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| Darren Helm 2017-18 Upper Deck #71 |
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| Mats Sundin 2003-04 O-Pee-Chee #140 |
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| Blaine Lacher 1995-96 Upper Deck #385 |
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| Blaine Lacher 1995-96 Upper Deck #385 (card back) |
We get a head-on view of the creature on the flip side.
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| Jim Carey 1995-96 Upper Deck #344 |
The post-lockout years were a strange time for the NHL, with many new faces emerging as other players were leaving. There were also more hockey card brands than you could shake a hockey stick at.
From the main "flagship" 1995-96 Upper Deck set is a card of long-forgotten netminder Jim Carey. Also known as the "Net Detective".
He went undefeated in the first seven games of his rookie year. In just his second season he managed to win the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender.
The Washington Capitals had recently changed their colors from red to blue.
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| Jim Carey 1995-96 Upper Deck #344 (card back) |
Back of the card offers a good look at his Portland Pirates mask from his days in the American Hockey League.
Jim Carey would also be traded to the Boston Bruins on March 1, 1997.
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| 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".
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Patrick Roy 1995-96 Zenith #117 |
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| Stephane Matteau 1993-94 Upper Deck #214 |
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| Chris Chelios 1997-98 Donruss Priority #99 |
Donruss might be defunct, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying "new" retro cards from the 1990s.
Apparently, the Panini Group acquired Donruss in 2009. As far as I'm aware, they have not used the "Donruss" brand to market any product.
Have just a few cards from the 1997-98 season in my collection...
Curious about the identity of the goaltender in the background.
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| Chris Chelios 1997-98 Donruss Priority #99 (card back) |
Overall the design of this set looks kinda cool. A tad busy for my usual taste, but not to the point of being distracting.
It's the only card from the set that I've collected so far.
Particularly fond of the color red, or anything to do with the Original Six.
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| Mike Gartner 1994-95 Select #95 |
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| Bill Ranford 1996-97 Flair #6 |
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| Brian Spencer 1973-74 O-Pee-Chee #83 |
Another random oldie, literally found in the bottom of the box.
Only have a handful from this season. Not only is it a decent action snapshot for this time period, but earns major points for the old-time goalie mask in the background.
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| Bobby Hull 1991-92 Ultimate Original Six #57 |
