1980-81 O-Pee-Chee 6 Jean Ratelle Hockey Card (Front)
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee 6 Jean Ratelle Hockey Card (Back)
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
The finale to a great Hockey Hall of Fame worthy career. 1980-81 would be the last in the NHL for Jean Ratelle, ending a 21 year career. He would become a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985. His jersey number 19 was retired by the New York Rangers in 2018. Despite the length of his career, Ratelle was never a Stanley Cup champion.
In his final season, Jean appeared in just 47 games for the Boston Bruins. His eleven goals and 26 assists for 37 points were decent but a far cry from his previous offensive success. Over his career, Ratelle topped the 30 goal plateau eight times with a career best of 46 during the 1971-72 season.
In 1971-72, Ratelle surpassed 100 points for the only time in his career. His 46 goals and 63 assists gave him a Rangers team leading 109 points. Overall, he finished fifth in the NHL for goal scoring, third in assists and third in points behind just Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr.
In a tight race that year for the Hart Trophy, Ratelle finished fourth, just two votes behind third place Esposito. Bobby Orr took the prize with Ken Dryden finishing second. Jean was awarded the Lady Byng Trophy by a wide margin over runner-up John Bucyk.
Between 1960-61 and 1980-81, Jean Ratelle appeared in 1,281 regular season and 123 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Bruins and Rangers. Although never a Stanley Cup winner, he went to the final with New York in 1971-72 and with the Bruins twice, 1976-77 and 1977-78.