13-14 Totally Certified Boone Jenner Auto Jersey Rookie

13-14 brought it's fair share of rookies and rookie cards. Being the final year of the dual license and dual rookie class meant rookies galore for collectors. Boone Jenner is one rookie a few years ago that some collectors might have had on their radar but probably for the most part were caught up in plenty of others to pay him much attention.

I have known about Boone ever since his OHL days thanks to a few hits from ITG Heroes and Prospects and as a result have had a bit of a soft spot for this power forward. This past season has been a spectacular one for him personally and even The Hockey News has given him some praise on his season to remember.  With 2 games to go, Boone has 30 goals and 48 points and I believe this is just the beginning of many 30 goals seasons for the 22 year old sniper. Here is one of two auto rookies I picked up in the last year and a bit.

13-14 Totally Certified Boone Jenner Auto Jersey Rookie

This is one of the few times I really appreciate a nice white swatch. It almost pops out of the card. The design of the card isn't too hard on the eyes and apart from the card not being numbered there really isn't much to complain about it. 


 This season of Boone's has brought additional joy to an old hit of his that I am going to share once again!
11-12 ITG Heroes and Prospects Boone Jenner Game Used Number Black /6

Congrats on the great season Boone. I am looking forward to seeing how your career progresses and perhaps you can help bring Columbus the success that has so far alluded it as a franchise.

14-15 Upper Deck The Cup Kerby Rychel Auto Patch Rookie /249

As many of you know, I am a bit of a prospector when it comes to cards. I love buying cards when no one cares about them and watches them increase in desirability where I will occasionally sell them or trade them for others. Other times I just keep them for life and just enjoy owning a card at the fraction it would have cost me had I bought it later than I did.

This is a case of prospecting and it's Kerby Rychel.

14-15 Upper Deck The Cup Kerby Rychel Auto Patch Rookie /249

Kerby doesn't possess much of an autograph and it actually looks similar to Adam Larsson and their names are nothing alike. The patch is pretty sweet and while it is pretty small, it features three colours and works very well with this card.

The backside is pretty good and Upper Deck has continued the trend of including stats on the back which is very much appreciated by this collector. Kerby had very good junior numbers and when you combine them with the physical game he plays, I believe he is going to be a great power forward in the league. Perhaps not as good as Corey Perry but give him another couple seasons and he will be an integral part of whatever team he is playing for.

This season hasn't gone as well has he hoped I am sure. Kerby has even gone as far as apparently asking for a trade and while that didn't happen this season, a change of venue could offer new possibilities and a chance to reach his potential. I am looking forward to seeing how his career progresses and having this card is a small investment into that journey as a collector.

Prospects with potential - Dustin Tokarski

Dustin Tokarski is one player who has been on my radar for a couple of years. Most Canadians will remember his amazing 39 save performance to win the 2009 WJHC. Western Canadians would have seen Dustin burn up the WHL with some great performances between the pipes for the Spokane Chiefs. As a member of the Chiefs, Tokarski won the 2008 Memorial Cup and was both tournament MVP and top goaltender of the tournament.

So what has he done lately? These past two seasons he has been the number goaltender of the Norfolk Admirals which lost in the first round this past season to the Penguins. Tokarski put in a solid performance during the first round with 2 wins, 2.19 gaa and a shutout. A lack of offensive support was one of the reasons for Norfolk's quick exit.

His future could be interesting. He is apart of a young and growing franchise which is really at a goaltending crossroads. Dwayne Roloson was the goalie of choice down the homestretch and during the playoffs but, will be have another season in the tank? Either way, Tampa is going to need to either give Tokarski his shot as a backup or as a starter next season. Based the fact Tampa currently has NONE of their starters signed to a contract, and Stamkos is an RFA, Tokarski may be the most financially smart choice as a backup of starter.

Either way, I am excited and I think he is a prospect that has much potential. From the hobby perspective, now is the best time to get his cards. Many of his autographed rookies are going for about 5 bucks including shipping on eBay and his Young Guns and Artifacts rookies aren't expensive either. Could be a cheap gamble that will pay off when he wins his first cup in the next 3 years!

I landed a Tokarski auto along with a couple others in an auction on Ebay a little while ago. The cards showed up today and I will share them tomorrow.

Failed Prospects - Angelo Esposito

Flashback to 2005. Sydney Crosby has moved onto the NHL and the QMJHL is looking for its next big name. Angelo Esposito, a 16 year phenom steps in and scores 98 points in just 57 games including 39 goals. Surely this kid is going to be a superstar. Angelo really couldn't do anything wrong during the regular season, he had Radulov on his wing playing for the Remparts. Radulov put up 21 goals and 55 points in 23 playoff games, but come playoff time Angelo found trouble maintaining that same production. Maybe he was burnt-out from too much hockey that season? After all, including international action he was pushing 100 games and Esposito was only 16 years old.

The following season, Radulov departed and Esposito's number dropped as well, he managed a modest 79 points in 60 games as a 17 year old. Remparts didn't last long in the playoffs, but Espo almost matched his previous season playoff total playing in just 5 games. Then comes the draft and in 2007 he is picked 20th overall by the Penguins, clearly this is a steal for a prospect who was once considered a better prospect than Patrick Kane.

However, as an 18 year old his numbers dropped again. He finished third on the Remparts team in scoring behind players Felix Petit and Kelsey Tessier. Esposito scored 69 points in 56 games that season. Esposito's last successful season came the following year in 08-09 with the Montreal Juniors when he started with 24 goals and 42 points in 35 games. However, a knee injury and subsequent surgery ended that season and it seems that he really has never been the same since.

Over the last two seasons, Esposito has put up 5 points; 1 goal and 4 assists in 24 games. In fact, this season with the Chicago Wolves, he has 1 goal in 11 games. Angelo will turn 22 this February so, it is difficult to say his career is over. However, he definitely has fallen from grace especially considering he was an early favourite to be the number 1 pick in the 2007 draft. I am not sure if he was as great of a player as he was fortunate to have been playing with a talented team at a young age, but, Esposito clearly had enough potential to be selected in the first round and his NHL future really looks to be in doubt. Esposito was apart of the trade that brought Hossa from Atlanta to Pittsburgh and as of today he is still in the Atlanta system which is the good news. If he is ever going to crack the NHL it will likely be with a young and inexperienced team desperate for scorers. The bad news for Angelo is since turning pro, his production has been far from desirable and the AHL may be the highest level of hockey he will ever play. There was a time when I was trying hard to see him as a junior player because I wanted to say I saw him as a 16 year old tearing up the junior leagues much like people still speak of Crosby, Lemieux, Gretzky or even Lafontaine. However, it appears that Angelo may have peaked at 16 and the fall from grace has continued from that point on.

I guess it goes to show that drafting NHL talent is a difficult process and there is no such thing as a "sure thing". While it isn't over for Angelo, it is a long way from the prediction many people had for Esposito.

Here is a photo I found of a Heroes and Prospects card from ITG of Angelo Esposito. You can buy this card on ebay for less than $10.00. I wish him all the luck in the future and I hope he can make it to the NHL someday, but I have a feeling he will likely have a similar fate experienced by Kory Kocur another successful junior player who couldn't turn a first round pick into a single NHL game.

Prospects with Potential - Matt Taormina

Something I really wanted to do with this blog was to find time to "prospect" the prospects. I like most hockey fans, I have an interest in the young kids and like to make predictions on how their careers will turn out. I have had some hits and some misses. Finally, I will put into print, what I think and possibly make a huge ass of myself in the process. I am not going to always choose the obvious choices like Crosby (I think most knew he would do fine), but at the same time I am not too delusional to think that Jordan Smotherman is going to be a HOF player.

Matt Taormina is the first player I am going to go out on a limb on and I think for good reason. This kid was never drafted and very much reminds me of another undrafted diminutive defenseman with a knack for putting up points.....Brian Rafalski. Matt signed with the Devils last season and then proceeded to tear it up for the Lowell Devils finishing third in team scoring with 50 points. He moves the puck well and though he isn't the strongest defensively he for the most part isn't a liability either. Currently he is a minus 2 on a team that really is playing bad hockey and apart from a minor injury it doesn't appear that he will be leaving the NHL anytime soon. He is smart with the puck and passes it well on the PP. I believe when the Devils get their offensive issues worked out, he may put up about 30 points this season. I think he has much too learn much like Brian did in Europe but give him 2-3 years in the NHL and Matt will easily be a 40-50 point d-man in the NHL and for a kid who was never drafted that is quite an accomplishment.

Here is his 10-11 UD Young Gun RC. Currently I do not have any of his cards, but I am always looking, so if you have one to trade let me know and we can try and work out a deal. I see big things for Matt and maybe he could end up as good as Rafalski and should he miss that mark, the very least he will be a quality #3 or 4 defenseman for years to come.