Rookie Dinner

[JoeSchmoe]

I think I heard the Sabres might be doing the rookie dinner this trip. Makes sense with 2 days off on the west coast.

There's lots of tweeners in the lineup right now including Kuntar who just played his first game. Do you think they're all expected to chip in for the bill?

[K-9]

1 hour ago, JoeSchmoe said:

I think I heard the Sabres might be doing the rookie dinner this trip. Makes sense with 2 days off on the west coast.

There's lots of tweeners in the lineup right now including Kuntar who just played his first game. Do you think they're all expected to chip in for the bill?

Definitely. The rooks are gonna get hit up with thousands of dollars in food and drink at their dinner. Just hope it’s after the Kracken game and not before. 

[JoeSchmoe]

Kuntar played 1 game. I wonder how much of a paycheck he'll have left.

[JP51]

What a horrible time to get called up... some dude gonna make 50- 100k in the minors gonna get hit up for 2k for a restaurant bill... yikes...  

[Trettioåtta]

Who are the rookies on this roster? Rosen? Kunak? Dunne? Kozak?

It feels kind of harsh to target Rosen and Kunak for rookie dinner when they have spent most of the season not in the NHL. Dunne and Kozak have both spent multiple years playing NHL games, so not sure if they will still count?

Poor Kuntar may end up losing money to play in the NHL

Edited December 12, 2025 by Trettioåtta

[JoeSchmoe]

27 minutes ago, Trettioåtta said:

Poor Kuntar may end up losing money to play in the NHL

That's what I was thinking. I feel like the rookie dinner tradition is a dumb one. Some players might really need the money, whereas the veterans for sure don't. Those same players that need the money might never cash the big pay cheque or even get to be on the veteran side of a rookie dinner. 

[Cage]

Does the team's performance warrant treating rookies in this way... if that's what's going on??  The performance of rookies is one of the few bright spots.

Edited December 12, 2025 by Cage

[Night Train]

Dinner was at Tiki Taco. 

Bill was $88.50

[DarthEbriate]

5 minutes ago, Night Train said:

Dinner was at Tiki Taco. 

Bill was $88.50

A Gorditos burrito could feed a hockey player.

[JohnC]

On 12/12/2025 at 10:29 AM, K-9 said:

Definitely. The rooks are gonna get hit up with thousands of dollars in food and drink at their dinner. Just hope it’s after the Kracken game and not before. 

I may sound like a spoilsport but I don’t like the tradition where lesser paid rookies end up shelling out for richer and older players while they pig out and drink expensive beverages. It should be the other way around where the younger players are embraced as teammates and are taken care of.

[PromoTheRobot]

6 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I may sound like a spoilsport but I don’t like the tradition where lesser paid rookies end up shelling out for richer and older players while they pig out and drink expensive beverages. It should be the other way around where the younger players are embraced as teammates and are taken care of.

Rookies still make good money. They can afford it.

[tom webster]

The minimum NHL salary is roughly $4K per day. Between his NHL per diem and getting his brief pay in NHL dollars, even a guy like Kuntar would probably break even. Plus my experience is that NHL players are more caring of their rookie teammates than their football brethren. They won’t bankrupt the kids.

Edited December 14, 2025 by tom webster

[Believer]

On 12/12/2025 at 12:08 PM, JoeSchmoe said:

That's what I was thinking. I feel like the rookie dinner tradition is a dumb one. Some players might really need the money, whereas the veterans for sure don't. Those same players that need the money might never cash the big pay cheque or even get to be on the veteran side of a rookie dinner. 

Have the dinner. Let the vets gorge themselves scaring the bejezus out of the rookies with the potential bill. When the check comes to the table, let Dahlin pick up the tab. Change the name to the Captain’s Dinner.

[PromoTheRobot]

11 minutes ago, tom webster said:

The minimum NHL salary is roughly $4K per day. Between his NHL per diem and getting his brief pay in NHL dollars, even a guy like Kuntar would probably break even. Plus my experience is that NHL players are more caring of their rookie teammates than their football brethren. They won’t bankrupt the kids.

They know which players are making league minimum and which signed for 7-figures.

[JohnC]

31 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Rookies still make good money. They can afford it.

Veteran players can afford it even more. 

[K-9]

56 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I may sound like a spoilsport but I don’t like the tradition where lesser paid rookies end up shelling out for richer and older players while they pig out and drink expensive beverages. It should be the other way around where the younger players are embraced as teammates and are taken care of.

It’s a time honored tradition in most professional sports. And those higher paid vets return the favor over the course of a season. 

[Jorcus]

56 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I may sound like a spoilsport but I don’t like the tradition where lesser paid rookies end up shelling out for richer and older players while they pig out and drink expensive beverages. It should be the other way around where the younger players are embraced as teammates and are taken care of.

This conversation reminds me of the Sopranos episode where Christopher is forced to buy dinner because he is the newest made guy. I did not post a link because of the R rated nature of it but on You Tube it's Paulie and Christopher kill a waiter. So that is what can go wrong. 

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, K-9 said:

It’s a time honored tradition in most professional sports. And those higher paid vets return the favor over the course of a season. 

I’m aware of the tradition. I’m not totally against it. But I’ve heard of stories where some inconsiderate players take advantage of the tradition by buying bottles of the most expensive liquor (champagne) just because it is free and don’t even consume all of it. I agree with you that it is a time honored NHL tradition. It shouldn’t be a surprise that sometimes a few people take advantage of it.

[JohnC]

5 minutes ago, Jorcus said:

This conversation reminds me of the Sopranos episode where Christopher is forced to buy dinner because he is the newest made guy. I did not post a link because of the R rated nature of it but on You Tube it's Paulie and Christopher kill a waiter. So that is what can go wrong. 

I remember that episode. Be careful, I’m a Sicilian. If you upset me, I’ll shoot in the kneecap and watch you dance/hobble.😎

[Brawndo]

1 hour ago, tom webster said:

The minimum NHL salary is roughly $4K per day. Between his NHL per diem and getting his brief pay in NHL dollars, even a guy like Kuntar would probably break even. Plus my experience is that NHL players are more caring of their rookie teammates than their football brethren. They won’t bankrupt the kids.

Dahlin is the type to pick up the bill 

[Flashsabre]

There are a ton of stories out there where the bill gets run up at the rookie dinner and then next day the vets pay the rookies back. It’s a right of passage bonding experience. 

[Pimlach]

Kuntar might have needed that second game to pay the bill and make a little extra dough, but I suspect in this modern era the players are more understanding.  

[PASabreFan]

I recall Bert sticking a lit Marb in a $45 boisenberry cheesecake.

***** these new meds.

[PerreaultForever]

Kuntar signed a 2 way deal so he gets $9451 for that one game. and about a $1000 for every Rochester game. It would be kind of sucky if they stuck him with a big bill for flying out for that one game and I doubt it happens but either way I think he will survive. 

[tom webster]

4 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Kuntar might have needed that second game to pay the bill and make a little extra dough, but I suspect in this modern era the players are more understanding.  

They aren’t paid per game, but rather per day so I’m guessing with travel he earned at least $8000($775,000/190 league days)minus taxes plus's $350 per diem so it would have been close if they really made the rookies pay. More than likely he didn’t pay at all.