Dave Balon first came to prominence playing on a Prince Albert junior team with his brothers, Chick and Rudy. In 1956-57, over a 51 game season, he had 35 goals and 113 points. He made his NHL debut in '59-60 as a New York Ranger. In 1963 he was involved in a much-discussed trade between New York and Montreal, moving with Gump Worsley to the Canadiens for Jacques Plante. He won Cups with the Habs in 1965 and 1966 but in '67 went to the North Stars in the Expansion Draft. He led the league in playoff assists with the Minnesota North Stars in 1967 but returned to the Rangers the next year. OPC produced a '68-69 Balon card but as a Ranger ?? Here is his North Star CTNW.
1972-73. That got him his only card, a '72-73 OPC high number WHA card. Here is his North Stars rookie.
Bill Collins can thank NHL expansion for his having the opportunity to have played in the elite league. After toiling in the minors for four years, he signed a free-agent contract with the Minnesota North Stars. In 71 games that year, he scored nine times and had 20 points. That was the start of 13 consecutive NHL seasons with other stops in Montreal, Detroit, St. Louis, New York, Philadelphia and Washington. His official rookie card was released , as a North Star, in the '69-70 OPC set.
Murray Hall made his NHL debut with the Black Hawks in '61-62 with a two-game appearance. He spent the majority of the next two seasons in the minors before returning for a 23-game stint with the Hawks in 1963-64. Claimed by Detroit in the Intra-league Draft in June 1964, he was able to merit the periodic invitation up to Detroit for regular season or playoff games between 1964 and 1967. The 1967 Expansion Draft saw him move to Minnesota. He played 17 games for the North Stars before a series of trades sent him back to the AHL and WHL. His rookie card was issued in the '62-63 Topps set.
Don Johns spent parts of six seasons in the NHL in the 1960s. He also toiled in the minor leagues with the AHL, CHL and WHL in a pro career that lasted over a decade. He joined the New York Rangers in 1960-61 and enjoyed a solid NHL rookie season, appearing in 63 games. He played in parts of 4 seasons as a Ranger before a 1 game stop in Montreal before being traded to Minnesota on October 5, 1967. He would only appear in 4 games as a North Star and that would be his final NHL action. His rookie, and only, card was issued as part of the '63-64 Topps set.
Len Lunde was a solid play-maker and checker on four different NHL clubs over 13 years. He debuted as a Red Wing in '58-59 and scored 14 goals as a rookie and was a regular through the end of the 1961-62 season. In June 1962 he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks and scored 28 points in '62-63. Beginning in 1963-64, Lunde was chiefly a minor leaguer but did play another handful of NHL games for the Hawks, Minnesota North Stars, and Vancouver Canucks. His Minnesota stop consisted of 7 games in '67-68.
Walt McKechnie was a 1st round draft pick by the Maple Leafs, 6th overall, in the 1963 NHL Amateur Draft. Despite a solid showing with their OHA affiliate, the London Nationals, he never clicked with the Leafs' organization. As such, he was traded to Phoenix of the WHL, where he took rookie-of-the-year honors in 1968, and made his NHL debut later that year in 7 games with the North Stars. That marked the beginning of a lengthy big-league career that saw him skate for the North Stars, Golden Seals, Bruins, Wings, Capitals, Barons, Leafs and Rockies before he finally hung up his blades for good in 1984. His rookie card, as a North Star, was issued as part of the '70-71 OPC set.
Lou Nanne played all 635 of his NHL games with the Minnesota North Stars. Nanne played three years at the University of Minnesota and in 1962-63 he led the WCHA in scoring, was named to the conference all-star team and the NCAA West first all-American team. This was followed by four high scoring years in USHL with the Rochester Mustangs. Becoming a U.S. citizen, Nanne joined the US national team in 1967 and scored four points in seven games at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics. He signed with the Minnesota North Stars in March 1968 and got his first 2 NHL games under his belt. He retired a North Star after 11 seasons and had his rookie card issued as part of the '69-70 OPC set.
George Standing's 2 game NHL career came in '67-68 as a North Star. He was a talented offensive player who played junior hockey with three different OHA clubs then sat out the 1962-63 season. He spent his first four pro seasons with the EHL's Nashville Dixie Flyers and was named to the league's first all-star team after scoring 54 goals in 1964-65. In September 1967 he was signed by the Minnesota North Stars and played his only two NHL games. This was followed by five more years in the minors before he retired early in the 1971-72 season. He would never have a hockey card issued.
Ted Taylor played parts of six seasons in the NHL, a decent checker and play-maker, he spent most of his pro time in the WHA. The steady forward played 31 NHL games in 1967-68 after he was claimed by the Minnesota North Stars in the Expansion Draft. After a year in the minors he joined the NHL's Canucks for the '70-71 season and was a fine all around player for two years. Beginning in 1972-73, he played six years with the WHA's Houston Aeros, recording three 20-goal seasons and helped the club win the Avco World Trophy in 1974, before retiring in 1978. Taylor would have only 2 hockey cards issued, his rookie as a Ranger was part of the '65-66 Topps set, and his final, as a Houston Aero, in the '72-73 OPC set.
You can purchase these cards, or any of my Missing Link creations, for $10 each postpaid, or $7.95 for 3 or more. Email me at: [email protected], volume discounts available on larger orders.