1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 234 Dale Tallon Hockey Card (Front)
1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 234 Dale Tallon Hockey Card (Back)
1971-72 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
Vancouver selected Dale as top choice in the amateur draft of 1970, and he proved to be an immediate hit. He can play both forward and defense, but he prefers the latter. Dale is a fine rusher and puck-clearer. His fabulous junior career earned him a big contract for a rookie. He’s a big favorite with Vancouver fans.
En Français
Il fut le premier choix de Vancouver lors du repêchage des amateurs en 1970 et it devint immédiatement une vedette. Peut jouer à l’avant ou à la défense. Dale est habile à sortir la rondelle de sa zone. Sa Carrière sensationnelle dans le hockey junior lui permit d’obtenir un contrat avantageux comme recrue. Très populaire à Vancouver.
Details
Dale Tallon was the second overall pick at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft by the expansion Vancouver Canucks. Going first overall was Gilbert Perreault by the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver’s expansion partners for the 1970-71 season.
As a rookie with the Canucks in 1970-71, Tallon put up great numbers from the blue line with 56 points on 14 goals and 42 assists. He was fifth in balloting for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. The honour went to Gil Perreault with Jude Drouin, Gilles Villemure and Tom Webster also finishing with more votes than Dale.
The junior career referred to in the comments was spent in the OHA Junior A with the Oshawa Generals and Toronto Marlboros. He led the Marlboros in scoring as a defenseman in 1969-70 with 39 goals and 40 assists for 79 points over 54 games. The point total was good for tenth in the league, a distant 53 points behind leader Marcel Dionne of the St. Catharines Black Hawks.
His time in British Columbia would only last three years. On May 14, 1973, he was shipped to the Chicago Blackhawks for Jerry Korab and Gary Smith. His NHL career would end after the 1979-80 season after appearing in 642 regular season and 33 playoff games. Tallon finished up his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Dale Tallon 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee 234 [YouTube Shorts]
