1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 176 Wayne Merrick Hockey Card (Front)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 176 Wayne Merrick Hockey Card (Back)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Considered a great playmaker, he has excellent speed and is a solid two-way player. Was a key player in the Blues’ second-place finish in Smythe Division three seasons ago.
En Français
Très habile à préparer le jeu, ce centre est rapide et possède aussi un bon talent défensif. Wayne aida considérablement les Blues à décrocher la deuxième place dans la Division Smythe il y a trois saisons.
Details
Wayne Merrick wouldn’t stay with the Cleveland Barons in 1977-78. On January 10, 1978, after appearing in 18 games with the Barons, he was traded to the New York Islanders for J.P. Parise and Jean Potvin.
With the Islanders, Merrick was part of four Stanley Cup championship teams. In the 1980-81 playoffs, he scored the cup clinching goal in game 5 of the final series against the Minnesota North Stars. At 5:37 of the first period, Wayne scored New York’s second goal of the game, assisted by John Tonelli and Bob Nystrom. It was all the team needed in a 5-1 win, taking the series 4-1.
Originally, Merrick was the ninth overall pick at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft by the St. Louis Blues, out of the Ottawa 67’s organization. His best season offensively came in 1975-76, a season split between the Blues and California Seals. He totaled 32 goals and 67 points, mostly with the Seals after a November 24, 1975 trade that saw Larry Patey go from Missouri to California.
Between 1972-73 and 1983-84, Wayne Merrick appeared in 774 regular season and 102 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Blues, Seals, Barons and Islanders. He helped Canada to a fourth place finish at the 1977 World Championships, contributing seven points over ten games.