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epicbuddieficrecs · 4 months

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Weekly Recap | December 25th-31st 2023

Happy New Year everyone! May 2024 be better than 2023, and may season 7 be good to us!!!

Complete

Battle Born by allisonRW96/ @homerforsure (NHL AU, Established Buddie | 11K | Teen): Buck comes down with appendicitis during the playoffs. He decides to play through it.

🔥 through tooth and claw (to where you are) by allisonRW96/ @homerforsure (Post-S6, Hurt Buck, Getting Together | 18K | Teen): With a reverent hush, Christopher said, “Whoa, it’s so close.” And it was almost as though Buck needed to have that obvious fact pointed out to him before the vague dread of animal instinct that had been pooling in his stomach could solidify into a real, actionable fear. It’s so close. Something’s wrong. AKA: The Rabid Coyote fic

we’ve got something permanent (i mean in the way we care) by callmenewbie/ @callmenewbie (PWP, Breeding Kink | 7K | Explicit): Buck has baby fever and it’s Eddie’s job to give him what he wants. Kind of.

Here Where We Should Be (Kiss Me, It’s Christmas) by allisonRW96/ @homerforsure (Christmas, Getting Together | 5K | General): It’s Christmas and Eddie decides he can’t possibly wait any longer to start kissing Buck.

well, I hate to be a bother, but it's you and there's no other by allisonRW96 / @homerforsure (Getting Together | 3K | Mature): Eddie starts dating again and learns a few things about himself. The most surprising one? He's actually ready this time. Now he just needs to get Buck on board.

in a little while (you will find some relief then) by allisonRW96 / @homerforsure (Hurt Buck | 10K | Teen): Buck gets a severe case of poison oak. He handles it about as well as you'd expect.

🔥 The Nearness of You by allisonRW96/ @homerforsure (Work Trip | 17K | Teen): Eddie reassured himself that he could do this. Other teams coming in were probably going to be staying at the same hotel in the same double rooms and it was very possible that none of them were going to be having sex. Or even lying awake at night thinking about it.

We Can't Succeed but We Love Trying by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels (PWP, Breeding Kink | 15K | Explicit): In which Eddie has the thought that if Buck's gonna "donate" his sperm anywhere, it should be with, well. Eddie.

all it took was a backwards baseball cap by honestlydarkprincess/ @honestlydarkprincess (PWP, Getting Together | 5K | Explicit) : Or, the one in which Eddie loses his shit at Buck wearing a backwards baseball cap. Seriously, can this man get more attractive? Is he trying to kill Eddie?

drawstrings by browney3dgirl6/ @hoodie-buck (PWP, Getting Together | 3K | Mature): Eddie helps Buck fix his drawstrings. How was he supposed to know it’d lead to him sitting in Bucks lap?

🔥 come with me, together, we can take the long way home (series) by allisonRW96/ @homerforsure (Canon compliant | 105K | T to M):

Get me through the night; Make me feel alright (Post-S3 Finale | 11K | Mature): After an emotionally-gutting reunion with Abby, Buck turns to old coping mechanisms. Eddie helps him find a better way. In Uncertain Times, The Uncertain Rules Apply (Pre-S4 | 22K | Teen): Covid comes to LA. Eddie copes. Or doesn't. Holding out for Something More (Stuck in Reverse) (Post S4E3/Lone Star Crossover | 26K | Teen): LA is coming out of lockdown and the world is returning to some sense of normalcy. But going back to the way things were hurts more than Buck expected. While his therapist challenges him to confront what he really wants, the team takes a trip to Austin... and El Paso. so far from being free (S4E4: 9-1-1 What's Your Grievance?, S4E5: Buck Begins | 46K | Teen): That’s Daniel. He was our brother. Buck doesn’t know what to do with the past tense. He never had a brother. He’s always had a brother. He gained one and lost one in the same breath and it feels impossible.

carry my heart home to you by allisonRW96/ @homerforsure (Getting Together | 4K | Teen): After his parents join him for a therapy session, Buck starts to learn that some people are never going to be able to give you what you need. And some people are.

if you say it with your hands by hammersmiths/ @henswilsons (S2 | 10K | Teen): Buck thinks it must be a habit he still hasn’t dropped from his days in the army, or maybe it comes with the territory of being a dad – but Eddie can nap pretty much anywhere. or, Eddie starts casually falling asleep against Buck, and Buck is very normal about it.

🔥 into thirty separate parts by hammersmiths/ @henswilsons (S6 | 12K | Teen): “Theoretically,” says Buck, as soon as Eddie picks up the phone, “your ex writes a book about you.” There is a pregnant pause. “…Right,” Eddie decides on, finally. or, Taylor’s book comes out.

close friends (that you lowkey want to fuck, but in a totally platonic way) by rowan_wood/ @transboybuckley (Getting Together | 2K | Teen): Instagram rolls out a new feature, and Buck doesn't totally understand how it works.

I'm still standing in the same place where you left me standing by trysetmeonfire/ @try-set-me-on-fire (POV Bobby, Hurt Eddie, Getting Together | 8K | Teen) Bobby deals with the ramifications of a misplaced confession

Keep My Heart Warm In Yours by callmenewbie/ @callmenewbie (Christmas, Post-S6, Getting Together | 18K | Mature): Christopher decides that he wants to go skiing, Buck makes it happen and the cabin at the foot of the mountains turns out to be quite the romantic backdrop for their little getaway.

Hiding the Christmas Present (of You and Me) by Princessfbi/ @princessfbi (Christmas | 7K | General): Buck thought he was going to spend Christmas alone. His family decides to correct that assumption.

If I Fall, Can You Pull Me Up? by Princessfbi/ @princessfbi (Hurt Buck, Established Buddie | 7K | General): Eddie could pick Buck from a million miles away. Buck’s entire being was like one bright light in an otherwise cloudy sky. So, he was really interested to know why some stranger was wearing his boyfriend’s turnout coat and pretending to be him.

Used to Think That Lovin' Meant a Painful Chase by Princessfbi/ @princessfbi (Getting Together | 4K | Teen): It’d been fine when Buck had Eddie’s dick in his mouth. It wasn’t often that Buck got to see Eddie come undone but he’d been treated to a private showing and the pride he had being the one to take Eddie there was indescribable. But then things got… weird. Or maybe, it was Buck that got weird? He still wasn’t really sure where it started, to be honest.

for all the words unspoken by Maira/ @carrierofthepaperclips (Work Trip, Getting Together | 5K | Teen): "Buck." Eddie had already dropped his bag and was standing next to the bed, hands on his hips. "We've slept in the same bed before. I'm pretty sure we'll manage to do the same in this one, it's humorously large. Don't!" He held up a hand as Buck opened his mouth. His lips twitched, though, so Buck took it as a win. ... or, the one with only one bed.

underneath the tree by devirnis/ @devirnis (PWP, BDSM | 2K | Explicit): Frowning to himself in concentration, Eddie carefully folds the wrapping paper around the corner of the box. He has no idea how his mother makes this look so easy, even after she walked him through it earlier on FaceTime. Under the tree, Eddie’s present whines plaintively.

WIP

🔥 Precious & Fragile Things by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Small Miracles AU, Angel Buck | 20K | 8/? | Teen): Buck is the Fallen Angel of Petty Temptation, who has been tasked with tempting human Eddie Diaz to sin and enjoy life, but just a little. He thinks the job will be easy - get in, get out, go back to Peru to continue messing around with eternity. But when Buck arrives in Los Angeles, he finds Eddie is harder to tempt than expected, and more compelling than Buck had hoped.

🔥 Things We're All Too Young to Know by Daisies_and_Briars/ @cal-daisies-and-briars (Canon, S1 through S6 | 102/? | 276K | Mature): This is a love story. Even if it doesn’t always look like it. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it. A look back on Eddie and Buck's lives up to now, and what led them to each other, interpreted from the current 9-1-1 canon.

Love Ends. by rowan_wood (Exes to Lovers | 4/17 | 5K | Explicit): But what if it doesn't?

in my head by yourcatfishfriend/ @your-catfish-friend (Friends With Benefits | 8/9 | 30K | Explicit): Buck is confidently bisexual. Eddie isn't sure. Buck helps him figure it out.

Re-Read

🔥 Always, All Ways by ashavahishta/ @ashavahishta (A/B/O AU | 85K | Explicit): Buck’s the only omega in the 118. He’s got secrets, and walls a mile high. Eddie’s the alpha determined to knock them down.

#buddie #buddie fic #buddie fanfiction #buddie fic rec #buddie fanfic #epic buddie fic rec #911 fanfiction #911 fic #911 fanfic

177 notes · View notes

misshoneyimhome · 5 months

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i love the willy kick you’ve been on but can you do an auston enemies to lovers? maybe she’s will’s best friend in it too?

I can always do something with Auston, bb 😉❤️ And of course, as always, I got a bit carried away - I mean, how can you not love this handsome face 😍

Word count: 4.3K

・✶ ｡ﾟ

I'm so furious at you for making me feel this way

"Ugh, he's just so annoying..." you muttered quietly as you entered Willy’s apartment, returning to his place after a casual dinner with the team.

"Come on, y/n, you have to find a way to be around Auston. He's one of my best friends, and since you're one too, I want you two to get along."

For months, William had been trying to build a connection between you and Auston.

Having just moved to Toronto six months ago, your childhood friend William Nylander had been so kind to introduce you to the city. You had happily accepted a new job opportunity, and within a few weeks, Willy messaged you on Instagram after seeing your post about the move.

As children, William had always been one of your closest friends, but due to his moving around, it was sometimes challenging to meet up. However, thanks to social media, you both managed to stay updated about each other's lives.

And as your old friendship quickly rekindled, returning to its comfortable roots, you swiftly became best friends again.

Soon after spending quite the amount of time together, William had introduced you not only to his closest friends but also to the entire team. However, there was a catch – Although your heart might belong to another team, Toronto had to earn a soft spot as this was your new home.

Fortunately, you clicked well with everyone on the team, including their significant others. Yet, for some reason, Auston had irked you from the moment you met him.

He hadn't particularly done anything against you, but it was his smug expressions and comments about your sudden switch in team loyalty just to impress Willy that grated on you. Then, he had the nerve to suggest that you wanted to cosy up to your "so called" best friends to gain entry into the NHL world and snag hockey tickets.

"Probably just to boost followers on her Instagram," he quipped one evening, speaking low enough for only a few people to catch, yet loud enough for you to hear.

However, your intentions were far from that. Fame or social media followers were nowhere near your goals. All you wanted was to spend more time with Willy, and since you loved watching hockey, you were more than willing to pay for your own tickets.

So, from that moment on, every time Auston was around, you saw red. He exuded excessive confidence and an overall air of being too much. Sure, he was a star player on the team, but he wasn't constantly on top form. He had his off days, yet he was terrible at owning up to his mistakes.

To say the least, your thoughts about Auston weren't exactly positive, and his opinions about you weren't any better.

In his eyes, you were plain and uninteresting. A workaholic who seemed to indulge excessively on weekends, not holding back when it came to alcohol. He observed you flirting with almost every guy when out, and your perpetually upbeat and positive attitude was just too sickeningly cute for his taste.

The only reason he put up with being around you was because he recognised how much you meant to Willy and what a good friend you were to him. That, he could respect.

"I can be around him, Willy - I just prefer not to," you quipped, as the two of you headed first to the kitchen to grab a few snacks before settling on the sofa after a long walk with Pablo and Banksy.

"I mean it, y/n/n, I want you two to get along," William sighed lightly, though his friendly smile remained.

"I know, but we just... don't," you attempted to flash a sweet smile as you conveyed your feelings to William. "I can't put my finger on it... maybe it's his terrible moustache that he's always so damn proud of..."

"He's a Movember ambassador..."

"Well, he doesn't limit it to just November," you replied, a hint of disgust in your expression and a sigh. "He's simply not my cup of tea, and I'm definitely not his either."

William regarded you with a thoughtful expression, slowly coming to terms with the idea that the relationship between you and Auston might not improve, although a part of him thought otherwise.

"You know, you two are actually more alike than you think," he chuckled, trying to gently nudge you out of your comfort zone.

"Oh really?" You retorted with a light huff. "And how exactly am I similar to that self-absorbed so-called hockey star?" You raised an eyebrow.

"Well, for starters, you're both incredibly stubborn," William laughed heartily, a point you begrudgingly had to admit he might be right about. "And secondly, you're both insanely passionate about what you do. And you both care about your family and friends..." He continued softly, meeting your gaze as his words began to ease your tense demeanour. "Come on, Auston's a really great guy once you get past that tough exterior of his, and you're a wonderful person too - he just needs to see it. Then, I think the two of you could actually become pretty good friends."

William genuinely believed in what he said, but he was gradually growing tired of the ongoing friction between you and Auston. So, he made an effort to establish some sort of connection.

"Alright," he sighed deeply. "I suppose I can give him another chance..."

"That's all I'm asking for," William chuckled lightly before both of you diverted the conversation and turned your attention to the TV show you had planned to watch.

A couple of days later, you found yourself back in your usual spot at the Scotia Bank Arena, where the Leafs were facing off against the Senators.

Despite your efforts over the past 48 hours to shift your thoughts about Auston, making an attempt for the sake of your best friend William, as the players were announced and his prominent face appeared on the large screens, applauded for his talent, you couldn't help but feel a knot of discomfort within you.

"Fucking twat," you muttered under your breath, fortunately unnoticed by anyone around.

However, as the game began, you shook your head, attempting to push away any negative thoughts about him. You concluded that he wasn't worth your energy and mental space, but avoiding thoughts of him was easier said than done. After all, you were at a hockey game where he played, and his number was frequently mentioned.

Nonetheless, you did your best to ignore it and enjoy the company of other fans, including girls and families supporting the players. The arena reverberated with cheers and excitement as both teams alternated in scoring and taking the lead, making the match almost unbearably intense to watch.

During the third period, the score stood at 4-4, and with just three minutes remaining, if nothing changed, the game would head into overtime.

Your pulse raced alongside your quickened heartbeat as your eyes fervently tracked the play. And just before the buzzer sounded, number 34 skilfully manoeuvred the puck around the skates of two Senators and swiftly shot it under the goalie's pads, concluding the match with a 5-4 win for the Leafs. Which also secured him a hatty for the game.

"Of course," you thought, lightly shaking your head as the entire arena erupted with cheers and excitement, loud applause echoing through the air, and hats being thrown onto the ice.

Following the game, everyone gathered outside the locker room, waiting for the players to finish showering, attending to media commitments, and celebrations, where Auston was naturally announced as the player of the match.

You were engaged in conversation with some of the girlfriends as the players gradually exited the dressing room. And as one of the last to emerge, you patiently waited for Willy.

"Hey," he greeted, approaching you with damp hair, dressed in his post-game outfit. "I thought you had a date tonight?"

"Oh yeah, but we rescheduled since he had to cancel," you replied with a sweet smile and a light shrug.

"You didn't ditch him, did you?" William chuckled.

"What, no, he just cancelled on me. So, I chose to come here and offer my support to my best friend and his team," you playfully responded with a light smirk.

"Alright, well, I just need to finish up some things with Brad, then maybe we can go out for a late-night snack?" William suggested.

"Sure," you said with a friendly smile as William began to walk away. However, your smile quickly faded as a certain Arizona lad playfully joined your personal space, prompting you to turn and face him.

"Already tired of your new victim, y/n?" Auston's voice was filled with his signature confidence, clearly relishing the moment, especially after tonight's game.

"What's that supposed to mean, Auston?" Your tone was sharp and fierce as the tall lad stepped in closer to you.

"Well, just seems like you've been through every eligible bachelor in Toronto, and nobody seems to be good enough for you," a smug grin stretched across his tanned face, his ridiculous moustache curving along his lip.

"I haven't been through every bachelor in Toronto..." you retorted defensively. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with having standards - I mean, at least I'm not like you, poking into every available cunt you can find."

Your words seemed to hit a nerve with Auston, yet he responded with a dismissive huff and a chuckle, brushing off your comment.

"At least I'm getting some action - maybe you could use some too," his chuckle was cocky, and you couldn't help but express a disgusted look.

"Well, I'm sorry I don't sleep around like you do and actually prefer to be with someone I genuinely like," you retorted, matching his smug attitude. Though you knew it wasn't entirely true; you were open to casual hook up now and then, but you did prefer to get to know a person a bit before getting intimate.

"I'm just saying it might be good for you," Auston chuckled. "Besides, didn't you just get dumped last year? I mean, you should be out there, playing the field after ending a relationship."

"I didn't get dumped! And how do you even know about that?" you retorted sharply.

"Willy mentioned it a while ago," Auston replied with a smile.

"Hmm, well, yes, I... we broke up, but that doesn't mean I've given up, you know," you huffed gently, almost desperate to make a point. You understood Auston wasn't the most romantic person, and his confident, boyish manner shouldn't make you believe that all men were like him. "And I especially don't need to go around sleeping with everyone."

You crossed your arms defensively, fixing him with an intense gaze.

However, your stern comment only made Auston chuckle even more. "Whatever, still think it'd be good for you."

And as if on cue, William returned from his chat with Brad, and Auston quickly walked away after nodding to his teammate.

"Hey, you ready?" William asked with a friendly smile.

"Yeah, I'm all set," you replied with a smile, though your attempt to contain your annoyance wasn't entirely successful.

"What was that all about?" He chuckled a little.

"Oh, nothing," you gently rolled your eyes. "Just Auston being Auston."

Knowing you well enough, William merely chuckled and let the matter drop.

The following Sunday, you found yourself feeling freezing, sitting outside on a bench and waiting.

Your date had been rescheduled, and now you were impatiently enduring the cold while waiting for him to show up by the outdoor ice-skating rink the city. The first 20 minutes were bearable; you assumed he was just running late. But after 40 minutes with no replies to your messages and no sign of him, you started feeling rather foolish.

This turn of events caught you off guard. Based on your last two dates, everything had seemed to go smoothly, and you'd been texting each other every day for weeks. However, suddenly, for some unknown reason, he appeared to have lost interest in you.

But you wanted to maintain some semblance of dignity, to believe that he had a valid excuse, and that something unexpected had caused this delay. However, you also didn't want to be too naive. And after an hour had passed, you realised it was time to leave. It wasn't a mere mistake about the time; he had indeed stood you up and ghosted you.

And just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, a familiar voice spoke from behind as you stood up from your seat.

"Still waiting for your knight in shining armour?"

It was Auston. Of course, HE was here. And he'd spotted you.

"Shit," you muttered to yourself as you slowly turned around to face the last person you wanted to see right now.

"And what are you doing here?" you flashed him an unsatisfied grin, letting out a deep sigh.

"I was just ice skating with some friends," he simply replied, one hand tucked comfortably in his pocket to keep warm, while the other held his pair of skates. "So, are you here alone?"

"Why do you care, Auston?" your tone softened, yet it held a deep, sharp edge.

"Just noticed you were sitting all alone from across the rink..." he spoke almost gently, taking another step towards you, a smirk still on his face.

"And what? So, you thought I was looking pathetic, and you decided to come over here with your smug face and revel in the fact that I'd been stood up? Well, I'm sorry Auston, but I'm not in the mood for your annoying comments right now," you said sarcastically, feeling your tone might be a bit more aggressive than intended. However, you couldn't seem to control yourself at this moment. It turned out you were more hurt than you initially thought.

"What... no, y/n, I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd been stood up," Auston spoke, his smirk slowly fading as he noticed the genuine sadness and disappointment on your face. "Honestly, I didn't even know you were on a date; it was just a joke."

Your eyes met his, and you found yourself unable to respond immediately. While slowly, you felt tears starting to well up, but you tried your best to hold them back and not let it show.

"I'm sorry..." you said. "I just didn’t find it particularly funny..." Your arms crossed over your chest, not defensively but more as a way to comfort yourself, as a tear trickling down your cheek, and your heart heavy with disappointment.

Auston's expression had also completely changed. He seemed almost... concerned about you?

In that moment, Auston found himself genuinely impacted by seeing you so vulnerable. You were completely exposed emotionally, and he felt a sense of empathy for you, being treated in such a manner. While you might not have been his favourite person, he also didn't believe you deserved to be treated this way. And it stirred an unexpected urge in him to offer you comfort.

So, without overthinking it, he found himself speaking up.

"Do you want to skate together?"

His words surprised both you and himself. You never expected Auston to ask you to spend time with him, let alone attempt to console you in an emotional situation.

Baffled, you stood there, still in your skates, amidst the cheerful sounds of people skating and having fun around you. You simply stared at the man before you, shaking your head gently, trying to gather your thoughts to respond.

"What?"

Auston chuckled lightly, realising the surprising nature of his question. Yet, a sense of warmth grew within him as he contemplated trying to uplift your spirits.

"I asked, do you want to skate together?"

Though still slightly baffled, you regarded him with a curious look.

"I thought you were here with your friends?"

"I am," he flashed a smile. "But they have each other – you, on the other hand, seem like you could use some company."

You weren't entirely certain what to make of this situation. Was Auston joking? Was he playing around or something?

But oddly, he seemed genuine.

"Why... would you do that?" you inquired, a curious smile forming on your lips, prompting Auston to release a soft sigh.

"Well… maybe Willy has asked me to be a little nicer to you… and, since he's my best friend, and hanging out with him also means being around you from time to time, I figured…" Auston shrugged lightly before continuing, "Maybe I can, I don't know, try and get to know you a little bit better. And since you're all alone, why not now."

You found yourself holding your breath momentarily, contemplating his words. Yet, as you observed him, his smirk faded, gently licking his lips and replaced by a soft smile on his face.

"Alright," you replied softly, meeting his gaze as your eyes reflected the city lights around the rink. “But only if you promise me one thing…”

"Which is?"

"You won't laugh at me skating…" you timidly requested, a hint of embarrassment colouring your cheeks.

"Why would I laugh?" Auston gently smiled.

"I'm good at skating, but I'm also rather clumsy," you admitted, a small smile forming on your lips, and Auston simply replied with a casual chuckle.

"Don't worry, I'll catch you if you fall then."

After putting on his skates as well, both of you headed onto the ice together with soft laughter. And surprisingly, Auston turned out to be excellent company.

Surely, at first, it was a bit awkward. Breaking the tension that had built up over months between you wasn't easy. But gradually, as you continued skating side by side, the atmosphere lightened. William was, of course, the primary topic of your conversation, as he was your strongest common link. However, the conversation then gradually shifted to hockey – what you both liked and disliked about the sport. And soon, you found yourselves sharing personal details, discussing your upbringing and your personal stories.

Auston even laughed when you shared childhood stories about you and Willy, talking about the times when you gave him advice about girls during your teenage years. He then reciprocated by sharing stories from their road trips and the challenges of growing up while playing in the NHL. He delved into tales about his family, highlighting how supportive they had always been, and mentioned being the protective brother and the struggles he faced in finding close friends with whom he could form genuine bonds.

And this sudden display of vulnerability started to alter your perception of him, if only slightly. As you continued gliding across the ice, maintaining your closeness, Auston began discussing how many people in his life had come and gone, primarily seeking his friendship for the sake of public recognition.

You found yourself developing a small soft spot for him as he gradually opened up, revealing a side you had never seen before, one that he probably never showed to the team or to many others. And despite having tried to maintain a distance from him, you slowly came to realise that you did, in fact, know Auston quite well. You understood that he wasn't comfortable discussing emotions or engaging in heartfelt conversations, so this talk was a significant step for him.

Eventually, both of you skated to the edge of the rink to pause for a moment, a brief silence settling between you before you decided to break it with a soft sigh.

"Is that why you said those things about me when Willy first introduced me to the team?" you looked up at him, facing each other, both resting a hand on the border. "That I only wanted to be close friends with him because of fame."

Auston understood exactly what you meant, and you were spot on. That had indeed been his initial thought about you when you re-entered the life of one of his best friends.

With a gentle nod, he softly replied, "Yes."

Another quiet moment settled between you, and it became evident what this misunderstanding had truly been about. Auston's initial desire to shield Willy from a potentially damaging friendship, and your perception of him as cocky and arrogant because of his defensive stance from the start.

Once again, your eyes locked, a bit more intensely this time, as you both felt the opportunity to break free from this tension between you.

"Well, I hope I managed to prove you wrong then," you sighed softly, offering him a sweet, friendly smile.

And Auston simply matched your expression. "You did," he replied.

With a few shared light laughs, the profound tension suddenly dissipated. And a new sensation seemed to grow between you both – perhaps even a potential friendship.

But just as everything seemed to settle into a comfortable rhythm, someone suddenly appeared out of nowhere and forcefully crashed into you, causing you to fall over and straight into Auston, who lost his footing and ended up falling backward onto his back, pulling you along with him. In the midst of the fall, you accidentally collided, your head hitting his face, resulting in both of you letting out loud yells.

"Fuck!" Auston shouted.

"Shit, Aus, are you okay?"

Your head was spinning from the adrenaline rush.

"Yeah, I think I'm good... how about you?"

"Well, I did land quite softly," you tried to offer a light chuckle, prompting Auston to do the same.

And slowly, with a bit of assistance from the stranger who had accidentally bumped into you, both of you managed to regain your footing. However, your attention snapped back to Auston as you noticed something alarming.

"Fuck, your nose is bleeding!"

Auston touched his nose, confirming that it was indeed bleeding from the collision.

"Come on, let's get out of here," you suggested, gently taking his hand as you both stepped off the ice and made your way to sit on a nearby bench.

Auston tried to lean back to prevent too much bleeding, while you gently guided him and then applied a piece of tissue to his nose. Thankfully, you had had the foresight to have a package in your pocket, though not specifically for situations like this, it turned out to be quite practical.

Sitting closely on the bench, you carefully wiped the blood off his nose, feeling a twinge of guilt despite knowing the accident wasn't your fault. And Auston's intense gaze focused on you as you attended to him.

"I guess this wasn't how you thought your date would be," he chuckled.

"Maybe not," you gently smiled back. "But despite the blood, I actually think it's been a rather fun day," you softly admitted, meeting his eyes.

Auston reciprocated your smile, feeling your gentle touch close to his face.

"He's an idiot, you know, for blowing you off like this," he gently spoke, causing you to pause and look up at him.

"Thanks, but I suppose it's just my luck… you were right, I've dated so many guys, and although I promised myself never to give up on love, it's just not always easy," you softly admitted.

"Hey, it's his loss – I mean, you're... sweet, funny, and quite good-looking, so if he doesn't want to date you, he’s the one missing out. You shouldn't feel bad about it."

"You really think so?"

"Yeah... I mean... I know I haven't always treated you nicely, but... I've always thought you were hot," Auston chuckled.

"You're not too shabby yourself," you flashed him a sweet smile, eliciting another laugh from him.

As you sat closely together amidst the vibrant winter wonderland in the heart of Toronto, both of you couldn't help but feel a sense of connection.

It felt odd.

It was as if all previous tension had vanished. You were now just two individuals, engaged in pleasant conversation, enjoying each other's company.

And Auston finally understood what William saw in you. He had never felt this comfortable opening up and expressing his thoughts to someone. No one had ever made him feel so at ease and relaxed during a heartfelt conversation like you. You were certainly something else.

But then clearing your throat, you broke the intense gaze you shared.

"Perhaps I should better get going... it's getting late, and I shouldn't be keeping you from your friends like this," you timidly suggested, looking down at your hands for a moment before beginning to unlace your skates.

With a nod, Auston followed suit, swiftly changing back into regular shoes. Standing with your skates in hand, you exchanged a sweet smile before an unexpected surge of confidence propelled you to lean in and plant a timid kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you, Auston... I really enjoyed spending time with you today," you softly expressed, while tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.

"You're welcome," he replied, exhaling softly.

But then as you turned to walk away, an unexpected desire to keep you close surged within Auston. And with his free hand, he swiftly caught yours, drawing you back toward him, pressing his chest against yours before tenderly kissing your lips.

The kiss was gentle, yet both of you found yourselves leaning slightly into it. Auston dropped his skates, using his hand to cup your face, holding you just a little closer, before slowly pulling apart.

You exhaled deeply, confusion mingling with a pleasant sensation, ultimately giving way to a smile.

"So, I guess this means we're good?" you tentatively joked.

"Yeah... and the next date you're going on will be with me," Auston stated firmly, wearing a wide grin.

"God, you're way too confident," you teased, playfully rolling your eyes at him.

"Maybe, but I know you like it," he countered, raising an eyebrow before leaning in to connect your lips once again.

#my asks #auston matthews imagine #auston matthews #nhl player imagine #toronto maple leafs #toronto maple leafs fic #nhl hockey player #william nylander imagine

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just-dino-maggie · 1 year

Note

could you do 24, 28, and 42 with trevor zegras and the reader is jack hughes twin or something? xoxo <3

Thank you so much for the request! I hope you like it! I did change it up a little bit but I still think it’s cute! I really hope you don’t mind!

Everyone is aged up one year to make this work lol

24. “I needed you.”

28. “I hate you.” “No you don’t.”

42. “I love you and it scares the hell out of me!”

Being the youngest Hughes is a wonderful challenge. I’m 19, a year younger then Luke but the same grade at U of M. I’m so insanely proud of my older brothers and their success but sometimes I feel like I’m a disappointment. They’re all in the NHL and I’m simply a college student. I’m just their little sister, nothing more.

I was 13 years old when I first realized I was in love with Trevor Zegras. He was 16 and barely noticed I existed. I’m Jacks little sister after all. He was sweet with me, always asking me how my day was and making sure the other boys never gave me a hard time. In my eyes he was the perfect guy.

After he was drafted I didn’t see him for a few years. He was off to college in Boston and Jack was in New Jersey. We just never crossed paths. I made sure we didn’t, he was dating and enjoying being a student athlete. If I saw him like that, with those girls, it would have hurt too bad.

From age 15-18 I never really saw him. Until last years summer when a freshly 18 years old Y/n decided that she got to go to the lake house. I was a mess, it was a tough year for me. I was being constantly overlooked by everyone in my life. I was Luke’s little sister, nothing more.

Worst of all, I could tell my best friend Sofia was starting to fall for Jack. She never said anything or did anything about it until I told her to. I want her to be happy but it felt like a stab in the heart.

I did the dumbest thing I think I’ve ever done. I kissed Trevor. I was so lonely and he had looked at me differently that summer. He looked at me like I was something more then I had been before. I thought he finally saw me. But instead he looked at me in my eyes after I kissed him and said “You’re Jack’s little sister, we can’t.” My heart shattered and it has been that way since.

Luke, Jack, and Sofia have insisted that I come to the lakehouse this year. Luke claims that I have to because he’s starting next season with New Jersey. Apparently he’ll miss me so much so I have to hang out with him this summer. Jack says that he really wants me there for Sofia, which I understand. Sofia is my best friend so of course she wants me to go.

I tried to say no. The embarrassment of last year still hung over me but they all had really great reasons. I’ve missed all of them so terribly. Also I can’t tell them the reason I don’t want to go. It would crush Jack and mortify me.

It’s only been a few days at the lake house and ignoring Trevor has been difficult. He tried to talk to me when we first got here but I brushed him off. I’ve been glued to Luke and Sofias side so I don’t have to talk to him.

This morning I wake up early. I immediately wrap my blanket around myself and run to the kitchen to get a drink. What’s better then hot chocolate and sunrises? Half way to the kitchen I run right into someone.

When I look up at the person steadying me, familiar blue eyes hold my gaze. “Will you excuse me?” I ask politely, trying to push past him.

He doesn’t let me go. “Last year you were all over me and now you can’t stand to be around me for more then 5 seconds. What’s that about?”

My face goes red. “I hate you.”

“No you don’t. We both know you don’t hate me.” He smirks for a second, clearly enjoying the fact that I can’t deny him. “What’s going on? Why won’t you talk to me? Is this about last year… I thought we could move past that.”

“I can’t,” I whisper. “I needed you.”

He looks even more confused. He moves his hands off of me to run them through his hair. “You needed me to kiss you?”

“No,” I shake my head. “No I needed you to see me. I needed you to look at me and like me for me; despite being Jacks sister. But you can’t do that. I can’t get close to you again. It hurts to much.”

He holds my face, “I do, I see you.”

“Not the way I want you to.” I finally push away from him. I only get a few steps away before I’m being spun around and pushed up against a cabinet. His lips are on mine. He’s kissing me so hard… he’s ravaging me.

He pulls away quicker then I had hoped. I wanted to be consumed by him for a little longer. To know for sure that the desire is there for both of us. Not just me.

“I see you. I love you and it scares the hell out of me!” I gasp at his words.

I kiss him softly on the lips, “Why does it scare you?”

“In my mind you were just Jack’s sweet little sister. Then I saw you last year and you were so different. I guess 2 plus years changes a person a lot. You were still so sweet but you were grown up. Smart, dedicated, beautiful. I’ve spent the past year obsessing over you. I want you so bad but it could ruin the relationship I have with your family. I don’t know if I could handle Jack hating me, but now I know that being apart from you might be even worse. I’m so scared to lose you guys.”

His voice cracks ever so slightly on that last sentence. I hate that he feels so helpless, like loving me could tear him appart. I’m not sure how to reassure him so I just say, “I love you too Trevor, everything is going to be okay.”

We go outside to watch the sunrise, cuddling together on the outdoor furniture. Everytime I feel unsure I look at Trevor and when his eyes meet mine I know that everything will turn out fine. Because I love him and he loves me and that’s all I really need.

#trevor zegras #trevor zegras imagine #jack hughes #luke hughes #hughes brothers #trevor zegras blurb #nhl imagine

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devilsupdates · 13 days

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The last official updates until post season trade.

These are from this morning.

On learning to be a consistent, reliable player Alex Holtz says he really watches the way Ondrej Palat and Jesper Bratt carry themselves every day, showing up at the rink early, etc.

I have no doubt there are others too, but he pointed out those two in his answer.

Dawson Mercer: “We know we’re a talented group, we believe in ourselves. We know what (type of) guys we have in this room. We’re excited (for next season), you can’t doubt that because we know what we are capable of.”

Alexander Holtz says he wants to come back next season a different player… more reliable, quicker, better skating.

Luke said he was really thankful to have Jack to lean on this year, his rookie season, and spend every day with his brother.

Added: “I had a cook!” and reiterated that Jack is an excellent cook.

Luke Hughes will go to Worlds with Team USA

Nolan Foote had a lower-back, disc injury that had been lingering for the past four years.

That’s what kept him out this season.

Nemec said he really leaned on having Ondrej Palat and Tomas Nosek around in his first year. Being able to communicate in their language was important and he said that he, Palat and Nosek would often go for dinner together.

Nemec talked about his first real moment of feeling like he was in the NHL was when he was lining up against Connor McDavid in his fourth game.

That checks out.

Simon Nemec will be going to play at Worlds with Slovakia

Congrats to Jack on earning the King Clancy Memorial Trophy nomination!

Nate Bastian said his injury could not have come at a worse time in the season… said he probably would have been able to join the team on the ice today if #NJDevils were still playing.

Dougie Hamilton said that he was hoping to be ready to at least join the team for practice in the next little bit if the team was headed to the playoffs.

Tomas Nosek says he will go to Worlds with Czechia and it will be the first time he’s playing at Worlds. Says it means a lot to him to be able to play for the first time with the men’s National team in his home country.

#NJDevils Curtis Lazar reveals it was a shoulder injury. “Nothing too major, probably would have been cleared to play this week.”“I’m excited about the outlook of this team because we’ve been through a lot now.”

Jesper Bratt: “Obviously it wasn’t the way we wanted this season to go…there were a lot of games this year where if we played more mature we would have gotten the points.”“We have to use this as major motivation to dial it in…to come back more mature and get this team back to the playoffs.”

Jesper Bratt says he’s unsure if he’s going to Worlds, has to discuss with #NJDevils medical staff before making that decision

Jake Allen on what he’s looking forward to next year: “I think there is a lot of optimism here. We know what kind of team this can be. We all want to put our work boots on this summer and come back a little bit better.”

Dougie Hamilton on his injury: “I just fell awkwardly on my arm… I just felt something and knew something was wrong.”

On the challenges of this year: “it’s hard not being out there with the guys…definitely makes you appreciated stuff and make sure you don’t take things for granted.”

On his health: “I’ve been skating, the plan was targeting playoffs…once we realized the was no (playoff) chance, we changed back up the rehab.”

“Hard year for everyone. Hard year for me not being able to help.”

Kaapo Kahkonen on coming over at the deadline: “I’ve gone through it twice. It’s always hectic at the start…you try to focus on your game…I felt good at the start, good guys in the room.”“I want to be a number one goalie…we’ll see where everything goes.”

Kevin Bahl on his year: “Biggest takeaway was learning a lot. I was in a spot I didn’t expect to be…I think I need to work on my shot this summer big time and footspeed.”On this year’s ending: “it’s extremely motivating…being here today and not playing hockey is a weird feeling.”On playing all 82 games: “it’s extremely grueling…it’s all about taking care of your body…it’s extremely rewarding too, because you are always with the game group.”

Ondrej Palat on what to take from this year: “Learning experience..need to think about it this summer and train harder this offseason.”“There are so many games we had a chance to get points and didn’t at the end…our mentality to play defense it wasn’t good enough.”On his own game: “Not a great year, not a lot of points…I’m not judging myself on points, I’m judging myself on winning battles and setting example, I think I did OK there, not great.”On opening season in Czechia: “it’s amazing, almost unbelievable to play NHL hockey in Czech”

Nico Hischier is expecting to go to Worlds with Switzerland. Says he’s in touch with his national team coach.

So it’s been a bit of a rough year injury-wise for Timo.

Timo Meier also said he was dealing with an oblique injury later in the year as well.

Timo Meier says it's up in the air whether he will be going to Worlds with Switzerland or not.

Says he's waiting on certain things to make sure his body is good enough to play more and he hasn't made an official decision yet.

Until anymore updates on the devils it will be about the playoffs and the cup here.

In Minnesota wild news

The Giving Flower 🌸

We're proud to announce Fleury is our 2024 nominee for the @NHL's King Clancy Memorial Trophy!

He is also the recipient of the #mnwild 's Tom Kurvers Humanitarian Award!

The Wild Flower blooms like no other 🌸

We're excited to announce we've signed goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to a one-year contract extension!

#new jersey devils #hockey imagine #nico hischier #jack hughes #luke hughes #hockey #timo meier #john marino

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digitaldiscipline · 4 months

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EA's Catholicism Simulator

I have found the uncanny valley that has ruined EA Sports games for me.

They've turned their sports games into a religious sim.

They're influentially scripted. This sounds stupid, and I only have observational data, and am absolutely not a game dev, but here's my evidence.

As you play through the "individual player career" mode, the games follow one of a handful of scripted plots (they're the same regardless of difficulty, what changes is how well your player and your digital teammates and opponents do their thing), and it un-subtly rewards or punishes you for pulling off a specific action that you are ostensibly being taught to do (a trick move, for instance)... and the game will blatantly set you up with opportunities to do it.

Pull the move off adroitly, or a couple of times in a row? You're gonna be rewarded with a better chance of scoring a goal or otherwise have your performance boosted for the next few seconds.

Decline to try it, or fuck up? Play is going the other way, with the other team having a boost to their skill for the same few seconds.

It is absolutely not realistic once you notice it. And once seen, it can't be un-seen. You can predict when the opposing team is going to take an un-avoidable run at your character. You can watch the opposing goaltender become an unbeatable highlight show. You can tell when your avatar is going to fail a challenge issued by the coach if you make the wrong choice during an in-game inflection point.

But there are set events (in the game! during gameplay! which is supposed to be dynamic! because it's a sports game!), where it's clear that the script engine ends up on a branch where, unless you do something absolutely perfect, you absolutely cannot score, and you are almost certainly going to wind up taking a penalty for something that is extremely nominal, if you even performed the penalty-taking action at all.

It feels, honestly, excruciatingly Christian in the reward/punishment mechanic, and has frankly ruined my enjoyment of the game, because I am no longer playing a sports sim, I am playing a database decision tree with a snazzy GUI that will fuck with your input sensitivity to get its way, regardless of the player's skill or choices.

You can literally watch your player get shoved around by the engine when there are no NPCs in the vicinity.

This has gotten increasingly prevalent and obvious in their newer titles, which is more of an indictment about their reuse of shitty code than anything else, because I first began noticing it in their NFL title a couple of years ago, then it was much more obvious in a more recent vintage, and it is beating me over the head in the current iteration of their NHL franchise.

There's a solution, of course, and that's to remove the forced narrative, and let the player's play determine the outcome. But giving all the NPCs that extra splash of autonomy in lieu of this clumsy predestination is apparently too expensive to code, and they've already cut the budget by re-using audio clips from the last decade of VA work.

#video games #ea sports #ea sports nhl #ea sports nfl #shitty game design #religion

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whatever-dude · 1 year

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EXCUSE ME?! How are they only giving a penalty to Sanny??? WTF?!

#wtf #nhl refs still suck #at least theyre consistent #CONSISTENTLY BAD #nhl refs be better at your job challenge #ugh #i hate it here #they are praying on our downfall #sanny is innocent and has never done anything wrong ever #travis sanheim #sanny #philadelphia flyers #nhl #hockey #11.5.22 #flyers

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pcttymcrlecu · 9 months

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being a good man ✒︎ m.knies

summary: the next chapter of your relationship with Matthew is clearly going to be difficult but looking back at the previous chapters may be enlightening enough

featuring: matthew knies x gn!reader

word count: 2.1k

warnings: none

note: apart from wearing a camisole (which isn’t really anything) i don’t think there is anything that could imply that reader identifies as a specific gender so i’m tentatively putting this as gender neutral.

dedication: this sweet little one shot was written for elle (@gravestrain) for demi's summer fic exchange! i thoroughly hope you enjoy this - i will give you a little disclaimer and ask you exercise a little kindness/caution and read this all with a grain of salt, it's my first time writing for matty.

and a little side dedication to thank demi (@wyattjohnston) for hosting this awesome event.

You and Matthew had been talking about going on some kind of holiday over the summer. Something for just the both of you and to celebrate the fact that not only had he had his NHL debut in the playoffs no less, but also that you were on track to graduate in the major of your choice with a dream job prospect on the horizon.

You had both travelled with friends and their significant others before. You had also heard your friends speak highly of weekend trips and holidays they had been on with their significant others. Your little group of friends kept questioning if you and Matt would ever go on a trip alone, especially now that he was going off to play in the major league. Both of you had brushed off the thought of even doing it, deciding it would be a graduation thing, yet your plans were shifting. Something you had accepted when you agreed to date Matt; you knew that his goals were the NHL, and you supported him entirely. Coming in at a close second to his parents in being proud of him when he got signed for the playoffs.

You had met in your first year at university through a mutual friend, and even though you were sceptical about being friends with him, you put faith in your friend that they were friends with good people. And Matt was better than good people. You’d even go as far as to say he’s close to being one of the best people.

Even though you were hesitant to even accept his invite to mini golf that one night after midterms. He had waited outside until your last midterm with a small box of chocolates and a handwritten note. Clearly, someone had helped him out. His sweet face was haunted with nerves, or maybe that was obvious from the fact he was pacing a hole into his shoes on the concrete. Or perhaps you knew he was riddled with insecurity because you’d been watching him for nearly five minutes as he furiously mumbled to himself a very obviously pre-planned speech to the point where he hadn’t noticed the rest of your classmates or yourself emerge from the building.

When you had eventually interrupted his nervous rambling, he had barely managed to get the invite out. Still, you were happy when the words finally left his mouth. And you were happier with just the two of you that evening, getting to know one another. What made it better was that it didn’t end with just one dinner and plastic putts. Although he was busy not only with his studies but being part of the hockey team, he still managed to make time for you and growing your relationship. He was in this wholeheartedly, which made it so easy for you to fall in deep the way you did.

With all the changes in both your lives, you could barely stop to count what had changed and stayed the same. But with Matt’s professional career starting, you knew that it meant that even though he would be returning to Toronto, you still had classes waiting for you in Minnesota. This was somewhere you couldn’t follow him and cheer from the sidelines. Considering for the entire duration of your relationship, you’d always been in the same state, this was bound to be a big challenge for your relationship, and you wanted to set it up for success in any way you could. You had both planned to spend as much time as you could together before the new academic year and the NHL season began, and you would both suddenly have other responsibilities and less time to see one another.

You stayed in Minnesota after the spring semester had ended to spend some time with your family before spending the rest of your summer with Matt. You had gone on a family trip to Cancún, a trip which you’d taken many times when you were much younger but stopped around the same time you had started preparing for university. The reminder of one of your favourite childhood memories made you realise just how far you’d come. Your parents had called it an early graduation present, of which you had argued you still needed something to look forward to next year. They’d reminded you that even though you would always have their support and could always fall back on them when you needed it, your life was about to become everything you had been dreaming about and working towards for the last couple of years was finally all coming together.

Mexico had treated you well, but while you’d be lounging on the beach and exploring the city, the hot weather had demanded bare shoulders. Bare shoulders demanded more attention to sunblock reapplication, which slipped your mind in some afternoons at the pool and lunchtime picnics. The sensitivity of your shoulders and arms now and the dulling throb, whenever too much pressure touched you was the consequence of your enjoyment. Matt was a happy listener when you got downtown at night to speak with him;. However, he joked about it when you whined; the look of mild concern was ever present whenever the burns were mentioned.

It was only after returning to Matt after saying goodbye to your family at the airport and flying from Mexico to Arizona instead of home that the holiday conversation came up again. It was during, what had become, an average night since you’d been staying with the Knies family, with you and Matt making dinner together. Matt’s main responsibility whilst in the kitchen was helping you reach for things that caused too much grief to your still-healing burns. You couldn’t help but praise him for being such a good little sous chef for you. It wasn’t that he wasn’t great in the kitchen, he could do enough to keep himself fed, but you were sure you’d taught him a thing or two since he’d started actually helping instead of being a pro-taste tester as he had declared himself initially. Even if he didn’t take any of the recipes or skills to Canada with him, the time you spent together was so much more important to you.

The holiday suggestion (read: declaration) came as an offhanded mention that the flights were booked and all you had to do was pack your bags accordingly. Your hands momentarily stopped stirring the sauce, turning to face Matt where he stood by the counter, picking at the leftover cake you’d both baked the night before. His eyes weren’t even on you as he spoke, it wasn’t until your silence had clearly made him uncomfortable (maybe a little insecure), and it was then when he finally looked up at you as he threw a piece of cake into his mouth. His face had the same unsure look as it had been all those years ago. The little reminder of how you came to be in this very moment had your heart fluttering already.

“Stop snacking, you’ll ruin your appetite,” You chided as you took a breath and turned the stove down before turning around to fully face your boyfriend; wooden spoon pointed at him, “Pack my bags to … where?”

When the word Iceland came out, your face was a vision of surprise and confusion. You didn’t even have to ask before his slightly panicked but clearly excited rambles quickly flowed out his mouth. His words very softly trailed off as he simply motioned over to your bare shoulders where the small straps of your camisole exposed them; the slight sheen of the soothing cream and aloe he had demanded her help spread over them shining in the light.

“Thought I’d spare you from blistering for all of the summer break,” He muttered, almost shyly, as he added the vegetable to the sauce as you had instructed him to before he had brought the trip up.

A gentle warmth filled your chest and washed over your cheeks at the thoughtfulness of your boyfriend. Quickly checking, the pan was still simmering away, and the vegetables were slowly cooking; you stepped over to him. Arms gently wrapped around him and giving him a firm squeeze when his arms reciprocated the action.

“When did you decide on Iceland?”

“Well, you’ve always wanted to go, and it just seemed like the right time,” The sheepish look on his face told you that there was definitely more to the story than just that, so you pulled away, resting back in his arms as you looked up at him with a slight raise of your brow, “I started looking around the first time you mentioned you’d got sunburnt.”

A light laugh left your mouth as you pulled his back towards you before pushing him away, gently squeezing his cheeks, “You’re precious,” You set yourself back up by the range, sorting out the sauce before taking it off the heat.

“How quiet you’re being is making me a little nervous here,” A wispy laugh left him, clearly riddled with nerves as he watched you start to plate everything up ready for dinner, “Mum helped plan it, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Oh Matty,” You cooed, looking back towards him with an adoring smile, “I’m not worried about anything – I’m just…trying to process.”

“Process?”

“No one’s ever done something so … elaborate for me before?” The words were uttered softly as you grabbed a handful of knives and forks and handed them over to him as you continued, “I don’t know what to say.”

“Perhaps ‘Yes, I’ll go with you.’ might work?” His suggestion only made you laugh again as you took him in. His forehead was slightly creased with an inkling of worry as his hand fiddled with the silverware you had placed in his hands.

The domesticity of your entire situation filled you with joy, and the words that had left Matt’s mouth swirled in your head like a hurricane. His kindness and gentleness with you throughout your entire time together. How patient and considerate he was of you when you started dating, and you were still unsure, to how he made sure to always keep an eye out for you at parties when you weren’t 100% feeling the crowds, to simply wanting to make sure you not only enjoy your holiday but your health is his main concern.

You both stood in a slightly tense silence, mainly due to the anxiety starting to come off in waves from Matt. The memories of all the times Matt acknowledged you and the choices where he considered you. It was as if he had already decided you were going to be a constant part of his life even when you were still battling between your heart telling you it wanted to be with him and your brain telling you that being with him is not only going to be hard work, but it’s also going to be nothing more than heartbreak.

And yet here you stand with your heart intact, fuller than you thought it could be. Not only had Matt made you whole entirely by yourself, but he had made you want to be more than whole. He’s made you want to walk through life holding his hand, knowing that if you stumble, he will catch you and be there to push you forward and get you safely to the other side. He’s made it clear that this is not something for him to pass the time, but his feelings for you run deep through his veins. No one has ever seen you in the way Matt has, and at every turn, he has made sure to not only tell you that you’re seen, but he always went the step further to show you that you’re seen.

“Yes Matthew, I will join you on that plane,” Moving closer to him to place your hands and his cheek and gently caress the lines of worry that were starting to fade at your words, you smiled up at him once more, “Hell I’d join you anywhere you’d ask me to go.”

So maybe it was time to show him that you see him, and maybe him seeing you fall isn’t such a bad thing.

Because yes, Matt was definitively a great man but better than that, he was a good one.

#the summer fic exchange 2k23 #matthew knies x reader #matty knies x reader #matthew knies fic #( m writing. )#( being a good man. )#( I'm so sorry this got posted slightly late ella -- technology is not my friend )

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fannyyann · 3 months

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Aleksander Barkov's impact on the Panthers, and how he's taken the mantle as best two-way player in the NHL Dimitri Filipovic

Patrice Bergeron’s departure from the NHL this past summer obviously left a massive opening atop the Boston Bruins depth chart down the middle that would be difficult to fill, which they’ve remarkably done one heck of a job of patching together thus far.

But it also created a void every bit as glaring atop the Selke Trophy conversation as well. He’d won the award in each of the past two seasons quite decisively, totalling 187 out of 196 possible first-place votes last season. Even as he crept into his late 30s, he truly cemented himself as the gold standard of two-way excellence, consistently operating at a level that was simply unmatched by his peers.

His retirement created an opportunity for someone from the current crop to step up and take that mantle though, and if the first 30 games or so this year are any indication, that role appears to have been filled rather admirably by Aleksander Barkov.

It’s certainly fitting that it would be him, considering that he’s the last active player to have won the award, but the heights he’s taken his game to in doing so are still awfully impressive.

What he’s doing right now would make even Bergeron blush, distancing himself from pretty much everyone else at his position much like his predecessor had made a habit of doing. The on-ice numbers Barkov boasts right now are downright staggering. In his 323 5-on-5 minutes, here’s how the Florida Panthers have fared:

Goals: 23-5 differential

High Danger Chances: 74-46 differential

Shots: 60.5 percent share

Expected Goals: 61.0 percent share

To put his dominance into even further context, he’s already scored six times himself, which means that he’s currently scored more goals than he’s allowed all of his opponents to muster combined. It’s also worth noting that without him out there, the Panthers are getting outscored 38-29. How they play with him on the ice and without him are two entirely different things, which speaks to his impact. He does it with the degree of difficulty ratcheted all the way up, chewing up heavy minutes against the other team’s top players while shouldering an immense amount of responsibility.

And despite all of that, he’s still taken just three penalties (while drawing six of his own), finding a way to artfully poke and prod constantly with that pole vaulting apparatus he calls a hockey stick without ever crossing the line. It’s legitimately impressive that he can legally challenge puck carriers with the sheer volume of stick checks that he does, considering how much the league has mandated cracking down on anything even remotely near the hands. It allows him to craftily execute takeaways, while still staying on the ice, which is doubly important for a Panthers team that takes a bunch of penalties otherwise. That seems like a small perk in the grand scheme of things, but it actually ranks as one of my favourites about his game.

He’s spent the majority of the season with Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues on his flanks, and that trio has been the best line in hockey. In just under 200 minutes together, they’re up 19-3. Rodrigues has been underrated for years, and it’s great to see him finally find a long-term fit this season in Florida. Reinhart is tied with Kyle Connor for fourth in goals, currently on pace to score 50 times. The timing of his spike in shooting percentage couldn’t be better in a contract year, but he’s been so good for so long now, that he deserves to be rewarded for it. Plus, he’s such a smart player that I could see him aging quite gracefully into his 30s, the way that someone like Joe Pavelski has.

I love both players, so don’t take it as diminishing their contributions when I say that the reason all of it is possible for Florida is because of Barkov. His skill set is so unique, and such an enabler for everyone in his orbit.

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The two things that the Panthers have become synonymous with as an organization during this run of success have been a) their supremely aggressive forechecking, and b) their uncanny ability to keep bringing in castoffs from other teams and immediately juicing their production beyond what we had any reason to believe they were capable of at this point.

What they’ve been able to pull off to start the season almost surely hasn’t received nearly enough nationally. The team started the year without having Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour available for the first 15 games, who are clearly two of their three best defenders (you’ll see them referred to as their two best, but that’s Gustav Forsling erasure and we don’t stand for that here). Yet they’re currently 17-9-2 on the season, sitting in a tie with the Colorado Avalanche for eighth in the league in points percentage, with the sixth best goal differential. And despite those early absences, much of that success can be directly attributed to the team’s defensive performance.

Only the Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets, and Vancouver Canucks are giving up fewer goals than them at 5-on-5, and they’re sixth in fewest goals against surrendered on a per-minute basis overall. According to Sportlogiq, here’s how they grade out in all of the key categories we care about:

Expected Goals Against: 3rd

Slot Shots: 2nd

Inner Slot Shots: 5th

Offensive Zone Possession Time Allowed: 2nd

By any important marker, they’ve graded out as one of the best defensive teams in the league. Which almost seems impossible based on the aforementioned injuries, and the personnel they’ve largely leaned on along the way. Their top four players in total 5-on-5 ice time so far are Forsling, Niko Mikkola, Oliver Ekman Larsson, and Dmitri Kulikov. The three latter names were free agent signings, who they were able to bring in this past summer for a combined $5.75 million. So how exactly are the Panthers able to keep churning out these types of results then?

Every possible explanation keeps circling back to Barkov, because he represents the throughline that ties everything together for them. The reason why everyone they bring in thrives is because they get to play such a simple, fun brand of hockey. All they’re required to do is to keep unapologetically plowing ahead aggressively, and relentlessly, over and over again.

The wingers are asked to forecheck as hard as they can, closing off walls and forcing the other team to try to make plays up the middle. That plays right into Barkov’s waiting hands, where his range allows him to cover ground like a ball-hawking safety in football. The defencemen get to pinch down the wall and try to extend plays in the offensive zone, knowing that Barkov will be there to cover them with support because he religiously stays above the puck.

Barkov's 10 goals and 28 points in 25 games are obviously fantastic, and 99 percent of players in the league would kill to have that stat line. That said, it feels like he's capable of so much more offensively because of how much raw puck skill he possesses. And he honestly probably is, if he were wired differently. But whereas some of his peers may cheat for offence and stay deep in the zone until the last possible second to see possible scoring plays through to their conclusion, he instead circles back to get into the right position defensively proactively.

It's a calculated sacrifice on his part, and it's because of those choices he routinely makes that the scales get tilted in his teammates' favour. Regardless of who you are, because of his habits you now get to freely move forward and attack. With such a simplified decision-making process, everyone that comes to Florida gets to tap into the physical tools that helped get them to the NHL in the first place, without having to worry about some of the other complexities that might’ve inhibited them in their previous stops on other teams.

The result of creating that sort of infrastructure is a massive competitive advantage for the Panthers. They’re able to routinely shop in the bargain bin, and squeeze value out of sources that might not be as readily available for the competition. That’s turned into quite the luxury for a franchise that hasn’t exactly had a lot of financial flexibility of late, having to turn over the roster and find a way to make the cap figures work creatively.

Everyone involved deserves their fair share of the credit for creating an environment where that’s possible, but none moreso than Aleksander Barkov. Great players make those around them better, and that’s exactly what he’s done in Florida. By doing so, he's cemented himself as the preeminent two-way center in today's game.

#aleksander barkov #i paid $6 for that matthew article so if you've got requests for rinkside paywalled content i will post them lmao #2324 #florida panthers #Youtube

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sillingers · 1 year

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nick blankenburg on ‘the inside edge’ radio show 2.15.23

i listened to this live and tried to take as many notes for characterization and blanks tidbits as possible so here we go:

didn’t start working out until freshmen year of college officially

likes lower body workouts best

is looking for a new gym this summer and might work with z

has yet to see z in the gym bc of his injury but says he’s a ‘beast’ in the room

jody shelley complimented his ‘big’ thighs. nick said they’ve ‘been bigger’ but he had less rigorous offseason training this summer bc of his knee surgery. jody then told nick ‘sorry i didnt mean to be looking at you’ because nick ‘looked like he was about to run out of the room’ in their opinion, and nick joked that he was wearing shorts so they’re out there. this whole ordeal was a lot to take in.

he said ‘oh yeah’ about ten times in two minutes with varying degrees of breathiness/elongation. i can let you interpret that as you will.

loves hitting people. says he always played physical because he grew up with an older brother and that’s just always been his game, so he doesn’t foresee it changing.

but he is working on being more intentional and careful with where he places his body on plays, as well as his off ice routines, to stay healthy and not be injured

adamantly refuses to dial down his physicality

thinks his compete and physicality is one of the reasons he’s here, he’s always played that way and it’s just who he is as a player

says being a right handed d on the left side is a challenge and it’s pushing him to be better

is a good lesson/challenge for him

good to have on his resume that he can play either side wherever he’s needed

stressed several times that he just wants to do what’s best for the team and do whatever it takes to play for them and just help the team anyway he can, whether that’s playing a different side or a special team or whatnot

just genuinely happy to be here and wants to do everything and anything he can

did not catch every detail but he talked specifically about the challenges of being a right shot on the left side like when peeker is feeding him passes on the point or when they’re going to break up ice and he’s catching pucks on his strong or weak side differently than he’s used to

when he was out for 9 weeks he spent a lot of time watching his game tape and trying to improve his play, he watches ‘probably all the game tape i have’

tries to stay positive and not be too hard on himself when injured and he doesn’t think any of the injuries he’s had even back at umich were a result of him playing too physical (read: yappy chihuahua wants to be an ankle biter and refuses to stop. denies that being an ankle biter has ever gotten him in any trouble)

says sometimes he thinks his family and friends know his game better than he does because they always tune in and text him after his games

loves the traveling that comes with being an nhl player, thinks he’s really lucky to have this job because it’s an easy and fun job that not many people get

“if you told me maybe 6 or 7 years ago that i’d be here i’d have never believed you”

really likes meeting all the fans and seeing them at warmups

definitely misses yost especially after getting to go back with kj

actually misses his classes. he studied international studies which dealt with political and economic development, he had lots of case studies of nations where a political/economic structure was either a great success or big failure

had to take 6 semesters of a language as required for his major. lasted 2 days in spanish, then tried german but it was too hard. he settled on swahili, which he took for 4 semesters, and then quechua (a latin american language he thinks is from peru but honestly couldn’t tell you where it’s from); said these were with 3 other unnamed teammates

wants to go on a mission trip in africa and hopes he can use his swahili notes there. is willing to teach jody but ‘it might cost you something’ because the class was expensive

loves cbus bc it feels like a college town just like ann arbor

didn’t think he’d ever actually say he loves columbus ohio but here he is

also loves how close it is (3 hours) to home

he’s really blessed to be here and couldn’t be happier with how it all worked out and the chance he has thanks to the jackets

the city and the fans have welcomed him so nicely

lives downtown in an apartment which is close by ‘the other young guys’ , they all live nearby

says they do a lot of group dinners and will watch golf or football or some sport on tv together

loves that they have such a big group of young guys and they have that connection with each other and he has the ability to hang out with all them

primarily does hang out with the younger guys. likes having people around his age bc it reminds him of college. another thing he likes ab cbus is its a young city thanks to all the college kids/recent grads

also loves the restaurants cbus has (he didn’t name any in particular but said they’re all great)

is going to dinner with some of the umich guys before their games against osu, is hoping naur lets them out of team dinner to see him and kj

jody asked if nick would pay and he said he’d take his card out but that he hopes kj takes his card out too so they can split the bill

they brought up the osu-umich outdoor game, which nick said is an awesome opportunity to play in and looks super fun

played an outdoor game vs. notre dame, actually played against peeke who was at nd at the time. umich won

very humble and appreciative of the opportunity he has to play in the nhl and live out his dream and do something he loves every night

the 82 game schedule is definitely hard mentally but that the challenges have made him a better person (yes, he specified person, not hockey player)

jody said that this and his positive mindset are a great attitude to have and will ‘help him stay here for a long time’

i just think jody loves nick as much as the rest of us

sometimes still pinches himself to see if it’s real

jody shelley is obsessed with nick blankenburg just like me fr

i think this is it he actually talked a lot so it was hard to keep track of everything but this is definitely all the main things

#long pot sorry #nick blankenburg #columbus blue jackets #cbj #umich hockey #for all the blanks enjoyers!!

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cobrakaisb · 1 year

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happy holidays

summary: it’s the holiday season and the boys just had to make sure it was special for you and charlotte

word count: 1.2k

notes: happy holidays!! i felt like bringing back team baby, so here it is :)

“move it a little bit to the left,” brendan instructed, gesturing for thomas to adjust the star on top of the tree sitting in their living room. “are you serious?” thomas asked, looking at his friend. “yes! it’s crooked! right char?” the brisson boy asked the toddler who was perched on his hip. “yeah it’s not very straight bubba,” the young girl agreed, tilting her head to get a better look at the tree. “see! even she agrees!” brendan continued, gesturing for thomas to fix the star.

“what’s going on?” luke asked as he walked into the room with mackie and mark. the other two boys immediately flocked to brendan’s side, poking at charlotte. she laughed at all the attention before ultimately reaching for mackie. the younger boy complied, taking the young girl into his arms. “you better not be high mack, or else y/n will kill us,” thomas said, climbing down from the ladder he was standing on. “i’m not,” the younger boy answered, but that didn’t stop thomas’s eyes from narrowing in his direction.

just as mackie was about to defend himself, your voice resonated throughout the house. “we’re back,” you said, walking into the living room, arms filled with bags. owen and kent followed behind you, their arms also full with various bags adorning different logos. “mummy!” charlotte shouted, wiggling out of mackie’s arms so that she could run into your open ones. “hi baby. we’re you good for your uncles?” you asked, pulling her into you as you kissed all over her face. “yes,” she answered, laughing at your actions.

“she was fine. aside from agreeing with uncle bren” thomas teased, tickling her tummy. charlotte giggled loudly at his actions, desperately trying to escape his fingers. once the two were done goofing off, thomas turned his attention to you. he placed a sweet kiss on your cheek before gathering the bags you dropped. “thank you,” you whispered, puckering your lips as he held the bags in one hand.

“ew!” charlotte whined, hiding her face in her hands. her outburst caused everyone to laugh, but put an immediate end to the pda between you and thomas. “should we start with the festivities?” brendan asked, looking around the room at the small group. charlotte frowned, crossing her arms over her chest as she shook her head no. “not everyone is here. like nicky, and johnny, and uncle matty. we have to wait,” she answered, looking at brendan. the guys all snickered at her words, watching as charlotte completely parented him. “fine, but once everyone gets here we can start,” brendan said, and charlotte nodded in agreement before running off to do something.

even though everyone was off playing hockey at different places, they all managed to come back to campus for the holiday. you were still going to make it to your childhood home for the actual holidays, but the boys all wanted to do something with charlotte. hence, they all decided to have this small get together at your off campus house. “we all have gifts to give her. can we do it tonight? please?” brendan begged, looking at you with puppy dog eyes. “i told you no gifts,” you mumbled, giving them all a pointed look. “well those of us on nhl salaries wanted to spoil her, so too bad,” owen said, looking at you with a challenging look. you grumbled something under your breath, but it quickly ceased when charlotte skipped back into the room, a stack of cards in her hands.

“mummy, can you help me?” she whispered, pulling on your shirt. “course baby,” you answered, kneeling down to her level. charlotte handed you the stack of cards, sorting through them. “are they all here?” you asked, waiting for her to answer. “i think. but i need to count,” she answered, and that’s how you all ended up circling around charlotte while she counted out how many cards were in her pile. by the time she was finished, everyone was at the house.

“okay! let’s begin with the exchange!” brendan announced, getting up to grab his gift. “no! i go first!” charlotte screamed, stopping brendan before he could even grab the pink gift bag. “charlotte rose we do not yell,” you reprimanded looking at her. “sorry mummy. i go first please,” she replied, looking sheepish. the boys all agreed, waiting patiently as charlotte grabbed the first card from your hands.

she went around the room, handing each boy a different homemade card. each of the cards was unique, but they were all decked out with glitter, toddler scribbles, and charlotte’s messy handwriting. once all the boys had a card, she stood next to you with a satisfied look on her face. “thank you fleur,” thomas mumbled, scooping her into his arms. “i’m gonna put this on my locker,” he promised, causing charlotte’s eyes to widen as she nodded excitedly.

“okay charlotte. we have some presents for you,” brendan said, holding out the giant gift bag. you watched as charlotte’s eyes grew to the size of saucers, an excited smile on her face. brendan handed her the gift bag and immediately she was tearing the wrapping paper out of it. a loud gasp echoed around the room as she pulled out a disney princess cash register. “mummy look!” she said, jumping up and down. “wow!” you answered, looking at the toy with amazement. you watched as charlotte began to push different buttons and listen to the different sounds. “char, keep looking in the bag,” brendan urged, causing the girl to turn her attention back to the bag in front if her.

another loud gasp resonated through the room as she pulled out a pack of barbies. they weren;t just any barbies, however, it was the entire collection of disney princess barbies ranging from cinderella to moana. “dollies!” she shouted, naming all the different princesses to ethan, who was sitting right next to her.

that’s exactly how the rest of the night went. each of the boys providing her with different toys that she loved. by the end of the night she had a ton of new barbies, a collection of bluey and peppa pig toys, a handful of new books, and a couple new outfits that the girlfriends picked out.

“okay so this last present isn’t for charlotte, it’s for you,” thomas said, handing you a box wrapped in the barbie wrapping paper they used for all her gifts. “you guys,” you mumbled, taking the box from thomas’s hands. “stop! we wanted to get you something,” kent said, holding up his hand. you nodded, carefully unwrapping the paper. you opened the box inside to find a navy blue book. “what is this?” you asked cautiously, pulling it out. your fingers ran over the spine and front cover as you opened the book.

immediately you were met with the picture you all took after the boys won the big ten championship. “oh you guys,” you whispered, fingers tracing over the photo. “there’s more,” luke said, gesturing for you to flip through the album. inside you found countless pictures. some featured just you and the boys, others were the boys with charlotte, and some were just you with charlotte. it was a reminder that they would always be there for you. you guys were family. “i love it. thank you so much,” you said, voice clogged with emotion. “we love you,” thomas whispered, wrapping his arms around you. “this doesn’t change the fact, however, that you spoil her way too much,” you said, wiping at your face. that elicited a laugh from everyone.

#team baby #umich hockey #umich hockey imagines #thomas bordeleau #thomas bordeleau imagine #thomas bordeleau x reader #owen power #kent johnson #brendan brisson #mackie samoskevich #mark estapa #luke hughes #ethan edwards #cobrakaisb writing

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