The Lost Cards: 1988-89 Ed Hospodar

  Ed "Boxcar" Hospodar played 9 seasons in the NHL.  He racked up 1314 PIM in 450 games plus and additional 206 PIM in 46 play-off games.  He earned the nickname Boxcar due to his bodychecks.  It was like being hit by a Boxcar, and it rhymed with his last name.  It was in the play-offs that his more memorable moments occurred, the good and the infamous.
  Hospodar was drafted 34th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1979 Entry Draft, sandwiched between goalies Pat Riggin (Lost Cards), and Pelle Lindbergh, (Lost Cards).  Hospodar made his NHL debut on November 21, 1979.  It was a good debut as he notched an assist, and was a +3 in a 6-4 loss.  For the season, he played 20 games, had one assist, and 76 PIM.  Ed scored his first play-off goal against the Atlanta Flames in Game 4 of the first round.  It was the game-winning goal in the Atlanta Flames last game in Atlanta.  The team relocated during the summer.  Ed likes to joke that he knocked the Flames out of Atlanta.  He received a rookie with OPC in the 1980-81 set.
  The 1980-81 season was Ed's best season.  He scored his first NHL regular season goal against Ron Grahame of the Los Angeles Kings in a 6-3 loss on November 2, 1980.  Ed finished the season setting career highs in goals, 5, assists, 14, points, 19, a plus 10 and 219 PIM.  He set a single period play-off record on April 9th, 1981 with 39 PIM in the first period against the Los Angeles Kings.  At the end of the first period a brawl broke out as the teams were leaving the ice.  As seen in the video, he escalates the brawl by fighting Marcel Dionne and later on takes on Dionne and goalie Mario Lessard at the same time.  As part of his 39 PIM, Hospodar received two game misconducts.  Hospodar set a Rangers play-offs record with 93 PIM in 1981.
  Hospodar continued to mix things up in the 1981-82 season, but added to Clark Gillies reputation as the leagues best fighter when Gillies broke Hospodar's jaw.  Hospodar missed almost 2 months.  When he returned, he mixed it up less and played some of his best hockey, notching 6 points in 11 games.
  The Rangers traded Hospodar in the offseason to the Harford Whalers for Kent-Erik Andersson.  Hospodar played two seasons with the Whalers.  He scored one goal, ten points and 362 PIM in 131 games as a Whaler.  Hospodar never had a Topps card and his last OPC card was in the 1981-82 set.  I wanted to feature Hospodar in the 83-84 OPC design but the Whalers wore the Cooperalls that season and I couldn't find a good picture of Ed in them.  So instead, he gets the 84-85 treatment.

1984-85 OPC Ed Hospodar

  Hospodar was released by the Whalers in the 1984 offseason.  He signed with the Philadelphia Flyers.  Hospodar fit in well with the Broad Street Bullies.  He played in the 1985 Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, a series the Flyers lost in five games.  In the 1985-86 season, Hospodar exploded, by his standards, for four points in a five game stretch.  Immediately afterwards he was dealt to the Minnesota North Stars in a four player deal, Hospodar, and Todd Bergen (Lost Rookie) in exchange for Dave Richter (Lost Rookie) and Bo Berglund.  Hospodar played out the season in Minnesota before being released in the offseason.
  Hospodar re-signed with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1986 offseason.  He had another Hospodarian season, 45 games, 4 points and 136 PIM.  He was used sparingly in the 1987 play-offs, playing only 5 games in first three rounds.  Although he was a scratch for the Wales Conference Finals Game 6 against the Montreal Canadiens, he played a major role in inciting a rule changing brawl.
  Shayne Corson and Claude Lemieux of the Montreal Canadiens had made a ritual out of staying on the ice during pre-game warm-up until the other team had vacated.  They then played a game of pass and shot the puck into the opponents empty net.  The Flyers felt this was disrespectful and warned Lemieux and Corson not to do it.  For the Game 6 warms-ups Hospodar and Chico Resch (Lost Cards), stayed on the ice until Corson and Lemieux left, without shooting the puck into the Flyers net.  It was a ruse.  As the two Flyers left the ice, Corson and Lemieux, who had been hiding in the hall, skated back on the ice and shoot the puck into the flyers net before Hospodar and Resch could stop them.  Hospodar was able to grab Lemieux and started wailing on him as Claude turtled.  Resch held off Corson.  It wasn't long until the players from both dressing rooms, in various states of undress, streamed onto the ice.  Doug Crossman, from the Flyers, was on the ice in his flip-flops.  The brawl went on for about 10 minutes.  At one point it was petering out until Corson jumped a Flyer and it started up again.  Eventually the players wore themselves out and the officials took the ice to facilitate the players returning to their dressing rooms.  One player who was notably missing in fracas was goalie Ron Hextall.  According to Keenan, he locked Hextall in the equipment cage once the brawl started.  The Flyers went on to win the game, and the series.  They lost in the Stanley Cup Finals in seven games against the Edmonton Oilers.

  Hospodar was suspended for the remainder of the play-offs.  In the off-season the NHL drafted new rules regarding leaving the bench and the number of players who can dress for pre-game warm-ups.  Mike Keenan, the Flyers coach had dressed 24 skaters, 6 more than needed, for the warm-ups.

1987-88 OPC Ed Hospodar

  The Flyers left Hospodar unprotected in the 1987 waiver draft and he  was selected by the Buffalo Sabres.  In 1987-88, his final NHL season, Hospodar had one point and 98 PIM in 42 games.  He started the 1988-89 season in the AHL, but retired after playing five games.

1988-89 OPC #272 Ed Hospodar 

1988-89 OPC #273 Ed Hospodar

Lost Cards: 1988-89 Pierre Larouche

  Pierre Larouche is one of eight players, and the first, to score 50 goals with two different teams.  Pierre is also one of seven players* to score 40+ goals with three different franchises.  A highly skilled scorer, "Lucky" Larouche was often considered aloof, self-centered and a defensive liability.
  Pierre set records for points, 251, (since broken) and assists, 157 (still a record), while playing for the Sorel Esperviers in the QMJHL in 1974.  The Montreal Canadiens had four picks within the top 12 in the 1974 Amateur draft and it seemed like a good fit for the top rated Quebecois in the draft.  The Habs passed on Larouche twice, at the 5th and 7th, spots before the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Larouche 8th overall.
  Larouche finished second in Calder voting in 1974-75 and then recorded career highs in goals, 53, assists, 58 and points,111, while finishing 5th in league scoring during his sophomore season.  Pierre followed it up with a lackluster 63 points in 65 games.  A one way player, Larouche claimed that  "if they want me to play defense, they can me another $150,000."  The following season, the Penguins traded Pierre in a four "Peter" trade for another player who former 100pt scorer who had fallen from grace, Pete Mahovlich of the Montreal Canadiens.
  Pierre Larouche was now a Montreal Canadien, but so was coach Scotty Bowman.  Bowman and Larouche clashed over Larouche's easy-going style and lack of defence.  Larouche won two cups in Montreal but was not a factor in those Cup runs, only playing in 11 of 32 play-off games, and netting 7 points.

  The stars aligned for Larouche in 1979-80.  Bowman had vacated the head coaching job in Montreal, Pierre was moved to the top line with Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt, and he had relatively good health, playing in 73 games.  Larouche scored 50 goals, becoming the first player to score 50 goals with two different franchises. The next season, injuries and perceived indifference returned to Larouche's play, as he netted 53 points in 61 games.  During the 1981-82 season, Larouche was back in the doghouse.  Rumour is the Habs management became incensed when a grinning Larouche, a happy-go-lucky guy, wore a fur coat and Cuban cigar on a road trip with the team.  Larouche had been scratched the previous three games and would be scratched for another two, when the Habs traded Larouche to the Hartford Whalers in a deal for draft picks.

Even in this video, Larouche does not speak like the typical cliché player.

  Although Larouche was a point-per-game player in Hartford, 90pts in 83gp, Pierre was limited due to injuries and the Whalers missed the play-offs in back-to-back seasons.  The New York Rangers signed Larouche as a free agent in 1983 offseason.  Larouche scored 48 goals in his first season as a Ranger.  Larouche is the only player in history to score 45+ goals with three different franchises.  Injuries and perceived indifference caught up to Larouche again.  After netting 63 points in 65 games in 84-85, Larouche, and Mike Rogers, the top two scoring forwards on the Rangers, were sent to the minors to begin the season. Believed to be a message to the rest of the team, new coach Ted Sator sent the veterans to the AHL to begin the season.  Larouche was particularly distressed since the team promptly gave away his number 10 to rookie Kelly Miller and also separated him from the other verteans, by sending him to play for the Philadelphia Flyers AHL team, Hershey Bears, as compensation for the Rangers hiring Ted Sator.  The Rangers finally recalled Larouche in January, and he scored 9 goals in his first 10 games, and 20 in 28 games for the season.  He led the Rangers in play-off scoring as the team defeated the conference's top two teams, the Philadelphia Flyers, 110pts, and the Washington Capitals, 107pts,  but lost to the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Montreal Canadiens in the Wales final.

The return Broadway and Larouche addressing his critics

  Larouche scored 63pts in 73 games the following season.  10 games into the 1987-88 season, Pierre suffered a career ending back injury.  He officially retired during the 1989 training camp.
  Larouche's final card was part of the 1985-86 OPC set.  I used the 1988-89 OPC set as his final career card.  Larouche had reclaimed his #10 jersey after Kelly Miller was traded to Washington.

1988-89 OPC #267 Pierre Larouche

1988-89 OPC #267 Pierre Larouche

  I mocked up a 86-87 OPC design to commemorate his triumphant return and to capture his time in jersey #24.  Also partially fills the void OPC left in its sets, a la Pierre.

1986-87 OPC Pierre Larouche

  And while we are at it,  OPC skipped Pierre in the 1983-84 set, as he only played 38 games due to injuries.  So here is another missing Larouche card filled.

1983-84 OPC Pierre Larouche

*And the other players to score 40 with three different teams: Frank Mahovlich, Joey Mullen, Dino Ciccarelli, Pat Verbeek, Brendan Shanahan, Alexander Mogilny and Marian Hossa.  Now name the franchises...

Lost Cards: 1988-89 OPC Richard Brodeur

(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 saw 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 was 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 became expendable in 1987, when the Canucks acquired Kirk McLean, who would also lead the Canucks to a Stanley Cup final.  Brodeur was traded to the Hartford Whalers for another goalie, Steve Weeks.
  Brodeur played 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 became 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

Lost Cards: 1987-88 OPC Dave Semenko

  The infamous Dave Semenko made space for Wayne Gretzky during the Great Ones early years in Edmonton.  If you messed with Gretz, you had to answer to Semenko.
  Semenko was originally drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in the NHL, but Semenko choose a more lucrative offer to play with the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA.  When the Oilers joined the NHL, the Stars claimed Semenko.  Semenko would never play a game with the North Stars, as the Oilers and Stars worked out a trade.  Ironically, Semenko was traded for two draft picks, and the North Stars used one of those picks on Neal Broten.  Gretzky only had three fighting majors in his career and one of those beatings fights was against Neal Broten.
  Semenko would played in Edmonton from 1977 to 1986, before being traded to the Hartford Whalers.  Semenko would spend one season in Hartford before playing a final season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
  Semenko only has four cards during his playing days, and none after the 82-83 set. Below is a 1987-88 OPC custom made to represent Semenko's time in Hartford.

Update 9-13-2020:  Since there are so many missing cards from the Semenko career.  I made a few more to fill in the gaps.

1983-84 OPC Dave Semenko

1984-85 OPC Dave Semenko

1985-86 OPC Dave Semenko

1986-87 OPC Dave Semenko

1988-89 OPC Dave Semenko

TTM Success: Derek King

  Selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1985 entry draft by the New York Islanders, Derek King, put together a solid NHL career.  He scored 261 goals in 830 career games.  In 1991-92, King scored 40 goals for the Islanders.  King also played a big role in helping the 1993 Islanders knock off the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs, by collecting eight points in the series.  King would also play with the Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues before retiring in 2000.  He is now the coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. 

 ,

TTM Success: Pat Verbeek

  The Little Ball of Hate, aka Pat Verbeek, had 2905 PIM during his career.  That is the most PIM by player who scored 500 or more goals in his career.  He had three seasons where he scored over 40 goals and also had 200+ PIM.  He's the only player in NHL history to accomplish that feat.  Verbeek spent his early career on poor teams, the New Jersey Devils and Hartford Whalers.  In his first 12 seasons, there were only two seasons Verbeek was on a .500+ hockey team.  In the 1996 off-season, Verbeek signed with the Dallas Stars and helped the team go from 66 points the year before to 104 points in 1996-97 and won a Stanley Cup with the Stars in 1999.  Behind Dave Andreychuk, Verbeek has the second most career NHL goals from a player who has been passed over by the Hall of Fame. 

 

1981-82 OPC Reboot: Whalers and Kings

Hartford Whalers

  The Avco Cup winning Whalers of the WHA were a distant memory for the Hartford Whalers teams of the earlier 1980s.  The 1979-80 Hartford Whalers had four future Hall of Famers on its roster.  Unfortunately, three of them were well past their prime.  Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull would retire after the season.  Dave Keon would play a few more season before calling it a career.  The fourth HHOFee was Mark Howe, who still holds single season records for most goals, 24, assists, 56, and points, 80, in a season by a Whaler/Hurricane defenceman.  Records he set in the franchises first NHL season.

Rk         Player Pos Age GP  W  L T/O  GA   GAA SO  MIN
1    John  Garrett   G  29 54 15 27  12 241  4.59  0 3152
2     Mike  Veisor   G  28 29  6 13   6 118  4.46  1 1588
3     Ken  Holland   G  25  1  0  1   0   7  7.00  0   60
       Team Total         80 21 41  18 366  4.58  1 4800

1981-82 OPC #134 Greg Millen

  If you looked at the Whalers goalies above, you may have notice that Greg Millen was not listed as one of them.  Millen was signed as free agent on June 1st of 1981.  He signed in time for OPC to give him a airbrushed card.  So I decided that since he did start the season with the Whalers, that I'd put him in a Whalers card.  The Whalers, who finished 2nd last in GAA, were so desperate for a goalie they signed Greg Millen, who tied for the league lead in losses with....

1981-82 OPC #137 John Garrett

  John Garrett and Greg Millen shared the league led with 27 losses each in 1979-80.  Like Millen, Garrett would go on to be better known as a sportscaster than a goalie.  Garrett got some pretty poor treatment early in his career, especially in his WHA days, but he had some really solid looking OPC cards, especially once he was with the Vancouver Canucks.  His 1981-82 OPC is one of the few in the set that comes close to an action shot for the goalie.  The reboot is not an action shot, but has him with a much cooler mask and I like the colours on it.  Narrow win for the reboot.

Bonus Whalers

1981-82 OPC Mike Veisor

  If you have reading all the reboots, you'd know that Tony Esposito played in 83% of the Black Hawks games from 1972 to 1981.  Who was the man stuck behind Tony O?  For the most part, it was Mike Veisor.  Veisor only played in 52 NHL games from 1973 to 1979.  Veisor would get three NHL cards, none of them had him in full equipment.  He also never had a Whalers card.

1981-82 OPC Ken Holland

  Ken Holland played a single game for the Hartford Whalers.  One thing I find different about the NHL in the 80s, they weren't against letting their young goalies getting thrashed.  Holland played all 60 minutes of a 7-3 loss against the New York Rangers.  Ken is one of five goalies to have only played a single game in the 1980-81 season.  Out of the five goalies, four of them allowed 7 or more goalies and played the entire game.  Holland is best known for being one of the architects of the Red Wings recent success.  In recent I mean the past twenty years.

Los Angeles Kings

  The Los Angeles Kings of the late 1970s was a team that had potential but was never able to get to the next level.  In the 1980-81 season, it appeared the team was at the cusp once again.  The Kings had 99 points and finished 4th overall in the NHL.  The Triple Crown Line, Dionne, Simmer and Taylor, each scored 100 points.  Hopes were high for the play-offs.  Unfortunately, the Kings would fall flat, losing the opening series in four games, 3-1, to the New York Rangers.  It was the fourth straight season the Kings lost in the opening round.  In the off-season, head coach Bob Berry would leave for greener pastures and become the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens.  Berry would guide the Canadiens to the play-offs the next two seasons, each time losing in the first round.  The Kings would end the 1981-82 season with one of the greatest upsets in hockey history.

Rk           Player Pos Age GP  W  L T/O  GA   GAA SO  MIN
1     Mario  Lessard   G  26 64 35 18  11 203  3.25  2 3746
2    Jim  Rutherford   G  31  3  3  0   0  10  3.33  0  180
3       Ron  Grahame   G  30  6  3  2   1  28  4.67  0  360
4        Doug  Keans   G  23  9  2  3   1  37  4.89  0  454
5       Paul  Pageau   G  21  1  0  1   0   8  8.00  0   60
         Team Total          80 43 24  13 286  3.57  2 4800

1981-82 OPC #146 Mario Lessard

  Mario Lessard had a short career.  He spent his entire six season career with the LA Kings.  1980-81 was his best season.  He led the NHL in wins and was a second team All-star.  Lessard would get three OPC cards, all with mask on.  Strangely, OPC did not make a Lessard card for 1980-81 set, in fact no Kings goals were included in that set.  Lessard card is one of the few action shots in the 1981-82 set.  I'll give the win to the original

Bonus Kings

1981-82 OPC Doug Keans (RC)

  Doug Keans is best remembered for being a Boston Bruin.  Keans spent parts of four season with Kings before being picked up on waivers by the Bruins.  Keans was a back-up for Bruins for five seasons.  While he played well, he was never able to get the starting job.  He backed-up Pete Peeters, Pat Riggin, Bill Ranford and Reggie Lemelin. 

1981-82 OPC Jim Rutherford

  The Kings was Jim Rutherford's third team in 1981-82.  He also played with the Red Wings and Maple Leafs.  Rutherford's time playing with the LA Kings would be short.  He would play in a total of eleven games with the Kings before moving on.  Rutherford had eight cards with OPC, none of them had him in full equipment.  He had three head shots, two full body studio poses, and three warm-up skate cards.  Today, Rutherford is best known as the GM of the Carolina Hurricanes, a post he has held since 1994.

1981-82 OPC Paul Pageau (RC)

  When I originally learned about Paul Pageau, I read he holds the record for most goals against by a goalie who only played one NHL game.  I can't remember where I read that but it is false.  The goalie who holds that dubious record will be featured on a later card.  I could not find a picture of Paul Pageau in a Kings uniform.  I had the option of doing a head shot card but the picture wasn't in that good of resolution and I thought the picture I used was much more interesting.  I could also use it to pay homage to the "Now With X" cards OPC used to produce.  I did consider doing a paint job on Pageau's unifrom but decided it was too much work and sacrilegious to colour over a Team Canada jersey.  The picture is from the 1980 Olympics.  Pageau's NHL career would last exactly one sixty minute game, in which he allowed eight goals.  The Kings allowed eight goals three times in the 1980-81 season.  Does anyone know which game Pageau played in?

TTM Success: Sean Burke

  Sean Burke played 820 NHL over 18 NHL seasons.  He also played in two Olympics,earning a Silver medal in 1992.  Burke bursted onto the scene in 1988.  After helping Team Canada win a Silver medal at the Olympics, Burke would create a major buzz in the NHL while playing for the New Jersey Devils.  At the time, the Devils had only made the play-offs once in the franchise's existence.  An existence that included 2 seasons as the Kansas City Scouts and six as the Colorado Rockies.  As  Wayne Gretzky once said, they are "running a Mickey-Mouse operation on the ice." But things were looking up for the New Jersey Devils in 1987-88.  They had just come off a franchise record of 64 points the season before, and they were still in the play-off race in March.  Cue Sean Burke.  Burke went 10-1-1 in 13 games for the Devils.  Burke would win his final 7 starts, including two against the Pittsburgh Penguins and one against the New York Rangers, teams they were chasing in the standings.  On April 3rd, 1988, the Rangers beat the Quebec Nordiques, forcing the Devils to either win or watch the playoffs on tv.  The Devils played the Chicago Black Hawks and the regular season ended in a dramatic fashion.  John MacLean nets the winner in over time and the Devils were going to the play-offs.  A playoff run that would bring the Devils all the way to the Stanley Cup semi-finals before being bowing out to the Boston Bruins.  While Burke would go onto a lengthy career, he never did live up to the expectation set as a rookie. 

  Mr. Burke signed 5 of 4.  He signed and returned the extra copy of the Team Canada picture.  He personalized every card, but he did it with care.  Sometimes personalizations push the actually auto off of prime real estate, but in each of these cards, they share the limelight, with the personaliztion, never overpowering the auto.  I really liked how the Ice card turned out.  I was worried it wouldn't hold the auto, but it looks killer in person.

TTM: Dana Murzyn

  A member of the All-Rookie team in 1986, Dana Murzyn played 838 career games while playing for three NHL franchises, the Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks.  While Murzyn would play the bulk of his career with the Canucks, his greatest moment came with the Calgary Flames as he was part of the Stanley Cup champs in 1989.  Murzyn spent his career as a crease clearing defenceman, with his best two scoring seasons (26 and 28pts) coming with the Hartford Whalers during his first two NHL seasons.  Mr. Murzyn signed three of three and also returned the extra copy of the custom card signed.  This return also set a personal TTM record as it became my quickest return ever, at 15 days.

TTM: Mike Rogers

Mike Rogers played 13 combined seasons in the WHA and NHL.  His best years coming right after the WHA-NHL merger, when he scored 100+ points for three consecutive seasons.  Roger's NHL rights were own by the Vancouver Canucks.  The Canucks didn't exercise their rights to Rogers since, Harry Neale, Rogers' former coach in the WHA, didn't think Rogers was a NHL caliber player.  Rogers finished his North American hockey career with the same team he started with, the Edmonton Oilers.  After retiring, he played one season overseas in the Swiss league.  Mike Rogers is currently the colour commentator for the Calgary Flames on the radio.  Mr. Rogers signed 3 of 3.  

TTM: Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger has won a Stanley Cup, 2 Olympic Gold medals, a Hart Trophy,  a Norris Trophy, and has earned the hearts of millions, and the hatred of the rest of hockey fans.  A big player with a nasty streak, Pronger is a player you'r love to have on you team, but if he is on the other team, then he's just a jerk.  One of the more famous Pronger moments is his puck-stealing during game 1 and 2 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals.  Is Chris Pronger HHOF material?  If I had a vote, I'd vote yes. Mr. Pronger signed a card and both copies of the picture I sent him.  He did not keep the extra copy of the picture but did keep a card.  I can't remember what the card was, other than it was him in a Blues uniform.  A great TTM success.

88-89 Tribute: Eberle, Montoya, and Francis

  Jordan Eberle is part of a young Edmonton Oilers nucleus.  A first round pick in 2008, Eberle scored a highlight reel goal in his first NHL game.  Eberle finished his rookie season with 43 points in 69 games.

#62 - Jordan Eberle

  The New York Islanders have a logjam in the crease this year and in usual Islanders fashion, they are screwing things up again.  They are stuck with porcelain doll's, Rick Dipietro, albatross of a contact so they feel the need to play him.  Then they have 36 year old Evgeni Nabokov, who has a no trade clause.  Lastly,  they have Al Montoya, who has been the best goalies for the Islanders since he joined them late last season. Yet the Islanders are determined to play them equally.  Hopefully the Islanders will do the right thing.  That would be get Nabokov to waive his no trade clause then ship him out and then put Dipietro on the bench.  But these are the Islanders and the ghost of Milbury is still meddling.

#63 - Al Montoya

  Ron Francis played in the NHL for 23 seasons.  His 1788 career points are good for 4th all-time and his 1249 assists place him 2nd all-time.  While Francis is a long way off from reaching the top in career points or assists, the 2004-05 lock-out cost him a chance at being the career leader in games played.  Francis played 1731 games, just 36 short of Gordie Howe's 1767.

#111 - Ron Francis

TTM Success: Peter Sidorkiewicz

  It's a success since he signed.  it's a bit of a failure since I printed and sent the 4x6 customs before I properly learned how to print.  Two 4x6 pictures ended up heavily smudged.  The third one has light light smudging.  I think that one was on top.  Still, I am really happy with the way the autos looked on the pictures.  I may go back and try to reprint the pictures and resend them.
  Peter Sidorkiewicz was a goalie in the early 90s.  He had a few good years with the Hartford Whalers, including  making the All-Rookie team in 1988-89.  In 1992, Sidorkieiwcz was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the expansion draft.  In the season opener for the new franchise, Sidorkiewicz helped the Senators defeat the visiting Montreal Canadiens by a score of 5-2.  The team would go on to win 9 more games out of the remaining 81.  Sidorkiewicz made his only All-Star game appearance.  In the offseason he was traded to New Jersey for fellow All-Star teammate Craig Billington.  In New Jersey, Sidorkiewicz played a total of 4 games over the course of five season, spending most of his time in the minors.  He is currently on the coaching staff of the Erie Otters of the OHL.

Peter Sidorkiewicz

Peter Sidorkiewicz was one of my favourite goalies when I was a kid.  He had a few good years with the Hartford Whalers before getting selected by the Ottawa Senators in the Expansion draft.  While he did a few highlights, such as an All-star appearance with the Senators and beating the Montreal Canadians in the Senators season opener, he was traded to New Jersey in the offseason and only played 4 more career games.  He had a bit of bad luck getting to New Jersey the same season Martin Brodeur made the team.

I pulled the main image of this custom off a 91-92 Upper Deck card.  The other images I gathered from the net.  It is meant to be printed off as a 4x6 photo.  I made a spot for him to sign and I hope Peter rewards my efforts with a nice auto.  I sent this card out on August 24th.