1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 37 Alex Delvecchio Hockey Card (Front)
1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 37 Alex Delvecchio Hockey Card (Back)
1971-72 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
Only center to play 20 seasons.
En Français
Le seul centre qui ait joué 20 saisons dans la LNH.
Details
Alex Delvecchio would go on to play 24 seasons in the National Hockey League. That number places him tied for fourth overall in NHL history with Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Jaromir Jagr and Tim Horton. The three players that have played more years in the league are Gordie Howe (26), Chris Chelios (26) and Mark Messier (25).
Delvecchio appeared in his first NHL game on March 25, 1951 against the Montreal Canadiens at the Detroit Olympia. The Red Wings shut out the Habs 5-0. Alex did not register a point in the game. Terry Sawchuk recorded the blank while Glen Skov put up the Gordie Howe Hat Trick for the Red Wings with a goal and assist, along with a fight with Bud MacPherson from the Habs.
The following year, he was a regular with the Red Wings and never looked back. Playing 65 of 70 games for Motown, Delvecchio contributed a respectable 37 points. However, his performance did not put him in the running for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. That honour went to Bernie Geoffrion of the Montreal Canadiens.
Between 1950-51 and 1973-74, Delvecchio appeared in 1,550 regular season and 121 playoff games in the National Hockey League, all with the Detroit Red Wings. The three time Lady Byng Trophy winner helped the Wings to three Stanley Cup championships. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977.