Mike Gartner

Sent: 2/16/11
Received: 4/22/11
Time: 65 Days
Address: c/o National Training Rinks (Richmond Hill, Ontario)
Item Sent: 1984-85 Topps, 1989-90 O-Pee-Chee, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1984-85 Topps, 1989-90 O-Pee-Chee, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
You know I love the Minnesota North Stars, but they dropped the ball on Mike Gartner.  At the 1989 trading deadline, the stars dealt future Hall of Famer (and arguably the team's most popular player) Dino Ciccarelli to the Washington Capitals, along with defenseman Bob Rouse.  In return, they received Gartner and Larry Murphy.  Now, when you're trading away a future Hall of Famer, it's always nice to get another in return.  We got two.  Problem is, we didn't hang onto them.  After a prolific career in Washington, Gartner became the North Stars sole representative in the 1990 NHL All Star Game.  A few weeks later, he was dealt to the Rangers for Ulf Dahlen - a fine player and a key contributor on the 1991 Stanley Cup Finalists, but decidedly not a Hall of Famer.  Gartner would fire off three straight 40 goal seasons for the Rangers (making it four straight overall, counting his combined year with Minnesota and New York) en route to 708 career goals and hockey immortality.