Retired players not getting new cards......Steve Shields for example

[bombshelter1]

I for one have a bad taste in my mouth regarding the current card companies for a lot of reasons but today I'd like to pick one. The are a lot of brands that focus on current players which is great, but some over the past few years have brought back legends and not so popular players back into the hobby - I like this, but year after year the same players are being brought back. Of course Gretzky, Howe, Orr and Roy (and other legends) are popular and absolutely deserve spots in sets and the demand is certainly there but I would love to see a wider variety.

Lets take Between The Pipes for example - here is a brand that has a great mix of past, current and future (NHL or pro) goalies but the retired tenders list is getting stale. Every year it's Roy, Brodeur, Fuhr, Esposito, Tretiak, etc. All great players but lets mix in some more different players. Hey I love that Ranford gets in to sets every once in a while but what about Steve Shields - here's a guy that hasn't had 1 card made of him since leaving the NHL. I know for a fact that ITG has cut up his jerseys in the past - just check out my bucket to see that. How about even a base card. I know they mix up the list a little bit every year but it seems funny that Eldon Reddick gets in and Shields is left out. Tom Fenton? Really, I know that kid - I have his first Jr. B jersey - how does he get in.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is.........I want a new Steve Shields card please - I'm running out of cards of his to find.

[game8]

A player for me would be Mike Vernon, prior to this years BTP i believe it was 04-05 Since he had a significant amount of cards. I was suprised to see his goalie graph not listed as a SP. However since the product has came out i have not seen any in breaks and only one on Ebay.

Another ouple of players for me would be Jim Peplinski, Hakan Loob, Phil Housley, Joel Otto, and Kent Nilsson.

[flemingc04]

I've thought of this myself before as well. One retired goalie that I think doesn't get much hobby exposure is Mike Vernon. Plus guys like Kirk McLean and Mike Richter are featured a little bit now and then (including this year's BTP) but still on a much smaller level.

[RGM81]

Who is Steve Shields and why would people want his cards?

That's the question that card companies have to balance when making product of retired players. While there may be a small handful of people outside his immediate family that may want to get new cards of him, there's not a stampede of interest for a guy that had one season as a true number one goalie. I'm not trying to knock him but when looking to add value to a product he ranks on the list with Jocelyn Thibault or Jeff Hackett.

[Drewk86a]

As far as retired player selection, I think RMG81 nailed it. The companies are looking for fan favorites who will draw collectors to their sets. It does seem like Panini is trying to expand the selection a bit with their Tough Times insert set featuring pugilistic players.

Players without widespread name recognition are probably going to be left out. Unless you get an entire Retired Player Set like 07-08 Parkhurst or Fleer Throwbacks. Bad news for the Fedyk's, Sinasalo's and Dale Kushner's of the world.

My problem with retired players featured in new sets is simply a numbers problem. As much as I miss not seeing them on the ice, when Lindros and Lemieux retired it gave me hope of filling out my PCs. I thought that no new cards would be issued and I would be able to go back and work on filling in the holes in my PC. Lo and behold they are back as "Legends", "Regents", or "Immortals" and the Player card list continues to rise. I believe Lemiuex has had almost 1,000 cards issued after his retirement!

[comfortably9numb]

i understand where you are coming from...i want more Rob Ray cards...he was my idol growing up...i know ITG made a card for him in last years Ultimate (maybe two years ago) and i freaked out....but with shields i thought maybe he would turn up in a "goalie fight" insert to be honest...i always thought about that...have an insert similar to this...

http://galleries.huskytom.com/2001-0...0Rob%20Ray.jpg

i always thought it would be cool...and then you can bring back some classics like the snow/shields battle

[ralral33]

WHERE was you when itg was asking for your opinions on who they should add in this years between the pipes ,shoulda spoke up now you gonna have to wait till next year .

[bombshelter1]

Who is Steve Shields and why would people want his cards?

That's the question that card companies have to balance when making product of retired players. While there may be a small handful of people outside his immediate family that may want to get new cards of him, there's not a stampede of interest for a guy that had one season as a true number one goalie. I'm not trying to knock him but when looking to add value to a product he ranks on the list with Jocelyn Thibault or Jeff Hackett.

I responded to his in my first post - I know why certain players return year after year - but Eldon Reddick is in this year's set - how many years was he a #1 goalie in the NHL (I think none) and how many collectors are lining up at shops for his cards (I think very few)?

WHERE was you when itg was asking for your opinions on who they should add in this years between the pipes ,shoulda spoke up now you gonna have to wait till next year .

Not sure where I was, most likely at a rink somewhere - didn't know they asked - I'm not always glued to my computer like I should be I guess.

[RGM81]

I responded to his in my first post - I know why certain players return year after year - but Eldon Reddick is in this year's set - how many years was he a #1 goalie in the NHL (I think none) and how many collectors are lining up at shops for his cards (I think very few)?

Apparently just enough to get him into the set.

[BeeZeR]

Actually i think Reddick was one of the players that some collectors had reccomended to Dr. Price when he came on the different hockey boards asking for opinions on what players and subsets should be included in BTP this year.