Four-card promo sheet features Roenick, Potvin, Fleury and Park
This 4-card panel was issued to promote the 1995-96 Fleer Metal Hockey set. These standard-sized cards are of Felix Potvin, Jeremy Roenick, Theoren Fleury and Richard Park. To one side is a 2-inch strip that has information about the set. The cards are perforated and can be torn apart from one another.
The front of the “info strip” explains the breakdown of the set (168 basic cards, 30 rookie cards, 2 checklists) and the odds of getting a certain insert card (e.g. “1:12 packs”).
The back of the “info strip” has the following quote from Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Felix Potvin:
“Being a goalie, I get to see hockey at its fastest and most powerful. This year’s collection of Metal NHL Hockey cards from Fleer captures that feeling. Every basic card features hot players in the midst of red-hot NHL action. Then there’s the insert sets. Five of them in all. And each more scare than the next. Like the metal ingot card that you can only find in one out of every 360 packs. Talk about collectability! No trading cards capture the power, speed and action of the NHL quite like Fleer Metal NHL Hockey.”
– Felix Potvin
It is good to see that “The Cat” was so enthusiastic about Fleer Metal’s inaugural set.
Other than the perforations, the front of each promo card is virtually identical to the actual cards that were issued.
The back of each promo card is a different story. Besides the perforations that the torn-apart promo cards would have, the back of each promo also has several differences from the actual release version of each card.
Promo card (left) and real card. Click images to enlarge.
Felix Potvin
- The promo is numbered “Sample 1” while the real card is numbered 146
- “Toronto” is abbreviated “TORON.” on the promo and “TOR” on the real card
- The font used for Potvin’s name is a bit thinner on the real card
- The photo on the real card is pulled back a bit
Promo card (left) and real card. Click images to enlarge.
Jeremy Roenick
- The promo is numbered “Sample 2” while the real card is numbered 28
- “Chicago” is abbreviated “CHIC.” on the promo and “CHI on the real card
- The font used for Roenick’s name is a bit thinner on the real card
- There is a bit more room above Roenick’s head in the photo, but that is probably because the promo card is a bit shorter than the standard 3 1/2″ size
Promo card (left) and real card. Click images to enlarge.
Theoren Fleury
- The promo is numbered “Sample 3” while the real card is numbered 18
- “Calgary” is abbreviated “CALG.” on the promo and “CAL” on the real card
- The font used for Fleury’s name is a bit thinner on the real card
- The gradient used on the words “CALGARY FLAMES” on the right side is inversed. On the promo, the text goes from light to dark. On the real card, the text goes from dark to light
Promo card (left) and real card. Click images to enlarge.
Richard Park
- The promo is numbered “Sample 4” while the real card is numbered 187
- Unlike the other 3 cards, the font used for Park’s name on the promo appears to be the same thickness as the font used on the actual card
- The font used for Park’s biography on the promo card appears a bit thicker than the font used for his bio on the real card. Also, the layout is a bit different.
- On the promo card, Park’s height is listed at 5’11”, while it is noted as 6’0″ on the real card.
- On the promo card, Park’s weight is listed as 176, while it is noted as 187 on the real card. Like Potvin’s card, the photo of Park on the back is pulled back a bit, showing more of the background.
Conclusion: If you like the shiny Fleer Metal cards – or any of the players included here – then this is a nifty promo piece to get. Or, get two so you can tear one apart and leave the other sheet intact.