Posts Tagged ‘Upper Deck’

I’m thinking that I should wrap this up in a few more parts, so let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?

1961-1966
1967-1970
1971-1973
1974-1976
1977-1978
1979-1980
1981
1982-1984
1985-1986
1987-1988
1989-1990
1991-1992
1993-1995
1996-1997
1998-2000
2001-2002

2003
Grant Fuhr
Pat Lafontaine

Grant Fuhr is not a Hall of Famer. He played 30+ games for 15 of his 19 seasons and during that span, I’d estimate that he had one really good year, four pretty good years, and a bunch of average-to-below average years. His best season was 87-88 when he posted a 40-24-9 mark with four shutouts and a GAA of 3.43. The shutouts and wins led the league, but the GAA was only 15th best. That is like a picture going 20-6 with a 3.76 ERA and winning the Cy Young Award. Would that ever happen? Probably not. I think the reason he won the Vezina was that he led the league in wins for a powerhouse team (Oilers) who won the Cup. During his other pretty good years, he went 113-31-25 with two shutouts and a GAA around 3.76. GUH! It should be worth mentioning that those seasons were with those great Oiler teams, which accounts for the wins. On the other hand, it is worth noting that the high GAA game in an era that experienced a huge scoring boom. Overall, Fuhr is 9th all time in wins, 15th in losses, 69th(!) in shutouts, and 1st in goals allowed. As I said earlier, he has that one Vezina Trophy to go along with four Cups. Is it enough? Nope. Fuhr, in my opinion, is in the Hall because he played on a great team; a team, mind you, that would have probably won those Cups with me in goal. Fuhr is out!

For some reason, I really liked Pat Lafontaine growing up. Like most of the players I followed and deemed “favorite” I have no idea why. During his eleven seasons (of 40+ games), Lafontaine netted 30+ goals nine times, 40+ seven times, and 50+ twice; pretty impressive. On the other hand, he only reached the 100+ point mark twice; not too impressive. He only finished in the top-1o in goals twice, assists once, and points twice. He won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy once and was named to the NHL All-Star 2nd Team once, but never captured a Cup. He is 52nd all-time in goals scored, 97th in assists, and 75th in points. I think he is currently in more for his potential if he could have stayed healthy. Even when healthy, though, he was on the bubble of being one of the truly greats. Sorry Pat, but you are out.

Inducted: No one
Kicked out: Grant Fuhr and Pat Lafontaine

2004
Raymond Bourque
Paul Coffey
Larry Murphy

Three defencemen in one year?!

Let’s start with the best of the lot, Ray Bourque. Twenty-two years in the league, 410 goals, 1169 assists, and 1579 points. Not bad for a defenceman. Bourque finished in the top-10 for assists seven times and in +/- (which is a big stat for blueliners) nine times. For his career, he is 4th all-time in assists, 11th in points, and 3rd in +/-. Now lets look at the individual awards: Calder Trophy, five time Norris Trophy winner, and one Stanley Cup. He was named to the NHL All-Star 1st Team thirteen times and the 2nd team six times. Oh, and he was an ace at the accuracy competition during the All-Star break. No brainer here, Bourque is in.

When Bourque wasn’t winning the Norris, Paul Coffey was. Over 1409 games, he tallied a total of 1531 points which is really good for a defenceman. He finished in the top-10 in assists nine times and  points six times; for his career he is 4th and 13th respectively. Three Norris Trophies and four Stanley Cups only add to his legacy. Finally, he was named to four NHL All-Star 1st Teams and four 2nd Teams. Coffey is in.

Lastly, there is Murphy, who is the weakest of the three. In 1615 games, Murphy put up 1216 points. While definitely a good number for a d-man, not quite as good as Bourque and Coffey. He only finished in the top-10 in assists once and +/- three times. For his career, he is 16th in assists, 40th in points, and 60th in +/-. Ehhhh. He never took home a Norris Trophy but did win the Cup four times. He was named to the NHL All-Star 2nd Team three times. I think in any other induction year, Murphy looks very good, but when you put him in the same class as Bourque and Coffey, he is the odd man out. Sorry, but Murphy is out.

Inducted: Raymond Bourque and Paul Coffey
Kicked out: Larry Murphy

2005
Valeri Kharlamov
Cam Neely

I didn’t want to evaluate Kharlamov because he never played in the NHL, but since I inducted Tretiak, I felt like I had to include him. I’m just going to assume he was great and induct him.

Neely is going to hurt me. Like, emotionally hurt and also, if he reads this, he is going to come to my home and mess me up. Over eleven seasons (of 40+ games), Neely was a force. He finished with 30+ goals seven times, 40+ four times, and 50+ three times including the rare 50 goals in 50 games feat. His career numbers aren’t amazing because injuries shorten his NHL playing days (thanks Ulfie). I think Neely is in the HOF now because he was a prototype at the time. He was big and agile, could score and fight, and was just overall a menacing SOB. Up until that point, there weren’t any real players like him in the league, but that changed shortly after his arrival. His career numbers don’t warrant his inclusion here, but I have to look a little beyond the numbers. Few players were more feared than Neely in the league and he was considered nearly, if not truly, elite during his career. Had he stayed healthy, I have to think he would have been a 500 goal scorer. I can’t, however, include him based on potential (see Pat Lafontaine). I have to be objective and pray that the Veteran’s Committee rights my wrong here. Neely is out.

Inducted: Valeri Kharlamov
Kicked out: Cam Neely

And there you have it. Let’s get to some cards, shall we?

People send me things and it rules. First was Sal at Puck Junk, who sent me an autographed card of Ken Hodge Jr. Unfortunately, I forgot to scan it and I’m too lazy to do it now. It is sweet, though, and much appreciated.

Then there was Captain Canuck over at Just a Bit Offside and Waxaholic. I had sent him some OPC and UD cards he needed for sets and included a Brad Marchand card along with it, since he is a HUGE B’s and Marchand fan. Much to my shock, he hates both the reigning Stanley Cup champs and the feisty winger. Not only did he return my Marchand card, but he included these to keep it company:

So, the Marchand card was the ‘return to sender’ and I checked it for graffiti and was surprised to find none. I LOVE the Horton canvas card, but hate the Kaberle card. Not the actual card, but the player. What a worthless bum and yet, he is front and center in the White House photos. The guy did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and he is smiling like a dope behind Obama. Ugh. Hey Canuck, how’re you like Mr. Kaberle this season?

Anyways, thanks guy for all the goodies.

Next we have some eBay purchases. There is this:

2001-02 Topps Autographs #A-RF Ron Francis

I will have more to say about Ron Francis in my next Hockey Hall of Pretty Good post, so stay tuned. Ideally, I would have preferred a card of him in his Whalers uniform but I like having a signed card of a HOF player that was autographed during his playing days. Why, I can’t say, but I do.

Next is a card I wasn’t really looking for but I saw it on eBay, the bidding was low, and I figured, “Hey, why not?”

2010-11 Upper Deck The Cup Autographed Rookie Masterpieces #CUP-97 Adam McQuaid

Never did I think I’d actually own a 1/1 (because they don’t really appeal to me). Nor did I ever think I’d own a printing plate card (same reason). And never did I think I’d own either of one of my favorite players. But then eBay happened and it was just too cheap to pass up. So now I have a 1/1 printing plate autographed rookie of Adam McQuaid. Huzzah!

And lastly, I think I’m going to start a Derek Sanderson collection. I have nearly all of his vintage cards, but now he has quite a few new cards put out by Panini as well as some other random Upper Deck cards from the past years. If anyone has any, please hit me up.

I’m sitting here listening to some Frijid Pink and thinking to myself that I really want to finish up the Hockey Hall of Pretty Good series so that I can a) move onto the Veteran’s Committee vote, b) move onto the Tough Guy Hall of Fame, and c) just move on.

Last we left, The Great One got in while Denis Savard, Joe Mullen, Michel Goulet, and Peter Stastny got the big boot. I sort of regret Stastny but I can’t go back; that is what the Veteran’s Committee is for.

1961-1966
1967-1970
1971-1973
1974-1976
1977-1978
1979-1980
1981
1982-1984
1985-1986
1987-1988
1989-1990
1991-1992
1993-1995
1996-1997
1998-2000

The end is in sight! Onwards and upwards!

2001
Viacheslav Fetisov
Mike Gartner
Dale Hawerchuk
Jari Kurri

Oh man, this is going to be TOUGH!

First there is Fetisov. Russians from this era are tough because a lot of them didn’t break into the NHL until their 30s. Fetisov is no exception, entering the league at the age of 31. While his best years may have been behind him, he was still a pretty good NHLer. In 546 games he tallied 228 total points and a +114; not bad for a defenceman. He won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Red Wings to close out his career. His NHL stats, however, would not be enough to induct him. Looking at this international numbers and reputation is where he shines. In 478 games for the USSR, he put up 374 points, while putting up 33 points in 22 Olympic games. Those are all great numbers for a defenceman. The greatest accolade, though, is his selection to the International Centennial All-Star Team. This team was voted on by 56 “experts” from all over the world with Fetisov receiving the most votes (54), beating out some dude named Gretzky. That is some honor! Welcome to the HOF, comrade Fetisov.

Next is a guy who, unlike Fetisov, has all the numbers in the world and, also unlike Fetisov, not much of the reputation/respect. The player is Mike Gartner, a 700 goal scorer who, in my opinion, doesn’t make the cut.

Over 18 NHL seasons (only years of 40+ count as seasons in my book), Gartner scored 30+ goals 17 times, 40+ nine times, and 50+ once. Yet, he never finished higher than 9th in the top-10. Point being that EVERYONE scored goals in the 80s. He never finished in the top-10 for assists and only once for total points (also the only time he cracked 100+ points). It is remarkable to me that a guy with 700+ goals only cracked the 100+ point plateau once! He has zero individual hardware, never won a Cup, and was never named to the NHL All-Star 1st or 2nd Team. This leads me to believe that he was rarely thought of as one of the best in the game. Don’t get me wrong, though, Mike Gartner was very good for a long period of time, but he was never great, not even for a year. Gartner is out.

Dale Hawerchuk is a tough one for me. He has the numbers, but does he have that little extra? Let’s see. Over 15 seasons, he tallied 513 goals and 1393 points in 1165 games. He had ten 30+ goal seasons, seven with 40+ goals, and one with 50+; however he never finished higher than 7th overall in a season. He was a great assist man with five seasons of 60+ assists, four with 70+, and one with 80+. None of those, however, were good enough for the lead league; the highest he finished was 4th. Six seasons of 100+ points is nice, but again, he never led the league. Overall, though, he is 18th all-time in total points. Additionally, he won the Calder Trophy and was named to the NHL All-Star 2nd Team once. And that is about it. On there own, his numbers are good enough to get in, but compared to others of his generation, I think they look merely very good, not great. I hate to do it, but Hawerchuk is out. Poor Winnipeg.

Last up is Jari Kurri. In many ways, he is similar to Hawerchuk in that they have just about the same amount of points. Over 16 seasons, Kurri amassed 591 goals (601 if I count his 38 game season). In 1213 games he put up 1369 points. He enjoyed eleven seasons of 30+ goals, seven with 40+, four with 50+, two with 60+, and one with 70+; these were good enough for lead the league once while finishing in the top-5 three other times. His assist numbers were good, averaging 60+ during his prime, but only good enough to finish as high as 9th in a season.  Total points, however, tell a different story. Six different times Kurri ended a season with 100+ total points and finished in the top-10 six different times. He won the Lady Byng once and was named to two NHL All-Star 1st Teams and two 2nd Teams. He also was part of the great Oilers dynasty that won five Stanley Cups. I am leaning towards saying no to Kurri but then I looked at his playoff numbers: 233 points in 200 games! That includes leading the entire playoffs in goals four different times. Is that enough to put him in? Hawerchuk put up similar numbers without the benefit of Gretzky, Messier, Coffey, etc. Switch the two players and I bet Hawerchuk has the Cups, the goals, and maybe some All-Star Team selections. Kurri is out.

Inducted: Viacheslav Fetisov

Kicked out: Mike Gartner, Dale Hawerchuk, and Jari Kurri

2002
Bernie Federko
Clark Gillies
Rod Langway

Ugh, why is Bernie Federko in the Hall of Fame? He is pretty much the reason for this entire series. He didn’t play particularly long (13 seasons), score a ton of goals (355), dish out an extraordinary amount of assists (752), or tally a ton of points (1107). He never finished in the top-10 in goals but managed to finish in the top-10 in assists seven times (4th overall being the highest) and top-10 in total points five times (8th being his highest). No individual awards, no Cups, no NHL All-Star Team selections. Heck, he only played in two All Star games. He is the definition of very good, not great. Federko is out!

Ugh squared! Friggin’ Clark Gillies. Read my thoughts here. Summed up, if Clark Gillies is in, Wayne Cashman should be in. And do I think Wayne Cashman is a Hall of Famer? Absolutely not. Gillies, you’re out!

Last up is Rod Langway. Defencemen are my achilles heel. As far as I can tell, Langway was a very good blueliner. Not the sort of guy to put up a ton of points like Orr, Bourque, Lindstrom, but the sort of defenceman who stayed at home and held the fort. His back-to-back Norris Trophy seasons are impressive as well as the fact that he finished 2nd behind Gretzky for the Hart Trophy for the 82-83 season. He does have one Cup with the Canadiens and was named to two NHL All-Star 1st Teams and one 2nd Team. Also, did you know he was born in Taiwan? Since I am light on defencemen and because the two Norris’ speak to his reputation and ability, Langway is in.

Inducted: Rod Langway
Kicked out: Bernie Federko and Clark Gillies

That is enough HOF debating for one day. let’s move onto an actual card that came in the mail yesterday:

2010-11 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection US-GL Guy Lafleur

Check out that bleu, blanc, and rouge beauty! Now one closer to my on-card HOF autograph goal.

Lastly, I’ve been quietly beefing up my PJ Axelsson collection. I have taken to browsing the Swedish eBay called Tradera.  Recently I found a couple of Axelsson jersey cards that I didn’t have, including a patch one. While paying, I asked the seller if he had other PJ cards, especially Swedish releases. Not only did he have those, but he had a ton os low numbered and parallel cards of PJ that I didn’t have. The best part, though, is that he knew and checked out my blog. What a crazy world! So now I have a guy who can get me things. Some have a guy who can get them firearms, babies, truffles, whatever. I have a Axelsson guy. Jealous? I thought so. So that is a story I wanted to pass on.

I leave you with this: