One of only six players to score over 700 goals, Gartner is also notable for what he didn't accomplish. He never won a Stanley Cup or an individual award. He was never named to a post-season All-Star team either. But with 1,335 points (708 goals, 627 assists) in 1,432 games, he was an easy induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.
It's interesting to note that Mike Gartner also played on a line with Mark Messier in the WHA in 1978-79. He had a successful season and finished second to Wayne Gretzky for WHA Rookie-of-the-Year honours, the year before they all entered the NHL.
The lone hard-signed Mike Gartner card in my collection comes from 2011-12 Upper Deck Parkhurst Champions. Wearing the familiar red, white, and blue of the Washington Capitals, Gartner player there from 1979 to 1989 before being traded to Minnesota in a deal that included future 1,000 point scorers Larry Murphy and Dino Ciccarelli.
No comments:
Post a Comment