Vladislav Tretiak: The Best Goaltender To Never Play In The NHL

2006-07 ITG International Ice Game-Used Jersey - Vladislav Tretiak (Soviet Union)

To many hockey fans, Vladislav Tretiak was, to this day, the best goaltender to never play a game in the NHL.

So how did all of this come to be? Well, after his international efforts for the now defunct Soviet Union hockey team, he gained a lot of international attention. It was the famous 1972 Canada-USSR Summit Series that ultimately propelled him and many others to hockey stardom. 

As for Tretiak's potential NHL recruitment, he was eventually drafted by the Montreal Canadians in 1983 - Though he was never able to fulfil the idea of playing in the National Hockey League due to the soviet government not allowing him to leave for North America. A sad story that ultimately begs the question of "what could have been?"

The card pictured above is from the 2006-07 In The Game (ITG) International Ice Game-Used Jersey subset, featuring a swatch from a Tretiak Soviet Union jersey - potentially used in the Summit Series!  I Hope you enjoyed this card-filled glimpse into this impactful segment in hockey history. It's unique cards like these that really capture the history of the sport, which I really enjoy. 

Happy Collecting, 

​- creasecollector

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Tretiak guards the net during the Summit Series between Canada and the USSR in 1972.

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