Freaky Mask Friday (Petr Mrazek, Detroit Red Wings)

Man or Machine?

Petr Mrazek
2016-17 Parkhurst #119

This one caught my attention because it looked like Robocop...

Apparently it's supposed to be Peter Griffin as Robocop.
The weireder, the better.

Petr Mrazek
2016-17 Parkhurst #119
(card back)

Flipside offers a bit of a closer look at the masked character wearing a character on his mask...

SHARK WEEK (Day 4): Goal Mouth Frenzy...

Martin Jones
2016-17 Upper Deck #153

Martin Jones playing for the San Jose Sharks, sporting the 25th anniversary patch on his jersey.

Remarkably, the girls in the crowd don't even have their faces buried in their phones!

Those jaws are open wide enough to swallow a hot dog...

Cashin' in on Kachina Merch... (Mike Smith, Arizona Coyotes)

Mike Smith
2016-17 Upper Deck #12

For Freaky Mask Friday, it's Mike Smith rockin' the oldschool Phoenix Coyotes jersey... With a painted mask to match.

Another "new" card that I was missing to finish my set.

The team name may have been changed to the "Arizona Coyotes" for state-wide marketing purposes - But to me, the desert dogs will always be the Phoenix Coyotes.


It's also a great action pose of veteran journeyman goaltender Mike Smith.

It would be quicker to list the number of teams this guy hasn't played for.

2016-17 Upper Deck (Completed Set)

Marian Hossa
2016-17 Upper Deck #43

Surprisingly, I was only missing 24 cards from the 2016-17 Upper Deck base set.

Pretty incredible, considering I only busted open a single pack...

So where the hell did they all come from?

Had been accumulating them at a steady pace from re-packs, but you can't really build a set that way.

Since I'm only interested in base cards, had picked up an unsealed tin with a good number of "new" cards . Also got an opened box with loose cards around the same time. Even had the entire Series 2 given to me for free.

Artemi Panarin
2016-17 Upper Deck #40

During a mass acquisition a couple years ago, I scored a binder full of 2016-17 Upper Deck. It was actually the entire Series 1, with the cards slightly out of order. Just going through it now, I was sitting on a completed set without realizing it.

Noticed a ski hat like this one on a member of the crowd on the Hossa card above.
Bonus point for the black war paint.

Cam Ward
2016-17 Upper Deck #34

Like the pirate skeleton on Ward's mask.

Looks especially awesome with the Canes' black jerseys.

Jaromir Jagr
2016-17 Upper Deck #81

The NHL's 2nd all-time leading scorer...

Played a full season with the Florida Panthers, before briefly joining the Calgary Flames for 22 games in 2017-18.

He left the NHL after playing for NINE different franchises.

While long since "retired" from the NHL, old man Jagr is still racking up points overseas in the Czech League (EHL).

At this rate, it seems like he'll keep rockin' forever. He's like the Keith Richards of hockey...

Checklist
(Sidney Crosby, Joe Pavelski)
2016-17 Upper Deck #199

"Retro" Penguins uniforms, with the teal blue of the San Jose Sharks... Takes me right back to the 90s.


Checklists are another dislike of mine - But I feel the Stanley Cup Playoffs don't get nearly enough attention on cardboard, so I actually do enjoy cards like this.

Stanley Cup Finalists, with Stanley Cup Finals badges visible.

Florida VS Toronto...

Reilly Smith
2016-17 Upper Deck #82

To kick off the second round of the 2023 NHL Playoffs, prowling through my collection to rake up a card featuring the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs...

The Panthers have always been in the Eastern Conference (since their debut in 1996), while the Toronto Maple Leafs (despite being in the Eastern Time Zone) were technically in the Western Conference until 1998.

One of the reasons the Leafs became an Eastern Conference team was the increased number of Relocations and Expansions to the Midwest and West Coast.

Reilly Smith (shown here with the Panthers) has since moved on to Vegas (the Vegas Golden Knights will play the Edmonton Oilers in the second round).

Wild, Wild West...

Jason Spezza
2016-17 Upper Deck #62

A quick post inspired by the 2023 NHL Playoff series between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild...

The Stars score a goal in Minnesota, and nobody cares...
Every visible fan seams to be wearing Minnesota Wild apparel.

I just find it amusing because the Dallas Stars were originally the Minnesota North Stars... until 1994. Now the old franchise is back in town, embroiled in a Playoff series against the "new" Minnnesota expansion team.

Makes me wonder if any fans still wear their North Stars jerseys while cheering for the "road" team...

Just now realizing that the teams previously met in the 2016 Playoffs, with Dallas emerging as the victor. It's even feasible that this snapshot could have been taken at that time.

Jason Spezza
2017-18 Upper Deck #61

Couldn't help but notice that Jason Spezza's card from the following season is equally entertaining...

Maybe Corey Perry is dodging out of the way... But at a glance, it looks as if Spezza is nailing him with an elbow on the way by.

Either way, a pair of highly amusing cards.
Fortunately, I have duplicates available for my favorites binder.

Steve Reinprecht
2007-08 Upper Deck MVP #87

Also stumbled upon this card...
Is that a Minnesota North Stars jersey in the crowd???

From a decade earlier, and likely in the Phoenix Coyotes' arena - But still interesting, nonetheless...

Jazzy Blue Version...

Jake Allen
2016-17 Upper Deck
Shining Stars Blue #SS-45

Although I'm constantly venting my dislike of insert subsets and "chase cards", just happened to add this one to my stack. This particular card is very clean without being overdone.

There's a regular  Shining Stars subset in 2016-17 Upper Deck - Along with a Shining Stars Blue parallel set.

The blue theme just happens to work really well with the Blues motif.

Also a big fan of this particular St. Louis Blues uniform, so it instantly becomes a favorite within my collection.

Sacre Bleu: Jake Allen now plays for the Montreal Canadiens.

Back-to-Back Champs...

Matt Murray
2016-17 Upper Deck #144

In what's being called the closest thing to a "dynasty" in today's NHL, the Tampa Bay Lightning become the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions since the Pittsburgh Penguins (2016 & 2017).

Chris Osgood
1999-00 O-Pee-Chee #84

It was nearly two decades since the back-to-back victories by the Detroit Red Wings (1997 & 1998) and Pittsburgh Penguins (1991 & 1992).

Bill Ranford
1990-91 Upper Deck #42

Even the Edmonton Oilers, who won 5 Championships over 7 seasons (from 1984-1990) never actually won more than two years in a row.

Butch Goring
1983-94 O-Pee-Chee #7

The New York Islanders' four consecutive Cups (1980-1983) will probably stand for quite some time.

In those four seasons, they remarkably lost only three games during the Finals. Another impressive stat is four different Islanders players winning the Playoff MVP. (Trottier, Goring, Bossy, Smith)

The Isles' Championships were actually preceded by four consecutive Stanley Cups by the Montreal Canadiens (1976-1979) coached by Scotty Bowman.

More UD Portraits...

Victor Hedman
2016-17 UD Portraits #P-26

2016-17 UD Portraits
Total Cards: 110

While I try not to support the chase cards that drive the hobby,
Some of these inserts occasionally find their way into my collection.

Found these tucked inside what I thought was a box base cards from 2016-17 Upper Deck.

"Portraits" is one of the subsets that I can tolerate...
Particularly fond of the design and color scheme of 2016-17 UD Portraits.

Victor Hedman, the MVP of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
I believe he's the third Swedish-born player to receive this honor. (Lidstrom, Zetterberg)

John Gibson
2016-17 UD Portraits #P-47

Fortunately, two of the three 2016-17 Portraits in my collection are goaltenders.

This one offers another look at John Gibson's "Insane Asylum" mask.

Vegas Betting Odds...

Marc-Andre Fleury
2016-17 Upper Deck #394

Card from what would be Marc-Andre Fleury's last season in Pittsburgh...

Recently snagged another copy of the card without realizing I already had it.

(Had actually picked up the entire 2016-17 UD Series II for nothing. Seems like forever ago, now... Before the sky started falling)

Marc-Andre Fleury
2019-20 Upper Deck #198

One of my favorite acquisitions from 2019-20. Looks like it'll also be Fleury's last season in Vegas...

Flashing The Leather (Goalie Glove Saves)

Wendell Young
1993-94 Topps Premier #166

Just felt like scouring my collection for some nice glove saves.
Love this one, done with style.

Frank Pietrangelo
1993-94 Parkhurst #352

Not your ideal glove save, but I'm pretty sure he got it.

Ken Wregget
1995-96 Topps #190

A sweet save by Pens backup goaltender Ken Wregget.

Brian Boucher
2002-03 O-Pee-Chee #55

Brian Boucher of the Flyers with a nice underhanded catch.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere
2002-03 Upper Deck #2

Playoff MVP Jean-Sebastien Giguere scoops this one up.

Pekka Rinne
2009-10 SP Authentic #23

Casual no-look grab by Pekka Rinne.

Jon Gibson
2016-17 Upper Deck #1

Pretty sure this one just hit his glove... I don't think he knew where the puck was.

Sharks Goaltenders of the Past... And Future?

Arturs Irbe
2014-15 Upper Deck Trilogy #90
(Radiant Blue)

Rummaging through the bin at the local card shop might soon be a thing of the past...

A couple cards that I picked up a few months back, both of them coincidentally being netminders for the San Jose Sharks.

First one is nineties goaltender Arturs Irbe, featured in a modern set... (2014-15 Upper Deck Trilogy).

It's also a low-numbered parallel, in radiant blue color... Which actually looks pretty cool with the Sharks' motif.

Aaron Dell YG RC
2016-17 Upper Deck #478

Love the orange eyes that seem to glow on Aaron Dell's mask. The snapshot is almost head-on, which makes them stand out even more.

Always nice to find insert cards & rookie cards of goaltenders.

Seems the color orange has started appearing on the San Jose Sharks uniforms... Even the goalie pads have orange on them.

Scanning the Crowd (2016-17 Upper Deck Series II)

Really enjoying being a thrifty hockey card collector...
Since nobody seems to care about Upper Deck Series II, I've had some complete (and near complete) sets completely given to me.

Makes me feel old, because few people seem to build (or even collect) complete sets anymore... Back in my day (before insert cards, autographed jersey cards, parallels or Young Guns) finishing an entire set just seemed like the thing to do.

2016-17 Upper Deck Series II
(200 base cards)

Antoine Vermette
2016-17 Upper Deck #255
(click photo to enlarge)

Everybody in Philly hates Crosby...
So I guess it's no surprise that a Flyers fan is wearing an orange anti-Crosby t-shirt at a Flyers versus Ducks game.

Nikita Kucherov
2016-17 Upper Deck #414

That quirky little find had me scanning the crowd on every card... Couldn't help but notice a few female fans showing off their - Support, for favorite respective teams.

Dmitry Orlov
2016-17 Upper Deck #435

I'd almost swear that there's a girl in the crowd wearing a number 69 jersey - It could feasibly be 65, however...

Random Repacks [Goalie Edition]

Andre Vasilevskiy
2016-17 Upper Deck #417

Several players in the NHL currently wear number 88... One of them is Tampa Bay's netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has led league goaltenders in wins for the past two years. (receiving the Vezina Trophy in 2018-19).

2016-17 Upper Deck is one of the sets that I hope to eventually finish... Even though I only have a few dozen cards from the set, always happy to pick up a few more.

Ron Tugnutt
1993-94 Upper Deck #426

I'd definitely consider Ron Tugnutt to be a journeyman goaltender... Defended the net for eight different franchises in his 16 year NHL career. (Nordiques, Oilers, Ducks, Canadiens, Penguins, Senators, Blue Jackets, and Stars)


Still missing quite a few from 1993-94 Upper Deck Series II of this set, so I'll gladly take this one.

Jeff Hacket
1992-93 Pinnacle #105

In 1992, I was absolutely mesmerized by the whole Sharks theme and unique aqua/teal/turquoise color scheme... Pure marketing genius.

Did not have this card as a kid, so I'll gladly add it to my collection.

2016-17 Upper Deck & MVP (Henrik Zetterberg)

Henrik Zetterberg
2016-17 Upper Deck #67

Picked up a handful of Zetterberg cards for practically nothing.

It was actually these two that caught my eye...

In addition to a great action snapshot, the blue-colored glass in the background really compliments the design of the card.

Henrik Zetterberg also holds the league record for shots on goal in a playoff season (116 shots on goal during the 2008 playoffs)

Henrik Zetterberg
2016-17 Upper Deck MVP #213(Silver Script)

Since I only have a few cards from 2016-17 Upper Deck MVP, I didn't even notice that this one was a Silver Script (aka grey) parallel card until I got it home...

(2017-18 MVP saw the debut of what looks like a band of "black spray paint" on the Silver Script parallels)

Cool Cards: 2016-17 Upper Deck

Pekka Rinne
2016-17 Upper Deck
UD Portraits #P-5

Spotted a lone pack of 2016-17 Upper Deck, buried behind a pile of other re-pack stuff at Wal-Mart.

Considering 2016-17 UD is becoming scarce (despite an ample supply of 2015-16), I figured I'd take a chance.

The lone eight-card pack yielded two insert cards:

Nashville's All-Star netminder, currently in his 14th NHL season with the Predators.

Shane Doan
2016-17 Upper Deck
UD Canvas #C6

First time I saw one of these "UD Canvas" cards, I thought it was a print defect...

This card is from Shane Doan's last NHL season. Spent 21 years with the same franchise (Winnipeg/Phoenix/Arizona), scoring 972 points in 1540 career games.

Cool Card: Logan Couture (2016-17 Upper Deck #152)

Logan Couture
2016-17 Upper Deck #152

Nothing like scoring a goal in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals...

Not even three minutes into Game 5 of the 2016 Finals, and Logan Couture has opened the scoring. The Sharks would win the game 4-2 to force a sixth game.

Visible is Matt Murray (number 30) in net for Pittsburgh)