1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Ed Westfall #104 Base New York Islanders

Description

1972-73 O-Pee-Chee Ed Westfall #104 Base New York Islanders Ed Westfall was one of the most respected leaders in New York Islanders history, serving as the franchise's first captain and providing veteran guidance to a young expansion team during its difficult inaugural season. The 1972-73 campaign was a landmark year for the National Hockey League, with the Islanders joining the league as an expansion franchise, and O-Pee-Chee's Canadian release documented that historic first roster with a 340-card set that featured bilingual English and French text on every reverse, printed in Canada, and offered a larger checklist than the American Topps version. Westfall, a right winger who had previously been a key contributor to the Boston Bruins' 1970 Stanley Cup championship team, was claimed by the Islanders in the 1972 expansion draft and immediately became the heart and soul of the new franchise, earning the captaincy and providing stability during a season in which the team won only 12 games. His leadership extended beyond the ice, as he became a beloved figure in the Long Island community and a bridge between the franchise's humble beginnings and its eventual dynasty years, even though his playing career with the Islanders ended before the Cup runs began. Westfall's career totals include over 700 games played and more than 400 points, and his reputation as one of the game's great two-way forwards and leaders ensures his card remains a key piece of Islanders history. The 1972-73 O-Pee-Chee design is celebrated by collectors for its clean portrait photography, bold team colors, and comprehensive bilingual statistics on the reverse, making each card a miniature time capsule of the era. Collectors prize these early Islanders and Flyers cards because they document the foundation of franchises that would later define the decade, and high-grade examples from the 1972-73 set remain increasingly scarce as the hobby continues to grow. The O-Pee-Chee version remains the more complete and desirable release for Canadian collectors, thanks to its extended checklist and bilingual presentation. As with all vintage cardboard from this period, careful storage and handling are essential to preserving the condition and value of these classic hockey cards. The front shows light corner wear at the top right and bottom left with minor edge chipping along the bottom border, and the centering is slightly shifted toward the right, while the reverse carries its Canadian O-Pee-Chee bilingual back with full career statistics, bilingual biography, and a printed-in-Canada line, free of creases and with only light surface handling visible. Conservative grade estimate explanation: Considering the light corner wear, minor edge chipping, and slight rightward off-centering visible in the photos, this raw copy is conservatively graded EX 5. Grade Estimate: EX 5