Hockey Daily Card Herald
From the ice to your collection - the complete story of hockey greatness!
STANLEY CUP HERO HONORED
Rarely is a defenseman picked as rookie of the year in NHL. In fact, until Kent Douglas was chosen in 1962-63, it hadn't been done. Then Jacques repeated on behalf of Canadiens. Tall and graceful, Jacques has the good moves and cool playmaking ability.
Jacques grew up in Rouyn, Que., where temperature dips below zero.
Chara drew a standing ovation from the typically anti-Bruins crowd in Montreal, as he became the third player in NHL history born outside North America to appear in 1,500 career games.
Fred was the "man of the hour" last spring when the Flyers became the first post-1967 team to win the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He brought a top-notch minor league coaching record with him to Philadelphia, and his techniques have always been new and successful. Fred journeyed to Russia last summer to study Russian hockey methods. As a player, he was a defenseman with the N.Y. Rangers.
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Considered one of the best net-minders in the business he came to Leafs from Chicago on a trade for 4 other players. Without missing a single game this past season, he gave solid back-stop support to the Leaf team of youngsters. He tied McNeil in NHL shutouts with 10 to his credit.
HOCKEY TRIVIA
Q: Who played for most NHL clubs?
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Q: To which player is the Calder Trophy awarded?
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Al ("Don't call me Junior") broke into NHL with the Canadiens, was traded to the Rangers in June of '61, and then, in mid-season of 1963-64, to the Red Wings. A good skater for a big man, Al teamed up in Montreal and New York with Doug Harvey. Sparked Wings into playoffs.
A big defenseman, Al had to lick weight problem.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Mike led the 2000-01 Stars in assists and points while counting seven game-winning goals. He won the Stanley Cup in 1999 and recorded an assist on Brett Hull's Cup-winning goal.
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CLASSIC PLAYER
Randy led all Atlanta defensemen with 32 assists last season. He's a durable type of performer, and played in all 80 Flames' games last year. Randy is an original member of the team.
Saku, a fast skater, missed 28 games with injuries in 2000-01, but still tied for the team lead in assists and points. He won a bronze medal with Finland at the 1998 Olympics.
Born in Magog, Que., Nov. 6, 1934. 6, 205. Shoots left. Broke in with Canadiens, traded to Rangers in '61 for John Hanna. Picked up as a goalgetter after switch to New York. He's outstanding as skater for a big man.
Aggressive left winger, John earned promotion to Canadiens after a 38-goal season with Cleveland. Montreal had inside track because of working agreement with the Barons. John was a leading candidate for rookie honors when he hurt thumb.
John's an outstanding lacrosse player.
RETRO CORNER
Born in Hamilton, Dec. 28, 1932. 6'1", 195. Shoots left. Rugged and steady, he's also dean of club; having played more games as Ranger than anybody else in team's history. Equally at home on right or left defense.
Brian, a grinding type of player, battled back from an injury-plagued 1988-89 season by setting career highs in goals and points. He had one of his best games late in the season when his two goals and an assist helped Minnesota defeat Detroit and gain a firm hold on the final Norris Division playoff spot. In the playoffs, he scored both goals in Minnesota's 2-1 win over the Blackhawks in Game 1 of their divisional semifinal series. The second player drafted in 1982, Brian was playing full time in the NHL at age 18. An eight-year veteran, he ranks second in goals and third in points on the North Stars' all-time lists. He has played in two All-Star Games.
Connolly had 28 goals and 54 points in 42 games in helping Minnesota-Duluth win its first NCAA championship as a junior in 2010-11.
A fine puck-carrier who also likes to play aggressively. Good playmaker. Assist totals usually high. Voted top defenseman and first team All-Star in CHL with Omaha, 1969-70. Good on power play, Mike has strong, low shot from the point. Played on two championship teams in 1969-70.
Right-handed defensemen are a rarity in recent years. Mike is a good one.
MODERN ERA
Moulson registered his third consecutive 30-goal season in 2011-12, finishing with 36 goals to rank 10th in the NHL. He netted a personal-best four goals on Dec. 3 against the Stars, joining Montreal's Lars Eller and Edmonton's Sam Gagner as the only players to score four goals in a game in 2011-12.
Fun-loving "Smitty" is a real team man. So much so, in fact, that he was involved in five fights one season, something a goaltender rarely does. He has gained lots of confidence after several seasons in the minor leagues.
Never a spectacular scorer, Jim Roberts is the St. Louis "handyman." He can play forward or defense, and is a fine penalty killer. Jim is usually underrated, but he's a solid, industrious worker who seldom makes a mistake.
Jim is a hockey school instructor in the off-season!
80s-90s ERA
One of the most popular Sabres, Rob has been the club's penalty-minute leader in three of the past four seasons. In '93-94, he appeared in a career-high 82 matches and Buffalo won all three games in which he scored a goal.
One of the toughest players in the league to knock off his feet, Walt is also an outstanding defensive player in addition to his scoring power. He's a fine penalty killer, a good playmaker and a top stickhandler. Walt had an outstanding junior career before joining the Rangers. He led the Rangers with seven power play goals last year.
Last season was Cliff's best ever, and he is coming into his peak years now. Product of Denver University, he is a superior checker and a tough man in the corners. He needed only one year of minor league experience before cracking a talent-loaded Chicago team in 1969. One of the league's most durable players, Cliff seldom misses a game with injuries.
Cliff is one of the NHL's hardest workers.
Rated as one of the league's best rushing defensemen, Morrison is noted for his accurate shots on goal and is considered a threat whenever he crosses an opponent's blueline. Morrison can miss an oncoming forward and still get back in front of the net to check him again. Is good on clearing loose pucks and can burst out of his own end like a jet.
Eddie Litzenberger of Chicago won the Calder Memorial Trophy last year.
CLASSIC vs. MODERN
CLASSIC ERA
The sale of Dollard St. Laurent to the Chicago Black Hawks left the door wide open for Junior Langlois to step into a permanent defence berth with the Canadiens. And Langlois' play in the late season and playoffs of 1957-58 with Canadiens had much to do with the decision to sell St. Laurent. When called up from Rochester for the last game of the season in Detroit, Canadiens had only three regulars, Harvey, Talbot and Turner on defence. Langlois took a regular turn and played so well that Toe Blake had no qualms about starting him in the semi-finals against the Red Wings two nights later.
MODERN ERA
Mike established career highs across the board in 2002-03, as he reigned as the Coyotes' most productive winger. His refuse-to-lose mentality helped Phoenix earn a 4-4 tie with Colorado on November 17. Down 4-2 in the third, he assisted on one goal before netting the tying tally later in the period.
Two outstanding seasons with Buffalo's Cincinnati farm team in the AHL have earned Gary a shot at the Sabres' number one goaltending position. Gary was a key man as Cincinnati won the AHL playoff title two years ago, and he has gained valu- able experience from his two seasons in the minor leagues. Gary plays the angles exceptionally well.
Buffalo fans man pin their hopes on Gary's play this season.