Rookie Cards of the 1971-72 Boston Bruins – Stanley Cup Champions

Until 2011, the last time the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup was 1971-72. The Bruins powered their way past the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues before meeting the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals. Boston lost a total of three games that playoff season, one to Toronto and two to the Rangers.

During the 78 game regular season, the Bruins were easily the best team in the NHL, six wins better than the second place Rangers. The team won 54 games and finished with 119 points. Of the team’s 13 losses, seven were at the hands of teams that finished below .500. Two losses were to the lowly California Golden Seals, one was a shut-out loss to the Los Angeles Kings (last place in the West) and one was an 8-2 drubbing by the second year Buffalo Sabres.

Check out the Topps card pictured on eBay!

An interesting collection of vintage hockey cards would be the rookie cards of the 1971-72 Boston Bruins star players. Of the players that dressed for the playoffs with the Bruins that year, 13 have rookie cards of significance.

 

Phil Esposito – 1965-66 Topps #116 – $400

Bobby Orr – 1966-67 Topps #35 – $3000

Johnny Bucyk – 1957-58 Topps #10 – $250

John McKenzie – 1960-61 Parkhurst #37 – $25

Derek Sanderson – 1967-68 Topps #33 – $125

Ken Hodge – 1965-66 Topps #65 – $40

Wayne Cashman – 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee #7 – $15

Ed Westfall – 1963-64 Topps #8 – $30

Dallas Smith – 1961-62 Topps #4 – $25

Garnet ‘Ace’ Bailey – 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee #10 – $5

Ted Green – 1961-62 Topps #2 – $40

Ed Johnston – 1963-64 Topps #2 – $50

Gerry Cheevers – 1965-66 Topps #31 – $200

Of course, Esposito and Orr dominated the team and the NHL that season, finishing one-two in league scoring. Esposito slowed his record setting pace from the season before but still contributed 133 points on 66 goals and 67 assists. Orr scored 37 and totalled 117 points while leading the league in +/-. Bobby won the Conn Smythe, Hart and Norris Trophies. Both stars were selected First Team All-Stars.

After hoisting the Stanley Cup for the second time in three years, Ted Green and John McKenzie said goodbye to the National Hockey League. Both moved on to the fledgling World Hockey Association. Each played in the WHA until the end of the 1978-79 season, the final year of the league. Neither made a return to the NHL.