1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 21 Dennis Maruk Hockey Card (Front)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 21 Dennis Maruk Hockey Card (Back)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
Although short in stature, he has great speed to go with excellent stick-handling ability. Scored 30 goals as a rook on the “3m Line” and set an all-time NHL record for rookies with 5 shorthanded goals for season. Set 4 club marks in 1975-76 including most points by a rookie.
Details
The 3M Line with the California Seals in 1975-76 included Bob Murdoch, Al MacAdam and Dennis Maruk. MacAdam and Maruk were a one-two puch for the Seals, each scoring over 30 goals to lead the team offensively.
The five shorthanded goals that Dennis scored in 1975-76 as a NHL rookie remained a league record for first year players until Jordan Staal scored seven with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006-07. That mark stands today.
Maruk’s goal scoring would increase in 1977-78, leading the Cleveland Barons with 36 goals. It would be his last full year with the franchise (for a while). The Barons merged with the Minnesota North Stars for 1978-79. Dennis played two games for the Stars to start the season before an October 18, 1978 trade sent him to the Washington Capitals.
Dennis returned to Minnesota for the 1983-84 NHL season. He played the rest of his career with the club, retiring after the 1988-89 campaign.