1974-75 O-Pee-Chee 391 Eric Vail Hockey Card (Front)
1974-75 O-Pee-Chee 391 Eric Vail Hockey Card (Back)
1974-75 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Eric needed only half a year of minor league seasoning before joining the Flames as a regular midway through last season. Good size and a willingness to throw his weight around in the corners make Eric a good bet for future stardom. Vail is still eligible for rookie of the year honors in the NHL this season. Eric was a second round selection by the Flames in the 1973 Amateur Draft.
En Français
Eric ne passa qu’une demi-saison dans les mineures avant de devenir ailier régulier des Flames au milieu de la dernière saison. Eric se sert de son poids dans les coins et cela devrait l’aider à devenir unde vedetee. Vail pourrait être choisi la Recrue de l’Année cette saison. Eric fut choisi par les Flames à la deuxième ronde du repêchage des amateurs en 1973.
Details
Great prediction by O-Pee-Chee. Eric Vail did indeed win the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1974-75. His 39 goals in 72 games for the Atlanta Flames helped give him the edge over runner-up Pierre Larouche, along with Danny Gare, Bob Hess and Ron Greschner. The 39 goals would remain as his career best.
The Flames selected Eric in the second round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, 21st overall. Atlanta took Tom Lysiak with their first pick. Vail played three years of major junior hockey, starting with the Niagara Falls Flyers then moving to the Sudbury Wolves for his third season after the team relocated. It would be the first of two times he would move with the team. In 1980-81, he went to Alberta to play for the Calgary Flames.
1974-75 started slow for Vail with just one assist over his first seven games. Thanks to the Detroit Red Wings, it all came together in game eight. On October 23, 1974, the Flames hosted the Wings at the Omni. In a 10-1 blowout, Eric had three goals on Detroit goalie Terry Richardson while also assisting on a Buster Harvey goal for a four point game.
Teammate Curt Bennett also had a hat trick in the game while Tom Lysiak had five points on a goal and four assists. It was the first of three hat tricks for Vail in 1974-75 but the only four point affair.
Between 1973-74 and 1981-82, Eric Vail played 591 regular season and 20 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Flames and Detroit Red Wings. Six times with the Flames, he surpassed the 20 goal plateau with three of those going above 30.