1972-73 O-Pee-Chee NHL Hockey Cards

The 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee hockey card set consists of 341 cards with cards 290 to 341 featuring players from the newly formed World Hockey Association.

Not at all stacked with valuable rookie cards, the 1972-73 OPC set did, however, feature the first cards of these notable players: Rene Robert, Jim Rutherford, Steve Vickers, Dan Bouchard, Phil Myre, Ivan Boldirev, Gilles Meloche, Dave Burrows and Jim Schoenfeld.

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist

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1972-73 NHL Season

1972-73 was the first season of existence for the Atlanta Flames and New York Islanders. The Flames did much better in that inaugural season than their expansion cousins. Atlanta finished seventh of eight in the West Division with 25 wins and 65 points, 17 points better than the last place California Golden Seals. The team was a relatively short eleven points out of the final playoff spot.

The Islanders finished last overall in the National Hockey League. New York managed just 12 wins and 30 points while losing an even 60 games. This left the Isles a whopping 58 points out of a playoff spot.

The Montreal Canadiens dominated the regular season and the playoffs. The team won 52 games and lost just ten while putting up 120 points to finish first overall. The next closest opponent was the Boston Bruins with 107 points. The dominance continued into the playoffs as the Habs knocked off the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks to take the Stanley Cup championship.

The Bruins still took over the scoring race, as they did for most of the early 1970’s. Phil Esposito took home the Art Ross Trophy with 130 points. Bobby Orr finished third with 101 points but played in just 63 games. John Bucyk joined his teammates in the top 10. Bucyk tied Mickey Redmond and Frank Mahovlich for seventh with 93 points.

For the first time since 1967-68, the Hart Trophy didn’t go to Esposito or Orr. Bobby Clarke of the Flyers won his first of three MVP awards, leading his Flyers to the semi-finals. The following year, the ante would be upped and the Broad Street Bullies would win their first of two consecutive Stanley Cup championships.

1972-73 marked the inaugural season for the World Hockey Association. 12 teams took to the ice in that first WHA season. The New England Whalers finished first overall during the regular season and captured the Avco World Trophy championship beating out the Ottawa Nationals, Cleveland Crusaders and Winnipeg Jets. Andre Lacroix of the Philadelphia Blazers led the WHA in scoring with 124 points.

1972-73 NHL Standings

1972-73 NHL Scoring Leaders