Sid Abel

Ulf Nilsson and Sid Abel

One of the first Europeans to come play in North America, Nilsson spent the first few years of his journey in the WHA, putting up ridiculous numbers and finishing amount the leagues top scorers.  He played mostly on a line with Bobby Hull in Winnipeg.  He was lured to the NHL with a massive contract by the New York Ranges.  Injuries limited him to just three seasons but he scored 159 points in  just 160 regular season games.  Sid Abel is a Hockey Hall of Famer who won 3 Stanley Cups in Detroit while skating on a line with Gordie Howe.  He won the Hart trophy in 1949 as league MVP.

Glenn Hall, Mike Richter and Timo Pielmeier

Topps Reprint Glenn Hall autograph,  I landed this card for a great price and I really getting the retro reprints, they look great.  Hall is a Hockey Hall of Famer who won 3 Vezinas, just as many Stanley Cups and many other recognitions such as the 56 Calder trophy. Mike Richter is another HOF goaltender who backstopped the Rangers to their big Cup win of 1994.  He also won Silver as USA's goalie in the 2002 Olympics.  Timo Pielmeier played 40 minutes for the Ducks last year.  

Andreas Nodl, Jesse Joenssu and Ian Cole

Picked these up from the same seller for a buck each.  Born in Vienna, Austria, Nodl has played four NHL seasons and is currently with the Carolina Hurricanes.  The Fin Joenssu played 60 for the Islanders but has since gone back to Europe.  Defeseman Ian Cole is still with St. Louis.  

Maxim Kondratiev, Denis Grebeshkov and Guy Leveque

03/04 Parkhurst Rookie autograph Maxim Kondratiev /120.  Kondratiev never panned out as an NHL player but this card is notable because Maxim has few other autographs out there.  He only played 40 games between Toronto, Anaheim and the New York Rangers.  Grebeshkov made his NHL debut with the 03/04 LA Kings and then went on to play 4 NHL seasons between the Kings, Islanders, Oilers and Predators.  Through two seasons, 92-94, Leveque played 17 games for Gretzky's LA Kings.  

Rejean Lemelin, Pat Riggin and Frank Pietrangelo

Some goalie graphs; Rejean Lemelin played in over 500 games splitting his entire career between the Atlanta/Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins.  Lemelin was with the Calgary Flames for their first 7 seasons.  As a Bruins he played in the 1989 All Star game and shared the 1990 Jennings trophy with Andy Moog.  Pat Riggin's father, Dennis, was also an NHL goaltender.  He shared duties with Lemelin on Calgary's first 2 NHL teams from 80-82. Pietrangelo won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1991.  

Shane Willis, Maxim Afinogenov and Krys Kolanos

Willis played 12 regular season games for the 2004 Stanley Cup winning Lightning team, not enough to get his name on the Cup.  Afinogenov spent 9 seasons putting up some solid offensive numbers in Buffalo.  His tenth and last year in the league was with the 09/10 Thrashers.  Youtube Kolanos and Patrick Roy to see what will be Kolanos' legacy in the league.  

Kyle Calder, Shawn Bates and Mike Comrie

After a few solid NHL season Calder's production quickly fell and he was relegated to the KHL.  Bates lead the NHL in shorties during the 02/03 season.  Now retired, Comrie is destined to be known as the husband of Hilary Duff.

Eric Boguniecki, Andy Delmore and Mike Sillinger

Boguniecki is currently an assistant AHL coach, this is his only cert auto.  Delmore played in over 300 NHL games seeing time in Philadelphia, Nashville, Buffalo and Columbus.  Mike 'suitcase' Sillinger holds the distinction of playing for the most NHL teams over his career with 12.  

Dmitri Khristich, Zarley Zalapski and Jan Hrdina

Khristich is Ukraine's all time NHL point leader who played in 2 All Star games.  Zarley was a Canadian Olympian and NHL all star.  Hrdina had a 24 goal season with the 01/02 Penguins and  played in the Olympics that year with the Czechs.  

Gary Leeman, Tomas Sandstrom and Jimmy Waite

Toronto fans will remember Leeman as their 89/90 51 goal scorer and a few other great seasons in the Blue and White.  Montreal fans may also recall Leeman for his role in their 1993 Stanley Cup championship.  Sandstrom played nearly 1000 NHL games and won a Cup with Detroit in 1997.  Waite played in just over 100 NHL games with Chicago and Pheonix.  

Nikolai Kulemin, Mike Zigomanis and Luca Caputi

Kulemin was one of the Leaf's best players in 10/11 but saw his production dip this year.  Zigomanis has played for the Hurricanes, Blues, Coyotes, Penguins and Leafs yet has fewer than 200 NHL to his credit through 8 years.  Caputi has played 35 NHL games between the Penguins and Leafs. 

Kevin Poulin, Phil Oreskovic and Jeremy Morin

Poulin has appeared in over a dozen games for the New York Islanders.  Oreskovic scored a goal and an assist during his 10 game stint with the 08/09 Toronto Maple Leafs.  Morin was a prolific scorer in the OHL who has yet to translate his skill into the NHL.