Archive for February, 2011

Over the next two weeks, I will be writing two 8-12 page papers for my comprehensive exam in my graduate program, so I will be MIA from the blog. I wanted to write a couple of things to tide you over until March 7th.

2010-11 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey is out. The big rookie is Seguin, but after that it is pretty slim pickings in terms of Young Gun rookies.  However, each back does include a Victory card and the cream of the rookie crop is in that. I bought three packs and pulled the following:

David Jones is listening the hell out of the Canadian National Anthem.

Nice pink pads, guy.

How many of these guys are still playing?

Three Young Guns in three packs?!?! And an Exclusive one at that? Too bad they aren’t the greatest players around. Also, SWEDE TRIFECTA!

Meh.

So there y’go. UD Series 2 is just like Series 1 minus good rookies and as far as I can tell from three packs, inferior photography.

In my mail the other day was a package from the great Sal over at Puck Junk. He had an NHL All Star contest which I won (what?!). I got a choice of prizes and I went with the 91-92 Upper Deck McDonald’s All Star set because of….

HOLOGRAMS! Bring em back, Upper Deck! There are six in the set and feature guys like Roy, Neely, and Hull. The main set features 24 cards from that year’s All Star game. Here are a few of the mullet-parallels:

Thanks Sal!

Lastly, I finally picked up a couple of the 2010-11 Donruss Tough Time autographs. I am trying to build this set and am now off to a respectable start:

Hard-signed low-ish numbered goon inserts? All day, everyday!

Catch you all on the academic flipside!

So, I’ve been a bit busy lately. I am in my last semester of graduate school, I’ve been sending my resume out to tons of potential employers, I work full-time, and I organize and run (high school) student directed one-act plays, so yeah, time has been tight. But right now, I am caught up and want to post. I’ve missed a lot over the last couple weeks including a Bruins-Habs game that bested the Bruins-Stars tilt for game of the year. Of course there was also the Penguins-Islanders brouhaha, which I have thoughts on but won’t get into right now. We all know I love fights, but at some point, a line has to be drawn. That is all I am saying for right now.

Okay, this blog is about to go America all over everybody’s ass.

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee #13 Ken Morrow

Did you know he was teammates with Mike Liut in college? I didn’t.

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee #70 Mike Ramsey

Nice ‘stache, Ramsey.

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee #140 Mark Johnson

What is better than a Whaler’s sweater? How about Whaler hockey pants?

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee #169 Steve Christoff

There is so much to love about this card. First, the terrible airbrushing job. Secondly, the last minute team text. Next, the killer unibrow. But above everything else is the mullet/rattail that is creeping over his right shoulder. Steve Christoff, I salute you!

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee #251 Rob McClanahan

Missing front tooth, FTW!

1983-84 O-Pee-Chee #253 Mark Pavelich

Mark came up one goal shy of having back-to-back-to-back 30 goal seasons. Another thing I did not know.

There you have it; a little Miracle on Ice/America pride. Suck it, Russia.

Now it’s time for my ongoing revamping of the Hockey Hall of Fame. My last group included the classes of  1977 and 1978. I ended up inducting Alex Delvecchio, Tim Horton, and Jacques Plante and kicking out Andy Bathgate and Marcel Pronovost.

If you’d like to look at the previous postings, here ya go:

1961-1966
1967-1970
1971-1973
1974-1976
1977-1978

Remember, only seasons of 40+ games count as a complete season in my breakdown. Let’s get to it, shall we?

1979
Harry Howell
Bobby Orr
Henri Richard

First up, Harry Howell. Played 21 seasons, 17 of them with the Rangers. He was decent early on, had a run of about seven really good seasons including his best in ’66-’67 when he won the Norris Trophy. He was named to the NHL All-Star 1st Team that same season and it would be the only time he’d receive the honor. Never won a Cup and only played in 38 playoff games, scoring 6 points total. When he retired, he had logged the most games for a defenseman ever. That’s cool, I suppose, but not Hall worthy. I have been unable to dig up any anecdotal information on him being an amazing blueliner, so I just have his statistical resume to look at. Unfortunately, it is not enough, especially when compared to the next potential inductee. Howell is out.

Next up is Orr. Yeah, I’m not even going to bother recapping his career. Best. Player. Ever. Orr is on the Mt. Rushmore of Hockey. IN!

I might lose a few readers with Henri Richard. The man played 19 seasons, all with the Habs. He won an amazing eleven Stanley Cups and recorded 129 points in 180 career playoff games. Now here is where it gets interesting. Richard only finished in the top-10 in goals twice, assists seven times (leading twice) and points seven times. He was named to one NHL All-Star 1st Team and three 2nd Teams. He also won the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy once. Looking at those numbers, I’m not blown away. The Hockey News listed him as the 29th greatest player of all time, but I must be missing something. Was he ever considered the best center of his era? Heck, was he even the best center on his team? He does have a great nickname (Pocket Rocket) and is a Leap Year baby which is cool. I am going to say that until someone tells me some epically awesome story about Richard that he is out.

NO HE DIDN’T?!

YES, HE DID!

PSYCHE, he’s in; Richard is one of the greats.

Inducted: Bobby Orr and Henri Richard
Kicked out: Harry Howell

1980
Harry Lumley
Gump Worsley

Apple Cheeks Lumley is up first with his twelve full seasons and career record of 330-329. Lumley had three really good seasons (’45-’48, ’48-’49, ’49-’50) followed by three terrible seasons (’50-’51, ’51-’52, ’52-’53) followed by some so-so seasons. He won the Vezina Trophy once and was named to two NHL All-Star 1st Teams. He finished in the top-3 in wins eight times (leading twice), GAA eight times (leading twice), and shutouts eight times (leading three times). He won one Cup but was 29-47 in the playoffs. When I look at his numbers, I see a better than average goalie, but not great. Lumley is out.

The Gumper! I am putting him in just because he was an awesome dude and I feel like if I really look at his numbers, I may not give him the nod. Gump, your no-masking wearing, heavily pomade’d, sideburn’d self is IN!

Inducted: Gump Worsley
Kicked out: Harry Lumely

That is it for now. I was going to do 1981 but I started looking at Bucyk’s career stats and I got an uneasy feeling in my stomach. Stupid Bruins-tinted glasses!

I will leave you with this recent pickup:

1974-75 Topps #64 Bill Flett

“Cowboy” Bill Flett looks like what would happen if Will Ferrell’s character Gene Frenkle was the lead in 40 Year Old Virgin.