The Rookie Cards of the Canadian Hockey League’s (CHL) All-Time Team

When the Canadian Hockey League’s ‘All-Time Team’ was announced during the 1999 Memorial Cup, held in Ottawa, the line-up that was chosen could still be considered the greatest in the CHL over a decade later. To collect the NHL rookie cards of this group of five superstars would, according to Beckett Hockey Monthly, cost about $3,695.

 

Bernie Parent

Bobby Orr

Denis Potvin

Mario Lemieux

Guy Lafleur

Brian Propp

Bernie Parent – Niagara Falls Flyers

In goal is Bernie Parent. Bernie played two seasons for the Niagara Falls Flyers of the OHA, 1963-64 and 1964-65. He led the Flyers to a Robertson Cup victory in 1964-65 and the team went to be crowned Memorial Cup champions. Parent went on to a stellar NHL career that spanned from 1965-66 to 1978-79. He played for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers during that time. He won two Vezina Trophies and two Conn Smythe Trophies as the Flyers captured the Stanley Cup in 1973-74 and 1974-75. Bernie was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.

The Bernie Parent rookie card appears as number 89 in the 1968-69 O-Pee-Chee series. The card is valued at $250.

Bobby Orr – Oshawa Generals

On defense, an amazing pair was chosen, Bobby Orr and Denis Potvin. Orr played three years for the Oshawa Generals from 1963-64 to 1965-66. In his final season with Oshawa, Bobby scored 38 goals and added 56 assists for 94 points in just 47 games – a sign of things to come. He added another 28 points in 17 playoff games as he led the Generals to the Memorial Cup before losing to the Edmonton Oil Kings, four games to two.

Orr played in the NHL from 1966-67 to 1978-79 with the Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks. He won the Calder Trophy, eight Norris trophies, three Hart trophies, two Art Ross trophies and two Conn Smythe Trophies as the Bruins won the Stanley Cup twice in the early 1970’s. Bobby entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.

The Bobby Orr rookie card is the highlight of the 1966-67 Topps series. Hockey card number 35 is valued at $3000.

Denis Potvin – Ottawa 67’s

Denis Potvin played five years with the Ottawa 67’s from 1968-69 to 1972-73. In his final season, he totalled 123 points in 61 games. Over his OHA career, Potvin contributed 329 points in 254 games. He was twice the recipient of the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the league’s top defenseman.

Denis was a first overall pick by the New York Islanders. He played his entire NHL career, from 1973-74 to 1987-88, with New York. He won the Calder Trophy, as well as earning three Norris trophies. He was an integral part of the New York Islanders Stanley Cup dynasty of the early 1980’s. Potvin was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

The Denis Potvin rookie card is featured in the 1974-75 O-Pee-Chee series as number 195. The card is valued at a bargain $40.

Mario Lemieux – Laval Voisins

At centre, is none other than Mario Lemieux. Mario played three seasons with the Laval Voisins of the QMJHL from 1981-82 to 1983-84. From his final season, his 133 goals and 282 points stand as unreachable CHL records. That year, he earned pretty much every possible QMJHL award, including the Jean Beliveau Trophy as the league’s top scorer. In 200 regular season QMJHL games, Lemieux totalled an amazing 562 points.

Mario played in the NHL from 1984-85 to 2005-06, all with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He won the Calder Trophy, three Harts, the Art Ross six times and the Conn Smythe twice. Lemieux was a member of four Stanley Cup winning teams with the Penguins. Lemieux was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997.

The Mario Lemieux rookie card is the jewel of the 1985-86 O-Pee-Chee set. Card number 9 is worth $200.

Guy Lafleur – Quebec Remparts

At right wing, Guy Lafleur takes the honours. Lafleur played two years with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts in 1969-70 and 1970-71. In just 118 total regular season games, Guy scored 233 goals and totalled 379 points. In his final season, he scored 130 goals in just 62 games and led the team to a Memorial Cup victory.

Lafleur played in the NHL from 1971-72 to 1990-91 with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques. A member of five Stanley Cup winning teams with the Habs, Guy won the Art Ross three times, the Hart twice and won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete once. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.

The Guy Lafleur rookie card in part of the 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee series. Number 148 is worth $200.

Brian Propp – Brandon Wheat Kings

At left wing is the only player not in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Brian Propp was a standout with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings for three years from 1976-77 to 1978-79. He totalled 135, 182 and 194 points in his three seasons for a total of 511 in 213 regular season games. He helped the Wheat Kings to the Memorial Cup final in 1979, where they lost to the Peterborough Petes in overtime.

Propp played in the NHL from 1979-80 to 1993-94 with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars and Hartford Whalers. The Brian Propp rookie card from the 1980-81 O-Pee-Chee series (number 39) is valued at $5.

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