Carol Vadnais: 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 46

1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 46 Carol Vadnais Hockey Card (Front)

1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 46 Carol Vadnais Hockey Card (Back)

1971-72 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist

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Card Notes

Versatile Carol has blossomed into a full-time star with California. He came out of the Montreal system, and was drafted first in 1968. He’s aggressive and can play either forward of defense, but seems to prefer defense. Carol is a good skater and a hard-hitter.

En Français

Le versatile Carol est devenu une étoile en Californie. Il fut formé par les filiales des Canadiens et fut rêpeché premier en 1968. Il est agressif et peut jouer à la défense ou à l’avant, mail il semble préférer le jeu défensif. Carol est un bon patineur et un joueur robuste.

Details

Carol Vadnais was the first pick in the 1968 NHL Intraleague Draft, taken by the Oakland Seals from the Montreal Canadiens. As a Habs prospect, Vadnais appeared in just 42 games with the club over two years. He also played a single playoff game in each of the 1966-67 and 1967-68 campaigns, winning a Stanley Cup title with the club in his last year.

This would the last card featuring Vadnais with the Golden Seals. 52 games into the 1971-72 NHL season, Carol was traded to the Boston Bruins on February 23, 1972 with Don O’Donoghue for the trio of Reggie Leach, Rick Smith and Bob Stewart.

On a low scoring Seals team in 1969-70, Vadnais led the club with 24 goals. His 44 points placed him tied for third on the team with Bill Hicke, behind Ted Hampson and Earl Ingarfield. Carol also led the team that year in penalty minutes and playoff points. His 212 PIM was just one behind NHL leader Keith Magnuson of the Chicago Blackhawks.

In those 1969-70 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Seals met the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. The Pens swept the series in four games but Vadnais did what he could to try and extend the set. In game four, played at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Carol had both goals in a 3-2 overtime loss. He led all skaters with seven shots on Pens goalie Les Binkley.

Between 1966-67 and 1982-83, Carol Vadnais played 1,087 regular season and 106 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens, Oakland Seals, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. Along with his Stanley Cup win with the Habs, he won a second with the Bruins in 1971-72.

Carol Vadnais NHL Career Stats

Regular Season

Playoffs

NHL Hockey Card Greats: Carol Vadnais [Video]