The Cardboard and Me

1956 Topps Ed Belfour
I saw a custom Football card using the 1956 Topps Baseball design and it inspired me to for one for hockey. I chose Belfour due to his iconic mask. I hate cutting out images or else I would probably do a lot more of these. It's a nice clean iconic design.

1989-90 OPC Matt Tomkins
Matt Tomkins must of went to the Rick Knickle school of goaltending. After a long and winding journey, Tomkins made his NHL debut earlier this season, at age 29. He persevered and achieved the dream of playing in the NHL, including earning a win.
With Vasilevskiy ready to return, Tomkins was waived to the AHL earlier this week. Whether he makes it back to the NHL or not, he can proudly say, he was a NHL goalie.

1992-93 Fleer Ultra Dennis Hildeby
I have seen a few comments on Facebook suggesting the Maple Leafs bring up Marvin Jones to cure their goaltending woes. I have found the strength not to reply with a laughing emoji, but I did something on the farm that has impressed.
Dennis Hildeby, coming off shutouts in each of last two starts, has positioned himself for more work. He is now 2-1-1 with a 1.26 and .950 save percentage on the season in the AHL. The 22 year old Swedish netminder could be a name to watch for Leafs fans.

1972-73 OPC Mason Lohrei
A brief cup of coffee for Mason, as he picked up 2 points in his first three career NHL games before being sent down. A defence prospect from the NCAA, Mason was drafted in the 2nd round by the Bruins in 2020. He's a player to look for for in the upcoming years.
I really dig these Bruins uniforms. Got a nice vintage feel to them.

1982-83 OPC Rogatien "Rogie" Vachon
OPC did Rogie dirty when making his cards. Every base card except the 1976 was a posed shot or warm-up picture. Don't even look at the 1971 card. Yikes.
Vachon did get a card in the 1982 set, his last card during his playing days, but it was yet another warm-up towel around the neck shot OPC was so fond of. So here's an upgrade.

1983-84 OPC Hunter Shepard
A bit slow on this one, but I came out of hiding to celebrate Hunter Shepard's first NHL game and win from last Monday. The stats, 4 goals on 22 shots aren't what was hoped but a couple of the goals were on broken plays and he passed the eye test. Not the easiest task having to face the Devils on the road for your first game.
I have him on my dynasty team, on which I have the leagues worst goaltending. So I need a goalie to basically come from out of nowhere to make my team a contender. I am hoping Shepard is him.
Although he was since been sent back to the minors as backup Charlie Lindgren is ready to play again. we'll see how the season plays out.

1990-91 Score David Rittich (x2)
Rittich signed with the Kings in the offseason as veteran insurance for the starting duo of unproven Phoenix Copley and oft-injured Cam Talbot. If Rittich gets into a regular season game, it'll be his fifth team in four seasons.
I made two versions of this card. After seeing this picture of Rittich making the save on Jason Zucker, I felt I had o use it. Although since Rittich has no guarantee of playing with the Kings, I went a more traditional photo as well to show off his full gear.

2015-16 OPC Ilya Bryzgalov
Bryzgalov finished his career where it started, with the Anaheim Ducks. One of the more quotable players of the 21st century, Bryz finished up his career playing on three teams in his final two seasons. He never got a NHL card from his second go around with the Ducks.

2006-07 Fleer Bryan Marchment
I was looking at Bryan Marchment cards when I realized he never had a proper career capper card. His last card was with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2003-04 in the Parkhurst Original 6 set.
Marchment played 37 games with the Flames in 2005-06 before retiring. He passed away in 2022. Rest in peace.

1990-91 OPC Devan Dubnyk
Dubnyk last played in the NHL during the 2020-21 season. He began the season with the San Jose Shark before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche. Drafted 14th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2004, Dubnyk played 524 career NHL games. Winning 254 games and 33 shutouts. Dubnyk never had an Avs card during his brief 5 game stint with the team. He now works with the NHL Network.

2007-08 OPC Brian Finley
Finley was drafted 6th overall in the 1999 draft by the Nashville Predators, but never found success in the NHL. He played 4 career games, two for the Predators and two for the Bruins before retiring after the 2006-07 season. After retiring, Finley became a police officer.

1990-91 OPC Premier Jet Greaves
Just signed him to my fantasy dynasty hockey team. Played one game last year, making 46 stops in a 3-2 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Unless the Blue Jackets sign a veteran goalie before the season, Greaves is the 3rd man on the depth chart for the crease. Here's hoping that $1 contract I gave him pays dividends.

2019-20 OPC Update Nick Seeler
Some more randomness. For some reason I was looking at Nick Seeler's hockeydb page and noticed he played 6 games for the Blackhawks in 2019-20. So I thought, I bet he doesn't have a Blackhawks card, and he doesn't. Seeler has spent the last two seasons with the Flyers and yet to have a Flyers card either. He might get an OPC card in the next set after setting career highs with 77 games played and 14 points in 2022-23.

1981-82 O-Pee-Chee Garret Sparks
I was a bit confused when I first saw this picture. It's Cujo's mask with Trevor Kidd's pads. It's Garret Sparks paying a bit of homage to two former Leafs goalies. Sparks is one of 22 NHL goalies to record a shutout in their NHL debut, stopping 30 Edmonton Oilers shots on November 30, 2015. Sparks has played a total of 40 NHL games with the Leafs, Golden Knights and Kings. He spent last season in the minors, hoping to get another shot at a NHL contract.

1984-85 OPC Brayden Schenn
Used a random player generator and some other randomizers to come up with Brayden Schenn, Flyers, and 1981. Except when I saw the winter classic pictures, including the one with the toque, I decided to break the randomness and do a 1984-85 OPC, so I could put the headshot in there.
Brayden scored the opening goal of the 2012 Bridgestone Winter Classic, although the Philadelphia Flyers lost the game 3-2 against the New York Ranger. The goal was the first of his NHL career.

2015-16 OPC Mike McKenna
Mike McKenna played 35 career NHL games while playing for 7 different franchises. He played 1 game with the 2018-19 Philadelphia Flyers, helping them set the record with most goalies used in a season, with 8. The definition of a journeyman searching for a crease to call home, McKenna retired after the 2019 season.

1981-82 OPC Byron Dafoe
I came across this image of Dafoe wearing the original Bruins Pooh Bear 3rd Jersey and I felt like I had to mock up a card. Dafoe had his best seasons as a Bruins. In 1998-99, Dafoe led the NHL in shutouts with 10, and finished 3rd in the Vezina voting.

1972-73 OPC Hunter Shepard
The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup as AHL Champions and Hunter Shepard was selected as Playoffs MVP. Hunter has put up excellent numbers for the past several seasons in college and the minors. He was called up briefly and sat on the Washington Capitals bench for a few games this past season. Still looking for his first NHL game action, Hunter is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Hopefully a team will pick him up and give him a shot.

1974-75 OPC Linus Ullmark
Ullmark had an incredible season in 22-23, capturing the Vezina Trophy. Linus becomes the 4th Bruins goalie to win the Vezina since 1981, when it became a trophy voted on for best goalie. Overall, he is the 6th Bruin to win the award since its inception in 1927.

1972-73 OPC Erik Karlsson
After becoming just the 6th defenceman in NHL history to score 100 points in a season and being one of the favourites to win the Norris Trophy, Karlsson could be on the move this offseason. The rebuilding San Jose Sharks would be best to trade Karlsson, but his massive contract and no movement clause has their hands tied. It'll be interesting to see what kind of return the Sharks will get for Karlsson when they eventually trade him.

1980-81 OPC Adin Hill Super Action
Adin Hill is picking a great time to steal the spotlight. Stanley Cup finals and being a Unrestricted Free Agent to boot this offseason. This really could be the Summer of Adin,

Glenn Resch 4 pack
Since voting began on the Vezina Trophy for best goalie in 1981, only three goalies have received votes while also having a GAA over 4.00. Glenn Resch, Tom Barrasso and Ron Tugnutt. Only one goalie has done it twice, Glenn Resch. Only one goalie has received a first place vote while having a GAA over 4.00, Glenn Resch. Might be another 30-40 years before another goalie joins that club.

1982 Topps Yaroslav Askarov
Widely regarded as a top 3 NHL goalie prospect, Askarov is also a bit of a personality. From aggressive poke checks during shoot outs, to celebrating a win by bench pressing the net, Askarov has been generating a buzz in the AHL. Askarov made his NHL debut in January of this season, stopping 31 shots in a 4-3 loss against the Montreal Canadiens. He is currently playing with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL Calder Cup play-offs.
Bonus: 1990 Score Yaroslav Askarov - Workout Variation

1985 OPC Dustin Wolf
This years winner of the AHL Les Cunningham Trophy as league MVP, Dustin is the top ranked goalie prospect on many lists. He had a brief taste of the NHL as he started for the Calgary Flames in their final NHL games of the 2022-23 season. Dustin stopped 23 of 24 shots in a 3-1 victory against the Sharks. He will challenge for the back-up job for the Flames next season.

1983-84 OPC Phil Myre
Phil Myre finished his 14 year NHL career with a brief stint in Buffalo during the 1982-83 season. He started his career as a Montreal Canadien, winning a Stanley Cup ring in 1971. In 1972, Phil was the first player drafted by the Atlanta Flames in the expansion draft. His last card was in the 1980-81 set.

1990-91 Score and 1983 Topps Baseball Matt Berlin
Pretty cool to see an EBUG get in the game. I wish teams would do this more often when they have the chance. Very special memory, not only for Matt Berlin, but for those on the ice and in attendance. He is now the Oiler all-time leader in save percentage, if you don't use games played as a qualifier, knocking former Oiler great, Martin Ge**er, down a peg.

1974-75 OPC Nicolas Deslauriers
I picked up Deslauriers in my fantasy hockey league. He played one game, got six hits. Exactly what I was hoping for. So, I dropped him immediately after the game. I am dismayed at lack of loyalty. My peace offering is this card. I feel like a good person again.

1982-83 OPC Retro Reverse Spencer Knight
Took a year longer than I predicted but it finally looks like Knight has taken over the crease from Bobrovsky in Florida. I love the colours on the Panthers' retro reverse jersey. Just screams Miami to me.

2000-01 Upper Deck Vintage Borje Salming
A trailblazer for European hockey players. Leaf Legend and HHOFer. R.I.P.

1986-87 OPC Filip Gustavsson
Gustavsson was acquired in the offseason trade of Cam Talbot. Gustavsson staved off goalie of the future, Jesper Wallstedt, in training camp to secure the back-up role. With his solid play, the Wild can let Wallstedt gain experience in the AHL, knowing they have a capable back-up in Gustavsson. The retro reverse jersey of the Wild looked so much like the old North Stars that I was inspired to come out of hiding and post a mocked-up card.