All Time Oilers Collection Part 3: 1983-84 through 1986-87

**30ranfordfan** · 02-06-2019, 01:06 PM

Part 3 is here! A quick recap for any that have not seen my prior two threads.

I collect all-time Edmonton Oilers. If the player has played even a single game for the Oilers, I collect a Rookie Card, Autograph, Memoribilia, and "pictured as an Oiler" of him. For some players this means a single card, for others it means four. There's a few exceptions - because the card (IMO) is awesome enough that I add it to the collection, even if it falls outside this normal scope.

Some players never got NHL cards, so I have minor league or team issues instead. Many players never signed for a card company, so I have TTM / IP / Cut signatures instead. Lots of guys never had GU cards, or cards showing them as an Oiler, and that's okay.

Each "season" I show the players who made their Oilers debut. A player like Wayne Gretzky - who started with the Oilers in 79-80 - never gets included in future seasons.

If you'd like to see the first two threads:

Part 1, the 1979-80 team, is here
Part 2, the years 80-81 through 82-83, his here

.... and now onto Part 3!

1983-84

Rick Chartraw

The only NHLer (I'm aware of) to have been born in Venezuela, Rick Chartraw was actually the first American to be taken in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, having been selected 10th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1974.

He played a dozen games for the Habs in 1974-75 season, and would be part of the club that won four straight Stanley Cups from 1976 through 1979.

Chartraw was dealt to the Los Angles Kings mid-way through the 1980-81 Season, before being waived and claimed by the New York Rangers sure in the 1982-83 Season.

The Rangers would deal Chartraw to the Edmonton Oilers during the 83-84 season. He'd log 24 games for the Oilers that season, and one more in the playoffs - when Edmonton went on to win it's first Stanley Cup. It was the 5th such celebration in Chartraw's career, though his limited number of games for the club meant he wasn't included on the engraving.

Chartraw retired following the cup win in 1984, having logged 420 NHL games over a 10 year career.

Pictured are Chartraw's 1975-76 OPC Rookie Card, a signed copy of his 79-80 OPC, and an Oilers 10th Anniversary program insert.

Dean Clark

Dean Clark was drafted in the 8th round (167th overall) of the 1982 Entry Draft. He spent most of the 83-84 & 84-85 seasons playing junior hockey (with Kamloops, in the WHL) but was called up by the Oilers for a single game in 1983-84.

That would be his only professional hockey game, opting to attend Ferris State University instead of pursing a professional hockey career.

Clark would return to hockey in the 1990s, taking over as the head-coach of the Calgary Hitmen in 1996. He helped turn a bad club around, and lead the Hitmen to a division title that year, and was named both WHL & CHL coach of the year. He went on to coach the Hitmen to their first WHL Championship in 1998-99.

After four seasons with Calgary, Clark would move on to coach the Brandon Wheat Kings, Kamloops Blazers, and Prince George Cougars. He still holds the Hitmen record for most games coach, and most wins as a coach. He has over 300 career coaching victories, and is one of the 10 most winning playoff coaches in WHL history.

Pictured are Clark's Oilers 10th Anniversary card, and an autographed (team issue) 00-01 Calgary Hitmen.

Pat Conacher

Pat Conacher was drafted 76th overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers, and had a 16 year career that saw him log 521 NHL games with six different teams.

He played only 22 games for the Rangers, before signing as a free agent with Edmonton prior to the 1983-84 season. He split the season between the NHL & AHL, playing in 45 games during the regular season, and another 3 in the playoffs, helping the Oilers win their first of five Stanley Cups.

He time in Edmonton was over though. Conacher spent the next season in the minors, before leaving the Oilers organization to join the Devils 1985-86. He's spend the next 6 seasons with New Jersey, but was back and forth between the Devils, and their AHL club.

Just prior to the star of the 1992-93 season, the Devils traded Conacher to the LA Kings. That's when a curious thing happened. Having been a pro since the 79-80 season, Conacher never played more than 55 NHL games in a given season. With the Kings: He become an NHL regular for the first time at the age of 33. He'd miss just 10 games over the next two seasons, and played in all 48 games in 1994-95.

Conacher's last NHL season would see him traded from the Kings to the Calgary Flames, and then from the Flames to the New York Islanders - making him the first player in league history to complete the "Hudson River Triple", having played for all three NY area teams (Rangers, Islanders, Devils).

He'd go on to work as an assistant coach with the Coyotes, a head coach in the AHL and WHL, and is now the GM of Vancouver's AHL affiliate in Utica.

Pictured are Conacher's 1990-91 Pro Set RC (got his Rookie Card more than a decade after his NHL debut!), his 1994-95 Upper Deck Be-A-Player autograph, and his 1984-85 Nova Scotia Oilers team issue.

Tom Gorence

Drafted into two leagues in 1977 (35th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL, 13th overall by the Calgary Cowboys in the WHA) Tom Gorence signed with the Flyers and made his NHL debut in the 1978-79 season.

Gorence would play for the Flyers from 78-79 through the 82-83 season, spending a bit of the 82-83 season in the minors. He'd sign as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers in November of 1983.Gorence played a dozen games for the Oilers in 83-84, but spent most of the season with Moncton in the AHL. He signed with the Devils for the 85-86 season, but retired after playing just one game with Hershey in the AHL.

Pictured are Gorence's 1979-80 OPC Rookie CArd, and a signed copy of this 81-82 OPC.

Steve Graves

A junior star with the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Steve Gaves was drafted 41st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 1982. He made his NHL debut in 1983-84, playing in a pair of games for the Oilers.

Gaves would remain in the Oilers organization for another four seasons, but despite being a junior scoring star that was lightning quick, Gaves was never able to quite make it as an NHL regular. He'd play 12 games for the Oilers in 86-87, and another 21 in 87-88, but his NHL totals would end with 5 goals & 9 points, in 35 games played.

Graves would continue with hockey after that, playing overseas in both Finland & Switzerland. He'd also join the Canadian National Team in 88-89, 89-90, and 91-92 (playing a total of 90 games for Canada!). He'd retire following the 1992-93 season.

Pictured are his 1990-91 IHL card (only "major" minor league card ever produced), his 1985-86 Nova Scotia Oilers, and a cut signature created for me by @DnJcards.

Kari Jalonen

Kari Jalonen was a star in his native Finland, before signing with the Calgary Flames for the 1982-83 season. He played in 25 NHL games that season, splitting time with the Flames CHL farm team.

After 9 more games in Calgary in 1983-84, he was released. The Oilers signed him the next day. He played just three games for Edmonton before being released again. That was the end of his time in North America.

Jalonen would go back to Finland that season, where he continued his career. He's spend 8 of the next 9 seasons in the Finish Elite league, and the other in Sweden. He retired from playing following the 1995-96 season, after playing two seasons for Rouen in France.

Jalonen was the SM-liiga Rookie of the year in 1979, and a first-team allstar in both 1987 & 1989. He helped the Fins earn a Silver medal at the 1980 World Junior Championships. He played for Finland at 6 different World Championships, and one Canada Cup.

After retiring as a player, he made the jump to coaching, first in the Finsih league where his teams won championships in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2011 (while being named coach of the year twice). He then went to the KHL, where he coached Nizhny Novgorod & then Prague. He joined Bern in the Swiss Elite league for the 2016-17 season, where he coached them to a championship in his first season behind the bench (still coaching there today). He's also been the head coach of the Finnish national team, guiding them to a silver medal at the 2016 World Championships.

Pictured are an autographed Sereal KHL card (of him as a coach) from 2012-13, as well as his 1970-71 Finnish Jaakiekko. He would have been just 10 when that sticker was made. I don't know much about the details of this set, but I'd be really interested in reading team somewhere.

Jim Playfair

A tough-as-nails defenceman with the WHL's Portland Winter Hawks, the Edmonton Oilers drafted Jim Playfair in the 1st round, 20th overall, in the 19982 NHL Entry Draft.

Playfair would sign on with the Oilers and played in a pair of games during the 1983-84 season (a call up for Junior) but spent the next three seasons playing for their farm team in Nova Scotia.

He'd move on to the Chicago Blackhawks next, and played in 19 games over the next two seasons, spending most of his time with the Saginaw Hawks of the IHL. He'd play another three seasons in the IHL, with the Indianapolis Ice (Chicago moved affiliates). Playfair retired as a player following the 1991-92 season.

He would then make the jump quickly into coaching. First as a head coach with Dayton in the ECHL 1993, and then Saint John (AHL) in 1996. He coached the baby Flames to a Calder Cup championship in 2001. He'd join the Flames NHL staff midway through the 2002-03 season, and was named head coach in Calgary for the 2006-07 season. Despite a record of 43-9-10 (and a first round playoff exit) Playfair was let go after only one season, and replaced by Mike Keenan.

He'd do a second stint in the AHL, coaching (again) with the Flames affiliate (now in Abbortsford) for two season. Playfair would join the Arizona Coyotes as an associate coach in 2011, until a mutual parting of ways in 2017.

Pictured are a trio of cards: Playfair's 1989-90 ProCards IHL (first "major" minor league card), his 84-85 Nova Scotia Oilers, and a cut signature made for me by @DnJcards (you can tell it was taken from a signed copy of his Oilers 10th anniversary card).

Reg Kerr

Kerr was drafted in the third round, 41st overall in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft by the Cleveland Barons, but only managed to play seven games for the Barons before he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks for Randy Holt.

Kerr spent five seasons with the Black Hawks and scored a career-high 30 goals and 30 assists during the 1980-81 season. He left in 1982 and spent a season in the American Hockey League for the Springfield Indians before signing with the Edmonton Oilers, but he was assigned back to the AHL with the Moncton Alpines and played just three games for the Oilers. Kerr departed at the end of the season and retired.

In total, Kerr played 263 NHL games, scoring 66 goals and 94 assists for 160 points. He's now the vice president of the Blackhawks Alumni Association.

Pictured are his 1979-80 OPC Rookie CArd, a signed copy of his 1982-83 OPC, and his Oilers 10th Anniversary card.

Kevin McClelland

Drafted by the Harford Whalers in the 4th round, 71st overall, in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, Kevin McClelland would never actually play a game for the Whale. He was traded to Pittsburgh during the summer of 1981, and made his NHL debut with the Penguins, playing 10 games in the 81-82 season.

After 72 games (in two and a half years) with Pittsburgh - McClelland was traded to the Edmonton Oilers midway through the 82-84 season. He'd be a regular in the Oilers lineup immediately, adding toughness to their lineup. He would win four Stanley Cups with the club, and racked up over 200 PIMs in four straight seasons.

The Oilers traded McClelland to the Detroit Red Wings soon after the start of the 1989-90 season, packaging him with Jimmy Carson & a draft pick, to get Adam Graves, Petr Klima, Joe Murphy, and Jeff Sharples.

McClelland played out the 89-90 season in Detroit, and split the 90-91 season with the Red Wings and their AHL club in Adirondack. The four seasons would see McClelland go back-and-forth between the NHL & AHL, playing stints with both the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets. He'd retired following the 1994-95 season, having amassed 1672 PIMs, in 588 games played.

After his playing career wrapped up, McClelland got into coaching. He's spend most of the last two decades coaching in the WHL, CHL, and ECHL.

Pictured are his 1983-84 OPC Rookie Card, and his ITG Enforcers autograph.

Gord Sherven

Gord Sherven was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the tenth round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft.

He played three seasons of collegiate hockey for the University of North Dakota from 1981–84, including the championship team of the 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Tournament. He also played for the Canada at the 1983 World Junior Championships (bronze medal) and again four months later at the 1983 World Championships (another bronze), joining James Patrick & Pat Flatley in doing so that year. They were the first three players to ever play for Canada at the WJC & WC in the same season, a feat that's been done only twice since (by Trevor Kidd in 1992, and Jonathan Toews in 2007).

He made his NHL debut in 1983-84, playing two games with the Oilers, scoring once. He'd play in 37 more contests with the club in 84-85, but was traded (with Terry Martin) to the Minnesota North Stars for Mark Napier. He'd be traded back to Edmonton the following season, and played five more games for the Oilers.

A 1986 waiver claim moved Sherven to the Hartford Whalers, where he'd play 8 games over the next two seasons. He spent the bulk of the 86-87 & 87-88 seasons playing for the Canadian National team. He headed to Germany for the 1988-89 season, where started an 11 year career in Europe (mostly in Germany, but did spend a season in Switzerland). He retied following the 1999-00 season.

Sherven never had an official NHL card. Pictured here are his 1985-86 Oilers Red Rooster, and a cut signature made for me by @DnJcards. I would like to add his "European Rookie Card" at some point, from the 1994-95 DEL set.

Raimo Summanen

Sammanen was drafted in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, 125th overall. He was a star in Finalnd from 1979 through 1983-84, when he came across the ocean and joined the Edmonton Oilers for the 1983-84 season.

He played in 2 games that season, plus another 5 in the playoffs. The 1984-85 season would see him spend most of his time in the AHL, but did play another 9 games for the Oilers. He was a regular in the NHL for the 1985-86 season, scoring 19 goals in 73 games, He started out as a regular in the 1986-87 season, but was traded to Vancouver (for Moe Lemay) part way through.

After splitting time between Vancouver and the minor leagues for another season and a half, Raimo Summanen returned back to Finaland, where he starred for various teams until he retired following the 1994-95 season. He won the league scoring title in 1989 and 1990.

In addition to playing for club teams, Summanen represented Finland at a World Junior Championship (Bronze, 1982), World Championships in '83, '87, '90, '91, '95 (won Gold). He played in two Olympic games (1984, 1992) and two Canada Cups (1987, 1991).

Like many other retired players, Summanen has gone on to coach both club teams (in Switzerland, Finland, and the KHL). He's also coached the Finnish national team. He's got a good record of success (first place finishes, championship appearances) but his abrasive style has lead to him leaving jobs rather quickly. He coached the Finish national team to a 2nd palce finsih at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, but wasn't asked to come back.

In 2010, he took over as coach of Avangard Omsk in the KHL. He lead the team to an 18 game winning streak at one point during the season, but was let go just before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals (with Omsk would then lose). The club cited health issues, but stories leaked of major conflicts with players. One report suggested he challenged Avangard star Jaromir Jagr to a fight.

Pictured are Summanen's 96-97 Semic Wien, an 84-85 Nova Scotia Oilers, and a cut signature made for me by @DnJcards. I would like to replace the 96-97 Wien card with 1992-93 Finnish Semic card (which I believe is his first "major" European card).

1984-85

Marco Baron

Drafted in the 5th round of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, Marco Baron made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins (played 1 game) in the 1979-80 season.

Baron would log another 63 games for the Bruins over the next two seasons, including 44 (tops on the team) in 1981-82. He had several stints in the minors over that stretch too.

He'd sign with the Los Angles Kings for the 1983-84 season, playing 21 games for them, along with more time in the minors. A move to Edmonton got him one more NHL game in the 1984-84 season, his last professionally in North America. He joined HC Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland, and play in the Swiss Elite league until retiring after the 1993-94 season.

Pictured are his 1983-84 Moncton Alpines team issued card, and a cut signature made for me by @DnJcards.

Billy Carroll

How many players have won four Stanley Cups by the age of 26? I don't know the answer, but I would expect not many. There's at least one: Billy Carroll.

Carroll was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 2nd round, 38th overall, in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. He'd been a star with the London Knights in the OHL, but played a couple of years with Indianapolis in the CHL before joining the Isles in 1980-81.

Carroll only played 18 regular season games for the Islanders in 80-81, but he played 18 more in the playoffs, getting his name onto the Stanley Cup for the first time. He was a regular in the Isles lineup for each of the next two seasons, winning cups 2 & 3.

The 1983-84 season saw his status dip to part time he played only 39 RS games, and just 5 in the playoffs). Carroll would be put on waivers at the start of the 1984 season, and was claimed by Edmonton.

After 65 regular season games, and 9 in the playoffs, Carroll helped Edmonton win it's second straight Stanley Cup. It was the 4 Cup win for Carroll, and his 5th straight finals appearance.

Carroll was traded to the Detroit Red Wings early in the 85-86 season. He played out the season there, and again in 86-87, before retiring.

The next generation of Carroll's family tree shows several professional athletes: His son Matthew plays lacross for the Toronto Rock, and his youngest son (Marcus) spent five years with Owen Sound in the OHL, and then a couple of seasons with Utah in the the ECHL. More well known would be his nephew, Boone Jenner, currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Pictured are Carroll's 1983-84 OPC Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his Oilers Red Rooster card.

From my wantlist: 2000-01 Upper Deck Vintage Dynasty: A Piece of History #GC. It's a dual memoribilia card, featuring Carroll & Butch Goring.

Mike Krushelnyski

Drafted in the 6th round of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, Mike Krushelnyski would go on to have his named engraved on the Stanley Cup four times, be part of one of the most famous trades in Hockey History, and be the 40 goal scorer you probably don't remember.

After some time in the Minors, Krushelnyski played 17 games of the Boston Bruins in 1981-82, and was a regular in their lineup for the 82-83 & 83-84 seasons (scoring 23 and 25 goals). The summer of 1984 saw him traded to the Edmonton Oilers, for Kenny Linesman.

If joining the defending Stanley Cup champs wasn't exciting enough, "Krusher" was then asked to take on the enviable task of playing wing, along side Wayne Gretzky. He'd respond with a 43 goal season, as the Oilers won their 2nd straight championship.

The next three seasons would see Mike score 16, 16, and 20 goals, while he won two more Stanley Cups. August of 1988 saw him traded away from Edmonton, as part of a package headed to the Los Angles Kings - including Wayne Gretzky.

15 games into Mike's third season with the Kings, he was traded back north of the boarder, to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He'd play the remainder of the 90-91 season there, and three more, before signing with the Detroit Red Wings for the 94-95 season.

Krushelnyski didn't play anymore NHL hockey after that, but did spend the 95-96 season playing for the Oilers' AHL affiliate in Cape Breton, and had a brief stop playing for Milan (Italy) in 96-97. He'd retire from playing after that.

Since retiring as a player, Krushelnyski has gone on to coach. He earned his fourth Stanley Cup ring as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, and has had head coaching jobs in the Central Hockey League, as well as both KHL & DEL jobs in Europe.

He's been an NHL Alumni Ambassador since 2010, and (along with former Olympian Marcy Hinzmann) was the first to be eliminated on the 4th season of CBC's Battle of the Blades.

Pictured are Krushelnyski's 1983-84 OPC Rookie Card, an 05-06 SP Game Used Heritage Classic jersey card, and an 06-07 Parkhurst Autograph.

Terry Martin

Drafted 44th overall in 1975 by the Buffalo Sabres (and 86th overall by the New Negland Whalers), Terry Martin sign with the NHL's Sabres right away, spent most the 1975-76 season in Hersehy, but did play a single game for Buffalo that year.

Martin would log 62, 21, and 64 games with Buffalo over the next three seasons - before being left exposed to the NHL's Expansion draft, following the WHA merger in 1979 and wound up as the 11th selection of the Quebec Nordiques.

After playing just three games for the Nordiques in 1979, Martin was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto is where he'd put up his best NHL numbers: Scoring 83 goals in 1979-80, and the four seasons that followed it, including 25 in 81-82.

The Maple Leafs would waive Martin in October of 1984, and he was claimed by the Edmonton Oilers. He'd play just four games for the Oilers that year (and another 28 in the minors, in Nova Scotia) before being traded to the Minnesota North Stars.

Terry would play another 7 NHL contests during the 84-85 season for Minnesota, and then spent two more seasons in the AHL before retiring from hockey. He would later spend six seasons working as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans in the AHL.

Pictured are Martin's 1977-78 OPC Rookie Card, a Maple Leafs Marks autograph, and his Nova Scotia Oilers card from 84-85.

Larry Melnyk

Larry Melnyk was drafted 78th overall by the Boston Bruins in 1979, and made his NHL debut with the club duirn the 1980-81 season, when he played in 26 games.

Melnyk would play another 49 games for the Bruins over the next two seasons, but he far more time in the minors. He was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in March of 1984 for John Blum - but but spent the rest of the regular season in the AHL.

He'd get called up and play six games for the Oilers during the 1984 playoffs - and while he was given a Stanley Cup ring, his name was not engraved on the trophy. The 1984-85 season would be different. After 28 regular season games, and 12 more in the playoffs, Melnyk helped the Oilers win their 2nd straight cup - and his name went on it!

Larry would only play 6 more games in Edmonton, before being traded to the New York Rangers during the 1985-86 season; a deal that saw Mike Rogers come to Edmonton. He never played another game in the AHL.

Melnyk played in 73 games in the 86-87 season, and was then traded to Vancouver during 87-88. Melnyk retired after the 89-90, briefly coming out of retirement for the 1994-95 season, to play with the Las Vegas Aces in the PSHL.

Pictured are Melnyk's 1986-97 Topps Rookie Card, and a signed copy of his Nova Scotia Oilers card from 84-85.

Mark Napier

A Toronto native, Mark Napier's path to professional hockey could have only taken place (the way it did) in the 1970s. After winning the Memorial Cup with his hometown Toronto Marlboros, at 18 he just signed a professional contract with his professional hometown team: The WHA's Toronto Toros.

Napier was the WHA's Rookie of the Year in 1975-76. He set that league on fire for the three years he spent in it: Scoring 43 (with the Toros), and then 60 and 33 (with the Burmingham Bulls).

Napier was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens 10th overall in 1977, and joined them for the 1978-79. After goal totals of 11 & 16 in his first two NHL season, Napier really found his touch again, scoring 35 in 80-81, and 40 in each of the two years after that.

After scoring 3 goals in 5 games to start the season for the Habs in 1983-84, Napier was traded to Minnesota (along with Keith Acton and a draft pick) for Bobby Smith. He never put up anywhere near his Montreal numbers while being a North Star.

Napier was traded again the following season, this time he was dealt to Edmonton in January of 1985. He scored 9 goals for the Oilers that year, and 24 more in 85-86. With just 8 goals in 62 during the 86-87 season, Napier was dealt to the Buffalo Sabres in March of '87.

Napier finished that year in Buffalo, and then spent two more with the Sabres, before wrapping up his career with three seasons in Italy. He retired with 1,004 regular season games between the NHL & WHA, scoring 371 times.

He was a two time Stanley Cup winner: First with Montreal in 1979, and then with Edmonton in 1985. He also won a bronze medal with Canada at the 1982 World Championships.

Pictured are Napier's 1975-96 OPC WHA Rookie Card, and his ITG Franchises Autograph.

Daryl Reaugh

After starring for the Kamloops in the WHL, Daryl Reaugh was drafted in the 2nd round, 42nd overall, by the Edmonton Oilers in 1984.

One of five goalies to start for the Oilers in the 1984-85 season, Reaugh got his first taste of NHL action on March 3rd 1985, allowing 5 goals en route to a Winnipeg Jets 6-3 win over the Oilers (Jets scored an empty netter too).

He spent the next couple of years in the minors, but Reaugh would get another shot with the Oilers during the 87-88 season. With Andy Moog holding out (unhappy about his lack of playing time, along side Grant Fuhr) Reaugh started the season as the Oilers primary backup. He'd get the win in an Oilers 7-6 victory over the Rangers, on November 1st 1987. That was one of 6 games he played in that season, with a split record of 1-1.

Reaugh eventually found his way back to the minors, and actually left the Oilers organization to play for Karpat in Finland, during the 88-89 season. He'd head back to North America the following season, but this time with the Hartford Whalers. He wouldn't see any more NHL action until the 1990-91 season, when he played in 20 games, going 7-7-1.

The 90-91 season was Reaugh's last in the NHL. He'd spend three more years in the minors, before retiring after the 93-94 season.

Reaugh had also been working in the broadcast industry, doing a weekly series called Rinkside (with fellow goalie Jim Ralph), for the AHL - as early as 1991. After retiring as a player, the move to the broadcast booth a was natural fit. He did colour for the Hartford Whalers in the 95-96 season, and then joined the broadcast crew of the Dallas Stars for the 1996-97 season.

Daryl has been doing Stars games every since, both in the analyst role & play-by-play. He's also voiced the commentary in a few EA Sports iterations (NHL 98 & 99), and worked on Hockey Night in Canada.

Pictured are Reaugh's 1990-91 Upper Deck Rookie Card, and his Panini Voice of the Game autograph.

Steve Smith

If you go back to the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, you'll see Steve Smith's name twice. It's actually two different guys. The Flyers took a junior star from Sault St. Marie 16th overall. He'd go on to play 18 NHL games in a 4 year span. The Oilers took this Steve Smith 111th overall, and he go on to play 804 NHL games over a 17 year stretch. I think the Oilers got better value.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, but raised in London Ontario, Smith made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984-85, playing a pair of games. He played 4 more AHL games in 1985-86, but spent the bulk of the season with the powerhouse Oilers, logging 55 games.

The 1986 playoffs ended with a disaster for the Oilers, and for Smith personally. With about 15 minutes to go in Game 7 of the Smythe division final, Smith made a pass from behind the Oilers net. The pass would go off Grant Fuhr's skate and in the Oilers net. That goal held up as the winner, the Flames took Game 7, and the series. The Flames would go on to lose to Montreal in the Stanley Cup finals, and the Oilers bid for a third straight Cup would end prematurely. That this would all happen on Smith's 23rd birthday makes it that much of a crazier story.

Smith would shake off that terrible mistake though, and become an important part of Edmonton's defence corps over the next five seasons, where he helped the team win three more Stanley Cups.

Smith was traded to Chicago in October of 1991, as part of the Oilers rebuild after the 1990 Cup victory. He'd play six seasons in Chicago, before an injury forced him into retirement.

He immediately joined the staff Brian Sutter, and was an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames in 1997-98. After a season behind the bench, his injury healed and he came out of retirement to play for the Flames for three seasons.

Following his second (and final) retirement, he worked as a scout with the Blackhawks, before joining the Oilers as an assistant coach from 2010 to 2014. He worked as an assistant with Carolina from 2014 through 2018, and is now an assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres.

In addition to his NHL career, Smith also represented Canada at the 1991 Canada Cup. He is just one of 53 players (ever) to have been born in the UK, and play in the NHL.

Pictured are Smith's 1988-89 OPC Rookie Card, and his ITG Decades 90s Autograph.

Mike Zanier

Mike Zanier was undrafted after a five year junior career, but signed with the Edmonton Oilers.

His first chance to wear an NHL jersey actually happened during the 1984 Stanley Cup finals, when an injury to Grant Fuhr meant Zanier would backup Andy Moog for games 4 & 5. His name didn't go on the Cup, but he did receive a ring.

He played his first and only three NHL games the following season, going 1-1-1 for the Oilers. He was out of the Oilers system after that, and played two seasons with the Indianapolis Checkers of the IHL, before moving to Italy where he had a long career, spanning the 87-88 season through 96-97 (with a season of the Dallas Freeze, of the CHL, during 92-93)

The last two stops in his career would be with the Hannover Turtles in Germany (97-98) and in the UK with the Nottingham Panther in 98-99. Born in Canada, Zanier became an Italian citizen while playing there, and represented Italy in the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Following his retirement, Baron became a broadcaster in Europe.

Pictured are Zanier's 1983-84 Moncton Alpines, and a custom card he was kind enough to sign for me TTM.

1985-86

Jeff Brubaker

Drafted in the 6th round of the 1978 NHL draft by the Boston Bruins, Jeff Brubaker would instead sign with the New England Whalers of the WHA - where he was a teammate of Gordie Howe's in the 1978-79 season.

Brubaker would make his NHL debut the following season, playing three games for the Whalers after the WHA merger. He'd play 45 more in Hartford in 80-81, but was then waived and claimed by the Montreal Canadiens.

After only three games in Montreal, Brubaker would be waived again - and claimed twice in the same day. First by the Quebec Nordiques, and then the Calgary Flames. He still spent most that season in the minors, playing just four games in Calgary.

The summer of 1984 would see Brubaker sign with the Edmonton Oilers, only to be waived at the start of the season, and claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He'd spend the entire season in the NHL, playing 68 games for the Blue & White.

After starting the 85-86 season by playing in 21 games for the Leafs, he was put on waivers and claimed by the Edmonton Oilers. Brubaker would score a goal in his four games in Edmonton, but spend a good deal of time in the minors that year.

The Oilers would eventually traqde Brubaker to the Philadelphia Flyers, who then flipped him to the New York Rangers. He would play 31 games for the Rangers in 87-88, before signing with the Red Wings for 88-89.

The 1988-89 season would be his last, playing most the season for Adirondack (AHL) but did suit up for a single game with Detroit.

Brubaker would make the jump into coaching right away, and won the ECHL Championship has headcoach of the Greensboro Monarchs in his first season behind the bench (89-90). Since leaving Greensboro after the 94-95 season, he's held various minor league head-coaching jobs in the ECHL, IHL, RHI, and SPHL.

Pictured are Brubaker's only minor league card (an 88-89 ProCards AHL/IHL), as well as a signed business card, from when he was the headcoach & GM of the San Antonio Dragons of the IHL (either 96-97 or 97-98).

Dean Hopkins

A scoring star with teh London Knights in the OHL, Dean Hopkins was drafted 29th overall by the LA Kings in 1979, and would crack their lineup immediatly, playing in 60 NHL games in the 1979-80 season.

Hopkins would spend the bulk of four seasons with the Kings, but did spend some of the 82-83 season in the minors. He continued in the AHL for the next two seasons, before getting traded to the Edmonton Oilers.

Hopkins played a single game for the Oilers in 85-86, but was amoung the team leaders in goals for the Oilers AHL affliate in Nova Scotia. After two more seasons with the Oilers' AHL team, Hopkins would sign with the Quebec Nordiques.

Dean would lace them up five more times in the NHL with Quebec during the 88-89 season. He spend the bulk of the year in Halifax (AHL), along with 89-90.

He retired after playing only three games in 90-91 - but was named an assistant coach with Halifax as soon as he stopped playing for them.

Pictured are two copies of Hopkin's first "major" minor league card: 88-89 ProCards AHL/IHL. One is signed. There's also a copy of his 84-85 NS Oilers Team Issue.

Risto Jalo

Risto Jalo was drafted in the 7th round of the 1981 Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. Instead of migrating to North America right away, he stayed home in Finland, starring for Ilves Tampere.

Jalo would finally try his hand in North America, joining the Edmonton Oilers in the 1985-86 season. Jalo would play just three games (where he had three assists) before returning to Finland.

He'd continue to star with Ilves Tampere until the 92-93 season, when he spent a year playing in Italy. He came back for one more season in Ilves, before spending the final four seasons of his career with HPK Hameenlinna.

Jalo won a Finnish League championship in 1985, when he was named playoff MVP. He represented Finalnd in 106 games internatoinally, including four world championships and one Olympics, and multiple medals at the World Junior Championships.

He was inducted into the Finish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

Pictured are a cut signature card, made for me by @DnJcards, and Jalo's 1994-95 Finnish SISU base card.

I have a trio of wants: I would like to find his 1980-91 Finnish Mallasjuoma, and then both his 1993-94 Finnish SISU base & autograph.

Craig MacTavish

Craig MacTavish was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 9th round of the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft, and made his NHL debut with Boston, playing 46 games in 1979-80.

MacTavish would spend his first few years as a pro, bouncing between the NHL & the minors, but by the 82-83 season, he was a full time NHLer, and would never play another minor league game.

Off ice issues lead to MacTavish missing the entire 1984-85 season, and then leaving Boston as a free agent, and signing in Edmonton. MacTavish would play the next eight & a half seasons in Edmonton, winning three Stanley Cups and serving as team Captain from 1992 until his trade in 1994.

From October 12th 1986 through January 2nd 1993, MacTavish did not miss a game. The 518 straight (regular season) games he played is the 21st longest streak in NHL history, and still an Oilers club record.

The Oilers would deal MacT to the New York Rangers (for Todd Marchant) where he won his fourth Stanley Cup, along side six others that won the 1990 Cup in Edmonton.MacTavish would sign with the Philadelphia Flyers the following off season, and was dealt to the St. Louis Blues during the 95-96 season. The 1996-97 campaign would be his last in the league.

An All-Star in 1996, MacTavish was widely known for being amoung the best at faceoffs ever. He was also the last player in the league to play without a helmet. The NHL grandfathered the mandatory helmet rule in, allowing players who had signed a contract prior to June of 1979 to continue to play without one. MacTavish fit that rule and was allowed to play with out. Ironically, he actually played with a helmet at the time of the rule's adoption. He wore a helmet in each of his five seasons with Boston. It wasn't until he joined the Oilers in 85-86 that he stopped.

MacTavish retired having broke the 1,000 Games Played mark (1,093), 701 of them were with the Oilers (8th all time on the team). He sits 16th in all time playoff points by an Oiler as well.

Once done as a player, MacTavish immediately got into coaching, joining the New York Rangers as an assistant. After two years he left the Rangers to join the staff of long time friend Kevin Lowe in Edmonton for the 99-00 season.

Lowe was promoted to GM following one season behind the bench, and MacTavish was named head coach for the 2000-01 season.MacT would coach the team to a 301-252-47-56 record over the next 9 seasons, and was behind the bench for a heartbreaking Stanley Cup final Game 7 loss in 2006.

MacTavish was fired as coach of the Oilers, and was replaced by Pat Quinn. He did a stint as a commentator with TSN for the 09-10 season, and joined the Chicago Wolves (AHL) as their head coach for the 11-12 season. After one year in the minors, it was announced that MacTavish would rejoin the Oilers as Senior VP of Hockey Operations for the 2012-13 season.

MacTavish's time as VP of Hockey Ops only lasted a year, when he was named the club's new General Manager. He held the title of GM for two seasons, before being replaced by current Oilers' GM Peter Chiarelli. Since then, MacT has gone back to his former role as a Vice President of Hockey Operations.

Pictured are MacTavish's 1986-87 OPC Rookie Card, and his 2008-09 UD Masterpieces Autograph.

Marty McSorley

A versitle player, McSorley played both Left Wing & Defense in the NHL. He was an undrafted Free Agent, and would sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1982

He made his NHL debut with the Pens in 1983-84. He'd spend the next season (mostly) in the minors, and the Penguins traded him to the Edmonton Oilers prior to the 85-86 season.

McSorley spent the next three seasons in Edmonton, where he was known as Wayne Gretzky's bodygaurd. He won Cups with the Oilers in '87 & '88.

Marty was part of one of the most (in)famous trades in hockey history. He was part of the package of players the Oilers sent to Los Angles on August 9th, of 1988. He join the Kings along with Mike Krushelnyski & Wayne Greztky.

He remained one of the NHL's most feared heavyweights, while playing for the Kings. He spent the next five seasons there, but was traded during the summer of the 1993, to Pittsburgh. His second stint with the Penguins only lasted 47 games. The Kings (Gretzky) wanted him back. He was traded back to LA mid-way through the 93-94 season.

Marty was dealt away from the Kings again, at the trade deadline in 1996. With the Kings out of the playoff race, and the Rangers trying to get back to the Stanley Cup - McSorley, Shane Churla, and Jari Kurri were sent packing to New York.

Prior to the 1996-97 the Rangers dealt McSorley to the San Jose Sharks. After two seasons in San Jose, McSorley rejoined the Edmonton Oilers for the 1998-99 season.After a season with the Bruins in 1999-00, the ended via suspension for a stick-swinging incident, McSorley spent some time in the minor leagues before retiring. He'd coach in the AHL for a couple of years with Springfield.

McSorley now makes a living as a broadcaster with sportsnet. In addition to hockey commentary, McSorley has had cameos in films like Bad Boys, Forget Paris, Con Air, and Do Me A Favor. He's had guest roles on TV shows like CSI: Miami, Greek, and Pros vs Joes.

He has the 4th highest career PIM total with 3,381 (behind only Tie Domi, Dale Hunter, and Tiger Williams). He's one of just 9 men to have racked up more than 3,000 Penalty Minutes.

Picutred are McSorley's 1987-88 OPC Rookie Card, an SP Authentic Sign of the Times, and a Panini Prime "Prime Colors Logo" - clearly from a jersey worn during the 98-99 season with Edmonton (and, IMO, one of the nicest looking patch cards I own)

Mike Moller

Mike Moller was a 2nd round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 1980. He spent the majority of the next two seasons as a Junior in Lethbridge, but he did get a brief callup both seasons - playing in 5 and then 9 games.

The 1982-83 season saw Moller become a fulltime pro. He split the next two seasons between the Sabres and their AHL affiliate in Rochester.

October of 1985 saw Moller involved in a 3-way trade. The Sabres got Pat Hughes, the Pittsburgh Penguins got Randy Cunneyworth & the Edmonton Oilers got Moller.

Moller would spend the next three seasons in Edmonton's system, but played only 7 games with the big club, scoring twice. After a season with the Canadian National Team in 1988-89, Moller player one more year of pro with the Binghamton Whalers in 89-90, before retiring.

His jersey from the 1981-82 World Junior Tournament hangs in the International Hockey Hall of Fame. He scored the winning goal for Canada in the goal medal game against Czechoslovakia.

Pictured are Moller's 1989-90 ProCards AHL card (his first, and only, major minor league card) as well as a custom signed card I picked up on eBay many years ago.

Selmar Odelein

Selmar Odelein was a 1st round pick of the Oilers in 1984. Hw was a star for four seasons with the Regina Pats, but unlike his younger brother Lyle - wasn't able to turn that into much success at the NHL level. A serious knee injury (and surgery) made it hard for him to maintain the level he'd be used to playing at.

Odelein played 18 games for the Oilers over 4 seasons, recording a couple of assists. After spending the 89-90 season with the Canadian National Team, he played four more years in Europe before retiring.

Pictured are two copies of Odelein's 1988-89 ProCards AHL card (his only "major" minor league card). Selmar was kind enough to sign a copy for me TTM.

Mike Rogers

Mike Rogers was drafted by both the Vancouver Canucks (NHL and Edmonton Oilers (WHA) in 1974. A Calgary native, he'd opt to stick in his home province and join the Oilers in the WHA.

After two seasons with the Oilers, Rogers would sign to play with Gordie Howe & the New England Whalers, where he spent the final four WHA seasons. When the Whalers merged into the NHL for the 1979-80 season, Rogers stuck around, and spent his first two NHL seasons in Hartford.

On the eve of the 1981-82 season, Rogers was dealt to the New York Rangers. He'd spend four seasons in the big apple, before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers mid way through the 1985-86 season. He played 8 games with the Oilers in 85-86, ending his NHL career where his WHA career began.

Rogers would play one more year as a pro, spending the 1986-87 season with HC Ambri-Piotta, before retiring.

Rogers is one of very few players who got to be teammates of both Wayne Gretzky & Gordie Howe. He's also one of only four players to score over 100 points in each of his first three NHL seasons (Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Peter Stastny being the others).

Pictured are Rogers' 75-76 OPC WHA Rookie Card, and an 06-07 Parkhurst Captains Autograph.

Ken Solheim

Ken Solheim was the 30th overall pick in the 1980 NHL Entry draft, by the Chicago Blackhawks. He broke into the NHL that year with Chicago, but played only 5 games with them before being traded to Minnesota.

Solheim would play 5 games with the North Stars in 80-81, but spent most the season in the minors. He'd be up & down between the minors & the NHL - until a trade in March of 1983 sent him to the Detroit Red Wings.

He finished the year in the Motor City, but the 83-84 season saw him back in the minors. As a free agent, he rejoined Minnesota for the 84-85 season, having his longest stint in the NHL (played 55 games that year).

He'd join the Edmonton Oilers for the 85-86 season, scoring a single goal in his 6 games with the big club - while playing in over 70 games for the Nova Scotia Oilers of the AHL.

Solheim would retire following the 85-86 season.

Pictured are Solheim's 1983-84 OPC Rookie Card, and a cut signature card made for me by @DnJcards

Esa Tikkanen

Esa Tikkanen was drafted 80th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 1983, and came across the pond for three playoff games in the 1985-85 season, winning his first Stanley Cup. He made his regular season debut in 1985-86.

Tikkanen was known as a pest on the ice, driving his opponents crazy, with both his chippy play, and his mix of English & Finnish (known around the league as "Tikkanese" or "Tiki-Talk"). When asked about Tikkanen, Wayne Gretzky once commented: "He brings something special. I don't know what it is, but if you ask him, you couldn't understand his answer."

In 9 seasons with the Oilers, Tikkanen won four Stanley Cups. He was nominated for the Selke Trophy several times, and was runner up on three occasions. He never won one.

He's currently the 10th in career points as an Oiler, and 8th in goals. In all-time Oilers playoff scoring, he's 6th in points & 5th in goals. He was the team's regular season point leader in 1990-91.

The rebuilding Oilers traded Tikkanen to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline in 1993, for eventual team Captain Doug Weight. Tikkanen would go on to help the Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1994. It was the first of a whooping six trades for Tikkanen, between 1993 and 1998.

After the Stanley Cup win in New York, Tikkanen's career took him to St. Louis, New Jersey, Vancouver, a brief stop with the Rangers again, Florida, Washington, and then a third stint with the Rangers.

Esa played his last NHL games in 1998-99, but joined Jokerit in Finland for a season, and then Essen in German for a season, before retiring in 2001. Tikkanen came out of retirement to play a season as a player-coach in Korea for the 2004-05 season.

Tikkanen also represented Finland in 82 games, including two Canada Cups, five World Championships, and the 1998 Winter Olympics. He won a Silver medal with Finland at the 1984 World Junior Championships, and Bronze at both the '98 winter games, and 2000 World Championships.

Breaking the standard mold of "fewest cards possible" I've got four cards in my PC for Tikkanen. His 87-88 Topps RC, an ITG Franchises Autograph, and an ITG International Ice Jersey Card. I love that photo on the 90-91 Upper Deck card, and when I had a chance to get the 25th Anniversary buyback, I jumped on it.

1986-87

Darren Beals

Darren Beals split his OHL career between the Ottawa 67s, and the Kitchener Rangers. The Edmonton Oilers signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1986, and returned him to junior after the preseason.

On January 17th, 1987, Grant Fuhr was injured in a game vs the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Oilers were set to play the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday the 18th, and it became clear Fuhr would be unable to dress.

Darren Beals was recalled from the Kitchener Rangers on an emergency basis, and backed up Andy Moog against the Buffalo Sabres that day. He was returned to junior following the Oilers' OT loss.

Beals would play his fourth year in junior the following season, and then spent two in the minors after that, before retiring from hockey.

You won't find him on any "all time rosters", as he never actually stepped onto the ice in an NHL game, but for that one day in January of 1987: Darren Beals became a part of Edmonton Oilers history. As far as I can tell, he's the first instance of the Oilers using an "emergency backup".

Pictured is his only "major" minor league card: 1988-89 ProCards, showing him as a member of the Cape Breton Oilers. I very much covet a signed copy of this card!

Jeff Beukeboom

Jeff Beukeboom was drafted in the 1st round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, after a season where he was regarded as a standout hard-hitting defenceman with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Beukeboom would play two more seasons in junior, before turning pro in the 1985-86 season. He spent the entire regular season with Nova Scotia in the AHL, but played a playoff game for Edmonton in the spring of '86.

His hard-nosed style would earn him a spot with the Oilers next season, and he would go on to win three Stanley Cups with the club in '87, '88, and '90.

October 4th, 1991, saw the Oilers trade Mark Messier & future considerations to the New York Rangers for a package of three players. Less than six weeks later those "futures" were called in, and the Oilers sent Beukeboom to the Rangers, in exchange for David Shaw.

He'd spend the next 8 seasons in New York, spending much of that time on the Rangers' top blueline pairing with Brian Leetch. He serverd as an alternate captain, and was part of the Rangers' Stanley Cup win in 1994.

A minor collision with Martin Gelinas in February of 1999 would result in Beukeboom suffering from post-concussion syndrome, forcing him to miss the rest of the season, and then retire. He retired with 1,890 PIMs in 804 NHL games played, and is 2nd all-time in PIMs by a Ranger.

After retiring he got into coaching. He's made stops in both the AHL & Junior hockey as both a head coach & assistant. He's been an assistant coach with the New York Rangers since 2016.

Beukeboom has strong family ties at various levels of junior & professional hockey. His son Brock was drafted in the 3rd round in 2010. He's the cousin of HOFer Joe Nieuwendyk.

Pictured are Beukeboom's 1990-91 OPC Rookie Card, and his 1994 BAP Autograph.

Danny Gare

How talented Danny Gare was, is something most fans outside of Buffalo probably don't realize.

After a season that saw him Gare named a First Team All-Star with the Calgary Centennisals in the WCJHL, he was drafted by the both the Jets (WHA) and the Sabres (NHL). The 29th overall selection from 1974 opted to sign with Buffalo.

As a rookie in 1974-75 he scored 31 goals, 62 points, and in finished third in Calder Voting. He put up another 7 goals and 13 points in the playoffs, helping the Sabres reach the Stanley Cup final.

The term "Sophomore Slump" wouldn't be used to describe Gare's 75-76 campaign: He was able to follow up that rookie season with his first 50 goal campaign. He was named a Second Team All-Star in 19080, and played in the NHL All-Star games in '80 & 81. His 56 goals in 1979-80 was tied for the league lead.

Gare would be traded from Buffalo to the Detroit Red Wings midway though the 81-82 season. After four and a half years in Detroit, he left and signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers. He played only 18 games in 86-87, his final one in the NHL.

A representative of Canada at the Canada Cup in both 1976 and 1981, Gare was inducted into the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, and had his #18 retired by the Sabres in 2005. He still hold team records for most goals by a right winger (267), most game-tying goals (21), and fastest goal to start a career (18 seconds).

Pictured are Gare's 1975-76 OPC Rookie Card, an ITG Ultimate Memorabilia Patch & Auto (I cracked it from the slab), and his 1986-97 OPC. Shows him as a Red Wing, but has the "now with Oilers"

Stu Kulak

Stu Kulak was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks 115th overall, in 1981. He made his NHL debut in 1982-83, playing four games with Vancouver, but spent the next three seasons in the minors.

He'd crack the Canucks' lineup to open the 86-87 season, but when Vancouver tried to send him down to the minors - he'd be claimed on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers. Kulak played 23 games for the Oilers, scoring 3 times, but he'd be traded to the New York Rangers (to complete an earlier deal).

Kulak was claimed on waivers again, this time by the Quebec Nordqiues. He'd play 14 games with the Nords, before a trade sent him to Winnipeg. He plays 18 games for the Jets in 1988-89, his last in the NHL. He continued in the minors, retiring after a season with the Austin Ice Bats (WPHL) in 1999-00.

Pictured are Kulak's 88-89 ProCards AHL (first "major minor league" card), his 86-87 Oilers Red Rooster, and a cut signature made for me by @DnJcards.

Normand Lacombe

An All Star with the University of New Hampshire, The Buffalo Sabres made Normand Lacombe the 10th overall pick in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut during the 1984-85 season, playing 30 games that year for the Sabres.

After two seasons back & forth between Buffalo & Rochester, Lacombe was part of a multi-player deal that saw him & Wayne Van Dorp land in Edmonton. Lacome played just a single game for the Oilers in 86-87, spending more time in the minors.

He'd crack the Oilers' lineup to start the 87-88 season, and while he was not an "every day" player - he was a "most days" player. From the fall of 1987 on, he never played another game in the minors.

Lacombe would score 8 goals in 53 games with the Oilers in 87-88, and added another 3 in 19 playoff games - helping the Oilers win their fourth Stanley Cup. He had his best NHL season in 88-89, scoring 17 times in 64 games.

He'd be dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers in January of 1990, finished the season in Philly, and played at final NHL season in 90-91, logging 74 games with the Flyers. He'd spend the 91-92 season with the Canadian National Team, before retiring.

Pictured are Lacomb's 90-91 Pro Set RC, a signed copy of his 90-91 Score Rookie & Traded, and an 89-90 Panini Sticker.

Moe Lemay

After staring for two seasons with the Ottawa 67's in the OHL, Moe Lemay was drafted in 1981 by the Vancouver Canucks.

He'd make his NHL debut in 1981-82, but spent most of the season in Ottawa again, while also helping Canada win Gold at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

The next two seasons would see Lemay split time between Vancouver and Fredericton in the AHL. He became a fulltime NHLer for the 1984-85 season.

The Canucks would trade him to the Edmonton Oilers for Raimo Summanen, at the 1987 NHL trade deadline. He'd play 10 games for the Oilers before the end of the season, and another 9 in the playoffs - helping the Oilers win their third Stanley Cup

Lemay didn't stick on the Oilers roster for 87-88, played only 4 games in Edmonton, along with 39 in the minors. He'd be traded at the deadline once again, to the Boston Bruins for Alan May.

After having played only 12 games for Boston the following season, Lemay was traded again and wound up in Winnipeg. He'd play his final 10 NHL games with the Jets during the 88-89 season.

Lemay's career was far from over though. He'd spend the next 10 seasons playing in various leagues in Europe (Germany, Switzerland, Austria), had a stint with the Canadian National Team in 89-90, and even played Roller Hockey for the Ottawa Loggers in 1995.

Pictured are Lemay's 84-85 OPC Rookie Card, a signed copy of his 85-86 OPC, his Oilers 10th Anniversary Program Insert - and a monster of patch from Leaf ITGU showing a piece of Bruins patch.

Craig Muni

Craig Muni was drafted 25th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1980. He made his NHL debut with the Leafs during the 81-82 season, playing 3 games for the Buds. By the end of the 85-86 season, Muni had played on 19 NHL games for Toronto, and he was not resigned.

Muni signed with the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent, but had an incredibly weird few days in October. October 2nd 1986 his was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for cash. The Sabres dealt him to the Pittsburgh Penguins the next day, for future considerations. He stayed in Pittsburgh until October 6th, when he was traded back to Edmonton to complete the Gilles Meloche-for-Marty McSorley / Tim Hrynewich / futures trade from a year earlier.

Muni didn't just stick with the Oilers that season, he became an important part of their defense core.

The next seven seasons would see Muni as a defensive specialist, a feared open ice hitter, a top penalty killer, and prolific shot blocker. He won three Stanley Cups (87, 88, 90) and lead the league in Plus-Minus three times.

The tear down of the Oilers dynasty teams saw Muni dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1992-93 season. He was flipped to the Buffalo Sabres early in the 93-94 season, where he'd play two and half years.

He split the final two and half seasons of his NHL career with Winnipeg, Pittsburgh, and Dallas; retiring following the 1997-98 season.

Pictured are Muni's 87-88 OPC Rookie Card, and his 1994 BAP Autograph.

Kent Nilsson

Kent Nillson was drafted into both the NHL (Atlanta Flames, 64th) and WHA (Toronto Toros, 11th) in 1976.

His WHA rights ended up with the Winnipeg Jets, and after starring in his native Sweden for three seasons, he made his WHA debut in 1977-78 and scored 107 points. He was named WHA rookie of the year. He followed that up with a stellar second season, scoring 107 points again, as the Jets won the final Avco Cup.

The NHL Expansion of 1979 saw Nillson reclaimed by the Atlanta Flames. He put up 93 points for the Flames in 79-80, the final season for the franchise in Atlanta. He scored 49 goals to go along with 82 assists during the team's first year in Calgary. His 131 points in 80-81 still holds up as a team record today.

Nilsson continued to tear up the league for Calgary over the next few seasons, but was traded to the Minnesota North Stars for the 27th overall pick in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He never had quite the same success in Minnesota, and was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers at the NHL trade deadline in 1987.

Nilsson would help the Oilers win the Stanley Cup that spring, but returned to Europe for the following season. He spent the next 7 seasons playing in Europe (including stop in Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and Austria). The 1994-95 season saw him briefly return to the NHL. He joined the Edmonton Oilers for 6 games, scoring 1 goal.

Nilsson would retire after playing with Stuttgart in Germany in the 96-97 season.

In addition to his WHA Rookie of the Year win, he was an NHL all star in '80 and '81, he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame, and the WHA Hall of Fame. In addition to the Stanley Cup in 1987, he also played on Swedish teams that won Bronze (1975 & 1980 World Jr. Championships, 1975 European Jr. Championship) Silver (1984 Canada Cup, 1990 World Championship), and Gold (1974 European Jr. Championship).

He holds Flames records for most points(131), assists(82), and shorthanded goals(9) in a season. He is the 6th fastest player to score 300 NHL points, the 8th fastest to 400, and the 9th fastest to 500.

His son, Robert, also went on to play for the Oilers.

Pictured are Nilsson's 80-81 OPC Rookie Card, an ITG International Ice Autograph, and a UD Oilers Collection Championship Banner.

Reijo Ruotsalainen

Reijo "Rexi" Ruotsalainen got his start playing for Karpat in SM-liiga in his native Finaland.

The New York Rangers made him the 119th overall pick in 1980, and brought him over the the NHL for the 1981-82 season. He played a mix of defense & forward for the Rangers, for five years. Head Coach Herb Brooks was convinced that Ruotsalainen was the best skater in the NHL at that time. He lead the Rangers in scoring in 1984-85, with 73 points.

He did not sign a new contract with the Rangers following the 85-86 season, and opted to join SC Bern in Switzerland instead. His NHL rights were traded to Edmonton in October of 1986, part of a 7 player deal.

Following the end of the season in Switzerland, he joined the Oilers and played 16 regular season game - putting up 5 goals & 13 points. He was also a key member of their blueline in the playoffs, helping the Oilers win the 1987 Stanley Cup.

Reijo would head back to Europe for the 87-88 and 88-89 seasons, but would come back to the NHL for the 89-90 season with the New Jersey Devils (after having been claimed on waivers from Edmonton in 1987, the Devils still had his rights).

Rexi would have his second stint with the Oilers later that season, when they traded Jeff Sharples to the Devils to get him back. He was a key player for them in the post seasons once again, helping the Oilers win the Stanley Cup in 1990.

A two time Stanley Cup winner, an incredibly fast skater, and a high end offensive defenceman; Ruotsalainen's lasting legacy in the NHL is arguably bigger than his on-ice accomplishments. How Glen Sather manipulated his roster (letting Rexi play over seas, then bringing him back just in time for a late season & playoff push) twice, lead to the NHL changing it's roster rules.

Referred to as the "Reijo Ruotsalainen Rule" - Once a player starts the season in Europe, if they sign with an NHL club (intending to play that season) they must clear waivers.

Another curious one, goes back to the old NHL Waiver Draft (it was discontinued after the 2004-05 lockout). Once upon a time, teams could protect up to 18 skaters & 2 goalies that were waiver eligible (so this didn't include young players). It was created in 1977 as a means to stop teams from stacking themselves.

Most teams wouldn't even have 18 waiver eligible skaters, and if they did - all you would see is the odd 4th liner / healthy scratch type change hands.

The waiver claim that had Ruotsalainen join the Devils in 1987 was, in fact, part of that season's waiver draft. Since he'd signed in Europe - the Oilers didn't protect him. After they reacquired him in 1990, Oilers GM Glen Sather protected Ruotsalainen at every waiver draft for the rest of his Oilers tenure - up until (and including) 1999, despite the fact he'd already retired, and hadn't played in the NHL in 9 years.

Ruotsalainen represented Finland at 5 world championships, two Canada Cups, and one Olympics - and won a Silver medal at the 1988 Olympics games in Calgary. He's a member of the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame.

Pictured are Ruotsalainen 's 82-83 OPC Rookie Card, an 06-07 Parkhurst Autograph, and his Oilers 10th Anniversary program insert (his only Oilers card)

Wayne Van Dorp

Wayne Van Dorp was an undrafted free agent, and signed with the Buffalo Sabres after playing the prior two season in the Netherlands. He was traded to Edmonton in March of 1987 - when he made his NHL debut with the Oilers.

He played just 3 regular season games in Edmonton, and three more in the playoffs. He earned himself a Stanley Cup ring in 1987, but didn't play enough games to have his named engraved on the Cup.

Van Dorp would be part of a Nover 24th 1987 trade, where he was included with Dave Hunter & hold-out Paul Coffey in a package that went to Pittsburgh. He played 25 games for the Pens that year, but would be traded back to Buffalo Sabres prior to the start of the 88-89 season.

Again, he wouldn't actually play for Buffalo - he was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he skated for 8 games in 88-89, and 61 in 89-90. He'd be claimed off waivers by the Quebec Nordiques in 1990, and played 28 more NHL contests over the next two years.

After a few more seasons playing in Europe & North American minor leagues, Van Dorp reitred following the 94-95 season.

Pictured are two copies of Van Dorp's 90-91 OPC Rookie Card. One signed, the other not.