McFarlane's Sports Picks returns to the ice this spring, offering a second lineup in the enormously popular NHL Legends series. The original set is in stores now, with Wayne Gretzky, Yvan Cournoyer, Frank Mahovlich and Gerry Cheevers setting the bar high for our sequel.
NHL Legends 2 is due in stores in March 2005 and will feature five of the very best to ever lace 'em up.
WAYNE GRETZKY: Numbers best define the NHL's all-time leading goal and points scorer. Aside from his three Stanley Cups and two Conn-Smythe Trophies, "The Great One" amassed a garage-full of awards, including 10 Art Ross, nine Harts, five Lester Pearsons and four Lady Byngs. We honor #99 with two figures representing the teams he's best remembered with: the
Edmonton Oilers and the
Los Angeles Kings.
McFarlane has noted that some collectors were expecting the Gretzky figures in this line to reflect his time with the Blues and the Rangers. Mcfarlane will get to several different Gretzky jersey combinations in good time, but for the first two Legends series, they are concentrating on his years with the Oilers and Kings.
MIKE BOSSY: The most recent true dynasty in sports belongs to the New York Islanders. From 1980-1983, Al Arbour's squad took home four consecutive Stanley Cups. Mike Bossy was the heart of the New York offense, tallying 243 goals over that four-year span, while cementing his legacy with style -- earning three Lady Byng awards. His Legends figure highlights the hallmarks of Bossy's career: scoring goals and playing with class.
GRANT FUHR: The Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup teams conjure visions of Gretzky, Messier and Kurri terrorizing opposing defenses, but the championships were also won by the stellar play of goaltender Grant Fuhr. The steady Fuhr played 21 NHL seasons and made stops with six different teams -- but his championship time in Edmonton was the absolute highlight of his career.
JEAN BELIVEAU: Montreal holds their captains in high esteem but few come close to the legacy of Jean Beliveau. As well as becoming one of only 33 players to tally 500 or more career goals, Beliveau was the anchor for 11 Stanley Cup-winning Canadiens teams -- including a remarkable five consecutive championships under Toe Blake in the 1960s. Few players in any sport contributed more to a franchise's history than Montreal's Jean Beliveau.
PHIL ESPOSITO: If you're not named Gretzky, Howe, Hull or Dionne, you didn't score more goals than Phil Esposito. Phil's career took him through Chicago, Boston and New York, but it's as a Bruin where he cemented his legacy -- winning two Hart trophies and leading the league in scoring five times. How much does Beantown miss Phil Esposito? The last two times the cup was raised in Boston, it was in Phil's hands ...
The very best players in the history of the NHL are coming your way as part of our ongoing NHL Legends series. Look for more of these greats in the future. Remember to check out
Spawn.com for more information and images of these great players!
