1972 O-Pee-Chee Frank Mahovlich #128 NHL Action Card Montreal Canadiens

Description

1972 O-Pee-Chee Frank Mahovlich #128 NHL Action Card Montreal Canadiens Few forwards in NHL history have lifted more Stanley Cups than Frank Mahovlich, and this 1972 O-Pee-Chee Frank Mahovlich #128 NHL Action card shows the legendary left wing in full flight in his red Montreal Canadiens sweater on a Montreal vs. Toronto card, with the red NHL ACTION banner and the white star badge identifying the Montreal L. Wing. The front photo, set in the classic 1972 O-Pee-Chee tan border, captures Mahovlich at full speed with the puck, the kind of explosive play that made him one of the most feared two-way wingers of his era. Mahovlich's career spanned two of the greatest dynasties of the modern game. He won his first five Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs, from 1961-62 through 1964-65, and after his 1965 trade to Montreal he added six more with the Canadiens, bringing his total to eleven championship banners, the most ever by any player in NHL history. The card's own bilingual back references his early Toronto years, when Frank was dubbed the Big M, and notes that since joining the Canadiens for the 1965-66 season he had continued his goal scoring and recorded over 300 NHL goals. By 1971-72, Mahovlich was a 33-year-old veteran who still drew a special assignment against top rivals like the Toronto Maple Leafs, the very matchup this card depicts, and his size, speed, and hockey sense made him a nightmare to match up with on the penalty kill. As a 1972 O-Pee-Chee Frank Mahovlich #128, the card is a key piece for 1972 OPC sets and a highlight for any 1970s Montreal Canadiens team set. The reverse is the Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back, printed in Canada, and not a US puzzle back. It carries the O. P. C. copyright, the large orange FRANK MAHOLVICH name panel, and a bilingual biography in English and French about the Big M nickname, his Leaf years, and his scoring with the Canadiens. the front shows light surface scuffing and minor handling marks, the corners are fairly sharp with slight roundness at the top left, the edges show light wear without significant edge chipping, the centering is acceptable for the era, and the back is clean with light age toning and no noticeable printing defects. The grade is conservative because sleeve pressure in a binder can mask fine surface marks and vintage O-Pee-Chee paper is prone to corner softening over five decades. This is an authentic 1972 O-Pee-Chee Frank Mahovlich #128 NHL Action card and a cornerstone piece for 1972 O-Pee-Chee collections, Stanley Cup era Canadiens sets, and Mahovlich single-card pursuits. Grade Estimate: EX 5