The Awesome, Weird,and Ridiculous: My Favorite Carolina Hurricanes Cards


  • For as long as I can remember trading cards have been a part of my life. I have made it a personal obsession/mission/project to attempt to collect every Carolina Hurricanes Base Card ever printed in order to document the teams entire history in cardboard. For as long as I can remember I have also possessed a love for the awesome, weird, and ridiculous, and in the world of Trading cards their is no shortage of the awesome, weird and ridiculous. So here is my list of the most awesome, weird, and or ridiculous Carolina Hurricanes cards I have in my possession.


Note: I will not include the Justin Williams Glamour Shots esque photo, because it has been featured on my blog so many times before.

1. Ward Says No!
Very few calls are more distinct than the legendary TV voice of the Canes John Forslund proclaiming "Ward Says No!" After the long time Hurricanes net-minder makes an athletic or game changing save. This 2014 Upper Deck card perfectly encompasses the call on cardboard.

2. Aho Skates In No Man's Shadow.
While I do not know if this photo was taken during a warm-up or shootout. The 2017-2018 Upper Deck Canvas line provides a breathtaking look at a breathtaking young Hockey player. The overhead shot coupled with the shadow of young Canes Star Sebastian Aho makes for a really unique shot on cardboard.

3. Irregular shape on an All-Star regular.
Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge Justin Faulk fan and collector, possessing over 100 different cards of Justin Faulk alone. However, this card has a unique look in that it is square as opposed to the traditional rectangle, and its printed on a softer card stock.

4. Hats off to Lindy.


 Elias Lindholm has been a streaky player ever since he joined the big club. Before his game winning goal vs Tampa in the season finale it had been 28 games since he had scored a goal. However, this card from the Upper Deck 2015-2016 line celebrates his first and to this day only NHL hat trick with a smile holding the three pucks.

5. Quit Staaling and play.

 Before The Vegas Golden Knights potentially changed pre-game festivities in the NHL forever, The only time such theatrics were provided by NHL teams was on opening night. This card from the 2015-2016 Upper Deck Canvas line captures former Captain Eric Staal in that very moment as he is being announced to the crowd at the PNC Arena.

6. You are getting sleepy with Gary Roberts
 
The 1990's were a heyday for the card collector. From the junkwax era in baseball, to the introduction of Fleer Metal, to cereal boxes giving you cards. The late nineties brought crazy cards and even crazier backgrounds. Pacific joined the party with their 1997 line and Center Gary Roberts on a ridiculously tacky card with a hypnotic background.

7. A familiar legend in an unfamiliar sweater

Ron Francis returned home in 1998, but number ten was not available ( as covered in another blogpost) so he donned 21 and this 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond prominently displays that odd looking number on his sweater.

8. Sir I need to see your credentials
 While I am pretty sure no team requires players to have their credentials so prominently displayed. This concept card by Upper Deck MVP  2017-2018 is unique by design. The cooler thing about this as the credential levels increased their are different things on each card ( autographs, relics, etc) to make the chase even more thrilling.

9. We salute you Mr Rask.
The Carolina Hurricanes have a great relationship with the local military ( I was honored on the ice and wrote about it). By donating tickets to bases, and promoting a military discounts, and hosting the True Defenders program the team has been an ardent supporter. This 2017-2018 Upper Deck Portfolio showing Canes Center Victor Rask donning a Camoflauge warm-up provides a unique look to an other than that underwhelming card.

10. No Kidding this guy could play
The Carolina Hurricanes Goalie discussion usually consists of two names Cam Ward, and Arturs Irbe. However, before those two men manned the crease in Raleigh and man named Trevor Kidd patrolled the pipes with his trademark Checkerboard pads, and sprawling kick saves, This 1997 Pacific card portrays his in all his glory.

While there are literally thousands of cards to choose from these are ten of my favorite cards and each for their own reason help up reflect on the past remember the present and look forward to the future of Hurricanes Hockey. 

Thanks for reading and Redvolution

The Caniac Collector

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