The 1965-66 Topps NHL hockey card set consists of 128 cards featuring players from all six teams in the league at the time. When it comes to first year players, the set is led in value by the Phil Esposito rookie card. Also significant are the RC’s of Gerry Cheevers, Yvan Cournoyer, Ed Giacomin and Paul Henderson.
Included in this set is a commemorative card honouring Gordie Howe. Mr. Hockey became the first National Hockey League to reach the 600 goal plateau. That card is equal to the Esposito rookie card as the two most valuable hockey cards in the 1965-66 Topps set.
As far as errors, this is a nearly flawless collection. The only documented uncorrected errors are simple spelling mistakes on two cards. The #76 Yvan Cournoyer card has his first name misspelt Yvon on both the front and the back. On the #28 Garry Peters card, his first name is missing an ‘r’ on the front of the card.
1965-66 Topps NHL Checklist
1965-66 Topps NHL Complete Set Video
1965-66 NHL Season
The 1965-66 NHL season was dominated by the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs finished first overall with 90 points and an eight point lead over the second place Toronto Maple Leafs. In the post season, Montreal swept the Leafs in the opening round before taking the Stanley Cup championship in six games over the Detroit Red Wings in the final.
The Canadiens were built on defense with Jacques Laperriere taking the Norris Trophy while Gump Worsley and Charlie Hodge share the Vezina. Montreal did not take home any other individual awards.
Laperriere was the only Hab selected to the First All-Star Team. That group was dominated by the Chicago Blackhawks with Glenn Hall, Pierre Pilote, Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull taking four of the six positions.
Bobby Hull, with his record setting 54 goals, took home the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Trophy. Alex Delvecchio won the Lady Byng Trophy for the second of three times over his career.
Roger Crozier of the Detroit Red Wings certainly made NHL history in the playoffs. Despite his team losing the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup final, Crozier was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
It was just the second year the Smythe had been handed out. Crozier became the first player to be awarded the trophy in a losing cause. Since, just four others have done the same: Glenn Hall with the St. Louis Blues in 1967-68; Reggie Leach with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975-76; Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1986-87; J.S. Giguere with the Anaheim Ducks in 2002-03.
1965-66 NHL Standings
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Montreal Canadiens | 70 | 41 | 21 | 8 | 90 | 239 | 173 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 70 | 37 | 25 | 8 | 82 | 240 | 187 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 70 | 34 | 25 | 11 | 79 | 208 | 187 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 31 | 27 | 12 | 74 | 221 | 194 |
| Boston Bruins | 70 | 21 | 43 | 6 | 48 | 174 | 275 |
| New York Rangers | 70 | 18 | 41 | 11 | 47 | 195 | 261 |
1965-66 NHL Scoring Leaders
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Bobby Hull | Chicago Black Hawks | 65 | 54 | 43 | 97 | 70 |
| Stan Mikita | Chicago Black Hawks | 68 | 30 | 48 | 78 | 56 |
| Bobby Rousseau | Montreal Canadiens | 70 | 30 | 48 | 78 | 20 |
| Jean Beliveau | Montreal Canadiens | 67 | 29 | 48 | 77 | 50 |
| Gordie Howe | Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 29 | 46 | 75 | 83 |
| Norm Ullman | Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 31 | 41 | 72 | 35 |
| Alex Delvecchio | Detroit Red Wings | 70 | 31 | 38 | 69 | 16 |
| Bob Nevin | New York Rangers | 69 | 29 | 33 | 62 | 10 |
| Henri Richard | Montreal Canadiens | 62 | 22 | 39 | 61 | 47 |
| Murray Oliver | Boston Bruins | 70 | 18 | 42 | 60 | 30 |