30ranfordfan
Verified Trader,
All Time Oilers Part 5 (90-91 through 92-93)
And I'm back with part 5! What is my collection? I'm aiming to collect a Rookie Card, Autograph, Memorabilia, and "Pictured as an Oiler" card of anyone who ever played a game for the Edmonton Oilers.
Not all players have memorabilia cards, and that's okay. I get the ones I can.
Not all players had actual Rookie cards, as they had no NHL cards. I've collected their "first minor league" card instead, or junior, team issues, etc - depending on what's available.
I prefer pack-pulled autographs over IP / TTM signed cards. If a player has signed for a card company, I want to own one of those. If they have not? Then I go the IP / TTM route instead.
Not all players actually have a card showing them with the Oilers. That's okay too.
If you missed one of the earlier posts, and are interested, you can find them here:
Part 4 (87-88 through 89-90): http://www.hobbyinsider.net/forum/showthread.php?t=436263
Part 3 (83-84 through 86-87): http://www.hobbyinsider.net/forum/showthread.php?t=429957
Part 2 (80-81 through 85-86): http://hobbyinsider.net/forum/showthread.php?t=429082
Part 1 (79-80): http://hobbyinsider.net/forum/showthread.php?t=427601
We could debate when the Oilers Dynasty ended (was it with the Gretzky trade? Or after they won their last Cup? The Messier trade?) but without a doubt, the dynasty was over in the early 90s. One thing that is easily forgotten about this era: The Oilers of 1990 & 1991 were still pretty good teams.
Coming off their 5th Stanley Cup in 7 seasons, the 90-91 Edition of the Oilers actually made it all the way to the Campbell Conference finals, where they lost to the Minnesota North Stars in 5 games. That's a pretty quick series, but I think it's easily forgotten that the Oilers were only 3 wins away from getting their chance to defend their Championship.
The 1991-92 season is actually a pretty impressive body of work, for a team that didn't win a Championship. Consider that the Oilers Dynasty was built around 6 Hall of Famers: Coffey, Gretzky, Kurri, Messier, Anderson, Fuhr. The 1991 squad that lost to Minnesota still had half of those (Messier, Anderson, Fuhr). The 1992 Squad? None of them. Their replacements? None got to the HOF.
In the 1992 playoffs, the Oilers got back to the final four once again! This time it was against the Chicago Blackhawks, and they were swept. The Oilers "dark years" started after that - with the team in full rebuild, and sitting near the bottom of the league standings for the next few seasons, including 92-93.
These years are filled the players who were the "bounty" from dismantling one of the greatest teams every put together. There's a lot of prospects that never really panned out, some very good players that Oilers likely moved on from too soon, and even one (IMO) top-10 Oiler of All Time!
1990-91
Brad Aitken
Brad Aitken was the 46th overall pick in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He played 5 games with the Penguins in 1987-88, and scored his first NHL goal. He spent the next several years in the minors, getting recalled again by Pittsburgh in 1990-91.
He played 6 more games for the Penguins that season, and was dealt at the trade deadline to the Edmonton Oilers for Kim Issel.
Aitken would only play 3 games for Edmonton that season, and they'd be his last in the NHL. He signed with the Maple Leafs that summer, and spent the 91-92 season with their AHL club in St. John's.
Aitken would split the 92-93 season between the baby Leafs, the Raleigh Icecaps of the ECHL, and a breif stint in Germany. He'd retire after the 92-93 season.
Pictured are two copies of Aitken's first minor league card, from 88-89 Pro Cards. One is singed.
Dan Currie
With the 84th pick in 1986, the Edmonton Oilers selected Soo Greyhounds rookie Dan Currie. He spent the next two seasons improving his game in the OHL, and scored 50 goals (109 points) in 57 games with the Greyhounds in 1987-88. He'd also make his pro debut that season, scoring 4 times in 3 games (plus 2 helpers) for the Nova Scotia Oilers, and added 4 goals, 7 points, in 5 playoff games.
This junior success, early pro success, and being part of a gold medal winning Canada team at the 1988 World Junior Championships made Edmonton's 4th round selection look great.
Currie was an offensive monster for the Nova Scotia (Cape Breton) Oilers, as part of their 'VCR' Line. He averaged nearly a point per game over the next two seasons, and finally made his NHL debut in 1990-91.
Currie skated in 5 games for the Oilers, but didn't register a point. The 71 games he played in Cape Breton that year saw him score 47 times.
1991-92 saw Currie play 7 more games with Edmonton, and he scored his first NHL goal. In the minors? He popped another 50.
1992-93 brought more of the same success & disappointment for Currie. He lit the lamp 57 times for Cape Breton, but didn't score once in his five games in Edmonton.
He was cut loose by the Oiler after the 92-93 season, and signed with the LA Kings. He scored 37 goals for Phoenix (LA's IHL affiliate) but just once (and a helper) in 5 games for the Kings.
Currie spent the next 6 seasons in the IHL, one in Germany, two with Bakersfield in the WCHL, two in Italy, one in England, and then a couple playing senior hockey in Ontario before retiring in 2005.
He was an absolute monster for scoring in the minors, but it never translated into NHL success. His career NHL totals were 2 goals, 1 assist, in 22 games.
Pictured are Currie's 1991-92 Upper Deck rookie card, and a signed copy of a Sault Ste Marie team issue.
David Haas
Haas was taken 105th i nthe 1986 NHL Entry Draft.
He played in Edmonton's system from 1988-89 through 1992-93. Most of that time was spent with Cape Breton in the AHL, and a loan to New Haven (in the AHL) during the 91-92 season.
The Oilers did call Haas up for five games in 1990-91, when he scored his first NHL goal.
He'd join the Flames as a free agent for the 93-94 season. Like his time with the Oilers, he spent most of the season in the Maritimes, but now with the Saint John Flames. He did play in two contests for Calgary, scoring once & adding an assist.
Haas never made it back to the NHL, but his career in the minors continued. He retired following the 2003-04 season in Hannover (Germany, DEL). In addition to North American minor-pro leagues & Germany, he also spent time playing in Italy & Slovenia.
Pictured are Haas's first minor league card (88-89 ProCards) & a signed copy of his 91-92 ProCards.
Greg Hawgood
Greg Hawgood was selected 202nd overall in the 1986 draft by the Boston Bruins. Getting a player who played nearly 500 NHL games in the 10th round was a steal!
He made his NHL debut in 1987-88 with the Bruins, playing a single game after his season in Kamloops ended.
He played 56 games with the Bruins in 88-89, and 21 with their minor league club, the Maine Mariners. 1989-90 saw the defenceman become a full time NHLer, suiting up for 77 games with the Bruins.
In October of 1990, Hawgood was traded from the Bruins to the Edmonton Oilers. He played just 6 for the Oilers that year, 20 in 91-92, and 29 in 92-93. Most of his time with the Oilers was spent in the minors.
The Oilers would eventually trade him to the Philadelphia Flyers, along with Josef Beranek, for Brian Benning.
Hawgood's two decade career continune in Philly, who would eventually trade him to Florida. Free Agency later came, and saw him spend time with Pittsburgh, San Jose, Vancouver, and Dallas.
He also had minor league stops with Houston, Kansas City, Utah, and Chicago. The final two seasons of Hawgood's career were in Italy. He retired after the 05-06 season.
He represented Canada twice at the World Junior Championships, in 1987 he was part of the infamous "Punch-Up in Piestany", and helped lead Canada to Gold in 1988.
The trio of cards pictured are Hawgood's 89-90 OPC Rookie Card, his 92-93 Topps Gold, and his 99-00 BAP Autograph.
Max Middendorf
As a 16 year old, playing junior in New Jersey, Middendorf popped 94 goals & 168 points in 58 games. He then joined the OHL's Sudbury Wolves where he averaged over a point per game in two & half seasons (and continued that pace in his half season in Kitchener).
The junior scoring sensation was drafted 57th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1985, and made his NHL debut in 86-87, scoring once (five points) in six games.
He'd play another game for the Nords in 87-88, and three for them during the 89-90 season, but despite his scoring success in the minors, he wasn't ever able to stick in the NHL.
The Nordiques would eventually tade him to Edmonton in November of 1990, for a draft pick. The 1990-91 season saw the Oilers call him up for three games, where he scored once.
With 13 NHL games & a pair of big league goals to his name, Middendorf never got back to hockey's top league. He was traded to Detroit, for Bill McDougall, part way through the 91-92 season. He split that campaign between Cape Breton, and the Adirondack Red Wings.
92-93 saw him leave the AHL, and spend the next four years in the IHL - with Fort Wayne & San Diego. He's play a season in the Southern Hockey, one in Austria, and then three more in the Southern USA - with stops in Bakersfield, Huntsville, and Fort Worth.
Middendorf also played professional Roller Hockey in 1993 & 1996, with the San Diego Barracudas, scoring 30 goals in 21 games.
Pictured are Middendorf's 88-89 ProCards (his first minor league card) and a cut signature card (thanks @dnjcards), showing him with the Fort Wayne Komets
Anatoli Semenov
Semenov was part of the inital wave of Soviet players to immigrate to the NHL in the late 80s / early 90s. After starting for Moscow Dynamo for eleven seasons, he was drafted in the 6th round of the 1989 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
After his season in Moscow ended, he joined the Oilers in 89-90 for a pair of playoff games. He became the 2nd ex-Soviet player to play for a Stanley Cup winner in 1990, but like Sergei Pryakhin with Calgary the year before, his name didn't go on the cup, due to his limited games played.
Semenov logged 57 & 59 games for the Oilers in 91-92, and 92-93, scoring 35 times. He'd then be claimed in the Expansion Draft, by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Semenov played another 6 seasons in the NHL. After a season in Tampa, he was claimed in the next Expansion draft by Anaheim, where he played two seasons.
The Might Ducks would then deal him to Philadelphia mid way through the 94-95 season, and the Flyers would trade him back to Anaheim during the 95-96 campaign.
He played his final season in 1996-97, with the Buffalo Sabres.
Pictured are Semenov's 1990-91 Pro Set Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his 91-92 Parkhurst.
Tomas Srsen
Tomas Srsen was drafted in the 7th round, in 1987, by the Edmonton Oilers. The Czechoslovakian made his way to North America in 1990, playing 2 games for the Oilers, and 72 for their AHL club in Cape Breton.
Despite scoring 32 goals for Cape Breton the year before, he did not get another crack at the NHL in 91-92, when he continued to skate for the Oilers' AHL team.
Srsen would move back to Europe after that. He spent three seasons playing in Sweden, moved back to his native Czech Republic for five after that.
The final four seasons of his career were split between Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic. He'd retire at the end of the 2002-03 season.
Srsen never had any NHL cards, shown here are his 1990-91 ProCards (first minor league card) and his 2018-19 Czech OFS "You Want The Best You Got The Best" Autograph.
Kari Takko
Taken 200th in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques, Takko never played for the club that drafted him.
The Finnish native played in his home country, for Assat, until the end of the 1984-85 season.
By this time, he'd been redrafted (due to never signing) by the Minnestoa North Stars (97th, in 1984) and joined them for the 85-86 season.
He spent most of his first year in North America in the minors, with Springfield, but did get a single start for Minnestoa in 85-86.
He played just 5 games for Springfield the following year, and got into 38 for the North Stars.
He played four season with Minnesota, as the primary backup for Don Beaupre, and later Jon Casey.
During the 1990-91 season, he was traded from Minnesota to Edmonton for Bruce Bell: The famous Takko-Bell trade!
Takko played eleven games for the Oilers that season, and returned to Assat the following year. He played six more seasons in Finland, joined Jonkoping in Sweden for three, and spent the last year of his career (99-00) back with Assat.
Pictured are two copies of Takko's 90-91 Upper Deck Rookie Card, one of them signed.
Shaun Van Allen
Shaun Van Allen was a star with Saskatoon in the WHL, and was drafted 105th in 1987 by the Edmonton Oilers.
Van Allen spent five seasons in the Oilers system, making his NHL debut in 1990-91 (two games played) and logged another 21 in 92-93.
Like 'VCR' line-mate Dan Currie, Van Allen's professional success was puzzling. Through 23 NHL games he had 1 goal and 5 assists, and couldn't stick with the Oilers. In Cape Breton he put up back-to-back 100+ point seasons, leading the AHL in scoring in 91-92, and lead the baby Oilers to an AHL Championship in 92-93.
He'd be released by the Oilers after the 92-93 season. My own suspicion is the Oilers didn't see a future for him, so they released him to find opportunity elsewhere. He'd take advantage of that chance, and signed with the expansion Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Funny thing happened after that. Van Allen never spent another day in the minors.
Van Allen would go on to play eleven more seasons in the NHL, bringing his career total to nearly 800 games. He was never a scoring star, but a very useful, versatile, forward.
As well as Anaheim, he played for Ottawa, Dallas, and Montreal. He'd retire after spending the 03-04 season with the Senators.
Pictured are Van Allen's 1991-92 Upper Deck rookie card, and his 1997 BAP Autograph.
Igor Vyazmikin
Igor Vyazmikin was the final player selected in the 1987 NHL draft, taken 252nd by the Edmonton Oilers.
He played for CSKA Moscow from 83-84 through 88-89, and then joined Khimik Voskresensk.
During the 90-91 season, he left Russia and came to North America. He played four games for the Edmonton Oilers (scoring a goal), and 33 with Cape Breton.
1991-92 saw him play 14 in the IHL (split between the Milwaukee Admirals & Phoenix Roadrunners).
He played semi-pro in Fargo, ND, in the 92-93 season, and then returned to Europe. He'd play in Denmark, Italy, and Finland, before returning to Russia for the 97-98 & 98-99 seasons, and then retiring.
Sadly, Vyazmikin passed away in 2009.
Pictured is a copy of Vyazmikin's only card, a Russian Issue from 1998-99, and a cut signature made for me by @dnjcards
1991-92
Josef Beranek
Taken in the 4th round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, Josef Beranek went on to play more than a decade in the NHL, and logged over 500 games.
He left Czechoslovakia for Edmonton in 1991, and played 58 games for the Oilers as a rookie.
The 92-93 season saw him play a handful with Cape Breton, and another 26 in Edmonton before he was traded. The Oilers packaged him up with Greg Hawgood, and sent him to Philadelphia for Brian Benning.
The 1993-94 season saw him score a career high 28 goals for the Flyers. The lock out of 1994 saw Beranek return home to play, before rejoining the Flyers for the 94-95 campaign. He was moved to Vancouver in February.
Berank played the 95-96 season with the Canucks, but was traded to Pittsburgh that summer. He only played 8 games with the Penguins, and then returned home.
He'd spend the 97-98 season playing in the Czech Republic, but the Penguins would then deal his rights back to the team that originally drafted him: The Edmonton Oilers, in exchange for Bobby Dollas & Tony Hrac.
The 1998-99 season saw Beranek match his career high in points, getting 49 for the Oilers. He played another 58 games for the Oilers in 99-00, but was traded at the deadline back to Pittsburgh, for German Titov.
Berank played one more season in the NHL, with the Penguins, in 2000-01. After that he moved back to the Czech Republic where he played another 9 seasons with Slavia Praha, before retiring.
Beranek was part of the Czech team that won Gold at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and represented his country (Czechoslovakia, and then Czech Republic) 9 times.
Pictured are Beranek's 1991-92 Upper Deck RC, his 98-99 BAP Autograph, and an 08-09 Czech OFS Jersey Card.
Vincent Damphousse
Vincent Damphousse starred for Laval while playing junior, and was then the 6th overall draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1986.
He'd turn pro for the 1986-87 season, and never spent a day in the minors. He was an effective player for the Leafs immediately, scoring 21 goals as a rookie. It was his 4th year in the league when things really took off for Vinny: He scored 33 goals, and put up 94 points.
His 5th season in Toronto included playing in the NHL All Star Game. He was named game MVP, and became the 4th players to score 4 goals in an All Star Game.
Following the 90-91 season, it turned out that he was the exact kind of player that a deal for a pair of Hall of Famers is bilt around. Damphousse (along with Peter Ing, Luke Richardson, Scott Thornton, and cash) was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson, and Craig Berbube.
The 1991-92 season saw Damphousse excel in Edmonton. He set a new career high was 38 goals, and he helped the Oilers reach the Campbell Conference finals for the third straight year.
He only stayed in Edmonton for a single season. The Oilers flipped him the following summer to Montreal, along with a draft pick, for a package of Shayne Corson, Brent Gilchrist, and Vladimir Vujtek.
While some players might wilt under the spotlight of playing in their hometown, particularly if that hometown is Montreal, Damphousse excelled. The 1992-93 season saw him set a new career best with 39 goals, and what would end up being his highest career point total, 97.
More importantly, Damphousse was the offensive star for a Habs team that went on to win the 1993 Stanley Cup.
93-94 saw Vincent score 40 for the first time in his career, as he continued to be a force in the NHL. He'd play part of the lockout shortned 94-95 season with the Ratingen Lions, in Germany.
Damphousse lead the Habs in scoring three times, and likely would have a 4th time in 1998-99, if he hadn't been traded to the San Jose Sharks at the deadline for a couple of draft picks.
The deal paid off for San Jose. Damphousse averaged over a point per game the rest of the season, and resigned with San Jose.
He'd play another five seasons in San Jose, before singing a one year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. The lockout of 2004 wiped out the season he was to play in Colorado, and he wound up retiring.
He's currently 10th in all time points by a Shark, 31st by a Maple Leaf, and 25th by a Canadian. His 1205 career points has him sitting 48th all time, and is the third highest scoring player to not yet have been selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame. Likely only a matter of time before he's voted in.
Damphousse was a 4 time NHL All Star, and played for Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Shown here are four cards of Damphousse: His 1987-88 OPC Rookie Card, his 1991-92 Topps Stadium Club, a 2000-01 BAP Autograph, and an 05-06 MVP Jersey Card (showing an Avs logo, a team he never actually played for!)
Louie DeBrusk
Hockey Night in Canada's (late game) colour man, had an NHL career that ran over 400 games.
DeBrusk was both a scorer & tough guy in junior, with the London Knights. That convinced the New York Rangers to select him 49th overall in 1989.
Louie joined the Rangers organization, and played two games in both the regular season & playoffs for the AHL's Binghamton Rangers in 1990-91. Those would be the only four games he'd ever play in Rangers' colours.
In October of 1991, DeBrusk would be part of a package, along with Steven Rice & Bernie Nicholls, that the Rangers would send to Edmonton, in exchange for Mark Messier.
He'd make his NHL debut in 1991-92, playing 25 games for the Oilers. He's score twice, assist on a goal, and rack up 124 PIMS.
His game count more than doubled the following season, when he played 51 for the Oilers. He'd score 8 times, and set a career high 205 PIMs.
DeBrusk remained an Oiler through the end of the 1996-97 seaoson. He'd leave as a free agent & sign with Tampa Bay, and has the 10th highest PIM total in team history, with 797.
He'd spend most of the next season as a member of the Lightning, and had a brief stint with in the minors, with the San Antonio Dragons.
The following summer, Tampa would trade him to Phoenix. He'd split the 98-99 season between the Coyotes, the Springfield Falcons (AHL), and both the Las Vegas Thunder & Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL.
The 1999-00 saw Louie back to being a fulltime NHLer, skating in 61 games for Phoenix. He'd play another 39 for them the following year, and then left as a free agent.
The final three seasons of DeBrusk's career saw him make stops with four AHL teams: Quebec Citadelles, Hamilton Bulldogs, Norfolk Admirals, and Hartford Wold Pack. He also played his final four NHL games in 2002-03, when he suited up four times for the Chicago Blackhawks.
In retirment, he's become a mainstay on hockey night in Canada. Typically he's doing colour for a Western Conference game on Saturday Nights, with plenty of others for Sportsnet through the rest of the week.
Pictured are DeBrusk's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, and an ITG Decades 1990s autograph.
Norm Foster
The Boston Bruins selected Norm Foster in the 11th round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Instead of turning pro, he'd opt to go to school, and played the next four seasons with Michigan State University.
He'd play the 1987-88 season with the Milwaukee Admirals in the IHL, and the next two with Boston's top affiliate, the AHL's Maine Mariners.
The 1990-91 season saw Boston with a logjam in net, with the likes of John Blue, Mike Parson, Chris Harvey, and Matt DelGuidice all vying for AHL starts, along with Foster. He was loaned to the Cape Breton Oilers, where he made 40 starts for the Oilers' AHL club. He also played twice for the Mariners that year, making the odd case of a player playing for two different teams in the same league, without being traded.
The 1990-91 season also saw Foster make his NHL debut. The Bruins called him up for three starts.
The Edmonton Oilers clearly liked what they saw from Foster, as they traded for him prior to the start of the 91-92 season. He'd play 29 games for Cape Breton that year, but also played 10 games for the Oilers, going 5-3-0, with a GAA under 3.
It wasn't enough to keep him on the roster, and 92-93 saw Foster back as a full time AHLer, but not starting nearly as often as Wayne Cowley or Andrew Verner.
He'd leave the Oilers after that season, and signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. He'd never actually crack the Flyers roster, but played another three seasons in the minors before retiring in 1995.
Picutred are Foster's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, and a signed copy of a minor league card, showing him with Maine.
Brian Glynn
The 37th overall pick of 1986 went to the Calgary Flames, and they selected West German-born Brian Glynn.
He'd join the Flames in 87-88, playing 67 games as a rookie. The next couple of seasons saw his role with the team drop, he played only 10 more games in Calgary, spening most of those year with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles.
1990-91 was set to start the same, he played 8 more games in the IHL, but instead he'd be traded to the Minnesota North Stars for Frank Musil. He'd log 66 games for Minny that year.
He start the next season again with the stars, but was swapped for David Shaw in January of 1992. He made his Oilers debut right after that, and played 25 games for them, plus 16 more in the post-season.
1992-93 was Glynn's last as an Oiler. he'd be traded to the Ottawa Senators just before the 93-94 season would start. After 48 games with the Sens he was waived, and claimed by the Cancouver Canucks, where he finished the season - and nearly won a Stanley Cup.
He was claimed on waivers again, just before the start of the shortened 1994-95 season, this time by the Hartford Whalers. He remained with the organization through the 96-97 season, but played only a single game for them before he was traded in October of 1996.
The Whalers sent Glynn, along with Bredan Shanahan, to the Detroit Red Wings with Keith Primeau, Paul Coffey, and a 1st round pick.
He never played for the Detoit, they assigned him to San Antonio of the IHL. He then went on to play a single season with the Cologne Sharks in Germany, before retiring in 1998.
Pictued are Glynn's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his 1992-93 Upper Deck.
Peter Ing
When the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted hometown kid Peter Ing with the 48th pick of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, it looked as they were selecting their goalie of the future.
He had put up solid numbers with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL, and again with the Leaf's farm club, the New Market Saints. He debut for the buds in 1989-90, playing three games in the NHL.
The 1990-91 season saw Ing as the #1 goalie for a weak Toronto team. He started 56 times.
You have to give up something to get something though, and Ing was one of four palyers (along with cash) the Leafs would send to Edmonton for future Hall of Famers Glenn Anderson & Grant Fuhr.
He'd play 12 games for the Oilers in 1991-92, serving as Bill Ranford's backup for part of the season, while also playing 24 for times in Cape Breton.
He'd be loaned out to the San Diego Gulls of the IHL of 1992-93, and the Oilers would eventually trade him to the Detroit Red Wings in the summer of the '93.
He made his last NHL appearances in 1993-94, playing four times for the Red Wings. He'd spend the rest of his career in the IHL, with Las Vegas, Fort Wayne, and Cincinnati. Ing would retired following the 95-96 season.
Pictued are two copies of Ing's 1990-91 OPC Premier Rookie Card, and a copy of his 1992-93 Topps Stadium Club.
David Maley
David Maley would be drafted by the Montreal Canadiens 33rd overall in 1982. He'd then play four seasons with the University of Wisconsin Badgers, under "Badger" Bob Johnson, winning the NCAA title in 1983.
The 85-86 NCAA season ended earlier enough, for Maley to make his NHL debut with the Habs, playing three games, another seven in the playoffs, and helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup.
He'd split the 86-87 season between Montreal, and their farm team in Sherbrooke. He'd be traded to New Jersey for a draft pick, at the 1987 NHL draft.
After a nine game stint with the Utica Devils, Maley was called back up and was a full time NHLer. He'd play the rest of the 87-88 season with New Jersey, and three & a half more.
January of 1992 saw the Devils trade Maley to the Edmonton Oilers for Troy Mallette. He'd play 23 games for Edmonton that season, and 10 more in the playoffs.
The Oilers sent him to San Jose part way through the 92-93 season, and he was flipped to the New York Islanders during the 93-94 season by the Sharks. 1994 would be the last NHL games he'd play.
Maley didn't play during the lockout shortned 94-95 season, but played for the IHL's San Francisco Spiders in 1995-96. He retired, but came back in 99-00 with the organization where he was a fan favourite, New Jersey.
He didn't crack the Devils' lineup in 99-00, but played 60 games for their AHL club in Albany.
In retirement, he went back San Jose. He's currently part of the broadcast crew for the San Jose Sharks, and owns a roller hockey facility in town.
Pictured are three cards of Maley: His 1990-91 Pro Set Rookie Card, a signed copy of his 90-91 Score, and his 92-93 Score.
Troy Mallette
The New York Rangers made Troy Mallette the 22nd pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He'd follow up that selection with his best season in junior, scoring 39 goals for the Soo Greyhounds.
He made his NHL debut in 1989-90, playing 79 games for the Rangers, with 13 goals, 29 points, and 305 PIMs. The tough guy would come back the following season with 12 goals, 22 points, and 252 PIMs in 71 games.
He'd sign with the Edmonton Oilers as a free Agent in 1991, joining them for the 91-92 season. He scored once, with 36 PIMs, in 15 games - before he was traded to New Jersey for David Maley.
Mallette played 51 games for the Devils over the next two seasons, before being traded to the Ottawa Senators. 1993-94 saw him skate in all 82 of the Senators' games.
He'd leave Ottawa after the 95-96 season, and signed with the Boston Bruins. He stayed in Boston for just a season, and then joined Tampa Bay. His three games with the Ligntning in 97-98 were his last. He'd retire after the season.
Pictured are Mallette's 1990-91 Topps Rookie Card, a 97-98 BAP Autograph, an ITG Enforcers jersey card, and an Oiler IGA.
Dave Manson
A physical defenceman with his hometown Prince Albert Raiders, Manson put up back-to-back seasons wtih 200+ PIMs before being drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1985.
He'd play five seasons in Chicago. He never had fewer than 146 PIMs (that was as a rookie). The 88-89 season saw him set what would be the high marks for his career: 18 goals, 54 points, 352 PIMs.
In October of 1991, Manson was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Steve Smith. He scored 15 times in each of the next two seasons, while terrorizing opposing teams, raking up 220 & 210 PIMs.
The 1993-94 season saw Edmonton en route to miss the playoffs, and Manson (along with a 6th round pick) was traded to the Winnipeg Jets at the deadline. In return, Edmonton got Mats Lindgren, Boris Mironov, and 1st & 4th round picks.
He played out the 93-94 season in Winnipeg, and spent two more there - before he moved with the team to Phoenix. 1996 saw him moved at the trade deadline again, this time to the Montreal Canadiens.
He'd play the entire 97-98 season in Montreal, but was moved back to Chicago mid-way through the 98-99 campaign, in a six man swap that saw the teams exchange starting goalies (Thibault & Hackett).
Chicago would eventaully deal him to Dallas, who he played just 26 games for. He'd then sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs for 00-01 season. His role was reduced in 01-02, and he was traded back to Dallas. He played 34 games for the stars that year, and retired in 2002.
Manson has since become a coach. From 2002 through 2018, he was an associate coach with his junior club, the Prince Albert Raiders. The 2018-19 season saw him join the staff of the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers' AHL affiliate.
Manson represented Canada once, when his country finished 4th at the 1993 World Championships. His 2,792 career PIMs currently ranks him 13th all time.
Manson's son, Josh, has been been a member of the Anaheim Ducks since 2014-15.
Scott Mellanby
Mellanby was selected 27th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. After being drafted, Mellanby went to the University of Wisconsin Badgers, where he played for two seasons. While there, he also competed for Canada, winning Silver at the 1986 World Junior Championships. He finished his collegiate career with 35 goals and 82 points in 72 games.
He'd join the Flyers following the end of the NCAA season in 1986, playing twice for them down the stretch. He made the team in 86-87, and never spent a day in the minors over the next 20 seasons.
He played fives seasons in Philly, before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He was part of a six player deal that saw Jari Kurri moved to Philladelphia, who then flipped him to Los Angeles.
He spent just two seasons in Edmonton, scoring a total of 45 times for the Oilers. He was left unprotected in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft, and was selected by the Florida Panthers.
The 1993-94 season saw Mellanby set a new career high with 30 goals. It was a number he'd break two seasons later when he scored 32. He was named Captain of the Panthers in 1998, a role he held until the Panthers traded him to St. Louis, at the 2001 NHL trade deadline.
Mellanby continued to be a solid NHLer with the Blues. He scored 26 times in 2002-03. He eventually left, signing with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005. He was captain in Atlanta for two seasons, before retiring in 2007.
Mellanby's 1431 career games played currently rank him 31st all-time, and that's the third highest number by a player to have never won a Stanley Cup. His 2,479 PIMs rank him 24th in league history.
On March 6, 2003, as a member of the St Louis Blues, Mellanby set an NHL record, with four powerplay goals in one game.
Mellanby is the son of former Hockey Night in Canada producer, Ralph Mellanby.
Pictured are Mellanby's 1987-88 OPC Rookie Card, a BAP autograph, a UD Game Jersey, and a 1991-92 Oilers IGA.
Bernie Nicholls
Nicholls was drafted 73rd overall, in 1980, by the Los Angeles Kings.
He split the 81-82 season between Los Angeles & their AHL affiliate, the New Haven Nighthawks. Nicholls' 55 games in the AHL that season would be his last in the minors.
He was known as a pest to play against, but also had the ability to score goals by the bucket! The 83-84 season saw him pop 41, a number he would improve on the following season, scoring 46, while having his first 100 point season.
85-86 saw him lead the team in scoring for the first time, but in 86-87 his production dipped a little, when he was relegated to 3rd line duties behind Marcel Dionne, and Jimmy Carson.
The summer of 1988 saw Jimmy Carson leave LA, as part of the Wayne Gretzky trade. This set Nicholls up as the 2nd line centre on the Kings. In 88-89 he set a career highs with 70 goals, and 150 points.
He was the 5th player, ever, to score at least 70 in a season. It's only been done 14 times. There have only been 16 seasons of 150+ points (9 by Gretzky, 4 by Lemieux, and 1 each by Yzerman & Esposito).
Durning the 1989-90 season, Nicholls was traded to the New York Rangers for Tony Granato & Tomas Sandstrom. He played well for the Rangers, but never matched his numbers with the Kings.
One game into the 1991-92 season, Nicholls was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He was the centrepiece of a deal that netted the blue-shirts Mark Messier.
The timing was awful for Nicholls. His wife was pregnant with twins, and on bed rest. He refused to report to Edmonton immediately, opting to stay home with his wife. A week after their twins were born, he'd join the Oilers.
Nicholls scored 20 times and averaged a point-per-game with the Oilers, getting 49-in-49, that season. He was back in the Blue & Orange the following season, but would be dealt in January to New Jersey for Zdeno Ciger & Kevin Todd.
The Devils made Nicholls adapt to a more defensive style, so his production did slow down. He left New Jersey after the 93-94 season and signed with Chicago. With the Blackhawks, he went back to his old form, and averaged over a point per game again.
The last three seasons of Nicholls' career were spent in San Jose. He signed with the Sharks for the 1996-97 season, where he played until retiring in 1999.
Nicholls retired with 1127 games played, 475 goals, 1209 points, and 1292 PIMs. He's the second highest scoring player of all time, to not be in the hall of fame (behind Pierre Turgeon)
Shown here are Nicholls' 1983-84 OPC Rookie Card, a Panini Classics autograph, a Crown Royal Silhouette, and a UD Game Jersey showing him as an Oiler.
Steven Rice
Steven Rice stared for his home town Kitchener Rangers, and was drafted 20th overall in 1989 by the New York Rangers.
Rice would Captain Team Canada to a gold medal at the 1991 World Junior Championships, and was considered one of the top prospects in hockey.
He played 11 games for the Blueshirts in 1990-91, scoring his first NHL goal, but he'd be an important piece in the Rangers' trade with Edmonton, bringing Mark Messier to broadway.
Rice played 94 games for the Oilers, over the next three seasons, scoring just 19 times. The Oilers would trade him to Hartford in the summer of 1994, for Bryan Marchment.
Rice put together a decent run of three seasons in Hartford. He'd score 11 times in the shortened 94-95 season, 10 times in 95-96, and set a career high with 21 (35 points) in 96-97.
He'd move with the Whalers to Carolina for the 97-98 season. He put up only 2 goals & 4 helpers in 47 games, and retired at the age of 27.
Rice did make a comeback in professional hockey five years later. In 2002-03 he joined the (Senior A) Cambridge Hornets, where he played for four seasons.
He'd join the Brantford Blast late in the 06-07 season, and came back for one last go in 07-08, helping the Blast win the Allan Cup.
Pictured are Rice's 90-91 Upper Deck Rookie Card, his '94 BAP Autograph, and a 94-95 Pinnacle Rink Collection
Luke Richardson
Luke Richardson was the 7th overall pick in the 1987 NHL draft, by the Toronto Maple Leafs, after the towering defenceman played two stellar seasons with the Peterborough Petes.
Richardson made the jump immediately to the NHL, and joined the Leafs for the 87-88 season, when he logged 78 games for them.
As a rookie, he was on the receiving end of Dino Ciccarelli's infamous attack. He was clubbed over the head by Dino's stick several time. Ciccarelli would be convicted of assault, spend a day in jail, and pay a fine. Richardson suffered no ill effects.
After four seasons in Toronto, where the fearsome blueliner had racked up 556 PIMs, Richardson was traded to the Edmonton Oilers as part of a seven player deal that landed the Leafs future hall of famers Grant Fuhr & Glenn Anderson.
Richardson's took his hardnose style to Edmonton, and spent the next six seasons there, as one of the steadier hands on the Oilers' blueline.
Richardson would move to Philly next, where he played five seasons, and then Columbus for most of three more. The Blue Jackets traded him to the place where his career started, sending him to Toronto for a draft pick at the 2006 NHL trade deadline.
Luke would spend the 06-07 season as a part time player with Tampa Bay, playing just 27 times for the Lightning. He was a free agent once again, and signed with his home town team, the Ottawa Senators.He played 76 games in 07-08 for the Sens, so they brought him back for 08-09. He played only twice before announcing his retirement in November.
He'd be hired later that season by the Senators as an Assistant coach, a role he held until 2012, when they named him the head coach of the Binghamton Senators. Since then he's been an assistant with the New York Islanders, and has been an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens since 2018.
Pictured are Richardson's 88-89 OPC Rookie Card, a 98-99 BAP Autograph, an ITG Tough Material Jersey Card, and an Oilers IGA.
Martin Rucinsky
Czechoslovakian native, Martni Rucinsky, was drafted 20th overall in 1991 by the Edmonton Oilers, after helping his country win bronze at the 1991 World Junior Championships. This was the 2nd pick the Oilers received in the Wayne Gretzky trade.
He made his NHL debut in 1991-92 with the Oilers, playing just a pair of games (and 35 for Cape Breton) before he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques for Ron Tugnutt & Brad Zavisha.
He'd play four more NHL contests that season, with Quebec, recording his first NHL goal & assist.
The 1992-93 season saw Rucinsky become a fulltime NHLer, and he never spent a day in the minors again.
He'd make the move with the Nordiques to Colorado in the 1995-96 season, but he'd be sent back to La Belle Province, in a blockbuster 5-player trade, in which Montreal sent Patrick Roy to the Avalanche.
He had his most productive years in Montrea, breaking the 20 goal mark four times, including a career high 28 in 96-97.
The Habs would trade Rucinsky to the Dallas Stars during the 01-02 season, and they'd deal him to the New York Rangers at the deadline.
Free Agency would see Martin sign with the St. Louis Blues for the 02-03 season, then the Rangers for 03-04. The Rangers would trade him at the deadline to the Vancouver Canucks.
After spending the 2004-05 season at home in the Czech Republic, Rucinsky came back to the NHL and signed on for his third tour of duty with the Rangers. He played one season for them, before signing with St. Louis.
His final two NHL seasons were with the Blues, and he left the NHL after the 2007-08 season.
In addition to 2004-05, Rucinsky spent parts of the 94-95, 95-96, and 02-03 seasons in the Czech Republic. It came as no surprise that he'd go back home to finsih his career. He left the NHL for good in 2008, but played in the Czech league under the end of the 14-15 season.
In addition to the bronze medal at the WJC, he represented Czechoslovakia at the 1991 Canada Cup, and the Czech Republic on 10 separate occasions. He won Gold at the 1998 Olympics, and at the '99, '01, and '05 World Championships. He also took home a pair of bronze medals, at the '04 World Championships & '06 Olympics.
Rucinsky was the last ex-Quebec Nordique to play in the NHL.
Pictured are Rucinsky's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, a 2002 BAP Autograph, and 2014-15 OFS Jersey Card.
David Shaw
David Shaw played for the OHL's Kitchener Rangers, and helped them win the Memorial Cup in 1982. His success in junior lead him to be picked 13th overall in 1982 by the Quebec Nordiques.
He made his NHL debut in 1982-93, playing in two games for Quebec. He played 17 additional games over the next two seasons, spending most of his time either in junior with the Rangers, or the Nords' AHL club, the Fredericton Express.
1985-86 saw Shaw join the Nordiques as a fulltime player. He'd spend the next two seasons with Quebec, but was traded to the New York Rangers just before the start of the 87-88 season.
He'd play four seasons with the Rangers, but just 10 games into the 91-92 season he was trade to the Edmonton Oilers, for Jeff Beukeboom.
Shaw played 12 games for the Oilers, scoring once, and was flipped again. This time he was dealt to Minnesota. He played the rest of the season with the North Stars, who would then trade him to Boston.
The 1992-93 season saw Shaw put up the best offensive numbers of his career. He scored 10 goals, and added 14 helpers, for the Bruins. He played three seasons with Boston, before they'd trade him to Tampa Bay.
Shaw played two & a part seasons with the Lightning. He'd then be dealt to the San Jose Sharks, in a deal that included a swap of first round picks, that would later result in Tampa getting Vincent Lecalvier.
He'd never skate for the Sharks, and was instead playing for the Las Vegas Thunder in the IHL. He'd retire after the 98-99 season in Vegas, but came back for one more in 2000-01, when he played for the Chicago Wolves.
Pictured are David's 85-86 OPC Rookie Card, a BAP Autograph, and an Oilers IGA.
Scott Thornton
In 1989, the Toronto Maple Leafs made Scott Thornton the 3rd overall pick, after a couple of great seasons in Belleville.
He'd spend another year in the OHL with the Bulls, but the 1990-91 season saw him split his season between Belleville, the Newmarket Saints of the AHL, and the Maple Leafs. He played his first 33 NHL games that year for Toronto.
1991 also saw Thornton play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, where he helped to win a gold medal.
The Leafs included Thornton in their 1991 blockbuster swap with the Edmonton Oilers, bringing the Buds Grant Fuhr & Glenn Anderson. Scott would spend most of the next two seasons with Cape Breton in the AHL, but did play 15 & 9 games for the Oilers those two years.
1993-94 saw Thornton spend most of the year in the NHL. His two games with Cape Breton would be his last in the minors.
The 94-95 season had Scott setting a new career high with 10 goals & 22 points. They were numbers he couldn't match the following season, despite having an extra 30 games.
In September of 1996, the Oilers would deal him to the Montreal Canadiens for Andrei Kovalenko. Scott played for the Habs until they dealt him to the Dallas Stars in 2000.
Free Agency hit, and Thornton would sign with the San Jose Sharks. An odd thing happened (at least something that isn't typical in the NHL). An 11 year pro, and over the age of 30, Thornton had (by far) his best offensive season to date. He scored 19 goals & 36 points with the Sharks.
How would Thornton follow up his career year? By besting it, of course. He'd score 26 in 01-02, to go along with 42 points.
Injuries shortened his 02-03 seasons, but he'd play two more in San Jose, plus he spend the 04-05 season playing in Sweden. 05-06 Would see Scott play on a Sharks team, with his cousin Joe.
He signed with the Los Angles Kings after that, where he played the final two seasons of his career. Thornton retired after the 2007-08 season.
In addition to the 1991 WJC, Scott also represented Canada at the 1999 World Championships.
Pictured are Thornton's 1990-91 Upper Deck Rookie Card, an ITG Enforcers Jersey & Auto Expo Redemption, and a 95-96 Pinnacle Rink Collection.
Ron Tugnutt
Ron Tugnutt won multiple rookie & goalie awards while starring with the Peterborough Petes, and was named an OHAL All Star in 1987. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques with the 81st pick in 1986.
He'd turn pro in 1987-88, and made his NHL debut with the Nords. He spent his first few seasons splitting time between the NHL & AHL, he was primarily a backup goalie.
The 1990-91 season saw Tugnutt take over the reigns as Quebec's #1 goalie. He started 56 games that year.
The 1991-92 season saw Tugnutt lose his starting gig to Stephan Fiset, and he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline. He spent the rest of that season & 1992-93 backing up Bill Ranford.
Tugnutt would be selected by the Anaheim Might Ducks in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. He played 28 games for the Ducks in their first year, but was traded part way through the season to the Montreal Canadiens.
After a couple of seasons in Montreal, and spending the 95-96 season with Portland in the AHL, Tugnutt signed with the Ottawa Senators, where he was a #1 goalie again. He played 37, 42, and 43 games for Ottawa over the next three seasons.
1999-00 saw Tugnutt play 44 times for Ottawa, but he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the deadline, for Tom Barrasso. He'd play 7 times for the Pens, before leaving at the end of the season.
Next stop for Tugnutt was Columbus, where he set a career high with 53 games played in 2000-01.
After He was the #1 goalie in Columbus again for the 01-02 season, but was dealt to the Dallas Star on draft day in 2002. He was the cost for Columbus to trade a 2nd round pick for a 1st.
He played the next two seasons with Dallas, including a breif stint with their farm team, the AHL's Utah Grizzlies, in 2003-04. Tugnutt would retire after the 03-04 season.
Tugnutt is the modern-day record holder for most saves in a regular season game / non-loss. He stopped 70 of 73 shots on March 21, 1991, against the Boston Bruins, earning the Nordquies a 3-3 tie.
He was also part of two 4th place Canadian Squads at the World Championships, in 1993 & 1999.
Pictured are Tugnutt's 89-90 OPC Rookie Card, a 98-99 BAP Autograph, a 92-93 OPC, and a Pacific IInvincible jersey card from 2004.
1992-93
Brian Benning
Brian Benning was the 26th overall pick in 1984 by the St. Louis Blues, and he'd make his NHL debut for them inthe 84-85 season, playing in four games.
1985-86 saw Benning spend the season with the CAnadian National Team, playing 60 games for his country. He did join the Blues for the playoffs, getting into 6 games, for a Blues team that went to the Conference Finals.
Benning had a busy 86-87 season. He played another 20 games for the Canadian National team, but got into 78 for the Blues, plus an extra 6 in the playoffs. He set his NHL career highs for Games Play (78), Goals (13), and Points (49).
He'd play two more seasons with the Blues, but was dealt to the Los Angles Kings in November of 1989 for a draft pick.
He was a steady force on the Kings' blueline until February of 1992, when he was involved in a three way deal between the Kings, Flyers, and Penguins:
To Los Angles: Paul Coffey
To Philadelphia: LA's 1st Round Pick, Benning, Mark Recchi
To Pittsburgh: Jeff Chychrun, Kjell Samuelsson, Rick Tocchet, Ken Wregget
Benning only stayed in Philly for about 11 months. During the 92-93 season he'd be traded to Edmonton for Josef Beranek & Greg Hawgood. With the Oilers Benning played 18 games. He scored once, added 7 helpers, and 59 PIMs.
He'd sign with the expansion Florida Panthers, and played 73 games for them in their inaugural season. The shortened season of 94-95, still with Florida, would be Benning's last. He'd retire at the end of the season.
In addition to Benning's two stints with the Canadian National Team in the 80s, he also played for Canada at the 1993 World Championships.
Pictured are Benning's 87-88 OPC Rookie Card, his Chronology Autograph, and a Parkhurst Emerald.
Zdeno Ciger
Zdeno Ciger played four seasons in Czechoslovakia, with ASVS Dukla Trencin. He was drafted 54th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1988, and made the jump to North America for the 1990-91 season.
Ciger's first season in North America saw him score 8 times in 45 games for the Devils, and 5 times in 8 games for their AHL club in Utica.
He'd play with the Devils until part way through the 92-93 season, when he was packaged with Kevin Todd and sent to the Oilers for Bernie Nicholls.
The 1993-94 season was Ciger's breakout year. He played in all 84 games for the Oilers, scored 22 times, and had 57 points. His chance to follow that season up was hampered in 1994-95. Between the lockout, and an injury, he was limited to just 5 games.
1995-96 would be Ciger's best in the NHL. He scored 31 goals, and had 70 points. He never followed up on that though.
Homesick, Ciger went back to Slovakia. He'd spend the next five seasons there, playing for Slovan Bratislava. His NHL rights did exchange hands a couple of times while he was gone, he was first claimed on waivers by the Nahsville Predators in 1998, and then by the Minnesota Wild in 2000.
He'd come back to the NHL for the 01-02 season, but never regained the form he showed in the mid-90s with Edmonton. He played 29 games for the New York Rangers, and was then trade to Tampa Bay for Matthew Barnaby. He played 27 times with the Lightning, and ended the season with a dozen goals.
He'd head back to Slovakia after the season ended, returning to Bratislava, and playing four more seasons.
Zdeno represented Czechosolvakia six times, and then Slovakia nine times, after the Czech-Slovak split. He won three Bronze medals at the World Hockey Championships: In '89 & '90 with Czechoslovakia, and 2003 with Slovakia.
Pictured are Ciger's 1990-91 Upper Deck RC, and his 1994 BAP Autograph.
Shayne Corson
Shayne Corson was selected with the 8th overall pick in the 1984 NHL entry draft, by the Montreal Canadiens. He'd play the next two seasons in the OHL with the Hamilton Steelhawks, and joined the Habs for three games at the end of the 85-86 season.
1986-87 saw Corson in the NHL, and he never spent a day in the minors. He'd played another five seasons in Montreal after that, before a 1992 trade to the Edmonton Oilers. He was the key piece Montreal dealt for Vincent Damphousse.
Corson played three seasons in Edmonton, and was made team captain for the 94-95 season.
He would sign an offer sheet with the St. Louis Blues. The five year pact, worth 6.95 million (1.25 was a signing bonus) was too pricey for the Oilers to match (oh, how the economics of the NHL have changed in 25 years). The Oilers received the Blues' next two first round picks, but opted to deal those picks back to St. Louis for Curtis Joseph & Mike Greir.
Corson played the 95-96 season with the Blues, but after 11 games in 96-97 he was dealt back to where his career started: Montreal. He was part of five player deal that saw Pierre Turgeon head to St. Louis.
After the 96-97 season, Corson spent three more in Montreal, before leaving as a free agent in 2000 and singing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played with his Brother-In-Law (and fellow ex-Hab) Darcy Tucker.
The 2003-04 season saw Corson sign with the Dallas Stars, where he played his final 17 games.
Corson represented Canada at the WJC ('85 Gold, '86 Silver), Canada Cup ('91 Gold), World Cup ('94 Silver), World Championships ('93 4th, '94 Gold), and the Olympics ('98 4th). He was a three time All Star (1990, 1994, 1998). His 2,357 career PIMs rank him 29th all-time.
Pictured here are Corson's 89-90 OPC Rookie Card, an IP signed UD SP Insert, and an ITG Forever Rivals Jersey card.
Todd Elik
Todd Elik was granted a walk-on to try out for the OHL's Kingston Canadians in 1983, and made the club. He's play in the OHL for three years before turning pro.
He wasn't drafted into the NHL, so signed with the IHL's Colorado Rangers. He scored 100 points his first season there, in 1987-88.
That earned him an opertuninty with the Los Angles Kings. He played for their farm team in New Haven in 88-89, and then split the season between the Nighthawks & the Kings in 89-90. His first NHL season saw him play 48 games, scoring 10 times with 33 points.
Elik spent one more season in LA. He played 74 games in 90-91, scored 21 times, and had 58 points. The Minnesota North Stars were looking to improve their offence, and traded a couple of prospects an a pick to the Kings for him.
He scored 14 times (46 points) in 91-92, and scored 13 more (31 points) for the North Stars in 46 games of the 92-93 season, and then they traded him to Edmonton for Brent Gilchrist.
With the Oilers, Elik scored just once in 14 games. He played four more contests with the Oilers in 93-94, without registering a point. The Oilers put him on waivers.
The San Jose Sharks would claim him, and Elik went on to have the best season of his career. He scored 25 goals, and 66 points, in 75 games for the Sharks.
The shortned 94-95 season would see San Jose deal him to the St. Louis Blues, Elike scored 9 times in the 35 games he split between the two clubs.
1995-96 would see him sign with the Boston Bruins. He split the next two seasons between Boston & their AHL club in Providence. He was done in North America after the 96-97 season.
Elik went on to play another 12 seasons in Europe, both in Switzerland & Austria. He'd retire at the end of the 2009-10 season.
He also represented Canada twice, playing for the National team in both 1986-87, and 1999-00
Shown here are Todd Elik's 1990-91 Score Rookie Card, his BAP Autograph, and a Parkhurst Emerald Ice.
John Garrett
John Garrett was the 38th overall pick by the St. Louis Blues in 1971. After a couple of seasons in the minors, he'd join the WHA's Minnesota Fighting Saints.
He played in the final six WHA seasons. Along with Minnesota, he also played for the Toronto Toros, Birmingham Bulls, and the New England Whalers. His 148 WHA wins were the most of any goalie in the League's history.
When the NHL & WHA merged, he was tagged as one of the three Priority selections for Hartford, so he remained a Whaler, instead of going back to the St. Louis Blues.
He played two full seasons as Hartford's #1 goalie, and was dealt mid-season in 81-82 to the Quebec Nordiques. He'd be traded again in 82-83 to the Vancouver Canucks. He played his last NHL games in 84-85, before a brief stint with the AHL's Fredericton Express in 85-86.
Garrett then retired. He took the job of assistant GM with the Vancouver Canucks for the rest of the 85-86 season, but joined the CBC as a colour commentator in 1986-87. He has been one of the faces of Canada's national broadcast of the NHL ever since.
So why would John Garrett be in this thread? On February 14th 1990, more than 5 years removed from his last professional game, Garrett was working the Oilers / Capitals game. Grant Fuhr was out due to an appendectomy. Starter Bill Ranford got hurt and was replaced by backup Pokey Reddick. Reddick had hurt himself, but was playing through it. The Oilers were scrambling to find another backup, and Garrett left the broadcast booth to join the team.
Pictured are Garrett's 1975-76 OPC Rookie Card, and ITG Decades 80s Autograph, and a BTP Patch card.
Brent Gilchrist
The 5'11" Brent Gilchrist was selected 79th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1985. He broke into the NHL with the Habs, playing 49 games in 88-89.
His breakout season game in 1991-92, where he scored 23 goals (50 points) for Montreal. He was then part of the package sent to Edmonton for Vincent Damphousse.
Gilchrist played 60 games for the Oilers in 92-93, before he was traded to Minnesota for Todd Elik. He'd move with his new club to Dallas, and played four seasons there, highlighted by a 20 goal campaign in 95-96.
The summer of 1997 saw Gilchrist sign with the Detroit Red Wings, it was a moved that paid off immediately. He helped the Red Wings win the 1998 Stanley Cup.
The personal cost of winning was high for Gilchrist. He played 15 playoff games that year, but was fighting through a serious sports hernia, and would need surgery in the off season. He was limited to 29 games over the next two seasons as a result.
The 00-01 season saw him healthy, and he skated in 60 games, but he wasn't the same player. The Red Wings would waive him during the 01-02 season, and he was claimed by the Dallas Stars.
Brent signed with the Nashville Predators for the 2002-03 season, which would be his last. He retired in 2003.
Pictued are Gilcrist's 1990-91 OPC Rookie Card, a BAP Autograph, and a 25th Anniversary Fleer Ultra buyback.
Mike Hudson
The Chicago Blackhawks used the 140th overall pick in 1986 to select Mike Hudson. He'd debut for the Hawks in 1988-89 season.
Mike spent the bulk of the next four and a half seasons in the windy city, playing as many as 76 games in 1991-92.
When Edmonton was dismantling what was left of their dynasty in the early 1990s, Craig Muni was sent to Chicago for Hudson on the March 22nd NHL trade deadline.
Mike played five games for the Oilers down the stretch, but left as a free agent when the season was over.
He's sign with the New York Rangers, and helped them win a Stanley Cup in 1993-94. The Rangers waived him the following season, and he was claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Pens used him for the rest of the season, but he'd leave as a free agent, and signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He ended up waived again, and played the second half of the season with the St. Louis Blues.
Hudson played his last NHL games in 1996-97, when he laced them up seven times for the Phoenix Coyotes. He'd head over to Germany for the 1997-98 season, where he played for three years. Hudson retired after the 98-99 season.
Pictured are Hudson's 1990-91 OPC Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his 92-93 OPC.
Igor Kravchuk
A standout junior in the Soviet Union with Salavat & Avangard, Igor Kravchuck played four and a half seasons with in the USSR's main league for CSKA Moscow, before 1991's 71st overall pick joined the team that drafted him, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Kravchuk scored in his first game with the Hawks, putting up 9 points in the 18 games he played in 1991-92. He was having a solid season for them in 1992-93 when he was packaged along with Dean McAmmond, and sent to the Edmonton Oilers for Joe Murphy.
He'd have the best season of his career the following year, scoring 12 goals (50 points) for the Oilers in 93-94. He was an important piece of the Oilers' blueline until he was traded to St. Louis during the 95-96 season.
He played about a season and a half with the Blues, then they dealt him to Ottawa in the summer of 1997. Ottawa wound up being the team that he'd play the most games with, logging 279 games with them over the next four seasons.
He was put on waivers during the 00-01 season, and was nabbed by the Flames. He play out that season & the next with Calgary, before signing with the Florida Panthers. His 7 games in the sunshine state during 2002-03 were his last before retirement.
Kravchuck represented his countries (Soviet Union, Unified Team, Russia) on 12 different occasions. He won a gold & bronze at the World Junior Championships, he won a bronze, silver, and two golds at the four Olympic Games he played at, he won both bronze & gold at the world championships, and silver at the Canada cup.
At the 1987 Canada Cup, two days after his 21st birthday, Kravchuck was the lone defenceman on the ice for a 3-on-1 against Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Larry Murphy. Lemieux would score what ended up being both the game & series winner, with a minute & a half to go in the 3rd.
Pictured are Kravchuck's 1991-92 Parkhurst RC, his 1994 BAP Autograph, and his 92-93 Parkhurst.
Bill McDougall
Bill McDougall had an interesting path to the NHL. He did not play major junior. He joined he Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 1986-87. In 61 games, he scored 83 times, added 104 assists, and 300 PIMs.
He wasn't drafted, and ended up playing two successful seasons of Senior hockey in Newfoundland, scoring 86 times over two seasons, where he played a total of 68 games.
His senior hockey success got him a pro offer in the USA. He joined the ECHL's Erie Panthers for the 1989-90 season.
He'd score 80 times (plus 68 helpers & 192 PIMS) in 57 games. Not bad for an undrafted kid. It was good enough that the Detroit Red Wings came calling, and offered McDougall a contract.
He played out the stretch with the Wings' farm club in Adirondack in 89-90. He scored 10 times (17 points) in 11 games. He'd come back the next season in the AHL, scoring 47 times, with 99 points, in the 71 games he played.
McDougall also made his NHL debut that season, picking up an assist, with two games play for the Red Wings.
1991-92 saw him start the season with Adirondack, but he'd be traded to the Oilers for Max Middendorf. McDougall played the rest of the season in Cape Breton, averaging more than a point-per-game.
The 1992-93 season is what Bill McDougall will forever be known for. He did make his Oilers debut, scoring twice (with an assist) in four games. He scored 42 times, for 88 points, in 71 games with the Cape Breton Oilers in the AHL. None of that was the record setting performance he'd put on.
The Cape Breton Oilers were a a 3rd place club, slightly above .500 They made the playoffs, but there was little expectation they'd go far. They were not favourites in their first round match-up against the Fredericton Canadiens.
Queue Bill McDougall, who was their 2nd leading scorer (behind Dan Currie) in the regular season. He'd go on a tear that look more like EA Sports numbers, than real numbers from the 2nd best hockey league in the world.
Bill would score 26 times, and add 26 helpers, in the 16 games it took the Cape Breton Oilers to win the Calder Cup. That's an AHL record that still holds today. His 3.25 ppg in a single playoff season is likely never to be broken.
The weird thing with McDougall is that his success in the minors never earned him much of a chance in the NHL. He left the Oilers' organization after his record setting AHL performance, and joined the Tampa Bay lightning. He played 22 games for the Lightning that season, scoring 3 times with 3 assists, and his NHL career was over.
McDougall moved to Europe for the 1994-95 season, and spent the next 8 seasons in Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. He'd come back to Canada and played three seasons of Senior Hockey, with the Dundas Real McCoys. He'd retire after the 2005-06 season.
Picutred are McDougall's 93-94 Parkhurst Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his 93-94 Parkhurst Emerald. He never had a real "Oilers Card" but he does have this 92-93 Classic, showing him with the Cape Breton Oilers.
I have to give a big shoutout to my friend @primetimepawich. McDougall was actually the last pre-McDavid Oiler I needed to complete my collection of signatures. You don't see this for sale or trade ever. I tried TTM on what I was told was a good address. Not luck. Looking to do something nice for me (we chat a lot, he knew who my missing signature was) Joe tracked down this card on a swiss auction site (I assume it was signed during his time playing there). After jumping through a bunch of hoops to get it, he passed it along to me. I'm extremely grateful for that. People like this make the hobby great!
Shjon Podein
The Minnesota native, Shjon Podein, was a high school hockey star and then joined the University of Minnesota Duluth. After his freshman year, he was drafted 166th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.
He played two more seasons in the NCAA, and went pro in 1990-91 season. He was assigned to Cape Breton, where he scored 14 goals as a rookie.
He improved on those totals the following season, scoring 30 for the baby Oilers. 1992-93 would be the year he made his NHL debut, scoring 13 goals in 40 games with the Oilers. He also helped Cape Breton win the Calder Cup in the AHL.
He only saw limited action the next season, playing just 28 games for the Oilers, and left as a free agent. He'd sign with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was an effective depth forward, playing solid defensive game, and hit double digit goals in each of the next three seasons.
Philly would eventually trade him to the Colorado Avalanche, where he played similar role. He spent the bulk of four seasons with the Avs, his best being 2000-01.
2000-01 was a banner year for Podein. He played in all 82 games, matched his career highs in goals (15) and points (32). He won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, given to a player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on & off the ice, and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community (for his founding of the Shjon Podein Childer's Foundation, which assists sick & underprivileged children). Podein also helped the Avs win the 2001 Stanley Cup.
He was traded to the St. Louis Blues part way through the 01-02 season. He was back in the Show-Me state the following year, but was out of the NHL after 2003. He went on to play a couple of years in Sweden, and then one in Japan, before retiring after the 2005-06 season.
He also represented the USA on three occasions, playing in the '93, '94, and '98 World Championships.
Pictured are Podein's 1993-04 Topps Stadium Club Rookie, and his 95-96 BAP Autograph.
Kevin Todd
Kevin Todd was the 129th pick in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, after his rookie season with Prince Albert in the WHL, when he scored 14 goals. He played two more seasons with the Raiders, and proved New Jersey made a smart choice. His goal total increased to 39 the next season, and then 49 (for 121 points) in 87-88.
He made his NHL debut in 88-89, playing once for New Jersey. He spent the rest of the season in with their farm team in Utica. He had another full season in the AHL in 89-90, and played just a single game with the parent club in 1990-91.
1991-92 saw Todd as a fully time NHLer. He was named part of the NHL's All-Rookie team, and broke Kirk Muller's Devils' rookie scoring record, when he popped 21 goals & 42 assists in 80 games.
The 1992-93 season saw Kevin play a couple more games with Utica, and 30 with New Jersey, before he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers as part of the Bernie Nicholls deal. He play 25 games for the Oilers that season, scoring 4 times.
He was then traded to the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the start of the 93-94 season, and was traded again at the deadline to the Los Angles Kings.
After a few lean years, he rebounded nicely in 1995-96 with LA. He scored 16 goals in 74 games. He'd leave as a free agent, but didn't leave the area. He'd sign with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, where he played for the next two seasons.
After the 1997-98 NHL season, Todd was done in North America, but he signed on to play a season in Switzerland before retiring in 1999.
Pictured are Todd's 91-92 Score Rookie Card, a 93-94 Topps Sadium Club Member's Only Parallel, and his 1996-97 BAP Autograph.
Andrew Verner
Andrew Verner was drafted 34th overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. He was a star with the OHL's Peterborough Petes.
His first pro season came in 1992-93, when he was a member of the Calder Cup winning Cape Breton Oilers, and was called up briefly by Edmonton and dressed as a backup, but he never got into any game action.
Verner played in Cape Breton until the 1994-95 season, and then left for Europe.
He'd head to Europe after that, where he spent the next 15 seasons playing for a variety of teams in Austria, Sweden, Germany, and England. He retired after the 2009-10 season.
In 2012, Verner was named goalie coach of the Junior club where he got his start, Peterborough. He was named assistant coach in 2014, and has been an Associate coach with the Petes for the past two seasons.
He played for the Canadian National team in both 1994-95 & 1998-99, and was also part of Canada's Bronze Medal winning team at the 1995 World Championships.
Pictured here are a trio of Verner cards: His 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, his 1991 Star Pics (French) Autograph, and a signed copy of his UD Rookie, that I got when meeting him while he was playing for Team Canada in the 98-99 season.
Vladimir Vujtek
After playing three seasons for Vitkovice in Czechoslovakia, Vladimir Vujtek came to North America and joined the WHL's Tri-City Americans. He'd average over a point per game in 1990-91, and the Montreal Canadiens made him the 73rd overall pick at the 1991 draft.
1991-92 saw Vujtek dominate the WHL, scoring 41 goals (102 points) in 53 games. He'd make his NHL debut with Montreal late that season, playing twice. In the summer of 1992, he was included in the package the Habs sent to the Edmonton Oilers for Vinny Damphousse.
He'd split the next two seasons between the Oilers & their farm team in Cape Breton. He played 70 NHL games over that span, scoring five times.
The lockout shortened season saw Vujtek return home to what was now the Czech Republic, playing for Vitkovice again. When the lockout ended he returned to North America, but was sent to the minors.
Frustrated after the 94-95 season, Vujtek went back to Vitkovice for the 95-96 season. He'd play in Sweden in 1996-97, and then his NHL rights were traded by Edmonton to Tampa Bay. He came back to the HL, and played 30 games for the Lightning, but when he was demoted to the minors he decided that he'd rather go home and play for Vitkovice.
The 1999-00 saw Vujtek start his third stint in the NHL, this time after he signed with the Atlanta Thrashers. He played only three games for them, and returned to the Czech Republic, this time playing for Sparta Praha.
2002-03 would see him come back to North America for a fourth time. This time the Pittsburgh Penguins offered him a deal, so he made the move. He played only five times for the Pens, and returned to Europe. He split the rest of the season between Vitkovice and Severstal in Russia.
Vladimir played another four seasons in Europe, before retiring in 2007. He's since become a player agent.
He represented his country once, at the 1997 World Championships. He lead the tournament in scoring, and helped the Czech Republic win bronze.
Pictured are Vujtek's 1992-93 Upper Deck Rookie Card and his 1997 BAP Autograph.
Doug Weight
Doug Weight was an allstar with Lake Superior State in the NCAA, and was drafted by the New York Rangers with the 34th pick in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.
He made his NHL debut, playing a single playoff game, with the Rangers in 1991, and then split the 91-92 season between the Rangers, and their AHL club in Binghamton. His 9 games in the minors would be his only trip to the A for his entire career.
He played 53 games for New York in 1992-93, but was dealt at the trade deadline to the Edmonton Oilers for Esa Tikkanen. Arguably the best trade in team history, Weight would go to be (IMO) the greatest post-Dynasty / pre-McDavid Oiler.
He played 13 games for the Oilers down the stretch, scoring twice and adding eight helpers. The 1993-94 season saw him play in all 84 games, averaging nearly a point-per-game, with 74 total.
The 1994-95 lockout shortened season saw Weight get 40 points in 48 games, after spending the early part of the season wth the Rosenheim Star Bulls in Germany. 1995-96 saw him put up career high 104 points.
After breaking the 20 goal mark in two straight full seasons, Weight did it again in 96-97, and set a career high in 97-98 with 26 goals. The 1998-99 season saw his numbers drop, due to an injury that limited him to 43 games.
He played two more seasons in Edmonton, with 21 & 25 goals. His 90 Points in 2000-01 was the second highest of his career.
The Oilers, looking to cut costs, dealt Doug Weight in the summer of 2001. He was sent to St. Louis, for Marty Reasoner, Jochen Hecht, and Jan Horacek.
Weight continued to be a star with the Blues, where he played the next three seasons. 2004-05 brought another lockout, and he went back to Germany, to play for the Frankfurt Lions.
2005-06 saw Doug start the season in St. Louis, but he was traded to Carolina (along with Erkki Rajamaki) for three prospects, a 1st round pick, and a pair of 4th round picks.
He'd finish the year with the Hurricanes, and helped them defeat the Edmonton Oilers in the 2006 Stanley Cup finals. He played 23 Regular Season games for them, and 23 more in the playoffs. He hit free agency that summer, and returned to St. Louis.
He played with the Blues for the next season & a half, but St. Louis traded him again (along with a pick & a prospect) to Anaheim for Andy McDonald.
He played 38 games for the Ducks, and then signed with the New York Islanders as a free agent.
Weight played the final three seasons of his NHL career on Long Island, retiring after the 2010-11 season.
After retirement, he moved behind the bench, staying with the Islanders as an assistant coach. When Jack Capuano was fired mid-season in 2017, Weight was named interim coach, and lead the club to a 24-14-4 record. The interim tag was removed, and he was made head coach for the 2017-18 season, before being replaced by Barry Troz. Weight still works in the Islanders' organization.
At the end of his last NHL season, Doug won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his charity work. He was a four time NHL all star, and was inducted into the USA Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.
He represented the USA 9 times, including one World Junior Championship ('91), three World Championships ('93, '94, '05), two World Cups ('96 & '04), and three Olympic Games ('98, '02, '06). His medal haul at those tournaments included a World Cup Gold and an Olympic Silver.
Doug's 577 points as an Oiler currently rank him 7th in team history, though both Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl will be catching him soon. Likely Ryan Nugent-Hopkins too.
On January 2nd, 2009 he became the 73rd player in league history to record his 1000th career point, and he's currently the 77th highest scoring player in NHL history. He'd retire with 1,033 points.
Pictured are Weight's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, his 97-98 SP Authentic Sign of the Times, and an 02-02 UD Top Shelf Jersey Card.
Note: I actually have quite a few nicer Doug Weight GU cards, but I've never been able to pick up a really nice Oilers Patch. If you've got one that you'd like to move, drop me a line!
Brad Werenka
Brad Werenka was an allstar defenceman for the Northern Michigan Wildcats, where he was part of the 1991 NCAA Championship. He was drafted 42nd overall in 1987 by the Edmonton Oilers.
He made his pro debut in 1991-92, with the Cape Breton Oilers, and his NHL debut came in 1992-93 with Edmonton. He played 27 games, and scored 5 times.
1992-93 & 1993-94 also saw Brad spend time with the Canadian National team, including representing Canada at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics. He was named a tournament allstar, while Canada won Silver.
He played another 15 games for the Oilers in 1993-94, but was traded to Quebec for Steve Passmore at the 1994 NHL trade deadline. He's log 11 games with the Nordiques that year, and then left as a free agent.
He spend the next season with Milwaukee in the IHL, but joined the Chicago Blackhawks for the 95-96 season. He played just 9 NHL games, spending most of the season in the minors.
1997-98 saw Brad join the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he never went back to the minors. He play 71 times for the Pens that season, and followed that up with an 81 game campaign in 98-99.
He played 61 games for Pittsburgh the following season, but was traded at the deadline to Calgary, where he finished the season. He played one more year with the Flames, and retired after the 00-01 season.
Shown here are Werenka's 92-93 Parkhurst RC, and his '98 BAP Autograph.
Tyler Wright
Tyler Wright was a junior star with the Swift Current Broncos, and twice represented Canada at the World Junior Championships, including 1993 when he was an alternate Captain, and helped Canada win Gold.
The Edmonton Oilers made Wright the 12th overall pick in 1991. He had breif call ups from 92-93 through 95-96, but played only 31 games with Edmonton, during those combines 4 seasons, scoring 3 times.
He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 1996 draft, for a 7th round pick.
Wright played more games with Pittsburgh in 96-97 (45) than he had in his four seasons with the Oilers. He played in all 82 games for the Pens in 97-98, and 61 more in 98-99.
In 1999-00 he had his best season today. He scored 12 goals (bringing his career total to 20) in 50 games.
In June of 2000, he'd be taken in the Expansion draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He improved again on his Penguins numbers, and scored 16 times (and a career high 32 points) in his first season with the Jackets.
Wright remained an effective depth player for Columbus for the next three seasons, and had his career high in goals in 2002-03, scoring 19 times.
The NHL lockout of 04-05 saw him play in Switzerland, and then Tyler would return to Columbus for the 05-06 season. He didn't finish the year there, as he was traded to Anaheim as part of a package for Sergie Federov.
Wright's 25 games, 2 goals, and 2 helpers for the Ducks in 05-06 were his last in the NHL. He played the 06-07 season in Switerland, and then retired.
He took a job with Columbus after he retired, being named a development coach, where he worked with younger players. In 2013 he was named director of amateur scouting for the Detroit Red Wings. It was a job he held until 2019, when he left the Wings and followed GM Ken Holland to Edmonton, where he holds the same title.
In addition to the pair of World Junior Championships, Wright also represented Canada at the 2002 World Championships.
Pictured are Wright's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, and his 97-98 BAP Autograph.
And I'm back with part 5! What is my collection? I'm aiming to collect a Rookie Card, Autograph, Memorabilia, and "Pictured as an Oiler" card of anyone who ever played a game for the Edmonton Oilers.
Not all players have memorabilia cards, and that's okay. I get the ones I can.
Not all players had actual Rookie cards, as they had no NHL cards. I've collected their "first minor league" card instead, or junior, team issues, etc - depending on what's available.
I prefer pack-pulled autographs over IP / TTM signed cards. If a player has signed for a card company, I want to own one of those. If they have not? Then I go the IP / TTM route instead.
Not all players actually have a card showing them with the Oilers. That's okay too.
If you missed one of the earlier posts, and are interested, you can find them here:
Part 4 (87-88 through 89-90): http://www.hobbyinsider.net/forum/showthread.php?t=436263
Part 3 (83-84 through 86-87): http://www.hobbyinsider.net/forum/showthread.php?t=429957
Part 2 (80-81 through 85-86): http://hobbyinsider.net/forum/showthread.php?t=429082
Part 1 (79-80): http://hobbyinsider.net/forum/showthread.php?t=427601
We could debate when the Oilers Dynasty ended (was it with the Gretzky trade? Or after they won their last Cup? The Messier trade?) but without a doubt, the dynasty was over in the early 90s. One thing that is easily forgotten about this era: The Oilers of 1990 & 1991 were still pretty good teams.
Coming off their 5th Stanley Cup in 7 seasons, the 90-91 Edition of the Oilers actually made it all the way to the Campbell Conference finals, where they lost to the Minnesota North Stars in 5 games. That's a pretty quick series, but I think it's easily forgotten that the Oilers were only 3 wins away from getting their chance to defend their Championship.
The 1991-92 season is actually a pretty impressive body of work, for a team that didn't win a Championship. Consider that the Oilers Dynasty was built around 6 Hall of Famers: Coffey, Gretzky, Kurri, Messier, Anderson, Fuhr. The 1991 squad that lost to Minnesota still had half of those (Messier, Anderson, Fuhr). The 1992 Squad? None of them. Their replacements? None got to the HOF.
In the 1992 playoffs, the Oilers got back to the final four once again! This time it was against the Chicago Blackhawks, and they were swept. The Oilers "dark years" started after that - with the team in full rebuild, and sitting near the bottom of the league standings for the next few seasons, including 92-93.
These years are filled the players who were the "bounty" from dismantling one of the greatest teams every put together. There's a lot of prospects that never really panned out, some very good players that Oilers likely moved on from too soon, and even one (IMO) top-10 Oiler of All Time!
1990-91
Brad Aitken
Brad Aitken was the 46th overall pick in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He played 5 games with the Penguins in 1987-88, and scored his first NHL goal. He spent the next several years in the minors, getting recalled again by Pittsburgh in 1990-91.
He played 6 more games for the Penguins that season, and was dealt at the trade deadline to the Edmonton Oilers for Kim Issel.
Aitken would only play 3 games for Edmonton that season, and they'd be his last in the NHL. He signed with the Maple Leafs that summer, and spent the 91-92 season with their AHL club in St. John's.
Aitken would split the 92-93 season between the baby Leafs, the Raleigh Icecaps of the ECHL, and a breif stint in Germany. He'd retire after the 92-93 season.
Pictured are two copies of Aitken's first minor league card, from 88-89 Pro Cards. One is singed.
Dan Currie
With the 84th pick in 1986, the Edmonton Oilers selected Soo Greyhounds rookie Dan Currie. He spent the next two seasons improving his game in the OHL, and scored 50 goals (109 points) in 57 games with the Greyhounds in 1987-88. He'd also make his pro debut that season, scoring 4 times in 3 games (plus 2 helpers) for the Nova Scotia Oilers, and added 4 goals, 7 points, in 5 playoff games.
This junior success, early pro success, and being part of a gold medal winning Canada team at the 1988 World Junior Championships made Edmonton's 4th round selection look great.
Currie was an offensive monster for the Nova Scotia (Cape Breton) Oilers, as part of their 'VCR' Line. He averaged nearly a point per game over the next two seasons, and finally made his NHL debut in 1990-91.
Currie skated in 5 games for the Oilers, but didn't register a point. The 71 games he played in Cape Breton that year saw him score 47 times.
1991-92 saw Currie play 7 more games with Edmonton, and he scored his first NHL goal. In the minors? He popped another 50.
1992-93 brought more of the same success & disappointment for Currie. He lit the lamp 57 times for Cape Breton, but didn't score once in his five games in Edmonton.
He was cut loose by the Oiler after the 92-93 season, and signed with the LA Kings. He scored 37 goals for Phoenix (LA's IHL affiliate) but just once (and a helper) in 5 games for the Kings.
Currie spent the next 6 seasons in the IHL, one in Germany, two with Bakersfield in the WCHL, two in Italy, one in England, and then a couple playing senior hockey in Ontario before retiring in 2005.
He was an absolute monster for scoring in the minors, but it never translated into NHL success. His career NHL totals were 2 goals, 1 assist, in 22 games.
Pictured are Currie's 1991-92 Upper Deck rookie card, and a signed copy of a Sault Ste Marie team issue.
David Haas
Haas was taken 105th i nthe 1986 NHL Entry Draft.
He played in Edmonton's system from 1988-89 through 1992-93. Most of that time was spent with Cape Breton in the AHL, and a loan to New Haven (in the AHL) during the 91-92 season.
The Oilers did call Haas up for five games in 1990-91, when he scored his first NHL goal.
He'd join the Flames as a free agent for the 93-94 season. Like his time with the Oilers, he spent most of the season in the Maritimes, but now with the Saint John Flames. He did play in two contests for Calgary, scoring once & adding an assist.
Haas never made it back to the NHL, but his career in the minors continued. He retired following the 2003-04 season in Hannover (Germany, DEL). In addition to North American minor-pro leagues & Germany, he also spent time playing in Italy & Slovenia.
Pictured are Haas's first minor league card (88-89 ProCards) & a signed copy of his 91-92 ProCards.
Greg Hawgood
Greg Hawgood was selected 202nd overall in the 1986 draft by the Boston Bruins. Getting a player who played nearly 500 NHL games in the 10th round was a steal!
He made his NHL debut in 1987-88 with the Bruins, playing a single game after his season in Kamloops ended.
He played 56 games with the Bruins in 88-89, and 21 with their minor league club, the Maine Mariners. 1989-90 saw the defenceman become a full time NHLer, suiting up for 77 games with the Bruins.
In October of 1990, Hawgood was traded from the Bruins to the Edmonton Oilers. He played just 6 for the Oilers that year, 20 in 91-92, and 29 in 92-93. Most of his time with the Oilers was spent in the minors.
The Oilers would eventually trade him to the Philadelphia Flyers, along with Josef Beranek, for Brian Benning.
Hawgood's two decade career continune in Philly, who would eventually trade him to Florida. Free Agency later came, and saw him spend time with Pittsburgh, San Jose, Vancouver, and Dallas.
He also had minor league stops with Houston, Kansas City, Utah, and Chicago. The final two seasons of Hawgood's career were in Italy. He retired after the 05-06 season.
He represented Canada twice at the World Junior Championships, in 1987 he was part of the infamous "Punch-Up in Piestany", and helped lead Canada to Gold in 1988.
The trio of cards pictured are Hawgood's 89-90 OPC Rookie Card, his 92-93 Topps Gold, and his 99-00 BAP Autograph.
Max Middendorf
As a 16 year old, playing junior in New Jersey, Middendorf popped 94 goals & 168 points in 58 games. He then joined the OHL's Sudbury Wolves where he averaged over a point per game in two & half seasons (and continued that pace in his half season in Kitchener).
The junior scoring sensation was drafted 57th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1985, and made his NHL debut in 86-87, scoring once (five points) in six games.
He'd play another game for the Nords in 87-88, and three for them during the 89-90 season, but despite his scoring success in the minors, he wasn't ever able to stick in the NHL.
The Nordiques would eventually tade him to Edmonton in November of 1990, for a draft pick. The 1990-91 season saw the Oilers call him up for three games, where he scored once.
With 13 NHL games & a pair of big league goals to his name, Middendorf never got back to hockey's top league. He was traded to Detroit, for Bill McDougall, part way through the 91-92 season. He split that campaign between Cape Breton, and the Adirondack Red Wings.
92-93 saw him leave the AHL, and spend the next four years in the IHL - with Fort Wayne & San Diego. He's play a season in the Southern Hockey, one in Austria, and then three more in the Southern USA - with stops in Bakersfield, Huntsville, and Fort Worth.
Middendorf also played professional Roller Hockey in 1993 & 1996, with the San Diego Barracudas, scoring 30 goals in 21 games.
Pictured are Middendorf's 88-89 ProCards (his first minor league card) and a cut signature card (thanks @dnjcards), showing him with the Fort Wayne Komets
Anatoli Semenov
Semenov was part of the inital wave of Soviet players to immigrate to the NHL in the late 80s / early 90s. After starting for Moscow Dynamo for eleven seasons, he was drafted in the 6th round of the 1989 NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
After his season in Moscow ended, he joined the Oilers in 89-90 for a pair of playoff games. He became the 2nd ex-Soviet player to play for a Stanley Cup winner in 1990, but like Sergei Pryakhin with Calgary the year before, his name didn't go on the cup, due to his limited games played.
Semenov logged 57 & 59 games for the Oilers in 91-92, and 92-93, scoring 35 times. He'd then be claimed in the Expansion Draft, by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Semenov played another 6 seasons in the NHL. After a season in Tampa, he was claimed in the next Expansion draft by Anaheim, where he played two seasons.
The Might Ducks would then deal him to Philadelphia mid way through the 94-95 season, and the Flyers would trade him back to Anaheim during the 95-96 campaign.
He played his final season in 1996-97, with the Buffalo Sabres.
Pictured are Semenov's 1990-91 Pro Set Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his 91-92 Parkhurst.
Tomas Srsen
Tomas Srsen was drafted in the 7th round, in 1987, by the Edmonton Oilers. The Czechoslovakian made his way to North America in 1990, playing 2 games for the Oilers, and 72 for their AHL club in Cape Breton.
Despite scoring 32 goals for Cape Breton the year before, he did not get another crack at the NHL in 91-92, when he continued to skate for the Oilers' AHL team.
Srsen would move back to Europe after that. He spent three seasons playing in Sweden, moved back to his native Czech Republic for five after that.
The final four seasons of his career were split between Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic. He'd retire at the end of the 2002-03 season.
Srsen never had any NHL cards, shown here are his 1990-91 ProCards (first minor league card) and his 2018-19 Czech OFS "You Want The Best You Got The Best" Autograph.
Kari Takko
Taken 200th in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques, Takko never played for the club that drafted him.
The Finnish native played in his home country, for Assat, until the end of the 1984-85 season.
By this time, he'd been redrafted (due to never signing) by the Minnestoa North Stars (97th, in 1984) and joined them for the 85-86 season.
He spent most of his first year in North America in the minors, with Springfield, but did get a single start for Minnestoa in 85-86.
He played just 5 games for Springfield the following year, and got into 38 for the North Stars.
He played four season with Minnesota, as the primary backup for Don Beaupre, and later Jon Casey.
During the 1990-91 season, he was traded from Minnesota to Edmonton for Bruce Bell: The famous Takko-Bell trade!
Takko played eleven games for the Oilers that season, and returned to Assat the following year. He played six more seasons in Finland, joined Jonkoping in Sweden for three, and spent the last year of his career (99-00) back with Assat.
Pictured are two copies of Takko's 90-91 Upper Deck Rookie Card, one of them signed.
Shaun Van Allen
Shaun Van Allen was a star with Saskatoon in the WHL, and was drafted 105th in 1987 by the Edmonton Oilers.
Van Allen spent five seasons in the Oilers system, making his NHL debut in 1990-91 (two games played) and logged another 21 in 92-93.
Like 'VCR' line-mate Dan Currie, Van Allen's professional success was puzzling. Through 23 NHL games he had 1 goal and 5 assists, and couldn't stick with the Oilers. In Cape Breton he put up back-to-back 100+ point seasons, leading the AHL in scoring in 91-92, and lead the baby Oilers to an AHL Championship in 92-93.
He'd be released by the Oilers after the 92-93 season. My own suspicion is the Oilers didn't see a future for him, so they released him to find opportunity elsewhere. He'd take advantage of that chance, and signed with the expansion Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Funny thing happened after that. Van Allen never spent another day in the minors.
Van Allen would go on to play eleven more seasons in the NHL, bringing his career total to nearly 800 games. He was never a scoring star, but a very useful, versatile, forward.
As well as Anaheim, he played for Ottawa, Dallas, and Montreal. He'd retire after spending the 03-04 season with the Senators.
Pictured are Van Allen's 1991-92 Upper Deck rookie card, and his 1997 BAP Autograph.
Igor Vyazmikin
Igor Vyazmikin was the final player selected in the 1987 NHL draft, taken 252nd by the Edmonton Oilers.
He played for CSKA Moscow from 83-84 through 88-89, and then joined Khimik Voskresensk.
During the 90-91 season, he left Russia and came to North America. He played four games for the Edmonton Oilers (scoring a goal), and 33 with Cape Breton.
1991-92 saw him play 14 in the IHL (split between the Milwaukee Admirals & Phoenix Roadrunners).
He played semi-pro in Fargo, ND, in the 92-93 season, and then returned to Europe. He'd play in Denmark, Italy, and Finland, before returning to Russia for the 97-98 & 98-99 seasons, and then retiring.
Sadly, Vyazmikin passed away in 2009.
Pictured is a copy of Vyazmikin's only card, a Russian Issue from 1998-99, and a cut signature made for me by @dnjcards
1991-92
Josef Beranek
Taken in the 4th round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, Josef Beranek went on to play more than a decade in the NHL, and logged over 500 games.
He left Czechoslovakia for Edmonton in 1991, and played 58 games for the Oilers as a rookie.
The 92-93 season saw him play a handful with Cape Breton, and another 26 in Edmonton before he was traded. The Oilers packaged him up with Greg Hawgood, and sent him to Philadelphia for Brian Benning.
The 1993-94 season saw him score a career high 28 goals for the Flyers. The lock out of 1994 saw Beranek return home to play, before rejoining the Flyers for the 94-95 campaign. He was moved to Vancouver in February.
Berank played the 95-96 season with the Canucks, but was traded to Pittsburgh that summer. He only played 8 games with the Penguins, and then returned home.
He'd spend the 97-98 season playing in the Czech Republic, but the Penguins would then deal his rights back to the team that originally drafted him: The Edmonton Oilers, in exchange for Bobby Dollas & Tony Hrac.
The 1998-99 season saw Beranek match his career high in points, getting 49 for the Oilers. He played another 58 games for the Oilers in 99-00, but was traded at the deadline back to Pittsburgh, for German Titov.
Berank played one more season in the NHL, with the Penguins, in 2000-01. After that he moved back to the Czech Republic where he played another 9 seasons with Slavia Praha, before retiring.
Beranek was part of the Czech team that won Gold at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and represented his country (Czechoslovakia, and then Czech Republic) 9 times.
Pictured are Beranek's 1991-92 Upper Deck RC, his 98-99 BAP Autograph, and an 08-09 Czech OFS Jersey Card.
Vincent Damphousse
Vincent Damphousse starred for Laval while playing junior, and was then the 6th overall draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1986.
He'd turn pro for the 1986-87 season, and never spent a day in the minors. He was an effective player for the Leafs immediately, scoring 21 goals as a rookie. It was his 4th year in the league when things really took off for Vinny: He scored 33 goals, and put up 94 points.
His 5th season in Toronto included playing in the NHL All Star Game. He was named game MVP, and became the 4th players to score 4 goals in an All Star Game.
Following the 90-91 season, it turned out that he was the exact kind of player that a deal for a pair of Hall of Famers is bilt around. Damphousse (along with Peter Ing, Luke Richardson, Scott Thornton, and cash) was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson, and Craig Berbube.
The 1991-92 season saw Damphousse excel in Edmonton. He set a new career high was 38 goals, and he helped the Oilers reach the Campbell Conference finals for the third straight year.
He only stayed in Edmonton for a single season. The Oilers flipped him the following summer to Montreal, along with a draft pick, for a package of Shayne Corson, Brent Gilchrist, and Vladimir Vujtek.
While some players might wilt under the spotlight of playing in their hometown, particularly if that hometown is Montreal, Damphousse excelled. The 1992-93 season saw him set a new career best with 39 goals, and what would end up being his highest career point total, 97.
More importantly, Damphousse was the offensive star for a Habs team that went on to win the 1993 Stanley Cup.
93-94 saw Vincent score 40 for the first time in his career, as he continued to be a force in the NHL. He'd play part of the lockout shortned 94-95 season with the Ratingen Lions, in Germany.
Damphousse lead the Habs in scoring three times, and likely would have a 4th time in 1998-99, if he hadn't been traded to the San Jose Sharks at the deadline for a couple of draft picks.
The deal paid off for San Jose. Damphousse averaged over a point per game the rest of the season, and resigned with San Jose.
He'd play another five seasons in San Jose, before singing a one year deal with the Colorado Avalanche. The lockout of 2004 wiped out the season he was to play in Colorado, and he wound up retiring.
He's currently 10th in all time points by a Shark, 31st by a Maple Leaf, and 25th by a Canadian. His 1205 career points has him sitting 48th all time, and is the third highest scoring player to not yet have been selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame. Likely only a matter of time before he's voted in.
Damphousse was a 4 time NHL All Star, and played for Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Shown here are four cards of Damphousse: His 1987-88 OPC Rookie Card, his 1991-92 Topps Stadium Club, a 2000-01 BAP Autograph, and an 05-06 MVP Jersey Card (showing an Avs logo, a team he never actually played for!)
Louie DeBrusk
Hockey Night in Canada's (late game) colour man, had an NHL career that ran over 400 games.
DeBrusk was both a scorer & tough guy in junior, with the London Knights. That convinced the New York Rangers to select him 49th overall in 1989.
Louie joined the Rangers organization, and played two games in both the regular season & playoffs for the AHL's Binghamton Rangers in 1990-91. Those would be the only four games he'd ever play in Rangers' colours.
In October of 1991, DeBrusk would be part of a package, along with Steven Rice & Bernie Nicholls, that the Rangers would send to Edmonton, in exchange for Mark Messier.
He'd make his NHL debut in 1991-92, playing 25 games for the Oilers. He's score twice, assist on a goal, and rack up 124 PIMS.
His game count more than doubled the following season, when he played 51 for the Oilers. He'd score 8 times, and set a career high 205 PIMs.
DeBrusk remained an Oiler through the end of the 1996-97 seaoson. He'd leave as a free agent & sign with Tampa Bay, and has the 10th highest PIM total in team history, with 797.
He'd spend most of the next season as a member of the Lightning, and had a brief stint with in the minors, with the San Antonio Dragons.
The following summer, Tampa would trade him to Phoenix. He'd split the 98-99 season between the Coyotes, the Springfield Falcons (AHL), and both the Las Vegas Thunder & Long Beach Ice Dogs of the IHL.
The 1999-00 saw Louie back to being a fulltime NHLer, skating in 61 games for Phoenix. He'd play another 39 for them the following year, and then left as a free agent.
The final three seasons of DeBrusk's career saw him make stops with four AHL teams: Quebec Citadelles, Hamilton Bulldogs, Norfolk Admirals, and Hartford Wold Pack. He also played his final four NHL games in 2002-03, when he suited up four times for the Chicago Blackhawks.
In retirment, he's become a mainstay on hockey night in Canada. Typically he's doing colour for a Western Conference game on Saturday Nights, with plenty of others for Sportsnet through the rest of the week.
Pictured are DeBrusk's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, and an ITG Decades 1990s autograph.
Norm Foster
The Boston Bruins selected Norm Foster in the 11th round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Instead of turning pro, he'd opt to go to school, and played the next four seasons with Michigan State University.
He'd play the 1987-88 season with the Milwaukee Admirals in the IHL, and the next two with Boston's top affiliate, the AHL's Maine Mariners.
The 1990-91 season saw Boston with a logjam in net, with the likes of John Blue, Mike Parson, Chris Harvey, and Matt DelGuidice all vying for AHL starts, along with Foster. He was loaned to the Cape Breton Oilers, where he made 40 starts for the Oilers' AHL club. He also played twice for the Mariners that year, making the odd case of a player playing for two different teams in the same league, without being traded.
The 1990-91 season also saw Foster make his NHL debut. The Bruins called him up for three starts.
The Edmonton Oilers clearly liked what they saw from Foster, as they traded for him prior to the start of the 91-92 season. He'd play 29 games for Cape Breton that year, but also played 10 games for the Oilers, going 5-3-0, with a GAA under 3.
It wasn't enough to keep him on the roster, and 92-93 saw Foster back as a full time AHLer, but not starting nearly as often as Wayne Cowley or Andrew Verner.
He'd leave the Oilers after that season, and signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. He'd never actually crack the Flyers roster, but played another three seasons in the minors before retiring in 1995.
Picutred are Foster's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, and a signed copy of a minor league card, showing him with Maine.
Brian Glynn
The 37th overall pick of 1986 went to the Calgary Flames, and they selected West German-born Brian Glynn.
He'd join the Flames in 87-88, playing 67 games as a rookie. The next couple of seasons saw his role with the team drop, he played only 10 more games in Calgary, spening most of those year with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles.
1990-91 was set to start the same, he played 8 more games in the IHL, but instead he'd be traded to the Minnesota North Stars for Frank Musil. He'd log 66 games for Minny that year.
He start the next season again with the stars, but was swapped for David Shaw in January of 1992. He made his Oilers debut right after that, and played 25 games for them, plus 16 more in the post-season.
1992-93 was Glynn's last as an Oiler. he'd be traded to the Ottawa Senators just before the 93-94 season would start. After 48 games with the Sens he was waived, and claimed by the Cancouver Canucks, where he finished the season - and nearly won a Stanley Cup.
He was claimed on waivers again, just before the start of the shortened 1994-95 season, this time by the Hartford Whalers. He remained with the organization through the 96-97 season, but played only a single game for them before he was traded in October of 1996.
The Whalers sent Glynn, along with Bredan Shanahan, to the Detroit Red Wings with Keith Primeau, Paul Coffey, and a 1st round pick.
He never played for the Detoit, they assigned him to San Antonio of the IHL. He then went on to play a single season with the Cologne Sharks in Germany, before retiring in 1998.
Pictued are Glynn's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his 1992-93 Upper Deck.
Peter Ing
When the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted hometown kid Peter Ing with the 48th pick of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, it looked as they were selecting their goalie of the future.
He had put up solid numbers with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL, and again with the Leaf's farm club, the New Market Saints. He debut for the buds in 1989-90, playing three games in the NHL.
The 1990-91 season saw Ing as the #1 goalie for a weak Toronto team. He started 56 times.
You have to give up something to get something though, and Ing was one of four palyers (along with cash) the Leafs would send to Edmonton for future Hall of Famers Glenn Anderson & Grant Fuhr.
He'd play 12 games for the Oilers in 1991-92, serving as Bill Ranford's backup for part of the season, while also playing 24 for times in Cape Breton.
He'd be loaned out to the San Diego Gulls of the IHL of 1992-93, and the Oilers would eventually trade him to the Detroit Red Wings in the summer of the '93.
He made his last NHL appearances in 1993-94, playing four times for the Red Wings. He'd spend the rest of his career in the IHL, with Las Vegas, Fort Wayne, and Cincinnati. Ing would retired following the 95-96 season.
Pictued are two copies of Ing's 1990-91 OPC Premier Rookie Card, and a copy of his 1992-93 Topps Stadium Club.
David Maley
David Maley would be drafted by the Montreal Canadiens 33rd overall in 1982. He'd then play four seasons with the University of Wisconsin Badgers, under "Badger" Bob Johnson, winning the NCAA title in 1983.
The 85-86 NCAA season ended earlier enough, for Maley to make his NHL debut with the Habs, playing three games, another seven in the playoffs, and helped Montreal win the Stanley Cup.
He'd split the 86-87 season between Montreal, and their farm team in Sherbrooke. He'd be traded to New Jersey for a draft pick, at the 1987 NHL draft.
After a nine game stint with the Utica Devils, Maley was called back up and was a full time NHLer. He'd play the rest of the 87-88 season with New Jersey, and three & a half more.
January of 1992 saw the Devils trade Maley to the Edmonton Oilers for Troy Mallette. He'd play 23 games for Edmonton that season, and 10 more in the playoffs.
The Oilers sent him to San Jose part way through the 92-93 season, and he was flipped to the New York Islanders during the 93-94 season by the Sharks. 1994 would be the last NHL games he'd play.
Maley didn't play during the lockout shortned 94-95 season, but played for the IHL's San Francisco Spiders in 1995-96. He retired, but came back in 99-00 with the organization where he was a fan favourite, New Jersey.
He didn't crack the Devils' lineup in 99-00, but played 60 games for their AHL club in Albany.
In retirement, he went back San Jose. He's currently part of the broadcast crew for the San Jose Sharks, and owns a roller hockey facility in town.
Pictured are three cards of Maley: His 1990-91 Pro Set Rookie Card, a signed copy of his 90-91 Score, and his 92-93 Score.
Troy Mallette
The New York Rangers made Troy Mallette the 22nd pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He'd follow up that selection with his best season in junior, scoring 39 goals for the Soo Greyhounds.
He made his NHL debut in 1989-90, playing 79 games for the Rangers, with 13 goals, 29 points, and 305 PIMs. The tough guy would come back the following season with 12 goals, 22 points, and 252 PIMs in 71 games.
He'd sign with the Edmonton Oilers as a free Agent in 1991, joining them for the 91-92 season. He scored once, with 36 PIMs, in 15 games - before he was traded to New Jersey for David Maley.
Mallette played 51 games for the Devils over the next two seasons, before being traded to the Ottawa Senators. 1993-94 saw him skate in all 82 of the Senators' games.
He'd leave Ottawa after the 95-96 season, and signed with the Boston Bruins. He stayed in Boston for just a season, and then joined Tampa Bay. His three games with the Ligntning in 97-98 were his last. He'd retire after the season.
Pictured are Mallette's 1990-91 Topps Rookie Card, a 97-98 BAP Autograph, an ITG Enforcers jersey card, and an Oiler IGA.
Dave Manson
A physical defenceman with his hometown Prince Albert Raiders, Manson put up back-to-back seasons wtih 200+ PIMs before being drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1985.
He'd play five seasons in Chicago. He never had fewer than 146 PIMs (that was as a rookie). The 88-89 season saw him set what would be the high marks for his career: 18 goals, 54 points, 352 PIMs.
In October of 1991, Manson was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Steve Smith. He scored 15 times in each of the next two seasons, while terrorizing opposing teams, raking up 220 & 210 PIMs.
The 1993-94 season saw Edmonton en route to miss the playoffs, and Manson (along with a 6th round pick) was traded to the Winnipeg Jets at the deadline. In return, Edmonton got Mats Lindgren, Boris Mironov, and 1st & 4th round picks.
He played out the 93-94 season in Winnipeg, and spent two more there - before he moved with the team to Phoenix. 1996 saw him moved at the trade deadline again, this time to the Montreal Canadiens.
He'd play the entire 97-98 season in Montreal, but was moved back to Chicago mid-way through the 98-99 campaign, in a six man swap that saw the teams exchange starting goalies (Thibault & Hackett).
Chicago would eventaully deal him to Dallas, who he played just 26 games for. He'd then sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs for 00-01 season. His role was reduced in 01-02, and he was traded back to Dallas. He played 34 games for the stars that year, and retired in 2002.
Manson has since become a coach. From 2002 through 2018, he was an associate coach with his junior club, the Prince Albert Raiders. The 2018-19 season saw him join the staff of the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers' AHL affiliate.
Manson represented Canada once, when his country finished 4th at the 1993 World Championships. His 2,792 career PIMs currently ranks him 13th all time.
Manson's son, Josh, has been been a member of the Anaheim Ducks since 2014-15.
Scott Mellanby
Mellanby was selected 27th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. After being drafted, Mellanby went to the University of Wisconsin Badgers, where he played for two seasons. While there, he also competed for Canada, winning Silver at the 1986 World Junior Championships. He finished his collegiate career with 35 goals and 82 points in 72 games.
He'd join the Flyers following the end of the NCAA season in 1986, playing twice for them down the stretch. He made the team in 86-87, and never spent a day in the minors over the next 20 seasons.
He played fives seasons in Philly, before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He was part of a six player deal that saw Jari Kurri moved to Philladelphia, who then flipped him to Los Angeles.
He spent just two seasons in Edmonton, scoring a total of 45 times for the Oilers. He was left unprotected in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft, and was selected by the Florida Panthers.
The 1993-94 season saw Mellanby set a new career high with 30 goals. It was a number he'd break two seasons later when he scored 32. He was named Captain of the Panthers in 1998, a role he held until the Panthers traded him to St. Louis, at the 2001 NHL trade deadline.
Mellanby continued to be a solid NHLer with the Blues. He scored 26 times in 2002-03. He eventually left, signing with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005. He was captain in Atlanta for two seasons, before retiring in 2007.
Mellanby's 1431 career games played currently rank him 31st all-time, and that's the third highest number by a player to have never won a Stanley Cup. His 2,479 PIMs rank him 24th in league history.
On March 6, 2003, as a member of the St Louis Blues, Mellanby set an NHL record, with four powerplay goals in one game.
Mellanby is the son of former Hockey Night in Canada producer, Ralph Mellanby.
Pictured are Mellanby's 1987-88 OPC Rookie Card, a BAP autograph, a UD Game Jersey, and a 1991-92 Oilers IGA.
Bernie Nicholls
Nicholls was drafted 73rd overall, in 1980, by the Los Angeles Kings.
He split the 81-82 season between Los Angeles & their AHL affiliate, the New Haven Nighthawks. Nicholls' 55 games in the AHL that season would be his last in the minors.
He was known as a pest to play against, but also had the ability to score goals by the bucket! The 83-84 season saw him pop 41, a number he would improve on the following season, scoring 46, while having his first 100 point season.
85-86 saw him lead the team in scoring for the first time, but in 86-87 his production dipped a little, when he was relegated to 3rd line duties behind Marcel Dionne, and Jimmy Carson.
The summer of 1988 saw Jimmy Carson leave LA, as part of the Wayne Gretzky trade. This set Nicholls up as the 2nd line centre on the Kings. In 88-89 he set a career highs with 70 goals, and 150 points.
He was the 5th player, ever, to score at least 70 in a season. It's only been done 14 times. There have only been 16 seasons of 150+ points (9 by Gretzky, 4 by Lemieux, and 1 each by Yzerman & Esposito).
Durning the 1989-90 season, Nicholls was traded to the New York Rangers for Tony Granato & Tomas Sandstrom. He played well for the Rangers, but never matched his numbers with the Kings.
One game into the 1991-92 season, Nicholls was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He was the centrepiece of a deal that netted the blue-shirts Mark Messier.
The timing was awful for Nicholls. His wife was pregnant with twins, and on bed rest. He refused to report to Edmonton immediately, opting to stay home with his wife. A week after their twins were born, he'd join the Oilers.
Nicholls scored 20 times and averaged a point-per-game with the Oilers, getting 49-in-49, that season. He was back in the Blue & Orange the following season, but would be dealt in January to New Jersey for Zdeno Ciger & Kevin Todd.
The Devils made Nicholls adapt to a more defensive style, so his production did slow down. He left New Jersey after the 93-94 season and signed with Chicago. With the Blackhawks, he went back to his old form, and averaged over a point per game again.
The last three seasons of Nicholls' career were spent in San Jose. He signed with the Sharks for the 1996-97 season, where he played until retiring in 1999.
Nicholls retired with 1127 games played, 475 goals, 1209 points, and 1292 PIMs. He's the second highest scoring player of all time, to not be in the hall of fame (behind Pierre Turgeon)
Shown here are Nicholls' 1983-84 OPC Rookie Card, a Panini Classics autograph, a Crown Royal Silhouette, and a UD Game Jersey showing him as an Oiler.
Steven Rice
Steven Rice stared for his home town Kitchener Rangers, and was drafted 20th overall in 1989 by the New York Rangers.
Rice would Captain Team Canada to a gold medal at the 1991 World Junior Championships, and was considered one of the top prospects in hockey.
He played 11 games for the Blueshirts in 1990-91, scoring his first NHL goal, but he'd be an important piece in the Rangers' trade with Edmonton, bringing Mark Messier to broadway.
Rice played 94 games for the Oilers, over the next three seasons, scoring just 19 times. The Oilers would trade him to Hartford in the summer of 1994, for Bryan Marchment.
Rice put together a decent run of three seasons in Hartford. He'd score 11 times in the shortened 94-95 season, 10 times in 95-96, and set a career high with 21 (35 points) in 96-97.
He'd move with the Whalers to Carolina for the 97-98 season. He put up only 2 goals & 4 helpers in 47 games, and retired at the age of 27.
Rice did make a comeback in professional hockey five years later. In 2002-03 he joined the (Senior A) Cambridge Hornets, where he played for four seasons.
He'd join the Brantford Blast late in the 06-07 season, and came back for one last go in 07-08, helping the Blast win the Allan Cup.
Pictured are Rice's 90-91 Upper Deck Rookie Card, his '94 BAP Autograph, and a 94-95 Pinnacle Rink Collection
Luke Richardson
Luke Richardson was the 7th overall pick in the 1987 NHL draft, by the Toronto Maple Leafs, after the towering defenceman played two stellar seasons with the Peterborough Petes.
Richardson made the jump immediately to the NHL, and joined the Leafs for the 87-88 season, when he logged 78 games for them.
As a rookie, he was on the receiving end of Dino Ciccarelli's infamous attack. He was clubbed over the head by Dino's stick several time. Ciccarelli would be convicted of assault, spend a day in jail, and pay a fine. Richardson suffered no ill effects.
After four seasons in Toronto, where the fearsome blueliner had racked up 556 PIMs, Richardson was traded to the Edmonton Oilers as part of a seven player deal that landed the Leafs future hall of famers Grant Fuhr & Glenn Anderson.
Richardson's took his hardnose style to Edmonton, and spent the next six seasons there, as one of the steadier hands on the Oilers' blueline.
Richardson would move to Philly next, where he played five seasons, and then Columbus for most of three more. The Blue Jackets traded him to the place where his career started, sending him to Toronto for a draft pick at the 2006 NHL trade deadline.
Luke would spend the 06-07 season as a part time player with Tampa Bay, playing just 27 times for the Lightning. He was a free agent once again, and signed with his home town team, the Ottawa Senators.He played 76 games in 07-08 for the Sens, so they brought him back for 08-09. He played only twice before announcing his retirement in November.
He'd be hired later that season by the Senators as an Assistant coach, a role he held until 2012, when they named him the head coach of the Binghamton Senators. Since then he's been an assistant with the New York Islanders, and has been an assistant with the Montreal Canadiens since 2018.
Pictured are Richardson's 88-89 OPC Rookie Card, a 98-99 BAP Autograph, an ITG Tough Material Jersey Card, and an Oilers IGA.
Martin Rucinsky
Czechoslovakian native, Martni Rucinsky, was drafted 20th overall in 1991 by the Edmonton Oilers, after helping his country win bronze at the 1991 World Junior Championships. This was the 2nd pick the Oilers received in the Wayne Gretzky trade.
He made his NHL debut in 1991-92 with the Oilers, playing just a pair of games (and 35 for Cape Breton) before he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques for Ron Tugnutt & Brad Zavisha.
He'd play four more NHL contests that season, with Quebec, recording his first NHL goal & assist.
The 1992-93 season saw Rucinsky become a fulltime NHLer, and he never spent a day in the minors again.
He'd make the move with the Nordiques to Colorado in the 1995-96 season, but he'd be sent back to La Belle Province, in a blockbuster 5-player trade, in which Montreal sent Patrick Roy to the Avalanche.
He had his most productive years in Montrea, breaking the 20 goal mark four times, including a career high 28 in 96-97.
The Habs would trade Rucinsky to the Dallas Stars during the 01-02 season, and they'd deal him to the New York Rangers at the deadline.
Free Agency would see Martin sign with the St. Louis Blues for the 02-03 season, then the Rangers for 03-04. The Rangers would trade him at the deadline to the Vancouver Canucks.
After spending the 2004-05 season at home in the Czech Republic, Rucinsky came back to the NHL and signed on for his third tour of duty with the Rangers. He played one season for them, before signing with St. Louis.
His final two NHL seasons were with the Blues, and he left the NHL after the 2007-08 season.
In addition to 2004-05, Rucinsky spent parts of the 94-95, 95-96, and 02-03 seasons in the Czech Republic. It came as no surprise that he'd go back home to finsih his career. He left the NHL for good in 2008, but played in the Czech league under the end of the 14-15 season.
In addition to the bronze medal at the WJC, he represented Czechoslovakia at the 1991 Canada Cup, and the Czech Republic on 10 separate occasions. He won Gold at the 1998 Olympics, and at the '99, '01, and '05 World Championships. He also took home a pair of bronze medals, at the '04 World Championships & '06 Olympics.
Rucinsky was the last ex-Quebec Nordique to play in the NHL.
Pictured are Rucinsky's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, a 2002 BAP Autograph, and 2014-15 OFS Jersey Card.
David Shaw
David Shaw played for the OHL's Kitchener Rangers, and helped them win the Memorial Cup in 1982. His success in junior lead him to be picked 13th overall in 1982 by the Quebec Nordiques.
He made his NHL debut in 1982-93, playing in two games for Quebec. He played 17 additional games over the next two seasons, spending most of his time either in junior with the Rangers, or the Nords' AHL club, the Fredericton Express.
1985-86 saw Shaw join the Nordiques as a fulltime player. He'd spend the next two seasons with Quebec, but was traded to the New York Rangers just before the start of the 87-88 season.
He'd play four seasons with the Rangers, but just 10 games into the 91-92 season he was trade to the Edmonton Oilers, for Jeff Beukeboom.
Shaw played 12 games for the Oilers, scoring once, and was flipped again. This time he was dealt to Minnesota. He played the rest of the season with the North Stars, who would then trade him to Boston.
The 1992-93 season saw Shaw put up the best offensive numbers of his career. He scored 10 goals, and added 14 helpers, for the Bruins. He played three seasons with Boston, before they'd trade him to Tampa Bay.
Shaw played two & a part seasons with the Lightning. He'd then be dealt to the San Jose Sharks, in a deal that included a swap of first round picks, that would later result in Tampa getting Vincent Lecalvier.
He'd never skate for the Sharks, and was instead playing for the Las Vegas Thunder in the IHL. He'd retire after the 98-99 season in Vegas, but came back for one more in 2000-01, when he played for the Chicago Wolves.
Pictured are David's 85-86 OPC Rookie Card, a BAP Autograph, and an Oilers IGA.
Scott Thornton
In 1989, the Toronto Maple Leafs made Scott Thornton the 3rd overall pick, after a couple of great seasons in Belleville.
He'd spend another year in the OHL with the Bulls, but the 1990-91 season saw him split his season between Belleville, the Newmarket Saints of the AHL, and the Maple Leafs. He played his first 33 NHL games that year for Toronto.
1991 also saw Thornton play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, where he helped to win a gold medal.
The Leafs included Thornton in their 1991 blockbuster swap with the Edmonton Oilers, bringing the Buds Grant Fuhr & Glenn Anderson. Scott would spend most of the next two seasons with Cape Breton in the AHL, but did play 15 & 9 games for the Oilers those two years.
1993-94 saw Thornton spend most of the year in the NHL. His two games with Cape Breton would be his last in the minors.
The 94-95 season had Scott setting a new career high with 10 goals & 22 points. They were numbers he couldn't match the following season, despite having an extra 30 games.
In September of 1996, the Oilers would deal him to the Montreal Canadiens for Andrei Kovalenko. Scott played for the Habs until they dealt him to the Dallas Stars in 2000.
Free Agency hit, and Thornton would sign with the San Jose Sharks. An odd thing happened (at least something that isn't typical in the NHL). An 11 year pro, and over the age of 30, Thornton had (by far) his best offensive season to date. He scored 19 goals & 36 points with the Sharks.
How would Thornton follow up his career year? By besting it, of course. He'd score 26 in 01-02, to go along with 42 points.
Injuries shortened his 02-03 seasons, but he'd play two more in San Jose, plus he spend the 04-05 season playing in Sweden. 05-06 Would see Scott play on a Sharks team, with his cousin Joe.
He signed with the Los Angles Kings after that, where he played the final two seasons of his career. Thornton retired after the 2007-08 season.
In addition to the 1991 WJC, Scott also represented Canada at the 1999 World Championships.
Pictured are Thornton's 1990-91 Upper Deck Rookie Card, an ITG Enforcers Jersey & Auto Expo Redemption, and a 95-96 Pinnacle Rink Collection.
Ron Tugnutt
Ron Tugnutt won multiple rookie & goalie awards while starring with the Peterborough Petes, and was named an OHAL All Star in 1987. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques with the 81st pick in 1986.
He'd turn pro in 1987-88, and made his NHL debut with the Nords. He spent his first few seasons splitting time between the NHL & AHL, he was primarily a backup goalie.
The 1990-91 season saw Tugnutt take over the reigns as Quebec's #1 goalie. He started 56 games that year.
The 1991-92 season saw Tugnutt lose his starting gig to Stephan Fiset, and he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline. He spent the rest of that season & 1992-93 backing up Bill Ranford.
Tugnutt would be selected by the Anaheim Might Ducks in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft. He played 28 games for the Ducks in their first year, but was traded part way through the season to the Montreal Canadiens.
After a couple of seasons in Montreal, and spending the 95-96 season with Portland in the AHL, Tugnutt signed with the Ottawa Senators, where he was a #1 goalie again. He played 37, 42, and 43 games for Ottawa over the next three seasons.
1999-00 saw Tugnutt play 44 times for Ottawa, but he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the deadline, for Tom Barrasso. He'd play 7 times for the Pens, before leaving at the end of the season.
Next stop for Tugnutt was Columbus, where he set a career high with 53 games played in 2000-01.
After He was the #1 goalie in Columbus again for the 01-02 season, but was dealt to the Dallas Star on draft day in 2002. He was the cost for Columbus to trade a 2nd round pick for a 1st.
He played the next two seasons with Dallas, including a breif stint with their farm team, the AHL's Utah Grizzlies, in 2003-04. Tugnutt would retire after the 03-04 season.
Tugnutt is the modern-day record holder for most saves in a regular season game / non-loss. He stopped 70 of 73 shots on March 21, 1991, against the Boston Bruins, earning the Nordquies a 3-3 tie.
He was also part of two 4th place Canadian Squads at the World Championships, in 1993 & 1999.
Pictured are Tugnutt's 89-90 OPC Rookie Card, a 98-99 BAP Autograph, a 92-93 OPC, and a Pacific IInvincible jersey card from 2004.
1992-93
Brian Benning
Brian Benning was the 26th overall pick in 1984 by the St. Louis Blues, and he'd make his NHL debut for them inthe 84-85 season, playing in four games.
1985-86 saw Benning spend the season with the CAnadian National Team, playing 60 games for his country. He did join the Blues for the playoffs, getting into 6 games, for a Blues team that went to the Conference Finals.
Benning had a busy 86-87 season. He played another 20 games for the Canadian National team, but got into 78 for the Blues, plus an extra 6 in the playoffs. He set his NHL career highs for Games Play (78), Goals (13), and Points (49).
He'd play two more seasons with the Blues, but was dealt to the Los Angles Kings in November of 1989 for a draft pick.
He was a steady force on the Kings' blueline until February of 1992, when he was involved in a three way deal between the Kings, Flyers, and Penguins:
To Los Angles: Paul Coffey
To Philadelphia: LA's 1st Round Pick, Benning, Mark Recchi
To Pittsburgh: Jeff Chychrun, Kjell Samuelsson, Rick Tocchet, Ken Wregget
Benning only stayed in Philly for about 11 months. During the 92-93 season he'd be traded to Edmonton for Josef Beranek & Greg Hawgood. With the Oilers Benning played 18 games. He scored once, added 7 helpers, and 59 PIMs.
He'd sign with the expansion Florida Panthers, and played 73 games for them in their inaugural season. The shortened season of 94-95, still with Florida, would be Benning's last. He'd retire at the end of the season.
In addition to Benning's two stints with the Canadian National Team in the 80s, he also played for Canada at the 1993 World Championships.
Pictured are Benning's 87-88 OPC Rookie Card, his Chronology Autograph, and a Parkhurst Emerald.
Zdeno Ciger
Zdeno Ciger played four seasons in Czechoslovakia, with ASVS Dukla Trencin. He was drafted 54th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1988, and made the jump to North America for the 1990-91 season.
Ciger's first season in North America saw him score 8 times in 45 games for the Devils, and 5 times in 8 games for their AHL club in Utica.
He'd play with the Devils until part way through the 92-93 season, when he was packaged with Kevin Todd and sent to the Oilers for Bernie Nicholls.
The 1993-94 season was Ciger's breakout year. He played in all 84 games for the Oilers, scored 22 times, and had 57 points. His chance to follow that season up was hampered in 1994-95. Between the lockout, and an injury, he was limited to just 5 games.
1995-96 would be Ciger's best in the NHL. He scored 31 goals, and had 70 points. He never followed up on that though.
Homesick, Ciger went back to Slovakia. He'd spend the next five seasons there, playing for Slovan Bratislava. His NHL rights did exchange hands a couple of times while he was gone, he was first claimed on waivers by the Nahsville Predators in 1998, and then by the Minnesota Wild in 2000.
He'd come back to the NHL for the 01-02 season, but never regained the form he showed in the mid-90s with Edmonton. He played 29 games for the New York Rangers, and was then trade to Tampa Bay for Matthew Barnaby. He played 27 times with the Lightning, and ended the season with a dozen goals.
He'd head back to Slovakia after the season ended, returning to Bratislava, and playing four more seasons.
Zdeno represented Czechosolvakia six times, and then Slovakia nine times, after the Czech-Slovak split. He won three Bronze medals at the World Hockey Championships: In '89 & '90 with Czechoslovakia, and 2003 with Slovakia.
Pictured are Ciger's 1990-91 Upper Deck RC, and his 1994 BAP Autograph.
Shayne Corson
Shayne Corson was selected with the 8th overall pick in the 1984 NHL entry draft, by the Montreal Canadiens. He'd play the next two seasons in the OHL with the Hamilton Steelhawks, and joined the Habs for three games at the end of the 85-86 season.
1986-87 saw Corson in the NHL, and he never spent a day in the minors. He'd played another five seasons in Montreal after that, before a 1992 trade to the Edmonton Oilers. He was the key piece Montreal dealt for Vincent Damphousse.
Corson played three seasons in Edmonton, and was made team captain for the 94-95 season.
He would sign an offer sheet with the St. Louis Blues. The five year pact, worth 6.95 million (1.25 was a signing bonus) was too pricey for the Oilers to match (oh, how the economics of the NHL have changed in 25 years). The Oilers received the Blues' next two first round picks, but opted to deal those picks back to St. Louis for Curtis Joseph & Mike Greir.
Corson played the 95-96 season with the Blues, but after 11 games in 96-97 he was dealt back to where his career started: Montreal. He was part of five player deal that saw Pierre Turgeon head to St. Louis.
After the 96-97 season, Corson spent three more in Montreal, before leaving as a free agent in 2000 and singing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he played with his Brother-In-Law (and fellow ex-Hab) Darcy Tucker.
The 2003-04 season saw Corson sign with the Dallas Stars, where he played his final 17 games.
Corson represented Canada at the WJC ('85 Gold, '86 Silver), Canada Cup ('91 Gold), World Cup ('94 Silver), World Championships ('93 4th, '94 Gold), and the Olympics ('98 4th). He was a three time All Star (1990, 1994, 1998). His 2,357 career PIMs rank him 29th all-time.
Pictured here are Corson's 89-90 OPC Rookie Card, an IP signed UD SP Insert, and an ITG Forever Rivals Jersey card.
Todd Elik
Todd Elik was granted a walk-on to try out for the OHL's Kingston Canadians in 1983, and made the club. He's play in the OHL for three years before turning pro.
He wasn't drafted into the NHL, so signed with the IHL's Colorado Rangers. He scored 100 points his first season there, in 1987-88.
That earned him an opertuninty with the Los Angles Kings. He played for their farm team in New Haven in 88-89, and then split the season between the Nighthawks & the Kings in 89-90. His first NHL season saw him play 48 games, scoring 10 times with 33 points.
Elik spent one more season in LA. He played 74 games in 90-91, scored 21 times, and had 58 points. The Minnesota North Stars were looking to improve their offence, and traded a couple of prospects an a pick to the Kings for him.
He scored 14 times (46 points) in 91-92, and scored 13 more (31 points) for the North Stars in 46 games of the 92-93 season, and then they traded him to Edmonton for Brent Gilchrist.
With the Oilers, Elik scored just once in 14 games. He played four more contests with the Oilers in 93-94, without registering a point. The Oilers put him on waivers.
The San Jose Sharks would claim him, and Elik went on to have the best season of his career. He scored 25 goals, and 66 points, in 75 games for the Sharks.
The shortned 94-95 season would see San Jose deal him to the St. Louis Blues, Elike scored 9 times in the 35 games he split between the two clubs.
1995-96 would see him sign with the Boston Bruins. He split the next two seasons between Boston & their AHL club in Providence. He was done in North America after the 96-97 season.
Elik went on to play another 12 seasons in Europe, both in Switzerland & Austria. He'd retire at the end of the 2009-10 season.
He also represented Canada twice, playing for the National team in both 1986-87, and 1999-00
Shown here are Todd Elik's 1990-91 Score Rookie Card, his BAP Autograph, and a Parkhurst Emerald Ice.
John Garrett
John Garrett was the 38th overall pick by the St. Louis Blues in 1971. After a couple of seasons in the minors, he'd join the WHA's Minnesota Fighting Saints.
He played in the final six WHA seasons. Along with Minnesota, he also played for the Toronto Toros, Birmingham Bulls, and the New England Whalers. His 148 WHA wins were the most of any goalie in the League's history.
When the NHL & WHA merged, he was tagged as one of the three Priority selections for Hartford, so he remained a Whaler, instead of going back to the St. Louis Blues.
He played two full seasons as Hartford's #1 goalie, and was dealt mid-season in 81-82 to the Quebec Nordiques. He'd be traded again in 82-83 to the Vancouver Canucks. He played his last NHL games in 84-85, before a brief stint with the AHL's Fredericton Express in 85-86.
Garrett then retired. He took the job of assistant GM with the Vancouver Canucks for the rest of the 85-86 season, but joined the CBC as a colour commentator in 1986-87. He has been one of the faces of Canada's national broadcast of the NHL ever since.
So why would John Garrett be in this thread? On February 14th 1990, more than 5 years removed from his last professional game, Garrett was working the Oilers / Capitals game. Grant Fuhr was out due to an appendectomy. Starter Bill Ranford got hurt and was replaced by backup Pokey Reddick. Reddick had hurt himself, but was playing through it. The Oilers were scrambling to find another backup, and Garrett left the broadcast booth to join the team.
Pictured are Garrett's 1975-76 OPC Rookie Card, and ITG Decades 80s Autograph, and a BTP Patch card.
Brent Gilchrist
The 5'11" Brent Gilchrist was selected 79th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1985. He broke into the NHL with the Habs, playing 49 games in 88-89.
His breakout season game in 1991-92, where he scored 23 goals (50 points) for Montreal. He was then part of the package sent to Edmonton for Vincent Damphousse.
Gilchrist played 60 games for the Oilers in 92-93, before he was traded to Minnesota for Todd Elik. He'd move with his new club to Dallas, and played four seasons there, highlighted by a 20 goal campaign in 95-96.
The summer of 1997 saw Gilchrist sign with the Detroit Red Wings, it was a moved that paid off immediately. He helped the Red Wings win the 1998 Stanley Cup.
The personal cost of winning was high for Gilchrist. He played 15 playoff games that year, but was fighting through a serious sports hernia, and would need surgery in the off season. He was limited to 29 games over the next two seasons as a result.
The 00-01 season saw him healthy, and he skated in 60 games, but he wasn't the same player. The Red Wings would waive him during the 01-02 season, and he was claimed by the Dallas Stars.
Brent signed with the Nashville Predators for the 2002-03 season, which would be his last. He retired in 2003.
Pictued are Gilcrist's 1990-91 OPC Rookie Card, a BAP Autograph, and a 25th Anniversary Fleer Ultra buyback.
Mike Hudson
The Chicago Blackhawks used the 140th overall pick in 1986 to select Mike Hudson. He'd debut for the Hawks in 1988-89 season.
Mike spent the bulk of the next four and a half seasons in the windy city, playing as many as 76 games in 1991-92.
When Edmonton was dismantling what was left of their dynasty in the early 1990s, Craig Muni was sent to Chicago for Hudson on the March 22nd NHL trade deadline.
Mike played five games for the Oilers down the stretch, but left as a free agent when the season was over.
He's sign with the New York Rangers, and helped them win a Stanley Cup in 1993-94. The Rangers waived him the following season, and he was claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Pens used him for the rest of the season, but he'd leave as a free agent, and signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He ended up waived again, and played the second half of the season with the St. Louis Blues.
Hudson played his last NHL games in 1996-97, when he laced them up seven times for the Phoenix Coyotes. He'd head over to Germany for the 1997-98 season, where he played for three years. Hudson retired after the 98-99 season.
Pictured are Hudson's 1990-91 OPC Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his 92-93 OPC.
Igor Kravchuk
A standout junior in the Soviet Union with Salavat & Avangard, Igor Kravchuck played four and a half seasons with in the USSR's main league for CSKA Moscow, before 1991's 71st overall pick joined the team that drafted him, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Kravchuk scored in his first game with the Hawks, putting up 9 points in the 18 games he played in 1991-92. He was having a solid season for them in 1992-93 when he was packaged along with Dean McAmmond, and sent to the Edmonton Oilers for Joe Murphy.
He'd have the best season of his career the following year, scoring 12 goals (50 points) for the Oilers in 93-94. He was an important piece of the Oilers' blueline until he was traded to St. Louis during the 95-96 season.
He played about a season and a half with the Blues, then they dealt him to Ottawa in the summer of 1997. Ottawa wound up being the team that he'd play the most games with, logging 279 games with them over the next four seasons.
He was put on waivers during the 00-01 season, and was nabbed by the Flames. He play out that season & the next with Calgary, before signing with the Florida Panthers. His 7 games in the sunshine state during 2002-03 were his last before retirement.
Kravchuck represented his countries (Soviet Union, Unified Team, Russia) on 12 different occasions. He won a gold & bronze at the World Junior Championships, he won a bronze, silver, and two golds at the four Olympic Games he played at, he won both bronze & gold at the world championships, and silver at the Canada cup.
At the 1987 Canada Cup, two days after his 21st birthday, Kravchuck was the lone defenceman on the ice for a 3-on-1 against Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Larry Murphy. Lemieux would score what ended up being both the game & series winner, with a minute & a half to go in the 3rd.
Pictured are Kravchuck's 1991-92 Parkhurst RC, his 1994 BAP Autograph, and his 92-93 Parkhurst.
Bill McDougall
Bill McDougall had an interesting path to the NHL. He did not play major junior. He joined he Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 1986-87. In 61 games, he scored 83 times, added 104 assists, and 300 PIMs.
He wasn't drafted, and ended up playing two successful seasons of Senior hockey in Newfoundland, scoring 86 times over two seasons, where he played a total of 68 games.
His senior hockey success got him a pro offer in the USA. He joined the ECHL's Erie Panthers for the 1989-90 season.
He'd score 80 times (plus 68 helpers & 192 PIMS) in 57 games. Not bad for an undrafted kid. It was good enough that the Detroit Red Wings came calling, and offered McDougall a contract.
He played out the stretch with the Wings' farm club in Adirondack in 89-90. He scored 10 times (17 points) in 11 games. He'd come back the next season in the AHL, scoring 47 times, with 99 points, in the 71 games he played.
McDougall also made his NHL debut that season, picking up an assist, with two games play for the Red Wings.
1991-92 saw him start the season with Adirondack, but he'd be traded to the Oilers for Max Middendorf. McDougall played the rest of the season in Cape Breton, averaging more than a point-per-game.
The 1992-93 season is what Bill McDougall will forever be known for. He did make his Oilers debut, scoring twice (with an assist) in four games. He scored 42 times, for 88 points, in 71 games with the Cape Breton Oilers in the AHL. None of that was the record setting performance he'd put on.
The Cape Breton Oilers were a a 3rd place club, slightly above .500 They made the playoffs, but there was little expectation they'd go far. They were not favourites in their first round match-up against the Fredericton Canadiens.
Queue Bill McDougall, who was their 2nd leading scorer (behind Dan Currie) in the regular season. He'd go on a tear that look more like EA Sports numbers, than real numbers from the 2nd best hockey league in the world.
Bill would score 26 times, and add 26 helpers, in the 16 games it took the Cape Breton Oilers to win the Calder Cup. That's an AHL record that still holds today. His 3.25 ppg in a single playoff season is likely never to be broken.
The weird thing with McDougall is that his success in the minors never earned him much of a chance in the NHL. He left the Oilers' organization after his record setting AHL performance, and joined the Tampa Bay lightning. He played 22 games for the Lightning that season, scoring 3 times with 3 assists, and his NHL career was over.
McDougall moved to Europe for the 1994-95 season, and spent the next 8 seasons in Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. He'd come back to Canada and played three seasons of Senior Hockey, with the Dundas Real McCoys. He'd retire after the 2005-06 season.
Picutred are McDougall's 93-94 Parkhurst Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his 93-94 Parkhurst Emerald. He never had a real "Oilers Card" but he does have this 92-93 Classic, showing him with the Cape Breton Oilers.
I have to give a big shoutout to my friend @primetimepawich. McDougall was actually the last pre-McDavid Oiler I needed to complete my collection of signatures. You don't see this for sale or trade ever. I tried TTM on what I was told was a good address. Not luck. Looking to do something nice for me (we chat a lot, he knew who my missing signature was) Joe tracked down this card on a swiss auction site (I assume it was signed during his time playing there). After jumping through a bunch of hoops to get it, he passed it along to me. I'm extremely grateful for that. People like this make the hobby great!
Shjon Podein
The Minnesota native, Shjon Podein, was a high school hockey star and then joined the University of Minnesota Duluth. After his freshman year, he was drafted 166th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.
He played two more seasons in the NCAA, and went pro in 1990-91 season. He was assigned to Cape Breton, where he scored 14 goals as a rookie.
He improved on those totals the following season, scoring 30 for the baby Oilers. 1992-93 would be the year he made his NHL debut, scoring 13 goals in 40 games with the Oilers. He also helped Cape Breton win the Calder Cup in the AHL.
He only saw limited action the next season, playing just 28 games for the Oilers, and left as a free agent. He'd sign with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was an effective depth forward, playing solid defensive game, and hit double digit goals in each of the next three seasons.
Philly would eventually trade him to the Colorado Avalanche, where he played similar role. He spent the bulk of four seasons with the Avs, his best being 2000-01.
2000-01 was a banner year for Podein. He played in all 82 games, matched his career highs in goals (15) and points (32). He won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, given to a player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on & off the ice, and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community (for his founding of the Shjon Podein Childer's Foundation, which assists sick & underprivileged children). Podein also helped the Avs win the 2001 Stanley Cup.
He was traded to the St. Louis Blues part way through the 01-02 season. He was back in the Show-Me state the following year, but was out of the NHL after 2003. He went on to play a couple of years in Sweden, and then one in Japan, before retiring after the 2005-06 season.
He also represented the USA on three occasions, playing in the '93, '94, and '98 World Championships.
Pictured are Podein's 1993-04 Topps Stadium Club Rookie, and his 95-96 BAP Autograph.
Kevin Todd
Kevin Todd was the 129th pick in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, after his rookie season with Prince Albert in the WHL, when he scored 14 goals. He played two more seasons with the Raiders, and proved New Jersey made a smart choice. His goal total increased to 39 the next season, and then 49 (for 121 points) in 87-88.
He made his NHL debut in 88-89, playing once for New Jersey. He spent the rest of the season in with their farm team in Utica. He had another full season in the AHL in 89-90, and played just a single game with the parent club in 1990-91.
1991-92 saw Todd as a fully time NHLer. He was named part of the NHL's All-Rookie team, and broke Kirk Muller's Devils' rookie scoring record, when he popped 21 goals & 42 assists in 80 games.
The 1992-93 season saw Kevin play a couple more games with Utica, and 30 with New Jersey, before he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers as part of the Bernie Nicholls deal. He play 25 games for the Oilers that season, scoring 4 times.
He was then traded to the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the start of the 93-94 season, and was traded again at the deadline to the Los Angles Kings.
After a few lean years, he rebounded nicely in 1995-96 with LA. He scored 16 goals in 74 games. He'd leave as a free agent, but didn't leave the area. He'd sign with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, where he played for the next two seasons.
After the 1997-98 NHL season, Todd was done in North America, but he signed on to play a season in Switzerland before retiring in 1999.
Pictured are Todd's 91-92 Score Rookie Card, a 93-94 Topps Sadium Club Member's Only Parallel, and his 1996-97 BAP Autograph.
Andrew Verner
Andrew Verner was drafted 34th overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers. He was a star with the OHL's Peterborough Petes.
His first pro season came in 1992-93, when he was a member of the Calder Cup winning Cape Breton Oilers, and was called up briefly by Edmonton and dressed as a backup, but he never got into any game action.
Verner played in Cape Breton until the 1994-95 season, and then left for Europe.
He'd head to Europe after that, where he spent the next 15 seasons playing for a variety of teams in Austria, Sweden, Germany, and England. He retired after the 2009-10 season.
In 2012, Verner was named goalie coach of the Junior club where he got his start, Peterborough. He was named assistant coach in 2014, and has been an Associate coach with the Petes for the past two seasons.
He played for the Canadian National team in both 1994-95 & 1998-99, and was also part of Canada's Bronze Medal winning team at the 1995 World Championships.
Pictured here are a trio of Verner cards: His 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, his 1991 Star Pics (French) Autograph, and a signed copy of his UD Rookie, that I got when meeting him while he was playing for Team Canada in the 98-99 season.
Vladimir Vujtek
After playing three seasons for Vitkovice in Czechoslovakia, Vladimir Vujtek came to North America and joined the WHL's Tri-City Americans. He'd average over a point per game in 1990-91, and the Montreal Canadiens made him the 73rd overall pick at the 1991 draft.
1991-92 saw Vujtek dominate the WHL, scoring 41 goals (102 points) in 53 games. He'd make his NHL debut with Montreal late that season, playing twice. In the summer of 1992, he was included in the package the Habs sent to the Edmonton Oilers for Vinny Damphousse.
He'd split the next two seasons between the Oilers & their farm team in Cape Breton. He played 70 NHL games over that span, scoring five times.
The lockout shortened season saw Vujtek return home to what was now the Czech Republic, playing for Vitkovice again. When the lockout ended he returned to North America, but was sent to the minors.
Frustrated after the 94-95 season, Vujtek went back to Vitkovice for the 95-96 season. He'd play in Sweden in 1996-97, and then his NHL rights were traded by Edmonton to Tampa Bay. He came back to the HL, and played 30 games for the Lightning, but when he was demoted to the minors he decided that he'd rather go home and play for Vitkovice.
The 1999-00 saw Vujtek start his third stint in the NHL, this time after he signed with the Atlanta Thrashers. He played only three games for them, and returned to the Czech Republic, this time playing for Sparta Praha.
2002-03 would see him come back to North America for a fourth time. This time the Pittsburgh Penguins offered him a deal, so he made the move. He played only five times for the Pens, and returned to Europe. He split the rest of the season between Vitkovice and Severstal in Russia.
Vladimir played another four seasons in Europe, before retiring in 2007. He's since become a player agent.
He represented his country once, at the 1997 World Championships. He lead the tournament in scoring, and helped the Czech Republic win bronze.
Pictured are Vujtek's 1992-93 Upper Deck Rookie Card and his 1997 BAP Autograph.
Doug Weight
Doug Weight was an allstar with Lake Superior State in the NCAA, and was drafted by the New York Rangers with the 34th pick in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.
He made his NHL debut, playing a single playoff game, with the Rangers in 1991, and then split the 91-92 season between the Rangers, and their AHL club in Binghamton. His 9 games in the minors would be his only trip to the A for his entire career.
He played 53 games for New York in 1992-93, but was dealt at the trade deadline to the Edmonton Oilers for Esa Tikkanen. Arguably the best trade in team history, Weight would go to be (IMO) the greatest post-Dynasty / pre-McDavid Oiler.
He played 13 games for the Oilers down the stretch, scoring twice and adding eight helpers. The 1993-94 season saw him play in all 84 games, averaging nearly a point-per-game, with 74 total.
The 1994-95 lockout shortened season saw Weight get 40 points in 48 games, after spending the early part of the season wth the Rosenheim Star Bulls in Germany. 1995-96 saw him put up career high 104 points.
After breaking the 20 goal mark in two straight full seasons, Weight did it again in 96-97, and set a career high in 97-98 with 26 goals. The 1998-99 season saw his numbers drop, due to an injury that limited him to 43 games.
He played two more seasons in Edmonton, with 21 & 25 goals. His 90 Points in 2000-01 was the second highest of his career.
The Oilers, looking to cut costs, dealt Doug Weight in the summer of 2001. He was sent to St. Louis, for Marty Reasoner, Jochen Hecht, and Jan Horacek.
Weight continued to be a star with the Blues, where he played the next three seasons. 2004-05 brought another lockout, and he went back to Germany, to play for the Frankfurt Lions.
2005-06 saw Doug start the season in St. Louis, but he was traded to Carolina (along with Erkki Rajamaki) for three prospects, a 1st round pick, and a pair of 4th round picks.
He'd finish the year with the Hurricanes, and helped them defeat the Edmonton Oilers in the 2006 Stanley Cup finals. He played 23 Regular Season games for them, and 23 more in the playoffs. He hit free agency that summer, and returned to St. Louis.
He played with the Blues for the next season & a half, but St. Louis traded him again (along with a pick & a prospect) to Anaheim for Andy McDonald.
He played 38 games for the Ducks, and then signed with the New York Islanders as a free agent.
Weight played the final three seasons of his NHL career on Long Island, retiring after the 2010-11 season.
After retirement, he moved behind the bench, staying with the Islanders as an assistant coach. When Jack Capuano was fired mid-season in 2017, Weight was named interim coach, and lead the club to a 24-14-4 record. The interim tag was removed, and he was made head coach for the 2017-18 season, before being replaced by Barry Troz. Weight still works in the Islanders' organization.
At the end of his last NHL season, Doug won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his charity work. He was a four time NHL all star, and was inducted into the USA Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.
He represented the USA 9 times, including one World Junior Championship ('91), three World Championships ('93, '94, '05), two World Cups ('96 & '04), and three Olympic Games ('98, '02, '06). His medal haul at those tournaments included a World Cup Gold and an Olympic Silver.
Doug's 577 points as an Oiler currently rank him 7th in team history, though both Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl will be catching him soon. Likely Ryan Nugent-Hopkins too.
On January 2nd, 2009 he became the 73rd player in league history to record his 1000th career point, and he's currently the 77th highest scoring player in NHL history. He'd retire with 1,033 points.
Pictured are Weight's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, his 97-98 SP Authentic Sign of the Times, and an 02-02 UD Top Shelf Jersey Card.
Note: I actually have quite a few nicer Doug Weight GU cards, but I've never been able to pick up a really nice Oilers Patch. If you've got one that you'd like to move, drop me a line!
Brad Werenka
Brad Werenka was an allstar defenceman for the Northern Michigan Wildcats, where he was part of the 1991 NCAA Championship. He was drafted 42nd overall in 1987 by the Edmonton Oilers.
He made his pro debut in 1991-92, with the Cape Breton Oilers, and his NHL debut came in 1992-93 with Edmonton. He played 27 games, and scored 5 times.
1992-93 & 1993-94 also saw Brad spend time with the Canadian National team, including representing Canada at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics. He was named a tournament allstar, while Canada won Silver.
He played another 15 games for the Oilers in 1993-94, but was traded to Quebec for Steve Passmore at the 1994 NHL trade deadline. He's log 11 games with the Nordiques that year, and then left as a free agent.
He spend the next season with Milwaukee in the IHL, but joined the Chicago Blackhawks for the 95-96 season. He played just 9 NHL games, spending most of the season in the minors.
1997-98 saw Brad join the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he never went back to the minors. He play 71 times for the Pens that season, and followed that up with an 81 game campaign in 98-99.
He played 61 games for Pittsburgh the following season, but was traded at the deadline to Calgary, where he finished the season. He played one more year with the Flames, and retired after the 00-01 season.
Shown here are Werenka's 92-93 Parkhurst RC, and his '98 BAP Autograph.
Tyler Wright
Tyler Wright was a junior star with the Swift Current Broncos, and twice represented Canada at the World Junior Championships, including 1993 when he was an alternate Captain, and helped Canada win Gold.
The Edmonton Oilers made Wright the 12th overall pick in 1991. He had breif call ups from 92-93 through 95-96, but played only 31 games with Edmonton, during those combines 4 seasons, scoring 3 times.
He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 1996 draft, for a 7th round pick.
Wright played more games with Pittsburgh in 96-97 (45) than he had in his four seasons with the Oilers. He played in all 82 games for the Pens in 97-98, and 61 more in 98-99.
In 1999-00 he had his best season today. He scored 12 goals (bringing his career total to 20) in 50 games.
In June of 2000, he'd be taken in the Expansion draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He improved again on his Penguins numbers, and scored 16 times (and a career high 32 points) in his first season with the Jackets.
Wright remained an effective depth player for Columbus for the next three seasons, and had his career high in goals in 2002-03, scoring 19 times.
The NHL lockout of 04-05 saw him play in Switzerland, and then Tyler would return to Columbus for the 05-06 season. He didn't finish the year there, as he was traded to Anaheim as part of a package for Sergie Federov.
Wright's 25 games, 2 goals, and 2 helpers for the Ducks in 05-06 were his last in the NHL. He played the 06-07 season in Switerland, and then retired.
He took a job with Columbus after he retired, being named a development coach, where he worked with younger players. In 2013 he was named director of amateur scouting for the Detroit Red Wings. It was a job he held until 2019, when he left the Wings and followed GM Ken Holland to Edmonton, where he holds the same title.
In addition to the pair of World Junior Championships, Wright also represented Canada at the 2002 World Championships.
Pictured are Wright's 1991-92 Upper Deck Rookie Card, and his 97-98 BAP Autograph.
