1983-84 O-Pee-Chee 339 Walt Poddubny Hockey Card (Front)
1983-84 O-Pee-Chee 339 Walt Poddubny Hockey Card (Back)
1983-84 O-Pee-Chee NHL Hockey Card Checklist
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Card Notes
Walt set a Leafs’ rookie record with 28 goals last year (to break Howie Meeker’s mark set in 1946-47). Poddubny was Leafs 4th leading scorer (as rookie) in 1982-83.
En Français
L’an dernier, Walt établit un record pour une recrue des Leafs en marquant 28 buts. Le record précédent avait été établi par Howie Meeker en 1946-47. Comme recrue en 1982-83, Poddubny fut le 4e meilleur compteur des Leafs.
Details
A fifth round pick by the Edmonton Oilers at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, Walt Poddubny played just four games for the team during the 1980-81 NHL season before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 8, 1982 with Phil Drouillard for Laurie Boschman. He appeared in just eleven games for the Buds that season, spending much of 1981-82 in the CHL with the Wichita Wind.
His 28 goals in 1982-83, still stands as the fifth best total by a rookie in Toronto history. The current holder of the record is Auston Matthews with 40 in 2016-17. Also ahead of him are Wendell Clark, Daniel Marois and Reg Noble. Howie Meeker’s previous record of 27 goals was set in 1946-47 over just 55 games.
After his breakout rookie season, Poddubny faltered with the Maple Leafs. Prior to the 1986-87 season, he was traded to the New York Rangers for Mike Allison. Immediately, his offensive abilities took off. In his first year with the Blue Shirts, Walt scored 40 goals. He scored 38 in each of the following two campaigns, the first with the Rangers and the second with the Quebec Nordiques.
However, following the 1988-89 season, Poddubny was shipped to the New Jersey Devils and his career declined quickly due to knee problems. Between 1981-82 and 1991-92, Walt Poddubny appeared in 468 regular season and 19 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Oilers, Maple Leafs, Rangers, Nordiques and Devils.