is nearing record status. The Sabres defenseman has played 1,249 games, just three short of passing fellow Finn Jari Kurri for most all time by a European player. (Stanislaus Guoth of Czechoslovakia played 1,394 games, but he moved when he was 8 and learned the game in Canada – which adopted him after he took the name Stan Mikita.)’