Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
We are in the midst of the first round of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. In this week’s Snap Shots column, we will look at some of the goalies who have been thrust into the spotlight due to injuries, the Kings making a comeback after getting clobbered in two straight games, and a scary incident where an off-ice official was hurt. Plus, Evander Kane’s career turnaround and the NHL Draft Lottery odds.
Continue reading “Snap Shots: Backup Goalies in the Spotlight”
I was pretty sick over the past seven days, so I didn’t get to publish Snap Shots for last week. Therefore, this week’s edition will take a look at the top 10 stories from past two weeks in the world of hockey. But don’t worry — this will be a quick read, I promise 🙂
I was so busy last weekend that I didn’t get to write my Snap Shots column for last week. So, this week’s edition has more “shots,” covering the last two weeks of notable hockey stories. But don’t worry — each “shot” is shorter and this will be a quick read. Promise!
Continue reading “Snap Shots: Auston Matthews Sets Maple Leafs’ Goals Record”
Happy Monday and welcome to Snap Shots. This week, we will look at two NHL milestones that were reached, a recap of hockey at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, and the long-awaited return of one of the league’s star players.
A day late, but better than never! Last week was a huge week around the NHL. This week, I’ll share my thoughts on Evander Kane’s potential return to the ice as well as a dustup involving two of the league’s most frequent offenders.
On a lighter note, a few new uniforms were released last week and they are deserving of my attention. I wrote more than a few words about those uniforms as well another take or two.
Happy Tuesday and Happy Hanukkah!
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Jerseys in Jersey and Happy Hanukkah”
In this week’s column, I’ll share my thoughts on the Stanley Cup Finals so far, and touch on a few other notable storylines around the league.
Happy Tuesday!
Happy third night of Hannukkah and merry Christmas Eve. This edition of Blake’s Takes won’t be very festive, but it will have some interesting content. Last week was a busy week in the NHL. Taylor Hall was finally moved and Ilya Kovalchuk is now a free agent! I’ll also highlight a breakout performer and take a closer look at one of my favorite plays of the week.
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Hall Moves to Phoenix for the Holidays”
This week marks my 52nd week writing this column. Although I’ve been writing Blake’s Takes for a bit over a year, this felt like the perfect time to celebrate. I want to thank everyone who reads this column each week. I appreciate all of your support and I have really enjoyed the experience. A special thanks to my number-one fan, Aaron Walters, for all of the kind words. Here’s to another 52 weeks!
The NHL is buzzing right now and takes are easy to come by. For this week’s Blake’s Takes, you can expect a Jack Hughes update and additional Devils’ news. Also, I’ll feature one of the best rivalries in the sport that flared up over the weekend and highlight what could be this year’s best goal.
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Drew Doughty is Back and Happy One-Year!”
NHL GMs were busy this week dishing out a ton of money in extensions. I’ll look into four of the most impactful deals and why one of them could open the floodgates for the many unsigned RFAs.
At a glance:
– 1988-89 L.A. Kings Team Set
– 25 cards
– Standard Size: 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
– Download checklist
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention sponsored a set of Los Angeles Kings trading cards during the 1988-89 season. Of course, we know this Department best by their mascot, Smokey the Bear. The anthropomorphic bear told us, over the years, that “only you can prevent forest fires.” Since the set bears Smokey’s face on the front, the set is usually referred to as the “Smokey” or “Smokey the Bear” Kings set. As is the case with most team-issued sets, many lesser-known players — as well as the coaches — are featured throughout.
