TTM Stats
- Sent: 4/20/2021 | Received: 4/30/2021 | 10 Days
- ’90 Topps, ’91 Bowman
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Clint Malarchuk is a former goalie in the NHL. He played from 1981 to 1992 with the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals, and Buffalo Sabres.
Malarchuk is a native of Alberta, Canada. He played first in junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. He was then drafted by the Quebec Nordiques with the fourth round with the 74th overall pick of the 1981 NHL Draft. He made his debut at 20 years old on December 13, 1981. After a few years of bouncing back and fourth between the Nordiques and their lower league affiliates, he was the primary goaltender by the 1985-86 season. He would earn his first All-Star nod that year and help the Nordiques to the playoffs
He moved on to the Capitals after the 1986-87 season with Dale Hunter for Gaetan Duchesne, Alan Haworth and a first-round draft choice in the 1987 NHL Draft that would eventually be Joe Sakic. After a short time in Washington he moved on to the Sabres with Grant Ledyard and a draft pick for Calle Johansson and a draft pick. It was just a few days later that Malarchuk would see his career, and life, be threatened by an injury.
In a game where the Sabres were facing the Blues on March 22, 1989, Steve Tuttle and Uwe Krupp crashed into the goal crease. During the play, Tuttle’s skate blade hit Malarchuk’s neck and severed his carotoid artery and partially cutting his jugular vein. Blood was pouring out of him and yet he still was able to leave the ice on his feet. Fans were sick and fainting at the site of it, and players even vomited on the ice. Fortunately the Sabres athletic trainer, Jim Pizzutelli, was a former US Army combat medic who served in Vietnam. His quick action to pinch the vein saved Malarchuk’s life.
Amazingly, he was back on the in ten days with a six inch would and 300 stitches in his neck. He stayed in the league for a few more years but his play definitely declined. He would play in the IHL for two teams after his time in the NHL. He later coached in the IHL and would be a goaltending coach for several teams.
Malarchuk has dealt with alcoholism and substance abuse as well as mental health issues and these days does speaking events related to those issues.
The Score on Clint Malarchuk – 6.0
Both of these look a bit different from Clint. One appears to be stacked while the other is not. Unfortunately neither of these are great cards to show off any signature. I would be that on the 1990 Topps card he was trying not to sign over his face and that’s why that one is a bit smaller. The Bowman card is definitely the better of the two.
Thanks Mr. Malarchuk! I’m giving this return a 6.
>>> READ MORE ABOUT MY AUTOGRAPH SCORING SYSTEM <<<
Thanks for visiting BravestarrCards.com: Card Collecting and TTM Autographs.
Information gathered using Wikipedia and Hockey Reference.
I remember watching the game where he got hurt as a kid. The cameras cut away as quick as they could, but I remember seeing the pool of blood on the ice. It’s a miracle he survived that.
I’ve never seen it and kind of tried to stay away from it. But I remember it happening. I feel like since I’ve never seen it that makes it feel like something out of a legend to me. I agree though, miracle to survive let alone come back from it.