88-89 OPC Tribute: Koivu, Theodore, and Lemieux

  The captain of the Minnesota Wild, Mikko Koivu, is also the little brother of Saku Koivu.  Mikko havs carved out a nice career himself, including a 71 point season in 2009-10.  Jose Theodore has gone from the Montreal Canadiens next great hope down to being a placeholder for the Florida Panthers.  Theodore has never been able to duplicate his success of 2001-02 when he won the Vezina and Hart Trophies.  He has had a strong start in 2011-12 for the surprising Florida Panthers.

  

#64 - Mikko Koivu

#65 - Jose Theodore

  Mario Lemieux's name is often brought up when debating who was the best player ever.  Lemieux played 17 season but played 70 games or more only six times.  How good could Lemieux have been if his career hadn't been plagued by back injuries, or not had cancer in his prime of his career, or missed a season due to radiation treatments, or be retired for 3 years before making yet another comeback or had a better supporting cast earlier in his career.  Mario Lemieux retired in 1997 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Novemeber of that year.  Three years later Lemieux returned to the ice and lead all players in goals per game, assists per game and Points per game.
  The picture I chose for the card isn't the sharpest image, but for me, it's an iconic image.  It's of his epic goal on Jon Casey in the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals.

#112 - Mario Lemieux