88-89 OPC Tribute: Smith, Backstrom and Gilmour

  In 2006-07, Mike Smith was named to the All-Rookie Team.  In 2007-08, Mike Smith, played his rookie season.  Having only played 23 games in 06-07, Smith was still eligible as a rookie the next season.  Another spot on the All-Rookie team looked like a possibility until he was traded to Tampa Bay and his season took a turn for the worse.  Smith has found his way out of Tampa and things are now looking sunny in Phoenix for Mr. Smith.  Niklas Backstrom's first NHL season was also in 2006-07, a year in which he led the NHL in GAA and save percentage.  Why didn't Backstrom make the All-Rookie team instead of Smith?  The answer: Sergei Makarov.

#82 - Mike Smith 

#83 - Niklas Backstrom

  Behold Leaf Nation! Your savoir has commeth!  Oh, the good old days.  Back when it looked like the Leafs had a shot at Lord Stanley and before Darcy Tucker & company made the Leafs the biggest whiners in the league.  Doug "Killer" Gilmour was the face of the Leafs in the early-mid 1990s and Don Cherry's man crush.  A HHOF inductee in 2011, Gilmour is best remember as a Maple Leaf, but won his only Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989.  In 1986, Gilmour, then with the St. Louis Blues, led the NHL in Play-off scoring, despite being eliminated in the semi-finals.  

#118 - Doug Gilmour