Martin & McClellan

Colby Cohen and Maxim Noreau

Defenseman Colby Cohen played 3 games for the Colorado Avalanche in 2010.  He was their second round pick in 2007.  He was traded to the Bruins in late 2010 for Matt Hunwick.  Although he never played a game for the Bruins he was called up for their 2012 Stanley Cup run.  Because of his presence he was presented with a Cup ring and is in the team picture with the Stanley Cup.  Noreau played 6 games for the Minnesota Wild before heading to Europe. 

Stanislav Chistov and Joni Pitkanen

Chistov, Anaheim’s first round, 5^th overall, pick of the 2001 draft was once a highly touted prospect.  In 02/03 he played his first and only full NHL season for the Mighty Ducks, scoring a disappointing 30 points.  He split the following season between Anaheim and their AHL affiliate.  After the lockout he played 1 game for the 06/07 Ducks and, after being traded for a third round pick in 2008, played 60 games for the Bruins in the same year.  That would be his final season in North America as he has been able to contribute significantly more in the KHL.  Pitkanen was the 4^th overall pick by the Flyers in the 2002 draft.  Since making his debut in 2003 he has been an above average NHL defenseman, playing over 500 games for the Flyers, Oilers and Hurricanes.  He also played on the Finnish Olympic team in 2010. 

Torrey Mitchell and Matt Foy

If you include playoff games, Mitchell has played in well over 300 contests for San Jose over 5 seasons.  He’s a bottom line center who recently signed a 3 year contract with the revamped Minnesota Wild.  Foy played parts of 3 seasons for the Wild and was most recently seen in the ECHL but this summer signed a contract to play in Europe.

Mike Ridley and Todd Krygier

Ridley was a steady producer in the NHL for 12 seasons.  His best year was a 41 goal season for the 88/89 Washington Capitals and played in that year’s NHL All-Star game.  Krygier scored 100 goals over 9 years in the NHL.  He was a member of the 1998 Capitals team that reached the Cup finals, losing to Detroit. 

Seth Martin

With only 6 goaltending positions available in the league before 1967, Martin was regularly considered to be one of the best outside the NHL.  He was named the best goaltender at the 1964 Olympics, playing for team Canada.  The expansion brought new opportunity and he played 30 games, his only NHL season, for the 67/68 Blues that reached to Stanley Cup finals, splitting duties with Glenn Hall.

Justin Peters and Torrie Jung

Since 2010 Peters has appeared in over 20 NHL games for the Carolina Hurricanes.  He has recently resigned with the team for another two years.   On November 21, 2009 Torrie Jung was signed by the Edmonton Oilers to an emergency contract and that night he backup up Jeff Deslauriers.  Khabibulin, the Oiler’s other goalie, was injured and they were in need of a second goalie so the 20 year old, playing in the WHL, was signed.  He never played in another NHL game so Jung goes into my ‘backup only’ binder.   He’s spent the last couple seasons in the Central Hockey League. 

Danny Belisle and Don Blackburn

On Christmas day, 1960, Belisle scored his first NHL goal in his first game for the New York Rangers.  His whole career in the league would only last another 3 games and you can read about its end here, a great and funny story.  He and his son were also extras in the classic movie Slap Shot.  Blackburn made his NHL debut for the 62/63 Boston Bruins.  He played 6 games for the B’s that years and collected 5 points.  His next NHL season came with the expansion Philadelphia Flyers in 67/68, playing a couple seasons for the original team.  He also played for the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars and the WHA’s New England Whalers.  He was their head coach as well and was the Hartford Whalers first NHL head coach, serving as bench boss from 1979-1981. 

Bob Sneddon and Ralph Klassen

Sneddon appeared in 5 games for the 1970/71 California Seals.  The 3^rd overall pick of the 1975 draft, Klassen played over 500 NHL games between California Seals, Cleveland Barons, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Blues. 

Bill Bowler and Mike Walsh

Bill Bowler played 9 games for the 00/01 Columbus Blue Jackets and collected 2 points.  Bowler was a prolific junior scorer who netted nearly 500 points over 4 seasons playing for the Windsor Spitfires.  His jersey has since been retired by the OHL team.  Walsh scored 2 goals in 14 games for the New York Islanders in the late 80s. 

Dan Bonar and Kirk Bowman

Bonar played 3 seasons for the LA Kings in the early 1980s.  Bowman played just under 100 games for the Blackhawks during the 1970s.  His first taste of pro hockey was a 10 game stint for the WHA’s LA Sharks. 

Larry Bignell and Wally Boyer

Bignell’s NHL career consists of 20 regular seasons games for the 73/74 Pittsburgh Penguins and a further 3 playoff games for the 74/75 team.  He also played a season in the WHA for the Denver/Ottawa Civics.  Boyer’s rookie season was for the 65/66 Maple Leafs, he then moved on to Chicago to play for the Blackhawks in 66/67 and was picked by the Oakland Seals in the 67 expansion draft.  After only a year in Oakland he go onto pay 3 seasons for the Pittsburgh Penguins.  His last season of pro hockey was with the newly created Winnipeg Jets of the WHA in 72/73. 

Andre Dore and Dan Bolduc

Dore made his NHL debut and played his first few seasons for the New York Rangers.  In 1983 he was traded to the St. Louis Blues. He played a season and half for the Blues, one for the Quebec Nordiques in 83/84 and then ended his career with a second stint in New York.  Bolduc played 3 games for the Flames and another 100 NHL games for the Detroit Red Wings.  He had also played for the New England Whalers of the WHA. 

Earl Anderson

Anderson played his rookie year for the 74/75 Red Wings and then spent parts of 3 seasons with the Bruins.  His 109 NHL game career was cut short by injuries. 

John McClellan and Kevin O’Shea

While I almost always refrain from buying non-certified autographs from ebay, the seller, Capsports2000, has sold me a few autographs, none of which I have ever had any reason to doubt the authenticity. McClellan played 2 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1951/52.  He would later return to the organization and coached the team from 1969-1973, resigning due to health reasons.  He died in 1979 at only 51 years of age.  O’Shea split his 100+ game NHL career between the Blues and Sabres.  The brother of NHL Danny O’Shea also played a season in the WHA for the Minnesota Fighting Saints.  He passed away in 2010.