Project Lineup...

"Chainsaw & Hockey Mask"

Taking a look at what's in store for this year's collecting season. Certainly won't be going to a store to purchase any cards... Prefer to get massive boxes for next to nothing, along with countless cards given to me. Tons of unsorted junk anyway, so lets' begin!

Semyon Varlamov
2019-20 Upper Deck #344

2025 Projected Lineup (Designated Starters):

• 1980's Commons: Card Sets Now "Vintage".
• 1990's Junk: Using Wax as Low-Cost Wallpaper
• 2009-10 - 2019-20 Upper Deck: Sorting & Filing
• Original Six: Snapshots From a Simpler Time
• NHL All-Star Game: Flashing Back to Decades Past
• Expansion Teams of  1998-2000 (Preds, Thrashers, Jackets & Wild)
  

Most of my cards are in binders - But still have a few thousand that could also stand to be filed in such an album to be displayed and enjoyed.

Bob Sauve
1981-82 O-Pee-Chee #23

Have nearly 70% of the 1981-82 OPC set in my posession.
All commons, acquired for a couple dollars - Missing the really great cards, but still quite a chunk of hockey history right there.

Would take 44 binder sheets to tuck them away, leaving space for the missing cards...

That's the discouraging part, because it could easily get frustrating ensuring that the correct spaces are left, to "display" the cards properly, and allow the slots necessary should I happen to acquire a few more.. Maybe stick to one or two teams per sitting, and finish it over a few days instead of trying to stuff it into an afternoon.

Returning Segments:

Pascal Leclaire
2005-06 In The Game
- Heroes and Prospects #89

• Minor League: Occasional cards, mentions of teams & players.
• "Freaky Mask Friday": Scary or unusual goalie masks on hockey card (preferably a decent angle).
• NHL Playoffs: The REAL Hockey Season. Particularly fond of cards that feature snapshots from the Playoffs.
• "WTF Hockey Cards": Attempting to explain how such a bad card could ever be made - Or making sense of what's going on in the photo".
• Random Re-Packs: Misadventures in Junk Wax for a few cheap thrills.
• Goalie Cards: HOFers, backups & unknowns added to my collection.
  
  
  

The Bear-Shark Project...

Joe Thornton
2010-11 SP Authentic #34

After Joe Thornton departed from San Jose, I decided to take a look at other Sharks players who wore jersey number 19.

Joe Thornton facts from Wikipedia:

San Jose Sharks' all-time leader in points per game with 1.01.

Only player in NHL history to win the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy while switching teams in his winning campaign – 2005–06.

Marco Sturm
2003-04 Upper Deck #158

Being a relatively new franchise, San Jose only a few players don the number 19 jersey before Thornton arrived.

Coincidentally, Marco Sturm was one of the players traded to Boston for Joe Thornton).



San Jose Sharks players to wear number 19 before Joe Thornton:
Marco Sturm (1998-2006)
Jeff Friesen (1996)
Doug Zmolek (1993-1994)
Brian Mullen (1992)

Brian Mullen
1992-93 O-Pee-Chee #260

Brian Mullen was one of the first San Jose Sharks to wear number 19.

From the back of the card:

"In November he [Brian Mullen] scored a wrap-around in overtime to clinch the Sharks' first-ever win over LA"

Joe Thornton
2005-06 Upper Deck MVP #28

Joe Thornton with the Boston Bruins, during the pre-beard era.
(I swear that he and Brent Burns must have had a contest going)

Mariusz Czerkawski
1995-96 Collector's Choice #50
(Player's Club Parallel)

Some of the Boston Bruins players to wear number 19 before Joe Thornton:
Rob DiMaio (1997-2000)
Kevin Sawyer (1996)
Mariusz Czerkawski (1994-1996)
Dave Poulin (1990-1993)
Ray Neufeld (1989-1990)
Tom McCarthy (1987-1988)
Normand Leveille (1982-83)
Bobby Lalonde (1980-81)
Ab DeMarco (1979)

Joe Thornton
1999-00 Stadium Club #75

Curiously enough, Joe Thornton actually wore number 6 at the very beginning of his career.

Being an older franchise, numbers 2 thru 9 had already been retired by the Boston Bruins - with the exception of jersey number 6.

A relatively low number for a centreman, Thornton wore 6 from 1998 - 2000.

Number 19 became available in Boston when Rob Dimaio was traded to the NY Rangers.
Joe Thornton wore number 19 with Boston from 2000-2006.

Dick Redmond
1981-82 O-Pee-Chee #9

Some of the Boston Bruins Players to Wear Number 6 Before Joe Thornton:
Alexei Kasatonov (1995-1996)
Glen Featherstone (1992-1994)
Gord Kluzak (1983-1991)
Dick Redmond (1978-82)
Mike Forbes (1978)
Dennis O'Brien (1978)
Clayton Pachal (1977)
Darryl Edestrand (1974-1978)
Nick Beverley (1973-74)
Ted Green (1961-1972)

SHARK WEEK (Day 8): Fish Heads, Fish Heads...

Evgeni Nabokov
2003-04 Upper Deck #163

It's the Shark Week Edition of Freaky Mask Friday!

Evgeni Nabokov 's Shark mask features what appears to be a skeleton feeding (or baiting) a Shark with fish heads.

Evgeni Nabokov
2003-04 Topps #168

Another card from the same year.
The teal-colored border really goes well with the Shark's uniforms.

Evgeni Nabokov
2004-05 Upper Deck Artifacts #83

2005-06 Upper Deck Artifacts
Total Cards: 242
(100 base cards, the rest are serial numbered, with rookies distributed through redemption exchange)

Only have six cards from this set - And FOUR of them are goaltenders!

Back of the card makes mention of his shutouts in previous seasons...
Nabokov managed an incredible 9 shutouts in 2003-04.

SHARK WEEK (Day 6): High Society...

Steve Bernier
2005-06 In the Game
Heroes & Prospects #265

Lurking Outside the Net...

The first post here during Shark Week that doesn't feature a goaltender...

It caught my eye because it appears to be a shark with a monacle.

From Wikipedia:

" The Cleveland Barons were a professional American ice hockey team in the AHL. They played in Cleveland, Ohio between 2001 and 2006.

Named in honor of the popular Barons team that played in the AHL and its forerunners from 1929 to 1973 and the NHL team of the same name.

The Barons name was revived in 2001 when the San Jose Sharks purchased their AHL affiliate, the Kentucky Thoroughblades, and relocated them to Cleveland, where they would play at the arena which was owned and operated by Sharks owners George and Gordon Gund. The Gunds had also owned the NHL Barons, who played in the NHL in the late 1970s before being merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978.

The franchise relocated to Worcester, Massachusetts, for the 2006–07 season and became the Worcester Sharks."

The Phantom Grimace...

Mike Richards
2005-06 In The Game
Hot Prospects #364

Continually fascinated with minor hockey league affiliate teams as I find cards and add them to my collection.

Although I'm not a fan of the purple & orange color scheme, it's nice to have a decent snapshot of the AHL's Philidelphia Phantoms insignia.

Bird Watchin'

Ryan Whitney
2006-07 Upper Deck #159

Have just half a dozen cards from this particular set.

Spotted a Looney Toons Roadrunner ad with the Penguins on the road...

Really don't care what product he's shilling for.
Instantly becomes one of my favorite new acquisitions.

Beep! Beep!

Glen Wesley
1991-91 Upper Deck #370

Reminds me of this card, with an ad on the boards that features Peanuts cartoon character Snoopy playing hockey, dressed in full goalie gear.

Scot Stevens also makes a cameo appearance.
Two defencemen mixing it up... This has to be unusual on cardboard, I would think.

Taylor Hall
2015-16 Upper Deck #75

Add another cartoon character to the list...
It's Popeye The Sailor Man!

Kennedy Ice Center...

Tyler Kennedy
2005-06 In The Game #284
Heroes & Prospects

Another cheap treasure for my personal collection...

Here's Tyler Kennedy playing with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL.

Kennedy was definitely a highly under-valued piece of the the 2009 Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins.


He was ultimately traded to the Sharks in 2013, and to the Islanders in 2015.
Also played one season with the New Jersey Devils.

Played briefly with the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League.











In an effort to better understand the confusion relationship between AHL affiliates and their parent clubs, I'm just now learning that the Cleveland Barons moved to Worcester and became the Sharks in 2005.

This comes as a direct result of the Worcester Ice Cats being sold and moved to Peoria, Illonois. (The Worcester Ice Cats were the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues)

Tyler Kennedy
2009-10 Upper Deck #297

On a team full of superstars, unsung heroes like Tyler Kennedy managed to catch my attention. Enjoyed watching the energy this guy delivered every shift during the 2009 Playoffs.

He scored 5 goals - 3 of them were game-winners.
Also added 4 assists for a total of 9 points during the 2009 postseason.


Scored 89 goals with 126 assists for 215 points in 527 career NHL games.

Jocelyn Thibault Trades...

Jocelyn Thibault
1995-96 Skybox Emotion #43

Following the Quebec Nordiques' relocation to Colorado to become the Avalanche, Jocelyn Thibault played just 10 games in an Avs uniform before being traded to Montreal in the Patrick Roy deal.























From nhltradetracker.com:

Jocelyn Thibault
1995-96 Zenith #34

Just happened to spot a painted mask on the recently traded T-Bo in the 1995-96 Zenith set...

Closer inspection reveals that Canadiens' logos have simply been painted on his snowy mountain Avalanche mask.


(In the 95-96 UD set, Thibault is wearing a plain white mask with the Canadiens)

Jocelyn Thibault
2005-06 Parkhurst #395

T-Bo was also briefly a member of the Penguins.
He played 38 games for the Pens during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.

Freaky Mask Friday (Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals)

Olaf Kolzig
2005-06 Upper Deck #193

GODZILLA!

Major Minor Leaguers...

Ryan Miller
2005-06 In the Game #92

A few cards of guys who were making their way up to the NHL.

Great snapshot of Ryan Miller backstopping the Rochester Americans of the AHL.

Actually really like this 2005-06 In The Game set. Crisp, clean, and glossy enough that you'd almost swear it was an NHL card.

Al Montoya
2005-06 In the Game
Hot Prospects #374

Al Montoya played for the Islanders, Jets, Panthers, Canadiens...
Also made brief appearances with the Coyotes and Oilers.

Finished his NHL career with 67 wins, 49 losses and 24 ties / OT losses.

Angelo Esposito
2005-06 In the Game
Hot Prospects #373

Angelo Esposito playing for the Quebec Remparts of the OHL

Once a highly touted prospect, I don't believe this guy ever actually played a game in the NHL.

Wade Dubielwicz
2006-07 In The Game
Between The Pipes #53

Wade Dubielwicz, another familiar NHL backup goaltender.
He may have played for just about every expansion team at some point...

Yutaka Fukufuji
2006-07 In The Game
Between The Pipes #55

I just think this guy's name is fun to say...

Yutaka Fukufuji is of course the first ever Japanese-born NHL goaltender.

Can't ever recall seeing a goalie wear number 44.

ABCs of 2005-06 Parkhurst... (Anaheim, Boston, Calgary)

Todd Marchant
2005-06 Parkhurst #5

Browsing through some 2005-06 Parkhurst cards.
This is one of my favorite sets from '05-06 (the year that NHL resumed after the lockout).

Noticed the third jersey was worn by Anaheim for a few seasons until the "Mighty Ducks" became the "Ducks".

Within the flock of ugly Ducks jerseys, this one (worn from 2003 thru 2006) doesn't seem nearly as terrible.

Gotta think it would look better paired with a black helmet as opposed to a purple (aka eggplant) colored helmet.

Just waiting for them to unveil a neon green & orange "Wild Wing" jersey..

Brian Leetch
2005-06 Parkhurst #43

Brian Leetch in a Boston Bruins uniform...

After spending most of his career with the New York Rangers, Brian Leetch spent a season in Toronto before joining the Bruins in 2005-06 for his final NHL season (in which he played 61 games).

Wearing number 22, as his usual number 2 had retired by the Boston Bruins in honor of Eddie Shore.

Darren McCarty
2005-06 Parkhurst #76

Easy to forget that Darren McCarty was briefly a member of the Calgary Flames...

Spent the 2005-06 and 2006-07 season in Calgary, before returning to Detroit for a Stanley Cup championship in 2007-08.


With so many awful retro jerseys being unveiled in 2021, a familiar one like this is a breath of fresh air..

The Flames have re-introduced the flaming horse head jersey as part of the NHL's "Reverse Retro" money-making program.

Wasn't a fan of this jersey first time round, but I guess it's grown on me (although I still prefer the red sleeves pictured here).

French Connection...

Jeff Jackson
1990-91 Upper Deck #291

Never get tired of obscure goalie cameos...

The default goaltender is the standard... When it's someone I don't recognize, I'm curious who it is - Especially if I watched a lot of hockey during that era.

Had often heard that Patrick Roy had popularized the number 33 for goaltenders...

During the 1989-90 season, Mario Gosselin of the Quebec Nordiques was one of six goalies wearing jersey 33.

Other goaltenders wearing jersey 33 during 1989-90:
Beaupre (WSH)
Berthiaume (MIN)
Froese (NYR)
Peeters (PHI)
Reddick (EDM)
Roy (MTL)

Mario Gosselin
1990-91 Upper Deck #91

Joining the Los Angeles Kings for the 1989-90 season, Mario Gosselin would don number 31.

He also happens to have the most amazing card in the entire 1990-91 Upper Deck set.

Couldn't believe that I hadn't already scanned this card...
This snapshot is particularly remarkable, as Gosselin played just 26 games for the Kings.

Mario Gosselin was one of four Kings' goaltenders to see action in 1989-90.

Daniel Berthiaume
1990-91 Upper Deck #381

Incidentally, Daniel Berthiaume (shown here with the Minnesota North Stars) would join the Kings the following season, choosing the unorthodox goalie number 36.

(nobody in LA was gonna get jersey 33, as it was occupied by Marty McSorley)

Just noticed the artwork on the top of his helmet... Is that an old-time goalie mask as part of the design?

During 1990-91, the Kings' only goalies were and Berthiaume and Hrudey - With backup goaltender Daniel Berthiaume playing almost as many games as starter Kelly Hrudey.

Julien Ellis
2005-06 In The Game
Heroes and Prospects #306

It caught my attention that Mario Gosselin played Junior with the Shawinigan Cataractes...

Just happened to acquire this card of another goaltender with the Cataractes.

From Wikipedia:

 "Cataractes" is the plural form of 'cataracte', which means in English 'cataract' in the sense of a powerful waterfall, derived from the Latin word 'cataracta' meaning 'waterfall' or 'portcullis'.

 
The team is named after the Shawinigan Falls, a prominent waterfall in the city of Shawinigan.

I love it when a post manages to go full circle.

Silver Scribble...

Evgeni Nabokov
2005-06 Upper Deck MVP #320

Sorting a small handful of cards from the very white 2005-06 Upper Deck MVP (another set that's growing on me), I noticed the small silver signature on the Nabokov card. Such neat handwriting... Way too perfect to have been done with the human hand.

During production, they must have simply been without a digital copy of his signature available in time for printing. Subsequently noticed this on a few other players' cards.

This was the first year they started putting a "silver script" on the regular base cards (and did so from 2005-06 until 2009-10). When the MVP brand re-appeared in 2014-15, only the insert cards would have "silver script".

Evgeni Nabokov
2007-08 Upper Deck MVP #263

Incidentally, I had just picked up the base cards of  2007-08 Upper Deck MVP.

Decided to have a look at the Nabokov card from that set, just to compare.

Now that's more like it... Completely illegible.
Looks like the ACDC logo with thunderbolt.

Darius Kasparaitis
2005-06 Upper Deck MVP #257

Also noticed the script on a Kasparaitis card...
Thought maybe the signature was mirrored or something, but apparently he really does sign his name like that.

At first glance, thought it was a number 12... He's clearly wearing jersey number 6, and wore number 11 with Colorado.

After looking at many Kasparaitis autographs, I'm convinced that it's not a jersey number. The Lithuanian-born player does in fact appear to scribble a character that resembles an "R" (at least that's what it looks like in English). Have seen this "R" signed alongside his jersey number in other autos.

They Don't Know Jackman...

Richard Jackman
2005-06 Parkhurst #387

Back in the day, I tried to find cards of a guy named Richard "Ric" Jackman. Nobody had ever heard of him...

An offensively gifted defenceman, Richard Jackman was possibly overshadowed by emerging young defenceman Barett Jackman (of the St Louis Blues).

Grouped with the Penguins in the 2005-06 Parkhurst set (card numbers 383 thru 398), Richard Jackman has absolutely no Penguins stats listed on the back of his card.

Of course, it's not uncommon for a traded player to be found with his old team in a set of hockey cards...
(Or even to be with his new team yet still wearing his old uniform in the photo)

While I barely own half of this mammoth 700-card set, Jackman appears to be the ONLY traded player in uniform with his new team... Just strange they were pro-active enough to include a new photo of a relatively unknown player who's card doesn't indicate any affiliation with the Penguins.



Jackman was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 11, 2004 (from Toronto).

Richard Jackman
2005-06 Parkhurst #387
(card back)

The 2003-04 season lists 54 games with the Maple Leafs.
He actually split the previous season between the Leafs and Pens.
(29 games with Toronto, 24 games for Pittsburgh)

It could be there simply wasn't enough space to list "MAPLE LEAFS / PENGUINS".


Interestingly enough, he scored only 6 points in 29 games with Toronto.
Compare that to his 24 points in 25 games with the Penguins.
Not too shabby for a defenceman.


It's also a bit of a weird timing anomally... Although he'd been with the Penguins for 2 years (2004-2006), it was only two partial seasons.

Richard Jackman was traded from Pittsburgh to Florida on March 9, 2006.
The 2005-06 Parkhurst hockey card set was released on June 21, 2006.


The set was released just 3 months after Jackman was traded.
It's still relatively impressive that they were able to include a photo of him in his new Panthers' uniform.

SP Authentic 2003-04, 2004-05 & 2005-06

Adam Oates
2003-04 SP Authentic #34

Was lucky enough to sample a few consecutive years of SP Authentic.

2003-04 SP Authentic
(base cards 1-90)
Total Cards: 158

Adam Oates
2003-04 SP Authentic #34
(card back)

2003-04 has a good overall design. Catches my eye, but is just somehow lacking something to make me want to go out and grab the whole set.

Still wouldn't mind finding a few more of these.

Marian Hossa
2004-05 SP Authentic #61

2004-05 SP Authentic
(base cards 1-90)
Total Cards: 150

One of my least favorite designs. And from the lockout year, I might add...

Marian Hossa
2004-05 SP Authentic #61
(card back)

Seems they often try too hard when there's no season happening. It's definitely not overdone, but just something about the overall mood of the card...

I'd give it more artistic merit than its' predecessor, although the stats are a bit difficult to read.

Bill Guerin
2005-06 SP Authentic #33

2005-06 SP Authentic
(base cards 1-100)
Total Cards: 290

Probably my overall favorite design of the group. Already had a few of these.

Bill Guerin
2005-06 SP Authentic #33
(card back)

Visually appealing, without trying to be too busy or complicated. Would definitely like to add more of these to my collection.

"Old Time Hockey"

Matthew Barnaby
2005-06 Parkhurst #108

2005-06 Parkhurst
Total Cards: 700

Have but a lone card from this mammoth set...

Retro card designs look even better when they feature a member of an Original Six team.

Most of the Hawks in this set appear to be wearing white, but the red jersey looks awesome against the team-colored border.

Matthew Barnaby
2005-06 Parkhurst #108
(card back)

Sometimes they try too hard to make a set look retro, but I feel this card strikes a nice balance between old and new, making for a very enjoyable card.

Certainly wouldn't mind acquiring a few more cards from this set.