1979-80 O-Pee-Chee 68 Walt McKechnie Hockey Card (Front)
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee 68 Walt McKechnie Hockey Card (Back)
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
A strong center, Walt gives Maple Leafs experience and leadership.
En Français
Les Maple Leafs peuvent compter sur l’expérience et les qualités de chef de ce joueur de centre.
Details
Walt McKechnie came to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 1978-79 NHL season after a year split between the Washington Capitals and Cleveland Barons. He made an immediate impact with 25 goals and 36 assists for 61 points over 79 regular season games. In the post season, he added seven points in six games.
McKechnie recorded his second of two career hat tricks on February 17, 1979 at Maple Leaf Gardens in a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The first goal came just 28 seconds into the second period, his 19th of the season, assisted by Ron Ellis and Dan Maloney. The second was scored at 10:49 of the second, again assisted by Ellis and Maloney, and remained as the game winner. The hat trick goal was scored into the empty net with Mario Lessard on the bench.
In 1979-80, Walt’s numbers dropped dramatically. He scored just seven goals in 54 games with the Leafs and was traded to the Colorado Rockies on March 3, 1980 for future considerations.
Originally drafted by Toronto in 1963, Walt McKechnie played 955 regular season and 15 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1967-68 and 1982-83 with the Minnesota North Stars, California Golden Seals, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, Cleveland Barons, Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Rockies.