And then I saw them. Now, I haven't actually held one of this year's cards in hand. But I've seen enough images online to know they look nothing like last year's cards. In fact, I'd almost say they're ugly. Enough so, at least, that I haven't found myself bidding on any of them, even the two Steve Yzerman's included in the set.
But all was not lost! Turns out, Upper Deck snuck a few leftover cards from last year's release into this years. I have no idea what prompts this kind of decision -- maybe they were supposed to be in the 2013-14 set but Upper Deck didn't get them back in time? Going by the checklist at Cardboard Connection, it looks like they're seven 2013-14 cards in the 2014-15 packs -- five singles and two combos. And wouldn't you know, I've already tracked down the four singles.
Like I said: Bananas.
I haven't yet decided if this is my favorite of the 2014-15 batch, but it might be. Any card that features a player hoisting the cup is automatically a great one. And this one really takes advantage of that swirly-impressionist-painting-dream crowd effect that is probably my favorite thing about these cards. The auto is big and easy to see, too.
As you probably could have guessed from the front, the card commemorates Quick's Cup-winning run with the Kings in 2012 when he won the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP.
Up next is another Cup-winning goalie in Ed Belfour. Eddie the Eagle's not quite as nice-looking as Quick's, at least in my opinion, although it's still a beautiful piece of cardboard. Note that the date line on this card is Buffalo. This image must be from the game featuring Brett Hull's infamous winning goal from the crease. That moment is actually featured on a different Signature Renditions card, although I haven't been able to land a copy yet. (Side note: This one is the first of the 35 copies. It's always kinda cool to get either the first or last copy of a numbered card.)
I had completely forgotten that that game went to three overtimes. What a heartbreaker for Buffalo!
Next up: The pest to end all pests. I remember watching the 1995 finals when Lemieux and the New Jersey Devils absolutely steamrolled the Detroit Red Wings. It was the closest Steve Yzerman had come to a Cup and I think lots of Detroit fans were beginning to worry if he'd ever be able to lead the Wings to the promised land. The only thing that beats a card featuring the Stanley Cup is one featuring the Cup and the Conn Smythe. This, by the way, is the second appearance of the Conn Smythe trophy in this set of cards. It's also on Ron Hextall's, which was the very first one I picked up more than a year ago.
I'm no hockey historian, but Lemieux has to be one of the best postseason performers in hockey history. I can't think of another player who so dramatically elevated his game every year when the playoffs started. And he might be the most annoying player -- to play against -- who ever played in the NHL. Esa Tikkanen probably says hello, though.
Here's the most visually boring of the 2014-15 cards I've picked up so far, although it's still prettier than the average bear. Vivid colors, and a bit of that crowd effect to boot. And it's another #1 card. Murray was the second overall draft pick in the 2012 draft (behind Nail Yakupov) but I don't know much about how's done since then. Looks like his third on the Blue Jackets in ice-time, which seems pretty good for a 22-year-old. Then again, Columbus is a dumpster fire.
Like most of the rookie-year cards of players in this insert set, this one commemorates Murray's first career goal, which apparently came against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If the Jonathan Quick card isn't my favorite in this set, then this one is. I've never really liked Bobby Clarke, mostly because he was such a dick to Eric Lindros when Clarke was the Philadelphia's GM. But, man, hockey images don't get much more perfect than this. Let's count the awesome things about it: 1)It captures the exact moment the Cup is handed to Clarke; 2)The disembodied, white-gloved hands of the guy who's always with the Cup; 3)That smile! 4)A Bill Barber cameo; and 5)All that glorious Flyers orange. Seriously, it's basically perfect.
And, finally, one last back. Turns out, this was the second consecutive Cup for the Broad Street Bullies. And they beat the Gilbert Perreault-led Buffalo Sabres in the final. So that's five cards, two of which commemorate moments where Buffalo lost in the Stanley Cup Final. If that down didn't have bad luck, it wouldn't have any sports luck at all.
So that's it for now. Hopefully it won't be another three weeks before I get another post up...
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