#148 - Vinny Prospal

Vinny Prospal would see his first action in a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey at the start of the 2011-12 hockey season.

He would appear in all 82 regular season games as a Blue Jacket, scoring a total of 16 goals and 55 points

Obtained: Through the mail c/o private address. March 7th, 2014

#436 - Joffrey Lupul

2011-12 was Joffrey Lupul's first full season as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He would find chemistry on the opposite wing of Phil Kessel, putting together a strong first half of the season, resulting in an invite to the 2012 NHL All Star Game.

Lupul would suffer a severe shoulder separation on March 6, 2012 resulting in surgery which caused him to miss the remainder of the 2011–12 season.

He finished the year with a career high of 67 points for the season while only playing a total of 66 games. This pace of scoring over a point per game was the first time in his career.

Obtained: Via a trade with a fellow collector.

#176 - Pavel Datsyuk

As a tribute to Ruslan Salei, Pavel Datsyuk wore jersey #24 during the 2011 preseason. Himself and the Red Wings were enjoying a surging season until a knee injury in February would sideline him. With the lose of one of the strongest offensive talents, the Wings would fall from first place to fifth by the end of the season.

Datsyuk finished with 67 points in 70 games for the regular season, and was also named to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game.

Obtained: Via a private signing.

#52 - Niklas Hagman

Niklas Hagman enjoyed his first and only season as a member of the Anaheim Ducks during the 2011-12 hockey season, coming over from the Calgary Flames after being placed on re-entry waivers just 14 games in.

Following the season, Hagman would return to Europe, signing a deal with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.

#519 - Hot Rookies, Brandon Manning

Brandon Manning would suit up for just 4 games as a Philadelphia Flyers during the 2011-12 hockey season while spending the majority of it down with the Adirondack Phantoms.

Obtained: Via a trade with a fellow collector.

#100 - Tim Jackman

Tim Jackman entered his second season as a member of the Calgary Flames in 2011-12 providing physical presence to the lineup.

 

I was happy to see the above Jackman returned as I had attempted to reach him a couple of times in the past before receiving this success.

 

Obtained: Through the mail c/o Calgary Flames. June 18th, 2014

#254 - Max Pacioretty

One of my favorite graphs, it has since taken a turn for the worse but I still really enjoy the look of Pacioretty's signature.

I was pretty happy to receive this Pacioretty back in the mail several months ago as it put me just a single card away from completing the Montreal Canadiens team set (as I write this I am still looking and waiting on a P.K. Subban to finish it off).

After taking a hit that would leave him with a concussion and a fractured vertebrae eliminating him from the majority of the 2010-11 hockey season - Max Pacioretty would return in 2011-12 to have his most productive season. He would go on to win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game.

#70 - Gregory Campbell

Gregory Campbell experienced a rough season statistical wise in 2011-12. After coming off a 29 point, Stanley Cup victory as a member of the Boston Bruins a season earlier - Campbell was only able to register 16 points, his lowest totals since 2006-07 with the Florida Panthers.

Obtained: Via trade with a fellow collector.

#244 - Zach Parise

Zach Parise spent the entire 2011-12 NHL season as a member of the New Jersey Devils before signing on with the Minnesota Wild during the off-season.

Parise signed a 1-year $6 million contract with the Devils before the start of the season and would ultimately be named captain of the team in October. He would go on to lead the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals where they would eventually meet their match against the Los Angeles Kings.

Obtained: Through the mail c/o Minnesota Wild. May 5th, 2014

#338 - Chris Neil

Chris Neil and the Senators enjoyed a strong 2011-12 season; predicted by many to finish near the bottom of the standings, the Sens made the playoffs and came within one game of upsetting the first seeded New York Rangers in the first round.

 

On a personal level, the 2011-12 season was a good one for Neil as he would post his best offensive totals since 2006-07.

 

Obtained: Through the mail c/o Ottawa Senators. May 2nd, 2014

#268 - Shea Weber

Weber played 78 games during the 2011-12 season, registering 49 points and a career high plus/minus rating of +21. His outstanding defensive skills would again be recognized as he would place second in Norris Trophy voting with 49 first-place votes and 1057 voting points, just eleven points behind winner Erik Karlsson.

Over the duration of the 2011-12 NHL season, Shea Weber forked over a few grand in fines due to a couple of disorderly hits to Jannik Hansen and Henrik Zetterberg. It ran him a bill of $5,000 in total which is basically pocket change to a multi-million dollar defenceman.

Otained: Through the mail c/o Nashville Predators. December 6th, 2014

#131 - Gabriel Landeskog

Gabriel Landeskog was drafted 2nd overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft tying Daniel Sedin and Victor Hedman as the second highest Swedish draft pick in history.

Landeskog enjoyed a breakout rookie season leading the team in goals (22) scored and sharing the lead for points amongst league rookies with 52. He was the only member of the Avalanche to play in all 82 games and eventually would take home the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year for 2011-12.

The card above presents Landeskog amid one of his most memorable moments during his rookie season; deep in celly mode, milliseconds after scoring an overtime game-winning goal against the Anaheim Ducks on March 12, 2012.

Obtained: Via a private signing.

#379 - Pascal Dupuis

Although Pascal Dupuis has seen more of the sidelines than the ice surface this season due to a blood clot in the lung - he played an entire 82 game season in 2011-12.

Dupuis has become one of my favorite guys on the Penguins roster. As the card above suggests, he plays the game with a ton of energy and isn't one to back down from getting physical.

Obtained: Through the mail c/o Pittsburgh Penguins. January 23rd, 2015

#164 - Stephane Robidas

Stephane Robidas enjoyed another strong season from the blueline with the Dallas Stars in 2011-12, his 9th with the team to be exact. He would suit up for 75 games and compile 22 points in a loosing cause as the Stars would fail to make the playoffs for a fourth straight year.

Judging from the 11/12 Score card posted above, Robidas looks to be doing what he does best - moving the puck effectively out of the defensive zone, or at least making an attempt to.

Obatined: Through the mail c/o Toronto Maple Leafs. December 8th, 2014

#195 - Ales Hemsky

 

Ales Hemsky had a disappointing start to the 2011-12 NHL season, missing the first part of the year due to injury. High points for Hemsky during the season would be scoring his first career hat trick against the Nashville Predators and signing a two year, $10 million extension with the Oilers.

 

From what I can gather it appears that Hemsky is showing off his league known offensive creativity and gifted puck skills on this card, weaving between two Maple Leafs.

 

Obtained: Through the mail c/o Dallas Stars. January 23rd, 2015

#1 - Season Highlight, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins opens up the set with a obligatory draft day photo op. It appears that this has been the only release where Nugent-Hopkins leads off the set.

Nugent-Hopkins was selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. This would be the second straight year that the Oilers would pick first at the draft, choosing Taylor Hall the previous year.

Obtained: Through the mail c/o Edmonton Oilers. May 21st, 2014