"Original Six Saturday"

The focus of this TTM blog is to organize useless facts and inane trivia for future reference, as I resume the tedious sorting of meager cards & memorabilia within my possession - Also continue to express my disenchantment (yet continued fascination and obsession) with one of my favorite past times.


A (previously forgotten) photo featuring this classic "Original Six" showdown between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs:

Now THIS is Ice Hockey...

All eyes are fixed on the puck - Even the spectators are paying attention (decades before the advent of smart phones). None of the fans appear to be inebriated, and not a soul garbed in a "third" (or fourth) jersey - Or any jersey for that matter.

Chances are the players are wearing the exact same gloves and uniforms as last season - Holes stitched, stained with blood and sweat. (No foam fingers in the stands, either)

(Conversely, this is NOT Podracing)

Cam Neely
1991-92 Pro Set #5

The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs seldom played each other until the Conferences were re-aligned in 1998.

Digging through my collection to locate the oldest card featuring Boston and Toronto and came up with this one. Cam Neely 'accidentally' jabs a guy in the face - And you can definitely see his displeasure.

Funds forked over to Gary Bettman and the NHLPA in 2025: $0

WTF Hockey Card: Gaetan Duchesne, Doug Smail (1991-92 Pro Set #110, #117)

Visible on a couple of 1991-92 Pro-Set cards is a goaltender in background. But I couldn't figure out who it was.

It's definitely not Minnesota North Stars goalie John Casey, because his equipment and mask look completely different....

Gaetan Duchesne & John Casey
1991-92 Pro Set #110 & #110

Doug Smail
1991-92 Pro Set #117

I believe the mystery goaltender in the background to be Brian Hayward.

There's no card of him in this set, either... Hayward was dealt to the Minnesota North Stars on November 7, 1990... But six months later, was drafted 2nd overall by the expansion San Jose Sharks.

I believe this makes John Casey the only Stars goaltender to ever appear on a Pro Set card... Which is incredible, considering the massively comprehensive sets can often have three goaltender cards per team.

Brian Hayward
1990-91 Upper Deck #449

In 1990-91 Upper Deck, they managed to squeeze Brian Hayward into Series 2. He's shown here wearing jersey number 33. (also known to have worn number 1)

Brian Hayward
 1991-92 Pro Set #327

Brian Hayward is featured on a card towards the end of 1991-92 Pro Set Series II, along with a handful of other recently drafted Sharks players.

Trading Card Bait...

Chris Kreider
2019-20 Upper Deck #84

One (of three cards) from 2019-20 Upper Deck that I've found as a thrifty collector is Chris Kreider.

He's in the news for signing an extension with the New York Rangers. (As the trade deadline has come and gone, he had been one of the names mentioned in possible trades)

Brian Propp
1992-93 Pinnacle #178

After the top card of the re-pack, I should have known there wouldn't be much else within... Almost made me wince.

Robert Dirk
1992-93 Parkhurst #425

After removing the Bowman, Score, and Pro Set, this is what I'm left with in terms of cards that I didn't already have...

Dave Barr
1991-92 Pro Set #65

Actually, I had this one. It's one of my favorite snapshots from 1991-92 Pro Set. Dave Barr is dodging a hit. Always keep your head up... So you can duck when necessary.

700 Goals for Ovi

Alexander Ovechkin
2019-20 Upper Deck MVP
Laser Shots #S-1

After scoring 14 goals in seven games, Alexander Ovechkin went scoreless for 5 games... Almost seemed to stall at 698 career goals. For a player like him, a "slump" like that is unusual. But he hit the 700 mark with style, after one-timing a slapshot into the top corner.

Ten years ago, I'd have said that no-one will ever score 900 career goals...
But now that Alexander Ovechkin has hit the 700 goal mark (and seems to score 40-50 goals per year) he (and teammate Nick Backstrom) seems confident that it can happen.

Wayne Gretzky
1991-92 Pro Set #CC5

Was never a big fan of Ovechkin, although it is exciting to see records get broken.

Now that he's matured a bit, I can actually appreciate the fact that he has his sights on breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record of 894.

Actually needed this random Wayne Gretzky card towards finishing my 1991-92 Pro Set CC insert series...

Pat Falloon (1991-92 Pro Set #558)

Pat Falloon
1991-92 Pro Set #558

The final card needed to complete my 1991-92 Pro Set...

This means I now have at least one copy of every single base card for all three years of Pro Set and Pro Set Platinum.

Doesn't bother me that the Pro Set cards are pretty much worthless...

All filed away into binders, the sets are so large that they pretty much serve as a set of NHL encyclopedias, covering 1990-91, 91-92 & 92-93.