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Lost Rookies: John Wensink

November 25, 2014, 11:11 pm
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  By 1976, Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito had both played their last games as Boston Bruins.  Being unable to replace that level of skill, the Bruins head coach, Don Cherry, went in another direction, they became big and bad.  While not the biggest, John Wensink may have been the baddest.
  Wensink was drafted  by the St. Louis Blues in the 7th round, 102nd overall, in the 1973 draft.  Wensink played a total of three NHL games with the Blues.  A back injury, suffered in the minors, during the 1975-76 season sidelined Wensink for a season and a half.  The Blues would not resign Wensink, allowing him to become a free agent in 1976.
  Wensink never had a card with Blues.  Here's my version of a John Wensink rookie.

1974-75 OPC #397 John Wensink (RC)

  Wensink signed with the Boston Bruins prior to the 1976 season.  He previously played in Rochester of the AHL under Bruins head coach Don Cherry, becoming one of Cherry's favourite players.  Wensink scored his first career goal against the St. Louis Blues on February 1st, 1977.  Interesting fact, HHOFer Bernie Federko also scored his first career goal in the same game.  Wensink's signature moment came the next season against the Minnesota North Stars on December 1st, 1977.  Check out the recent ESPN's 30 for 30 feature covering Wensink and the incident.


  As mentioned in the video Wensink started scoring more goals and getting into less fights.  He scored 16 goals in 1977-78, and 28 in 1978-79 but would only score 22 in the next 211 games before retiring.  Cherry claimed that since Wensink fought less, opponents feared him less.  The space that opened up while opponents feared him, had now closed and that Wensink could never regain that edge that made him so feared.
  Before the 1980 season, he was claimed off waivers by the Quebec Nordiques.  Wensink was often a healthy scratch while in Quebec.  This led to a peculiar deal during the 1981 preseason.  The Nordiques loaned Wensink to the Philadelphia Flyers.  He played two preseason games with the Flyers before NHL deemed it to be illegal.  Wensink would be released and signed with the Colorado Rockies. 
  Wensink played two years for the franchise; one year in Colorado, and then a second year as the team moved and renamed themselves the New Jersey Devils.  After retiring from the NHL, Wensink was a player/coach in the Netherlands. Today, he is active with the St. Louis Blues alumni and coaching youth hockey.  Here's what a John Wensink final year card may have looked.

1983-84 OPC #397 John Wensink
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So ugly, I ain't gonna buy it

December 15, 2014, 9:48 pm
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  I am not much of a player collector, but I do passively collect Mike Bossy, Matt Martin and Marty Turco.  So when I recently found out that Marty Turco had a card in the 2013-14 Team Canada set, I was a bit excited.  Except imagine my horror when I saw the following.


  What an ugly card!  It's from the team picture for christ's sake.  If you can't find a decent picture, why even put they guy in the set?  There's pictures of Turco from the year he played in the Spengler Cup, couldn't they use that?  Or is the Spengler Cup not prestige enough when compared to cropping a team photo?  I am not buying that card.
  Have you refused to buy a card of player you collect, just cause it's too damn ugly?
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Lost Cards: Marty Turco

December 19, 2014, 8:12 pm
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  In a previous post, I mentioned that I was a passive player collector of Marty Turco.  One card that I did seek out, but never found, was of Marty Turco in a Bruins uniform.  I am pretty sure one was never made, or at least a base card was never made.  Turco, who was an unrestricted free agent, wasn't able to secure a deal with a NHL for the 2011-12 season.  After playing for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup, he signed on in Austria, which included an out-clause for any NHL team.
  During the 2011-12 season, the Bruins had a deadly duo of goalies in Tim Thomas, and Tuukka Rask.  Then Rask went down with an injury at the start of March.  The Bruins didn't have another goalie in their system who was NHL ready and they didn't want to overwork Thomas before the play-offs.  Unfortunately for the Bruins, the trade deadline was February 27th, which was a few days before Rask was injured, so Bruins had to look at free agents.  Marty got the call.
  Turco struggled with the Bruins.  He played in five games, winning two and losing two.  His 3.68 GAA and .855 save percentage were not in the same ballpark as the other Bruins goalies, 2.26 GAA and .926 Save percentage.  His brief time with the Bruins was not good.
  Turco was once again a UFA in the offseason, and once again, was unable to find work.  He held out hope until he finally announced his official retirement in January of 2013. 
  No card company bothered to make a Marty Turco Bruins card.  I figured Score would have been the best bet to have included Turco, so here`s my version of a 2012-13 Score Marty Turco card.

2012-13 Score #549 Marty Turco

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I have been Wiki linked

December 26, 2014, 8:21 pm
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  The main reason I continue to do this blog is for myself.  It gives me an opportunity to post various thoughts and projects I work on.  I have learned a lot about the history of hockey while doing research for some of my posts.  Doing it for myself helps to explain my posting frequency.  I do it when I wanna do it.
  But I have to admit, I get pretty pumped when I find links to my blog.  Last year a link to my post that imagined if a certain Seals-Canadien trade had never taken place.  I stumbled across it while reading the comments on a blog entry on a popular Montreal Canadiens blog.  They sued a tiny url to link it so if I had never stumbled across that particular post, read that particular comment and bothered to click the link, I would have never known.
  Another time while trying to do research for my Gordie Howe Hat Tricks blog, I found someone on a hockey forum posting a link to one of my blog posts to validate a point they were trying to make.
  Just recently, I was checking my site statistics when I notice I was getting hits from Wikipedia.  My Perry Berezan: The Lost Cards post is being used as a reference for the Steve Smith (ice hockey, born in Scotland) entry.  I have no idea why they would use my post.  It just proves you should double check anything you read on Wikipedia. 
  While finding links takes the cake, getting post-related comments are cool too.  For the bloggers out there, do you ever check your traffic sources for your blog?  Any in particular stand out to you?
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One Star, One Sheet: Tim Kerr

January 1, 2015, 5:36 pm
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Tim Kerr

4x 50 Goal Scorer
1987 2nd team All-Star
1989 Masterson Trophy Winner


  When people speak of one-dimensional players, usually someone will bring up Tim Kerr. Tim Kerr could score goals, lots of them.  A four time 50 goal scorer, Kerr also led the league in powerplay goals 3 times, including an NHL record 34 in 1985-86.  Topping out at 6'3" and 230 pounds, Kerr was made for "garbage goals".
  Tim Kerr played his junior hockey for the Kingston Canadiens.  During his drafts season, he scored 42 points in 57 games, which put him 7th on his team.  On draft day in 1979, one of the deepest ever due to minimum age changes, Kerr was not selected.  Available as a free agent, Kerr signed with the Philadelphia Flyers.
  Kerr made the Flyers team out of training camp in 1980, due to an injury to Ken Linseman.  Kerr scored his first career goal against Mike Veisor of the Hartford Whalers on October 26, 1980.  He would finish the season with 22 goals and 45 points in 68 games during his rookie season.  He posted similar number the following season, 21 goals, and 51 points in 61 games.
  The 1982-83 season was a sign of things to come for Tim Kerr.  His goal and point production were up, but also his injuries.  Kerr scored 11 goals and 19 points in 24 games.  He missed significant time due to a knee injury.
  Starting with the 83-84 season, Kerr ran together four impressive seasons, in terms of goals and durability.  Kerr scored 54, 54, 58 and 58 goals in consecutive season while also playing in 74 or more games in each season.  Kerr set a, still standing, NHL record with 34 powerplay goals in 1985-86 and was a Second Team All-Star in 1986-87.
  Kerr would get the nickname "The Sultan of Slot" for how lethal he was in close proximity of the net.  Kerr paid the price for playing in front of the net, but he also reaped the rewards.
  Unfortunately for the Flyers, Kerr's injury bug would resurface during the play-offs, first in 1985 and then again in 1987.  In 1985, after setting a NHL play-off record, scoring  four goals in 8:16, and in a single period, Kerr would be injured and missed the majority of the semi-finals and Stanley Cup Finals.  In 1987, Kerr suffered a serious shoulder injury versus the New York Islanders during the second round.  The Flyers, without its top goal scorer, eventually lost the Stanley Cup final to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.
  Kerr missed all but eight games in 1987-88 due to the shoulder injury.  Kerr returned to form in 1988-89, scoring 48 goals in 68 games.  Also true to form, Kerr missed time, and a chance at another 50 goals season due to injuries.  This time to a broken jaw.  Kerr did save his best for the play-offs, scoring 14 goals and 25 points in 19 play-off games as the Flyers lost in the Semi-Finals to the Montreal Canadiens. For Kerr's determination to play and for overcoming injuries, Kerr was awarded the Bill Masterson trophy in 1989.
  Injuries continued to plague Kerr for the rest of his career.  Kerr wouldn't play more than 40 games in each of his last four seasons.  Although Kerr's on ice injuries paled in comparision to his loss in 1990, when his wife lost her life while giving birth to the couple's third child.
  Following the season, Kerr was left unprotected in the 1991 expansion draft.  he was selected by the San Jose Sharks and that same day, he was flipped to the Flyers division rival, the New York Rangers.  In another injury shortened season, Kerr had 18 points in 32 games for the Rangers.  In the offseason, Kerr was traded to the Hartford Whalers for a final, yet again, injury plagued season before retiring in 1993.
  Kerr's career is a what could have been career.  While Kerr wasn't a physically dominating player, he was extremely difficult to move once he layed down roots in front of the opponents net.Kerr could have easily had six straight career 50 goal seasons in the mid-to-late-1980s  if not for injuries.  It was the shoulder injury in 1987 that would eventually end his career.  Did injuries rob the Sultan of Slot a place in HHOF?  How do you compare him to Cam Neely's selection?

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Book Review: Hockey Card Stories

January 14, 2015, 12:57 pm
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http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1770411976/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=390961&creativeASIN=1770411976&linkCode=as2&tag=canarock-20

  Hockey Card Stories: True Tales from Your Favourite Players by Ken Reid was released in October of 2014.  I put it on my Amazon Wishlist and Santa was thoughtful enough to leave a copy under the tree for me. 
 This book is a must read for any hockey card aficionado, especially if you long for the old days when O-Pee-Chee was the dominate, and sometimes only, brand.  The author, Sportsnet's Ken Reid, picked out 61 cards from his personal collection and then called up 59 players on those cards to see what they thought of them.  The book is divided up into ten chapters, with each chapter featuring five to six players.  Each player's story lasts 4-6 pages.
  The cards range from 1971 to 1991 -  all O-Pee-Chee.  There is a solid range of players, from HHOFers, such as Tony Esposito and Bobby Orr, to one game wonder, Bill Armstrong.  Player's reactions of their cards range between pride, to indifference.  Although most, especially the guys with the 1970s cards, expressed embarrassment over their photos.

An example from the WHA chapter
 
  The book read like a bunch of short articles, or blog posts.  In fact, some of the stories were previously published online a few years ago. Check them out if you want a sampling of what is in the book.  Most stories are directly relates to the card pictures, but a few seem to use the card more of a jumping off point to cover the player more in general. 
  One of the more interesting stories was the 1984-85 OPC Ken Linseman.  I alwasy knew it was an obvious airbrush job, but there is more to it than that.  It's Linseman's head, but not his body.  I will let you google it, or go out and buy the book to learn more. 

The FrankenCard.

  This was a very interesting book to read but it left me wanting more.  I have always wondered what players thought about their cards and what type of cards or memorabilia collections they might have.  Perhaps there will be a sequel.  I do hope so.
  I definitely recommend this book to any true hockey card fan.  There are no stories about game-used jersey or serial numbered cards, so perhaps not a great buy for anyone who has never ate gum from a pack of cards.  It has a $19.95 cover price but, as always, can be had for cheaper online.  Let's finish with a word from Ken Reid himself.


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Lost Rookies: 1985-86 OPC Ken Strong

March 29, 2015, 5:37 pm
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  By 1982, after years of bickering, the Toronto Maple Leafs and all-star, and former captain, Darryl Sittler were at the end of their ropes.  In January of 1982, the Leafs dealt fan favourite Sittler to the Philadelphia Flyers for Rich Costello, a 2nd round pick, 25th overall - used to select Peter Ihnacak, and future considerations.  The future considerations turned out to be Ken Strong.
 
1985-86 OPC #268 Ken Strong (RC)

  In the end, the trade is considered a candidate for the worst Maple Leafs trade ever.  Although Sittler only netted another 205 career points in 252 games before retiring, the return for the fan favourite was lackluster.  Ihnacak had a promising rookie season with 66 points, but then quickly faded away.  Costello played 12 career NHL games.  Strong played 15 career games. 

1985-86 OPC #268 Ken Strong

  Strong would fall out of favour with Maple Leafs management, as the Leafs wanted Strong to add pugilistic elements to his game.  After a shoulder injury, Strong would not return to the NHL after the 84-85 season.  Strong went overseas in 1987-88 to play in Austria.  Strong eventually became a dual-citizen and played for Austria in the 1994 Olympics. 
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Lost Rookies: 1985-86 OPC Jeff Brubaker

August 9, 2015, 2:01 pm
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  Jeff Brubaker played 178 career NHL teams.  During those 178 games, he played for seven different teams. After racking up 307 PIM for the Peterborough Petes in junior, Brubaker was drafted by the Boston Bruins, 102th overall in the 1978 draft.  He was courted by the WHA's New England Whalers and would eventually sign with the Whalers during the 1978-79 season.  The Bruins did not exercise their rights to reclaim Brubaker upon the the NHL-WHA merger of 1979.
  Upon entering the NHL, the New England Whalers became the Hartford Whalers.  Brubaker would play three games in 1979-80.  He notched his first career point against the Philadelphia Flyers on in his second career game.  It was an assist on a powerplay goal by Blaine Stoughton.  The following season Brubaker would get his first career goal, January 9th on Eddie Mio of the Edmonton Oilers, and the next night, his first career fight, versus Barry Legge of the Winipeg Jets.
  The following preseason, Brubaker was left unprotected and was picked by the Montreal Canadiens in the waiver draft.  Brubaker would only play 5 total games with the Canadiens, but two of those games were play-off games.  In one of those two games, Brubaker helped kick off a 1st period line brawl versus the Quebec Nordiques.  Brubaker would not play again the NHL play-offs.
  Brubaker was once again left unprotected at the waiver draft the following preseason.  This time he was selected by the Calgary Flames.  He played four games with the Flames that season.  As a free agent he signed on with the Provincial rival, Edmonton Oilers.  Only to be once again left unprotected and selected in the waiver draft.  This time, by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

1985-86 OPC #269 Jeff Brubaker (RC)

    Brubaker's set career highs across the board during his first season with the Leafs in 1984-85.  He finished ninth in the league with 209 PIM.  Brubaker was unable to follow it up and was placed on waivers by the Leafs after accumulating 0 points and 67 PIM in 21 games.  He was picked up by the Edmonton Oilers.  He injuried his ankle after playing four games with the Oilers.  He wouldn't play another game with the Oilers.
  Brubaker returned the NHL for the 1987-88 season when he was traded to the New York Rangers after a short stint as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization.  The next season, after signing with the Detroit Red Wings, would be his last as a professional hockey player.  He played a single game with the Red Wings.
  Brubaker would being his coaching career the following season.  He won the league championship in his first season in the ECHL with the Greensboro Monarch.  At one time, he held the record for most wins by a coach in the ECHL, since surpassed by John Brophy. 
  Brubaker never had a rookie card during his playing days.  There were a few team issued postcards but he never made the cut with O-Pee-Chee.  I figured his best shot would have been the 1985-86 OPC set.  The 1985-86 set was cut down to 264 cards after being 396 cards the previous few years.


1985-86 OPC #269 Jeff Brubaker (RC)

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Lost Rookies: 1986-87 OPC Gates Orlando

August 12, 2015, 12:28 pm
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  Gaeteno "Gates" Orlando played parts of three season in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres in the mid 1980s.  Gates was an undersized, 5'8, 180lbs, skilled center whose size and decision to play NCAA hockey over North American junior, let him slip to 164th overall in the 1981 draft.  During his brief NHL career he split time between the Sabres and their farm club, the Rochester Americans.  His team leading 22 points helped the Amerks win the AHL Calder Cup in 1987.  The next season, he crossed the Atlantic to play pro and went on to a successful career in Italy, including representing Italy at two Olympic games.
  In 2011, Gates was diagnosed with a rare heart disease, sarcoidosis.  His heart would eventually give out, but he was saved by the defibrillator vest he was wearing.  On April 4th of 2012, Gates had an artificial heart transplant.  He lived with the artificial heart for over a year until a donor heart could be secured and implanted.  Gates made a full recovery and is, obviously, a big fan of organ donors.  He currently works as a scout for the New Jersey Devils.
  Gates never had a NHL card.  So below is what a 1986-87 OPC Gates Orlando card may have looked.  Quality Gates Orlando Sabres images are in short supply on the internet.  I almost decided against mocking up a card for Gates but you have to give him some love for what he has been through.


1986-87 OPC #267 Gates Orlando (RC)


1986-87 OPC #267 Gates Orlando (RC)
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Lost Cards: 1985-86 OPC Chris Nilan

August 22, 2015, 11:28 pm
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  It's surprising that an anglophone American Boston born player would become a fan favourite in Montreal, but Chris Nilan did just that.  "Knuckles" Nilan pounded his way into the hearts of Montreal Canadiens fans during the 1980s.  Often at the center of many a fracas, Nilan patrolled the ice, and manned the penalty box, for 523 games and, a franchise record, 2248 PIM as a Canadien.
  Nilan had a rookie card in the 1983-84 OPC set, and was also part of the 1984-85 OPC set.  When OPC made the decision to cut down its hockey card set from 396 cards to 264, Nilan was one of the causalities, despite setting career highs in goals, points and leading the league in PIM for the second consecutive season.  This how a 1985-86 OPC Chris Nilan card may have looked.

1985-86 OPC #266 Chris Nilan


1985-86 OPC #266 Chris Nilan
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Lost Rookies: 1980-81 OPC Brent Ashton

September 26, 2015, 10:55 am
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  Brent Ashton is best known as, previously, being the most traded man in NHL History.  He was traded a total of nine times during his NHL career.  A career that started with the Vancouver Canucks in 1979.  Ashton scored 23 goals and 48 points in 123 games for the Canucks, before being traded to the Colorado Rockies, via the Winnipeg Jets, in the 1982 offseason.  Ashton did not earn a rookie card until the 1982-83 OPC set, after leading the Rockies in points.  Below is how a 1980-81 OPC Brent Ashton rookie card may have looked.


1980-81 OPC #397 Brent Aston (RC)

  Trivia:  Three of the players Ashton was traded for during his career, were 40 goal scorers.


1980-81 OPC #397 Brent Ashton (RC)

  Brent never played a single season with the Colorado Rockies before the team moved to New Jersey.  OPC was pro-active for the 1982-83 set and had the team pictured in their new New Jersey Devils jerseys.  As opposed to a logoless team set like the Calgary/Atlanta Flames in the 1980-81 set.  While Ashton rocked a classic 80s mullet in his 82-83 card, I believe it's fitting to throw in an 82-83 Colorado Rockies Ashton card for the all the Colorado Rockies fans out there.

1982-83 OPC Brent Ashton

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Lost Rookies: 1985-86 OPC Yves Courteau

May 4, 2016, 9:43 pm
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  Long time, no post.  I have this sitting in the draft folder, so I may as well share it or it may never see the light of day.  

  Yves Courteau, a former #1 overall pick in the QMHL in 1980, made an impressive NHL debut with the Calgary Flames in 1984, assisting on two goals in his first NHL game.  He was never able to secure a full-time position in the NHL and eventually retired due to injury.
  Yves went into the 1982 NHL Entry draft as a projected top ten pick but fell to second round and was drafted 32nd overall by the Detroit Red Wings. While Yves enjoyed his best seasons in junior, playing alongside Mario Lemieux, the Red Wings traded Yves to the Calgary Flames.
  Yves made a successful NHL debut on October 13, 1984, collecting two assists.  He scored his first career goal ten days later.  Even with the early success, Yves never secured a full-time job in the NHL.  After two season in the Flames organization, Yves was traded to the Hartford Whalers.  In his second training camp with the Whalers, Yves suffered a shoulder injury, that would eventually cause him to retire.
  Yves never earned a NHL card.  Here is my version of a 1985-86 OPC Yves Courteau rookie card.


1985-86 OPC #270 Yves Courteau (RC)

1985-86 OPC #270 Yves Courteau (RC)



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Lost Cards: 1982-83 Glen Hanlon

October 27, 2018, 3:48 pm
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  I will forever remember Glen Hanlon for his oddly shaped helmet, even more so than his crotch grab card, which I pulled out of a pack as a child.  One thing that many may not remember is Hanlon's time with the Blues.  Acquired from the Canucks at the 1982 trade deadline, the Blues had hoped Hanlon would provide support for starting goalie, and All-Star, Mike Liut.  Instead Hanlon quickly played his way out of St. louis, beginning with surrendering seven goals in his Blues Debut vs the Winnipeg Jets.  Hanlon was traded to the New York Rangers during the 1982-83 season.  Hanlon faired much better with the Rangers, and then Detroit Red Wings, where he led the league in Shutouts with 4 in 1987-88.  Hanlon retired from the NHL after being left unprotected and then passed over in the 1991 expansion draft.


1982-83 OPC #399 Glen Hanlon

1982-83 OPC #399 Glen Hanlon


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Lost Rookies: 1981-82 OPC Tim Tookey

March 12, 2019, 10:10 pm
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  I have been sitting on this post draft for a few years.  Originally I was planning on sending this card out to get signed via TTM.  Maybe even try to score an interview.  The blog has been largely dormant for the past few years, so my original hopes of getting interviews are long gone.  Now I just wonder who actually read this.  Regardless, I still a few cards I haven't shared, and perhaps will make a few new ones as well.
  Tim Tookey was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2008, AHL Hall of Fame that is.  A skilled offensive threat, Tookey was never able to secure a roster spot in the NHL.  He played in parts of seven NHL seasons while playing for five different teams.
  His best season came was his rookie season in 1980-81, in which Tim netted 23 points in 29 games.  The points and games were both career bests for Tookey.  Tookey had cups of coffee in Quebec, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, before retiring from professional hockey in 1995.  He spent the majority of his professional career as a Hershey Bear in the AHL.  In the AHL, Tookey topped 100pts in a season three times and was league MVP in 1987.
  A highlight in Tookey's NHL career came in a 10-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on November 21, 1981.  Tookey, and teammate Denis Maruk, both recorded Hat Tricks in that game.
  Tim Tookey never had a NHL card.  Below is a custom 1981-82 OPC rookie card of Tim Tookey.


1981-82 OPC #398 - Tim Tookey (RC)

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Lost Rookies: 1984-85 OPC Michel Petit

March 21, 2019, 7:54 pm
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  Last year I got an e-mail request for a Michel Petit 1984-85 OPC Card.  I never got a reply back from the person requesting the card, but after I realized that card would fit perfectly into the Lost Rookies, I made it anyways.
  Petit, a tough stay-at-home defender, played 16 seasons in the NHL from 1982 to 1998, including six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks.  Petit played for 10 different teams in his career.  In his last three seasons, Petit played on five different teams.  When Petit retired, he held the record for most franchises played for, a record since broken by Mike Sillinger.
  Petit played for a lot of bad teams during his injury plagued career, including the historically bad 1989-90 Quebec Nordiques.  In 1990-91, he had a league worst plus/minus of -34, splitting time between the Nordiques and Toronto Maple Leafs.  During his sixteen seasons, Petit played in the play-offs five times.  Four times his team was eliminated in the first round.  Petit did play two games in the 1997 Stanley Cup with the Philadelphia.  Petit got to play after multiple injuries to Flyers defencemen depleted the team.  The Flyers were swept by the Red Wings in those finals.
  Michel Petit would have a rookie card with the "New York Rangers" in the 1987-88 OPC set.  A card in which had his name misspelled.  For a player who had a 16 year career, Petit only had cards in 7 years, including no cards with his last seasons/teams.  Below is what a 1984-85 OPC Michel Petit rookie card may have been.


1984-85 OPC #400 - Michel Petit (RC)

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Lost Cards: 1988-89 OPC Richard Brodeur

March 28, 2019, 8:33 pm
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(Before reading, press play and enjoy the mood music)



  The diminutive Richard Brodeur, 5'7", was a fan favorite during his time with the Vancouver Canucks.  He backstopped the 1982 Canucks all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Islanders.  The Canucks stormed their way through the play-offs, only losing two games through the first three rounds.  The Cinderella story fell short as the juggernaut Islanders swept the Canucks in the Finals.
  Brodeur was originally drafted by the New York Islanders in the 7th round of the 1972 draft but opted to sign with the Quebec Nordiques of the fledgling WHA.  Brodeur won an Avco Cup, the WHA league championship, with the Nordiques in 1977.  When the WHA folded in 1979, the Islanders, who still owned Brodeur's rights, struck a deal with Nordiques.  The Islanders left Gerry Hart unprotected in the expansion draft and then sent goalie Goran Hogosta to the Nordiques for Brodeur.
  Brodeur would see limited action in two games during his single season with the Islanders, as third string goalie behind Billy Smith and Chico Resch.  Prior to the 1980 waiver draft, the Islanders, instead of risking losing Brodeur for nothing, traded him to the Canucks in a deal that include a swap of 5th round picks.  Brodeur would be the Canucks top goalie for the next several seasons.  The Canucks were a fairly bad team during those several seasons.  In a division with the Gretzky and Oilers, Dionne and the Kings, Hawerchuk and the Jets, and McDonald and the Flames, Brodeur and the Canucks goalies found themselves basking in the red light quite often.  Brodeur led all NHL goalies in most goals allowed twice, 1985 and 1986.
  Although the Canucks suffered through much of the 1980s, Brodeur will be most remember for his superb playoff run in 1982.  Brodeur would become expendable in 1987, when the Canucks acquired Kirk McLean, who would also led the Canucks to a Stanley Cup final.  Brodeur was traded to the Hartford Whalers for another goalie, Steve Weeks.
  Brodeur would play six games for the Whalers, as well as four in the play-offs.  After failing to make the team out of training camp in 1989, Brodeur hung up his skates after playing several games in the AHL.  Post retirement, Brodeur has become an accomplished artist.
  Richard Brodeur never made the cut for the 1988-89 OPC set. Here's the 1988-89 OPC Richard Brodeur card that might have been.

1988-89 OPC #266 Richard Broduer

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Lost Rookies: 1984-85 OPC Marc Behrend

April 3, 2019, 11:40 pm
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  Marc Behrend was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets, 85th overall, in the 1981 NHL Entry draft.  Behrend was the 10th goalie taken in the draft.  At one point, three of the goalies taken before Behrend were in the top ten for career wins by a goalie.  Those goalies were drafted by the Oilers, Flames, and Rangers.
  It took a few years for Behrend to make it to the NHL.  Behrend played college hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers, and won NCAA championships in 1981 and 1983.  Each time, Behrend was selected as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.  He is the only player to win the award multiple times by himself.  Lou Angotti also won the award twice, in 1960 and 1962, but shared the award with two other players in 1960.  Marc would make another stop before joining the Jets in 1984.  Behrend played for Team USA in the 1984 Olympics.  There was no medal for Behrend, as the team finished seventh.
  Behrend made his NHL debut a week later and his first NHL start was a 6-5 overtime lose to the Edmonton Oilers.  About another week later, he recorded his first win, a 7-3 pounding of the Los Angeles Kings.  Teammate Dale Hawerchuk set a NHL record that night by recording 5 assists in a single period.
  In his NHL career, Behrend would play 39 regular season games and 7 play-offs games, including the first ever series clinching victory for the Jets, vs the Calgary Flames in 1985.  In Winnipeg, Behrend found himself stuck behind Brian Hayward on the depth chart.  After leaving the Winnipeg Jets, Behrend would take over the starting job from Patrick Roy...  for the Sherbrooke Canadiens of the AHL. (Okay, so Roy only played 14 games for Sherbrooke, including 13 in the playoffs, and albeit the claim is a bit melodramatic, it has a nice affect.)
  Marc would retire from professional hockey in 1987 and become a firefighter in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin.  He never received an NHL card, and only had a single team issues card while with the Jets.  Below is what a 1984-85 OPC Marc Behrend rookie card may have looked like.


1984-85 OPC #401 Marc Behrend (RC)

  I also decided to through in a bonus card.  A 1984-85 OPC Olympic subset of Marc Behrend.

1984-85 OPC Olympians - Marc Behrend

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Lost Rookies: 1986-87 OPC Sergio Momesso

April 11, 2019, 7:59 pm
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  Sergio Momesso played 13 seasons in the NHL.  A player with a mean streak, Sergio was a highly touted, and scoring, junior hockey player who never lived up to lofty expectations in the NHL.
  After picking an American, Alfie Turcotte, in the 1st round, 17th overall, in the 1983 Entry Draft, the Montreal Canadiens drafted Quebecois with back-to-back picks with the 26th, Claude Lemieux, and 27th, Sergio Momesso, overall selections.
  Momesso made his debut as an 18 year old in 83-84, but only played a single game, getting to play on a line with Guy Lafleur and Bobby Smith.  Momesso would return to the NHL in 85-86 but suffered a season ending knee injury against the Boston Bruins after playing 24 games for the Habs.  Momesso's time with the Habs would be injury plagued, never playing more than 59 games in a season.
  Sergio would eventually be traded to the St. Louis Blues, in a deal that netted the Habs, Claude Lemieux's brother, Jocelyn.  After another injury plagued season, 53 gp, he set career highs with 24 goals and 56 points in 1989-90..  He had a career night on October 18, 1989, scoring 2 goals and 4 assists in a 9-3 St. Louis Blues thrashing of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
  Sergio was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in a very lopsided trade deadline deal.  Sergio, Cliff Ronning and Geoff Courtnall would be part of the 1994 Canucks team that reached game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.  On the other hand, the key player going to the Blues, Dan Quinn, would be involved in another significantly one sided deal during the subsequent off season.
  After the Canucks, Momesso would play briefly with the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers before returning to the St. Louis Blues to finish his NHL in 1997.
  Sergio's official rookie cards would come in the 1990-91 sets as a St. Louis Blues.  Below is my version of a 1986-87 OPC Sergio Momesso rookie card.

1986-87 OPC #268 Sergio Momesso (RC)


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Lost Rookies: 1987-88 OPC Anders Carlsson

April 18, 2019, 2:29 pm
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  Anders Carlsson was the first Swedish player to be drafted in the 1986 Entry Draft, 66th overall by the New Jersey Devils.  Anders, whom had played professionally in Sweden since 1979, was 25 years old when he was drafted.  In the spring before the draft, Anders led Team Sweden to a Silver medal in the World Hockey Championships.  Anders led team Sweden, and finished 7th overall, with 12 points.
  Anders started the season on the second line with Aaron Broten and John MacLean but did not produce as expected.  He was held pointless until Nov 6th, and did not score a goal until Jan 26th, which occurred after a brief demotion to the AHL.  Anders spent more time in the minors than the NHL the two following seasons.  He did see action in 3 play-offs games during the Devils Cinderella run to the Conference Finals in 1988.  He was credited with the game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals during Patrik Sundstrom's NHL play-off record 8 point game.
  Anders was never able to secure a full-time position in the NHL, and would return to play in Sweden in 1989.  He retired in 2000, at the age of 40.
  While Anders Carlsson had a few cards produce of himself in 90s while in the Swedish hockey league, he never had a NHL hockey card during his short NHL career, or after.  Below is my version of a 1987-88 OPC Anders Carlsson rookie card.

1987-88 OPC #266 Anders Carlsson (RC)


1987-88 OPC #266 Anders Carlsson (RC)


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Lost Cards: 1987-88 OPC Harold Snepsts

April 25, 2019, 9:01 pm
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  The Man.  The Legend.  The Moustache.  Harold Snepsts.  A clean cut Snepsts started out with the Vancouver in 1974.  Somewhere along the way, Snepsts found his inner Henry Boucha, sans headband, and rest became legend.
  Although somewhere along the way O-Pee-Chee and Topps lost their way.  Snepsts was traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1984 and then signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings in 1985.  Snepsts received the dreaded airbrush treatment in back-to-back sets before taking a hiatus until the 1989-90 OPC set.

1984-85 OPC and 1985-86 Airburshed Harold Snepsts
  So I decided to rectify the situation and reskin the 1984-85 and 1985-86 OPC cards.  While I was doing it, I considered how Snepsts switched teams during the offseason, so I made a design for the teams Snepsts player for the previous season, and the team he began the season with.

1984-85 OPC Harold Snepsts1984-85 OPC Harold Snepsts
  During the 1984 off-season, the Canucks traded Snepsts to the North Stars straight up for Al McAdam.  McAdam would play a single season for the Canucks.  The following season, McAdam failed to make the Canucks out of training camp and would retire after playing a dozen games in the AHL.

1985-86 OPC Harold Snepsts1984-85 OPC Harold Snepsts

  Snepsts would lead the North Stars in PIM during his single season in Minnesota.  During the 1985 off season, Snepsts would be a free agent and signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings.

1986-87 OPC Harold Snepsts

  Snepsts' time with the Red Wings was plagued by injuries, as he only played in 120 regular season games during three seasons with the Wings.  What he did bring, was veteran leadership to a young Red Wings team, that included Steve Yzerman.  Snepsts best season with the Wings was 1986-87, in which he played 54 games and had 14 points.  So I would put his exclusion from the 1987-88 set as the most glaring omission during Snepsts time as a Red Wing, and thus the most deserving of a Lost Card.

1987-88 OPC #268 Harold Snepsts

1987-88 OPC #268 Harold Snepsts

  Snepsts would return as a free agent to the Vancouver Canucks for the 1988-89 season.  The following season the Canucks traded Snepsts to the St. Louis Blues, in a deal that saw Adrien Plavsic, who was 15 years Harold's junior, head to Vancouver.  The injuries continued to mount as Snepsts creeped up and played his 1000th career game on December 8th, 1990.  Snepsts retired at the end of the 1990-91 season with 1054 career games played.

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