Re-Pack Pack-Rip...

Curtis Joseph RC
1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #51

Hadn't opened any cardboard in a few years as I continue to sort my existing stacks.

Suddenly had the urge to feast my eyes on a plethora of previously unseen images.

Of course it could be a total bust - But as long as long as they're not duplicates, I'm happy to add them to my collection.

Already had this one from OPC Premier...
But certainly happy to add an extra Cujo card.
From one of the fabled sets I never thought I'd own.

Jagr is of course  the big card in the 1990-91 OPC set. A quick lookup indicates that this Curtis Joseph rookie card used to be valued at $8.00.
Modern book value is around 18 cents.

Definitely got my daily dose of nostalgia with this one.

Alexei Kovalev
2002-03 SPX #60

Surprisingly didn't already have any cards from this set...

2002-03 SPX
Total Cards: 175

I would only consider the first 100 cards of the set to be base cards... The cards in the 101-174 range appear to be short-printed and serial numbered (because they enjoy sucking the fun right out of the hobby).

Won the Stanley Cup in his rookie season after being drafted by the New York Rangers, Alexei Kovalev also played for Montreal and Pittsburgh.

(Briefly with Ottawa, a quick return stint with the Pens, finishing his career with 14 games in Florida)


From the back of the card:

"The superstar Russian winger has collected over 300 points in a Penguins' uniform."

Surprisingly, Kovalev earned more points as a Penguin than he did with any other team...
He scored more points in six seasons with Pittsburgh than he did playing nine years in New York.

The Penguins were definitely not an exciting team in 2002-03. Aside from Kovalev (and short-printed Prospect #121 Shane Endicott) the only other Pittsburgh player in the set is Mario Lemieux.

Marc-Andre Fleury
2021-22 Upper Deck #540

Haven't busted a single pack of 2020-21 or 2021-22 Upper Deck.
(To me, they're one and the same)

Any cards acquired have trickled into my collection via re-packs.
No big stars, but no duplicates either...

Acquired in the off-season, and dealt at the trade deadline, Marc-Andre Fleury has since settled with the Minnesota Wild.

Here he is with the Chicago Blackhawks. Digging the color of the goalie pads that actually looks like oldschool leather (whether it's intentional or not).

Visible on the team jersey is a black 35 patch worn by the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2021-2022 season to honor the passing of legendary Hawk's goaltender Tony Esposito.
(Stan Mikita's jersey 21 receiving similar treatment in 2018-19)

Looking at a few images from Marc-Andre Fleury's previous season with the Vegas Golden Knights, he wore very similar pads and the motif certainly doesn't look out of place with Chicago's colors.

Also just noticed that Fleury has managed to keep his number 29 throughout his NHL career.