Rookie Cards of Every NHL Head Coach for the 2019-20 Season

Some NHL head coaches had long careers in the NHL, instantly giving them credibility to the players that they mentor. Other NHL head coaches got nowhere near an NHL rink during their playing days, but worked hard and finally ended up in “The Show” behind the bench.

Regardless of their path, it is always fun to see what an NHL head coach looked like during their playing days. So, for a third year in a row, I’ve dug up a rookie card for each and every NHL head coach. For you non-collectors out there, a “rookie card” is usually understood to mean a player’s first card in a mainstream set, like Topps, O-Pee-Chee or Upper Deck, among others.

However, because many NHL head coaches never actually played in the NHL — or if they did, it was only for just a few games — they never got an official rookie card. In their cases, I decided to share those coaches’ earliest-known trading card — even if it was from a minor league or junior league team.

 Anaheim Ducks: Dallas Eakins

 

Rookie Card: 1997-98 Pinnacle Be A Player #86
Average Value: 50 cents (standard), $3 (autograph), $5 (silver autograph), $10 (prismatic die-cut autograph)
Age in Picture: Assuming that this photo was taken during Eakins’ second stint with the Panthers in 1997-98, he is 30 years old.
Age Today: 52 years old.
Fun Facts: Eakins made his NHL debut in February of 1993, but didn’t get a rookie card until 1997-98. In his first six years in the NHL, he played with the Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, Jets (again), Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers and Panthers (again). He’d also play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders and Calgary Flames. Talk about a journey, man!
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Edmonton Oilers (2013-14 & 2014-15). This is Easkin’s first season with the Anaheim Ducks.

Arizona Coyotes:  Rick Tocchet

Rookie Card: 1987-88 Topps #2 (above) & O-Pee-Chee #2
Average Value: $2 (Topps) and $4 (O-Pee-Chee)
Age in Picture: Around 23 years old.
Age Today: 55 years old.
Fun Fact: It took Tocchet three full seasons in the NHL (and 751 penalty minutes) before the card companies noticed him and deemed him worthy of a trading card.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Tampa Bay Lightning (2008-09 & 2009-10); Arizona Coyotes (2017-18 to present).

Boston Bruins: Bruce Cassidy

First NHL Card: 1985-86 Chicago Blackhawks Team Issue Set
Average Value: $3 to $5, but only because it is hard to find.
Age in Picture: Around 20 years old.
Age Today: 54 years old.
Fun Facts: Cassidy never had a mainstream rookie card (Topps, O-Pee-Chee or otherwise) during his NHL career, but he was included in the 1985-86 Blackhawks team-issued set, despite playing one game for the ‘Hawks in 1983-84 and then spending the entire 1984-85 season in junior. The ‘Hawks had high hopes for their former first round pick, but injuries limited him to just one NHL and four AHL games in 1985-86.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Washington Capitals (2002-03 & 2003-04); Boston Bruins (2016-17 to present).

Buffalo Sabres: Ralph Kruger

Rookie Card: He doesn’t have one.
Average Value: n/a
Age in Picture: n/a
Age Today: 60 years old.
Fun Fact: Krueger coached in Switzerland for 13 years, and appeared on a few hockey stickers. 
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience:
 Edmonton Oilers (2010-11 to 2012-13). This is Kruger’s first season with the Buffalo Sabres.

Calgary Flames: Bill Peters

First-Ever Card: 1999-2000 Spokane Chiefs #25
Average Value: $1
Age in Picture: 34 or 35 years old.
Age Today: 54 years old.
Fun Fact: Peters never had any cards issued during his short playing career, but has appeared in several minor league team sets; this being his earliest card.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Carolina Hurricanes (2014-15 to 2017-18); Calgary Flames (2018-19 to present).

Carolina Hurricanes: Rod Brind’Amour

Rookie Cards: 1990-91 Bowman #23, O-Pee-Chee #332, Pro Set #259 (above), Score American #131, Score Canadian #131, Topps #332, Upper Deck #36 & Upper Deck French #36
Average Value: $1 for his Upper Deck RC — and that might be pushing it — and 25 cents each for the others.
Age in Picture: 19 years old.
Age Today:  49 years old.
Fun Fact: Brind’Amour’s rookie cards came out during the 1990-91 season, and were so overproduced that they have virtually no value today.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Brind’Amour’s first head coaching job in any league. He was hired by the Hurricanes prior to the 2018-19 season.

Chicago Blackhawks: Jeremy Colliton

 

Rookie Cards: 2005-06 Artifacts #299, Beehive #157, Black Diamond #261,
Hot Prospects #250, Ice #203, Parkhurst #644, SP Game Used #224,
The Cup #166 (pictured), Trilogy #280, Ultimate Collection #158, Upper Deck #481, and Rookie Update #247 — plus parallel and variant versions of many of these cards.
Average Value: Most are $1-$2. If the RC has an autograph, then it sells in the $3-$5 range. His RC from The Cup (shown above) can sell for $15-$20.
Age in Picture: 20 years old.
Age Today: 34 years old.
Fun Fact: Colliton is by far the youngest head coach on this list, and is the only coach with an NHL rookie card that features both an autograph AND a piece of jersey patch. 
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: 
This is Colliton’s first NHL head coaching job. He was hired by the Blackhawks midway through the 2018-19 season. 

Colorado Avalanche: Jared Bednar

bednarFirst-Ever Card: 1991-92 11 Seventh Inning Sketch WHL #11
Average Value: 50 cents
Age in Picture: 19 years old.
Age Today: 47 years old.
Fun Fact: Bednar grinded out a nine-year career playing minor league hockey, followed by another 14 years of coaching before getting a shot as an NHL coach. He played for three different teams — Spokane Chiefs, Medicine Hat Tigers and Prince Albert Raiders — during his final year of junior hockey.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Bednar’s first NHL head coaching job. He was hired by the Avalanche prior to the 2016-17 season.

Columbus Blue Jackets: John Tortorella

1988-89 ProCards - John Tortorella

First-Ever Card: 1988-89 ProCards New Haven Nighthawks
Average Value: $1
Age in Picture: 30 years old.
Age Today: 61 years old.
Fun Facts: “Torts” only played pro in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League — a league known more for its fighting than issuing trading cards. Thus, his first card is from the awesome 1988-89 ProCards AHL/IHL set, when he was an assistant coach with the New Haven Nighthawks. The back of the card offers absolutely no information whatsoever.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: New York Rangers (1999-2000, as an interim head coach); Tampa Bay Lightning (2000-01 to 2007-08); New York Rangers (2008-09 to 2012-13); Vancouver Canucks (2013-14); Columbus Blue Jackets (2015-16 to present).

Dallas Stars: Jim Montgomery

Rookie Cards: 1993-94 Donruss #300, Fleer Power Play #431, Fleer Ultra #413, O-Pee-Chee Premier #488, Parkhurst #176, Pinnacle #438, Score American #621 (above), Score Canadian #621, Topps Premier #488 & Upper Deck #472
Average Value: 25 cents
Age in Picture: 24 years old.
Age Today: 50 years old.
Fun Fact: Montgomery had 10 different rookie cards issued during the 1993-94 season, which was his rookie year. He has the most rookie cards of any coach on this list. However, there are also parallel versions of his Topps, O-Pee-Chee, Score American, Score Canadian and Parkhurst cards, for a total of 15 different Montgomery RCs to collect.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Montgomery’s first head coaching job in the NHL. He was hired by the Stars prior to the 2018-19 season.

Detroit Red Wings: Jeff Blashill

First-Ever Card: 2017 By Cards IIHF World Championships Team USA #25
Average Value: $2
Age in Picture: 43 years old.
Age Today: 45 years old.
Fun Fact: Last year, when I wrote about the rookie cards for every NHL coach for the 2017-18 season, Blashill did not have a card. Since then, a company in Europe called By Cards made a set of trading cards for the 2017 IIHF World Championships, and included Blashill, who coached Team USA. This is his first card after seven years of playing (three years junior and four years college) and 19 years of coaching. It took forever, but Blashill finally got a card.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Blashill’s first head coaching job in the NHL. He was hired by the Red Wings prior to the 2015-16 season.

Edmonton Oilers: Dave Tippett

1986-87 Topps #148 - Dave Tippett

Rookie Cards: 1986-87 Topps #148 (above) and O-Pee-Chee #148
Average Value:  50 cents
Age in Picture: About 25 years old.
Age Today: 58 years old.
Fun Fact: Tippett didn’t get a rookie card until his fourth season in the NHL. He made his debut at the end of the 1983-84 season, then played 80 games in 1984-85 and another 80 games in 1985-86 before finally getting an RC in the 1986-87 sets. 
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience:
Dallas Stars (2002-03 to 2008-09); Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (2009-10 to 2016-17). This is Tippett’s first season with the Edmonton Oilers. 

Florida Panthers: Joel Quenneville

Rookie Card: 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee #336
Average Value: $2 to $3.
Age in Picture: About 20 years old.
Age Today: 61 years old.q-stache
Fun Fact: While this is Joel Quenneville’s rookie card, more importantly, it is also the rookie card of Joel Quenneville’s mustache — a.k.a. The Q-Stache — which is arguably pro sports most popular mustache. Don’t believe me? The Q-Stache has its own entry on Urban Dictionary, and a Twitter account with over 42,000 followers. (If you’ll excuse me now, I’m gonna go cry myself to sleep.)
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: St. Louis Blues (1996-97 to 2003-04); Colorado Avalanche (2005-06 to 2007-08); Chicago Blackhawks (2008-09 to 2018). This is Quenneville’s first season with the Florida Panthers.

Los Angeles Kings: Todd McLellan

First-Ever Card: 1983-84 Saskatoon Blades Team Issue Set #14
Average Value: $1 to $2.
Age in Picture: Well, the card does state on the front that he is 16.
Age Today: 52 years old.
Fun Facts: McLellan played in only five games with the Islanders, so he never had an NHL card. Funny thing is, in four years of junior hockey, two years of minor-pro hockey and 25 years of coaching at the various ranks, McLellan has exactly three hockey cards; one from juniors (pictured), one as a minor league player and one as a minor league coach.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: San Jose Sharks (2008-09 to 2014-15); Edmonton Oilers (2015-16 to 2018-19).

Minnesota Wild: Bruce Boudreau

1978-79 O-Pee-Chee #280 - Bruce Boudreau

Rookie Card: 1978-79 O-Pee-Chee #280
Average Value: $3
Age in Picture: Around 23 years old.
Age Today: 64 years old.
Fun Facts: Boudreau appeared in 40 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1977-78, which was enough to earn him a rookie card in the following season’s O-Pee-Chee set. This card is tied with Randy Carlyle’s rookie card for being the oldest on this list.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Washington Capitals (2007-08 to 2011-12); Anaheim Ducks (2011-12 to 2015-16); Minnesota Wild (2016-17 to present).

Montreal Canadiens: Claude Julien

1983-84 Fredericton Express #16 - Claude Julien

First-Ever Card: 1983-84 Frederiction Express #16
Average Value: $1
Age in Picture: 23 years old.
Age Today: 59 years old.
Fun Fact: Julien only played 14 games in the NHL, so he never got a proper rookie card. But he had cards in 10 different minor league team sets during his career. This is his earliest-known card.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Montreal Canadiens (2002-03 to 2005-06); New Jersey Devils (2006-07); Boston Bruins (2007-08 to 2016-17); Montreal Canadiens (2016-17 to present).

Nashville Predators: Peter Laviolette

Rookie Cards: 1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #508 (above) & Fleer Ultra #488
Average Value: 25 cents
Age in Picture: 29 years old.
Age Today: 54 years old.
Fun Fact: P-Lav played 12 games with the Rangers in 1988-89, but did not get a rookie card until the 1993-94 season, when he captained Team USA at the 1994 Winter Olympics. That year, card company Fleer included players from Team USA and Team Canada in its PowerPlay and Ultra sets. This is considered his NHL rookie card, even though it actually came out five years after he played in the NHL.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: New York Islanders (2001-02 & 2002-03); Carolina Hurricanes (2003-04 to 2008-09); Philadelphia Flyers (2009-10 to 2013-14); Nashville Predators (2014-15 to present).

New Jersey Devils: John Hynes

First-Ever Card: 2009-10 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins #28
Average Value: $2
Age in Picture: 34 years old.
Age Today: 44 years old.
Fun Facts: When Hynes was hired by the Devils, he was, at the time, the youngest head coach in the NHL. He played college hockey at Boston University for four years, and participated in four straight Frozen Four tournaments.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Hynes’ first NHL head coaching job. He was hired by the Devils prior to the 2015-16 season.

New York Islanders: Barry Trotz

1981-82 Regina Pats #21 - Barry Trotz

First-Ever Card: 1981-82 Regina Pats #21
Average Value: $1 to $2.
Age in Picture: 19 years old.
Age Today: 57 years old.
Fun Facts: Trotz played four years of junior hockey, but only appeared on one card during his playing days. Check out those sweet Cooperalls he’s wearing.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Nashville Predators (1999-2000 to 2013-14); Washington Capitals (2014-15 to 2017-18); New York Islanders (2018-19 to present).

New York Rangers: David Quinn

First-Ever Card: 1992-93 Cleveland Lumberjacks #9
Average Value:
$1
Age in Picture: 26 years old.
Age Today: 53 years old.
Fun Fact: In three years of playing college, two years of playing minor pro and 19 years of coaching at the various ranks, this is actually the only trading card of Quinn ever made.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Quinni’s first job as an NHL head coach. He was hired by the New York Rangers prior to the 2018-19 season.

Ottawa Senators: D.J. Smith

 

Rookie Cards: 1997-98 Donruss #206, Donruss Canadian Ice #142 (pictured), Donruss Limited #37 & Upper Deck #194
Average Value: 25 cents
Age in Picture: Around 20 years old.
Age Today: 42 years old.
Fun Fact: Smith played 8 games for the Maple Leafs in 1996-97, which was good enough to be included in some card sets next season. All of his cards from junior call him “Denis Smith” instead of “D.J. Smith.”
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Smith’s first season as an NHL head coach. 

Philadelphia Flyers: Alain Vigneault

1987-88 Hull Olympiques - Alain Vigneault

First-Ever Card: 1987-88 Hull Olympiques #20
Average Value: $2
Age in Picture: 26 years old.
Age Today: 58 years old.
Fun Fact: These cards were given out by the Police in the Hull area. In lieu of statistics, these had safety tips on the back. The advice on the back of Vigneault’s card, translated from French, says “Did you know that the mixture of alcohol + drugs = death!”
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Montreal Canadiens (1997-98 to 2000-01); Vancouver Canucks (2006-07 to 2012-13); New York Rangers (2013-14 to 2017-18); This is Vignault’s first season with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Mike Sullivan

Rookie Card: 1991-92 Parkhurst #383
Average Value: 25 cents
Age in Picture: 23 or 24 years old.
Age Today: 51 years old.
Fun Facts: Despite playing in 64 games with the San Jose Sharks in 1991-92 — 6th most on the team — only Parkhurst bothered to make a card of Sullivan that year. The back of the card states that Sullivan “appears to be on his way towards a solid NHL career.” That turned out to be true, since he played in 709 NHL games; but even more so if you consider his back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships as the Penguins’ head coach.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Boston Bruins (2003-04 & 2005-06); Pittsburgh Penguins (2015-16 to present).

San Jose Sharks: Peter DeBoer

First-Ever Card: 1989-90 ProCards IHL #189
Average Value: $1
Age in Picture: 21 years old.
Age Today: 51 years old
Fun Facts: DeBoer was drafted by the Maple Leafs in 1988, and traded to the Canucks in 1989, but didn’t crack the lineup for either team. His earliest card pictures him with the Milwaukee Admirals of the old International Hockey League.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Florida Panthers (2008-09 to 2010-11); New Jersey Devils (2011-12 to 2014-15); San Jose Sharks (2015-16 to present).

St. Louis Blues: Craig Berube

 

Rookie Card: 1990-91 O-Pee-Chee #448 (pictured), Pro Set #498, Upper Deck #450
Average Value:
25 cents. 
Age in Picture:
24 or 25 years old. 
Age Today:
53 years old. 
Fun Facts:
Berube started the 2018-19 season as an Associate Coach for the Blues, was promoted to interim head coach when Mike Yeo was fired, then named head coach for real when the Blues won the Stanley Cup.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Philadelphia Flyers (2013-14 & 2014-15); St. Louis Blues (2018-19 to present).

Tampa Bay Lightning: Jon Cooper

First-Ever Card: 2010-11 Norfolk Admirals #10
Average Value: $1 to $2.
Age in Picture: 43 years old.
Age Today: 52 years old
Fun Facts: Cooper is in almost the exact same pose on his 2011-12 card. Check it out:

Arms folded and frowning must be Cooper’s standard coaching pose.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Cooper’s first job as an NHL coach. He was hired by the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to the 2012-13 season.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Mike Babcock

babcockFirst-Ever Card: 1991-92 Seventh Inning Sketch WHL #275
Average Value: 50 cents
Age in Picture: 28 years old.
Age Today: 56 years old.
Fun Fact: Mike Babcock hasn’t changed his hair style in 26 years. This card proves it.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Anaheim Mighty Ducks (2002-03 & 2003-04); Detroit Red Wings (2005-06 to 2014-15); Toronto Maple Leafs (2015-16 to present).

Vancouver Canucks: Travis Green

Rookie Cards: 1992-93 Fleer Ultra #343 (above) & Parkhurst #343
Average Value: 25 cents.
Age in Picture: 22 years old.
Age Today: 48 years old.
Fun Facts: Green had two cards issued during his rookie year. The cards were released by competing companies, but coincidentally are both number 343 in each set.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Green’s first job as an NHL head coach. He was hired by the Vancouver Canucks prior to the 2018-19 season.

Vegas Golden Knights: Gerard Gallant

Rookie Card: 1987-88 O-Pee-Chee #67 (above) & Topps #67
Average Value: 50 cents to $1 (either version).
Age in Picture: 23 years old.
Age Today: 56 years old.
Fun Facts: Like Coyotes’ head coach Rick Tocchet, who also has rookie cards in the 1987-88 Topps and O-Pee-Chee sets, Gallant played three seasons in the NHL before he was “good enough” to get a rookie card. All he had to do was lead the Red Wings in goals with 38 during the 1986-87 season. And yet, the card companies could not get his first name right, misspelling it “Gerald” instead of “Gerard.”
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Columbus Blue Jackets (2003-04 to 2006-07); Florida Panthers (2014-15 to 2016-17); Vegas Golden Knights (2017-18 to present).

Washington Capitals: Todd Reirden

Rookie Cards: 1999-2000 Be A Player Memorabilia #313 (above), Pacific Omega #200 & Upper Deck MVP Stanley Cup Edition #165
Average Value: 50 cents
Age in Picture: 28 years old.
Age Today: 48 years old.
Fun Facts: Reirden was drafted in 1990. He then played four years of college hockey followed by another four years of minor league hockey — with seven different teams! — before making his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers in 1998-99. However, all of his rookie cards are from the 1999-2000 season, and picture him with the St. Louis Blues.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: This is Reirden’s first job as an NHL head coach. He was promoted from assistant coach to head coach by the Capitals prior to the 2018-19 season.

Winnipeg Jets: Paul Maurice

First-Ever Card: 1993-94 Detroit Jr. Red Wings #23
Average Value: $1
Age in Picture: 26 years old.
Age Today: 52 years old.
Fun Facts: Maurice wore two hats, as both the head coach and general manager of the OHL’s Detroit Jr. Red Wings.
Previous NHL Head Coaching Experience: Hartford Whalers (1995-96 & 1996-97); Carolina Hurricanes (1997-98 to 2003-04); Toronto Maple Leafs (2006-07 & 2007-08); Carolina Hurricanes (2008-09 to 2011-12); Winnipeg Jets (2013-14 to present).


Average card values were were based on recent Ebay sales, historical sale data from Check Out My Cards, the Beckett Marketplace, and Center Ice Collectibles, which specializes in team-issued cards. As you can see, most of these cards rarely go over $2

So, which rookie card from this list do you like the best? Leave a comment and let me know.

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.

Like Puck Junk? Support this site and buy a shirt

mm

Author: Sal Barry

Sal Barry is the editor and webmaster of Puck Junk. He is a freelance hockey writer, college professor and terrible hockey player. Follow him on Twitter @puckjunk

One thought on “Rookie Cards of Every NHL Head Coach for the 2019-20 Season”

  1. Leaf fan here so Gabby Boudreau is my favourite. Gotta love his journey through the ranks. Of course, his appearance (and his room) in Slapshot solidifies my choice.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *