Signed by the Rangers as an undrafted free agent Mike Ridley looked like a steal for the blue shirts posting a 65 point rookie campaign, that was capped off by being named to the NHL All Rookie Team. His best season came during 1988 1989 with the Caps, he put up 89 points, and made his only NHL All Star appearance. He scored the first goal at Vancouver's Rogers Arena, formerly General Motors Place.
Darryl Sittler was drafted 8th overall by the Maple Leafs at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, five seasons later Sittler would be named Captain. In 1979 Sittler set a NHL record by putting up 10 points, 6 goals and 4 assists in one game against the Boston Bruins. During his career he was a four time All Star, in 1989 he was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
No one is ever going to top this time of this return, the Edmonton hockey legend still lives within the community. Al Hamilton played his junior career with the Edmonton oil Kings making 3 appearances at the Memorial Cup, winning it once. He spent 5 seasons away from Edmonton with the Rangers and Sabres bouncing between the big league and the minors. He left the NHL in 1972 to join the rival WHA's Alberta Oilers, where he was named captain. Hamilton stuck around with the Oilers for another 7 seasons, including 1979 when they joined the NHL. His number was the first to be retired by the Edmonton Oilers, and to this day is the only Oiler who didn't win a cup in the 80's to have his number retired.
Mailed out: January 6, 2015
Brandon Bollig played his junior hockey with the United States Hockey League, then went off to school to play for the St Lawrence University Saints. Following his sophomore season the Chicago Blackhawks convinced him to leave school and sign with them, it paid off as Bollig won the cup with them in 2013. He was traded to the Flames during the 2014 NHL Draft. 