Carl Voss – The Original NHL Journeyman

Mike Sillinger is the NHL’s top journeyman of all-time, playing for 12 different teams during his career. However, in the early days of the league, Carl Voss played on nine teams when there wasn’t nearly as many to choose from.

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In some circles, it is noted that Voss played for 9 NHL teams over his career that spanned from 1926-27 to 1937-38. However, there is an asterix or two to this claim. Voss began with the Toronto St. Pats in 1926-27. Some count the name change to the Maple Leafs near the end of that season as playing for two teams.

The next asterix comes when Voss played for the Ottawa Senators in 1933-34 then for the St. Louis Eagles in 1934-35. The Senators left Ottawa after the 1933-34 season and relocated to St. Louis where they played as the Eagles for just the 1934-35 season. So, in reality, Voss was a member of seven uniquely different NHL clubs – still quite a feat at the time.

It is also said that Carl Voss is the first ever recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy. This is not true. Voss is the first ever NHL rookie of the year, taking the honour in 1932-33 as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. He may be one of the only Calder winners to play for two team during his rookie season as he started with the New York Rangers. However, the Calder Trophy was not dedicated until the 1936-37 season.

In all, Carl played for the Maple Leafs, Rangers, Red Wings, Senators, Eagles, New York Americans, Montreal Maroons and Chicago Blackhawks. He played 261 regular season and 24 playoff games. He capped his career off by scoring the winning goal in game four of the Stanley Cup finals to give the Black Hawks victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. A knee injury in training camp the following season ended his career.

According to Beckett, the Carl Voss rookie card, and only mainstream hockey card of Voss ever printed, came as number 175 in the 1937-38 O-Pee-Chee V304E series. The card is valued at $200, while a common card in the 48 card set is valued at half that. The full set is worth $7500 and the top card is the rookie card of Toe Blake, valued at $800. There is a card from the 1936-37 Worldwide Gum V356 also considered a rookie card.

Carl was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974 as a builder for his work with the league’s officiating.