Look what eBay bought me

I miss the old eBay program which used to kick 2 percent back to the buyers so they could get more "value" out of their purchases. I don't know if my American friends still have that option but they killed the program in Canada which was very sad. Well this past summer they did have a deal to entice sellers to list. If I posted something for sale, eBay was going to give me a 10 dollar credit. If I sold it within a certain time period I would get another 10 dollars. Not bad huh? Well, I posted up a card, it didn't sell so I got 10 bucks in credit. I ended up just buying a few low end cards I normally wouldn't have purchased rather than save 10 bucks off something expensive. The highlight was an auto I have been wanting for a while in the best uniform of all!

96-97 BAP Dave Andreychuk Auto Silver

Here is a silver version of a Dave Andreychuk auto. Nothing fancy or special here just a former NHL great, hopefully a HOF'er some day and his on card auto. This beauty serves as a reminder of when he was a member of Lou's team and I was hoping he would net 50 for us. His first season and a bit with us was good. He scored 35 goals and 74 points in 97 games. Sadly injuries mounted and he never got back to that level for us during his final 2 years and in 1999 he was gone. He would resurrect his career in Tampa and win a Cup in his second last season.

Thanks eBay for this and a couple other cards and I do hope you are able to give me a few more in the future!

96-97 BAP Rhett Warrener Auto - A post for a son

After the birth of my second son, I shared that news online and the common name between him and this hockey player. Sadly, my collection didn't actually contain the card I shared so I went out and fixed that.

Here is the silver version of the 96-97 BAP Auto of Rhett Warrener

Very simple and sharp auto of a guy who was never afraid to get dirty and played some very good and sound defensive hockey. 714 career games that had seen 24 goals, 106 points and 899 penalty minutes. What is neat about his career is he played on three Cinderella run teams (Florida, Buffalo and Calgary) but never tasted Stanley Cup victory.

I now proudly own an auto that will remind me of my second son, now I just need an auto of Dan Quinn who is the player that I think of when I hear my son Quinn's name.

Scott Niedermayer Auto

Once upon a time when there was NHL hockey, there used to be a rule that the worst team got the first overall pick. It was almost a reward for the fans, where if they endured enough crappy hockey during the season they would have something to look forward to the next year. 

The New Jersey Devils were bad for a long time, basically from their time of inception in 1974 (as the Scouts) until 1987 they made the payoffs ONCE and lost the best of three 2-0 to the Flyers. So during that time did they ever get the first overall pick? Yes, once and it was when the organization was in Colorado in 1979. Who did they pick with the ONLY first overall choice in the entire franchise....Rob Ramage, not a bad pick but with Gartner, Bourque, Messier, Goulet and Anderson all available, I can't help but feel that chance was blown.

We did almost have a chance at first overall in 1984. The Devils were in last with about 2 weeks to go and the Penguins did the unthinkable....tanked on purpose. I know people will say this and that about the 83-84 Season, but truth is, they tanked it on purpose and why would they do that you ask.....Mario Lemieux.

So after a couple more second overall picks the Devils had another shot for first overall thanks to Tom Kurvers. Tom was a decent defenseman who was wanted by the Toronto Maple Leafs so bad that they were willing to give up their 1st pick in the 1991 draft. Well luck would finally have it for NJ that 90-91 was not very kind to the Maple Leafs. At one point it was a neck and neck race between Quebec and Toronto for the race to the bottom. Knowing what was at stake, I was the biggest fan of 20 NHL teams that season and I hope for a shot at the biggest prospect since Lemieux....Eric Lindros. Who ever came second in that cellar race would have the settle for the Third overall pick because of an expansion to San Jose.

In the end, luck once again turned its back on NJ and we were faced with the third overall pick. In some ways it was a blessing because if we landed up with Falloon, we might not have had a couple Stanley Cups by now, but then again the 93 Series with Lindros against the Rangers could have ended much differently too.

This card would not have been possible if not for the help of Tom Kurvers and the Toronto Maple Leafs...so thank you!

96-97 BAP Pinnacle Scott Niedermayer Auto

This is my second Niedermayer auto, my first one was an autographed postcard I bought at the Kitchener Mall when I was in University.