The 1968 Stanley Cup playoffs was the first after the expansion from six to twelve teams. The defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs did not qualify and a new champion would be crowned. All of the 'Original Six' teams were placed in the new Eastern Division, and all of the new teams placed in the new Western Division. Each division contributed four playoff teams; Chicago, Boston, New York and Montreal in the East and Minnesota, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Los Angeles in the West. Division teams then played off to produce a divisional champion, and the two divisional champions played off in the Final to win the Stanley Cup. The Eastern quarter finals saw Montreal vs. Boston and Chicago vs. New York.
Doug Gibson made his 2 game NHL debut as a Bruin in 1973-74 and in 1975-76 was a solid role player in 50 games for Don Cherry's Bruins. Claimed off waivers by Washington in 1977 he would add another 11 NHL games there before ended up with the Hershey Bears of the AHL for three years prior to venturing to Europe. The veteran pivot spent three years as a high scorer on the German club SC Riessersee then coached the squad in 1983-84 before retiring. His only card, as a Bruin was issued in the 1975-76 OPC set.
Rich Leduc spent most of his first two pro seasons with the AHL's Boston Braves and accumulated 57 goals. The young pivot was a solid role player for the Bruins in 1973-74 and played in five post-season contests when the club reached the finals. Prior to the 1974-75 season, LeDuc signed with the WHA's Cleveland Crusaders and would get his rookie card issued in the 1975-76 OPC WHA set.
Doug Roberts played for three seasons with the Michigan State Spartans and made the NCAA West First All-American Team in 1965. The following year, he joined the Red Wings' organization but spent the majority of his year with the Memphis Wings of the CHL, winning the Ken McKenzie Trophy as the league's top rookie. In 1967, Roberts split his year evenly between the Red Wings and the Fort Worth Wings before he was traded to the Oakland Seals at the end of the season. He put in three seasons of full-time labour on behalf of a struggling team before he was traded to the Boston Bruins in 1971. He was bounced regularly between the parent club and the Boston Braves of the AHL. Then, two years later, Roberts landed back with his hometown Wings again. Inspired by his return, he put in his best-ever NHL campaign, scoring 37 points in 57 games. His 1974-75 OPC card, his last one, shows him as a Red Wing.
Camille Henry was in his 11th NHL season in 1964-65, all with the New York Rangers, when he was traded to Chicago as part of a multi-player deal. He played the 1965-66 season for the St. Louis Braves of the CPHL. Henry dabbled with retirement the following season, but 1967-68 saw him back on ice, with both the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL. He played his last two seasons with the St. Louis Blues organization before retiring for good in 1970. His 1965-66 Topps card lists him as a Bruin but in a Rangers jersey, client wanted an upgrade.
Zellio Toppazzini split his first three pro hockey seasons, from 1948-49 to 1950-51, between the Boston Bruins and the AHL's Hershey Bears. He had his rookie card issued as #73 in the 1952-53 Parkhurst set, but his brother Jerry was pictured on the front. Client wanted a corrected version.
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