I decided to keep this scan even if it does make Gary Cheevers look funny. I finally figured out how my new scanner works so the scans should be a lot better. This is a pretty solid pack right here:
Jaroslav Janus is a young goalie for the Erie Otters, last season he improved quite a bit from his first year on the team posting a 25-20-4 record and dropping his GAA a full goal and a half as well as a save percentage nearing 91%.
Cristobal Huet never lived up to the expectations of being a Canadien’s goalie and since then has moved to Washington and now Chicago. He isn’t a bad goalie but he’s no number one. The situation the Blackhawks have him in now is perfect. Plays 2 of every 3 games on average.
Gary Cheevers is owner of perhaps the greatest goalie mask of all time (see below), He went an astounding 230-102 in his career and finished with a 2.89 GAA and 26 shutouts.
Nicola Riopel is perhaps the best goalie in the QMJHL this season he racked up a record of 43-11-4 with a 2.05 GAA and a 93% save percentage. Surely we can expect to hear more from him in the future.
Pack Rating – 3.5/5.0 – The only throwaway card was the Janus, but even he is pretty good.
Roberto Luongo is an exceptional goalie and right now may very well be one of the best in hockey. After years of no respect in Florida he is finally getting the respect he deserves in Vancouver. He singlehandedly keeps the Canucks in games.
Jake Allen is not a bad goalie, in his first stint on the Montreal Juniors he posted a record of 28-23-2 with a sub 3.00 GAA and 91% save percentage.
Vesa Toskala is totally under rated and has won at every stop in the NHL. He has found what looks to be a permanent home in Toronto and the Leafs fans should be happy. Sure he’ll let up nearly 3 goals a game but he makes some of the prettiest saves in hockey.
Ben Bishop is a long term prospect for the Blues. Not much more than a 0.500 goalie and should be considered as a NHL backup at some point in his career.
Pack rating – 2.5/5.0 – the Luongo and Toskala are great, the Allen card is OK but the Bishop card is more of a reach.
Now you rate the packs. Let us know what you think of these guys.
About Cheevers. I have seen one of his masks in person and its way scarier than the photos. The thing about it is, the team trainer would put one of those scars on it each time a puck hit it and dented it. That’s how many pucks Cheevers would have taken to the head. By the way, last year, The Hockey News rated his mask the best goalie mask ever. Its tough to argue.
I’m not much of a hockey collector, but these cards are pretty sweet. That Cheevers mask is fantastic…
Having watched Janus play regularly, I think he’s better than you give him credit for. His stats don’t nearly reflect how much his play has improved since last season. That’s a really good card I’d say, and I wouldn’t consider it a throw away by any means.
The Janus card is funny because your scanner cut out the J in his last name.