The NHL and the Chicago Blackhawks have lost one of their greats.

Hall of Famer Stan Mikita lost a long-term health battle and died on Tuesday at age 78. He had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a disease similar to Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s in its symptoms, in 2015.

“There are no words to describe our sadness over Stan’s passing,” the team said via a statement. “He meant so much to the Chicago Blackhawks, to the game of hockey, and to all of Chicago.”

Continue reading →

There's just one wax box you need to find to land both the Rookie Card and the first certified autograph of one of the newest members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

He's Willie O'Ree and the set is 1997-98 Pinnacle BeeHive -- a release that came decades after his brief playing career ended. He played just two seasons for the Boston Bruins -- two games in 1957-58 and 43 in 1960-61 -- making him the first black player in NHL history. He had four goals and 10 assists in his second season.

His call to the Hall of Fame came Tuesday when he was announced as being a member of this year's class alongside Martin Brodeur, Martin St. Louis, Jayna Hefford, Alexander Yakushev and Commissioner Gary Bettman. O'Ree's honor comes in the category of being a "builder" of the game as he's worked as the NHL's Diversity Ambassador for the last 20 years.

Continue reading →

Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour all day long ... this is Hour 3.

The box: 2017 Leaf Metal Sports Heroes Proofs
The cost: Click here for the standard product (when available)

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

Continue reading →

He was a dominating goaltender nicknamed "The China Wall," a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, a four-time Stanley Cup champ and a Hall of Famer.

He's Johnny Bower and the former star for the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs died Tuesday after a battle with pneumonia. He was 93.

"Johnny Bower enriched us all by sharing the pure joy he felt for the game he played and for the men who played it, with him and against him," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement. "It was a personal privilege to know him, a delight to be in his presence."

Continue reading →

Leaf Trading Cards' next high-end hockey brand arrives later this month and it includes memorabilia from some of the biggest names in the history of the game.

It's 2016 Leaf Lumber Kings and it is set to arrive on Dec. 23 and to hold hockey fans over the company teased a number of its high-end inclusions online on Thursday.

Continue reading →

What: 2016 ITG Leaf Enshrined hockey cards
Arrives: April
Box basics: Four autograph or memorabilia cards per box (10 boxes per case)

What's buzz-worthy: Leaf takes its In The Game-used brand and ups the ante with a checklist that includes nothing but Hall of Fame players in this all-hits product that "celebrates everything that is magical about Hall of Fame game-used material" and is, according to the company, "the greatest ensemble of hockey legends the industry has ever seen."

Keep reading for more and a full gallery of images.

Continue reading →