Dion Phaneuf

Date sent: January 27th, 2011

Date received: June 6th, 2011
Total time: 130 days

Total players responses: 257

Total 2011 responses: 252

Oh Dion, why you gotta take Sean's "sloppy seconds"?  He was selected 9th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2003 entry draft.  Dion grew up in Edmonton, where his mother was a former figure skater, where she taught him how to skate.   He frequently practiced hockey in his basement where he blew holes through nets while perfecting his slap shot.  I don't mind Dion, he seems like an okay guy, but he is an impact player in today's game (although some may disagree).

Chris Pronger

Date sent: January 15th, 2011

Date received: June 7th, 2011
Total time: 143 days

Total players responses: 256

Total 2011 responses: 251

Awww.. isn't that nice.  Chris Pronger personalized this card to me!  Chris has obviously not always been this nice to his opponents, cheap shots, stomping on legs, anything goes with this guy!  There really isn't any doubt how effective he is when he is on the ice, especially in the physicality department.  He's close to retirement, but I think he's won basically every type of hardware out there!

Bobby Orr

Received: June 10th, 2011

Total players responses: 255

Total 2011 responses: 250

Bobby Orr.  Honestly, what more can I say?  I'm pretty damn happy I got this auto, cuz we all know I ain't getting this one in the mail! 

Ian Cole

Received: June 10th, 2011

Total players responses: 254

Total 2011 responses: 249

Another pull from SP Authentic which has the player playing only a handful of games in the NHL (26).  I'm not holding my breath on the fact Ian Cole will be a scoring machine, but he seems to be more of the stay at home type of defensive player.  Ian was initially drafted in 2007, 18th overall by the St.Louis Blues, but he's still on a FUTURE WATCH hockey card.  Interesting.  Check back tomorrow....  it's my greatest pull/autograph/anything.. ever.

Casey Wellman

Received: June 10th, 2011

Total players responses: 253

Total 2011 responses: 248

Casey Wellman is an undrafted hockey player who currently plays for the Minnesota Wild/Houston Aeros.  He split his time playing in the NHL and AHL this past season, playing 15 games with the Wild and 42 with the Aeros.  I wish the best of luck to Casey, because if he becomes a real NHL superstar, this card will mean that much more to me! 

Nazem Kadri

Received: June 10th, 2011

Total players responses: 252

Total 2011 responses: 247

Wow! What a pull.  One of the 1st round draft picks from this past years' entry draft.  Nazem Kadri is a great young player with lots of upside and was selected 8th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs.  He played 29 games this season with the big club, tallying 12 points.  Nazem is only one of a few Lebanese born hockey players, having to play in the shadows of hockey greats John Hanna, Alain Nasreddine and Ed Hatoum.   Better step your game up Nazem!

Evgeni Grachev

Received: June 10th, 2011

Total players responses: 251

Total 2011 responses: 246

Evgeni Grachev?  He's a Russian born hockey player who now plays for the NY Rangers. In 2008/09 season with the Brampton Batallion, he scored 80 points in 60 games played.  Drafted 75th overall, seems like he's got a bit of work to do before he becomes a mainstay in the NHL.  Good luck Evgeni! 

Eric Tangradi

Received: June 10th, 2011

Total players responses: 250

Total 2011 responses: 245

Eric Tangradi is a future NHL player, who has played a total of 16 games, playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.  He was initially drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, but has been mostly toiled in the minor leagues for his pro career.  Another future star who signs his autographs with their initials.  Not that I have a problem with it, but they could learn a thing or two from the Hall of Fame players about signing!  I'm happy regardless to have gotten his autograph.

Jame McBain

Received: June 10th, 2011
Total players responses: 249
Total 2011 responses: 244

Another nice autograph courtesy of the people at SP Authentic.  Jamie McBain went 63rd overall in the 2006 entry draft and signed this card with, what looks like, a JMB.  I can't really complain I suppose, as a signature is a signature!  I love the look of the sp authentic cards.  So clean and clear!

Nick Leddy

Received: June 10th, 2011
Total players responses: 248
Total 2011 responses: 243

Nick Leddy is featured in this blog with a really nice FUTURE WATCH card.  This is serialized 817/999 and features a nice photo of Nick.  Nick was a top draft pick in the 2009 entry draft going 16th overall to the Minnesota Wild.  Too bad the auto isn't his full name and just his initials.  I guess I won't be getting a card that looks much better than this though!

Paul Stastny

Received: June 10th, 2011
Total players responses: 247
Total 2011 responses: 242

Next up is Paul Stastny!  This was quite a surprise to pull out as this is a serialized 31/100 card which is signed and has a auto patch.  The way the scanner scanned the card, it looks a tad greenish, but the green is a holographic type material.  Paul is a player whom plays for the Colorado Avalanche and has family ties to the NHL as his father, Peter, played in the NHL as well. 

Zach Hamill

Received: June 10th, 2011
Total players responses: 246
Total 2011 responses: 241

I think my taste has gotten a bit expensive these days.  I picked up a hobby box of sp authentic cards at the local hockey card shop and out of every box, there are supposed to be 3 autographs.  Over the next days, I'll be displaying which cards I've recieved.  Zach Hamill is the first of my autograph blogging on the ones I've received.  He grew up in Port Coquitlam in BC and was a first round draft pick of the Boston Bruins.  I really love these cards as the player has actually signed right on the card.  Sweet!

Andrew Brunette

Date sent: January 26th, 2011
Date received: May 30th, 2011
Total time: 124 days
Total players responses: 245
Total 2011 responses: 240

Andrew Brunette signed this OPC 2008 card which features him in a Colorado Avalanche, but shows him as a member of the Minnesota Wild.  I like Andrew's autograph which features a large A and B and jersey number.  Andrew is a decent player putting up about 750 points in over 1000 games.  Good job Andrew!

Andrew Cogliano

Date sent: September 1st, 2010

Date received: May 24th, 2011
Total time: 265 days
Total players responses: 244
Total 2011 responses: 239

Nice autograph from Andrew "Cogs" Cogliano!  I had sent this card waayyyy back at the beginning of the season and at the beginning of my "ttm" career.  It sure is always enjoyable to see players return cards where you thought were lost forever, but Andrew definitely made it up by adding a personalized note apologizing for the long delay.  Thanks so much Andrew!

Mark Lamb

Date sent: February 3rd, 2011

Date received: May 24th, 2011
Total time: 110 days
Total players responses: 243
Total 2011 responses: 238

Mark Lamb?! Who the heck?!  I'll be honest, I sent Mark his card only because I have old spare cards in my hockey collection as a child.  I sent Mark these cards courtesy of the Swift Current Broncos, whom he coaches in the WHL.  Mark wasn't an extremly talented player, racking up just under 150 points in 403 games.  

Meaghan Mikkelsson

Date sent: March 9th, 2011

Date received: June 11th, 2011
Total time: 94 days
Total players responses: 242
Total 2011 responses: 237

Ok, I really like this autograph.  It was personalized by Meghan herself and has lots of loopy-ness in her autograph!  Meaghan has a handful of gold medals (5) while playing for Team Canada.  She has a brother who plays in the NHL, Brendan.  He plays for the Calgary Flames and I'm sure he has been a huge help to Meghan's hockey development.

Carey Price

Date sent: February 2nd, 2011
Date received: March 15th, 2011
Total time: 41 days
Total players responses: 241
Total 2011 responses: 236

Carey Price is the undisputed goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens.  With Jaroslav Halak leaving to head to St.Louis, Carey will be expected by Habs fans to lead them to a Stanley Cup.  I've gotten Carey Price in person before, but this is my very first return from him.  Thanks for the sign Carey!

Jayna Hefford

Date sent: March 20th, 2011

Date received: May 23rd, 2011
Total time: 64 days
Total players responses: 240
Total 2011 responses: 235

A nice auto from Jayna Hefford (or would've been real nice if the ink stuck, my fault for not prepping the card properly).  Jayna plays for Team Canada regularly (since 2002) and has won countless gold and silver medals.  I guess really, if you've played on any North American women's team for a while, you're bound to have at least 5 gold medals. 

Marty Turco

Date sent: February 5th, 2011

Date received: May 15th, 2011
Total time: 99 days
Total players responses: 239
Total 2011 responses: 234

Wow!  Marty Turco signed this SCORE card for me through the mail.  I really liked this card, as you can clearly see it's an action type shot which was captured.  Marty's autograph looks very nice and has added the number 30, which is his current number with the Hawks.  An additional piece of information, Marty has probably the best puck handling skills in the NHL!  Thanks Marty!

Mikael Samuelsson

Date sent: January 19th, 2011

Date received: April 18th, 2011
Total time: 89 days
Total players responses: 238
Total 2011 responses: 233

Sammy has been such a solid signer and TTM responder through my short autographing career.  He's always extremely courteous and kind.  It's players like these that really make me appreciate the effort they put into pleasing their fans.  Thanks Mikael!

Jaroslav Spacek

Date sent: February 22nd, 2011
Date received: April 7th, 2011
Total time: 44 days
Total players responses: 237
Total 2011 responses: 232

Jaroslav Spacek is a solid defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens and has played for about a half a dozen NHL hockey teams.  Having played in the league for nearly 20 season, Jaro is a steady player and a great leader.  In the 07/08 season with the Buffalo Sabres, he was named as one of the rotating alternate captains.  The season after, he posted his highest point total of his career.

Sergei Shirokov

Date sent: March 21st, 2011
Date received: May 15th, 2011
Total time: 55 days
Total players responses: 236
Total 2011 responses: 231

Sergei Shirokov is a great young player for the Vancouver Canucks.  I'll definitely need to get a better autograph as you can clearly see that it is bleeding a bit.  I'm extremely thankful for the autograph though, as I'm sure Sergei will crack an NHL lineup one day.  He was drafted 163rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2006 entry draft.

Bobby Ryan

Date sent: January 16th, 2011
Date received: March 18th, 2011
Total time: 92 days
Total players responses: 235
Total 2011 responses: 230

Bobby Ryan is an american born NHL player playing in his 4th year in the pros.  He's becoming better and better each year, and will eventually be a high scoring star in the league (as if he already isn't now).  This past year, he signed a 5 year deal with the Ducks, which will see him in an Anaheim uniform until the 2015 season.  Keep up the great work Bobby!

Phil Kessel

Date sent: March 10th, 2011
Date received: March 23rd, 2011
Total time: 13 days
Total players responses: 234
Total 2011 responses: 229

Wow! A really quick return from Phil Kessel.  I believe this was sent to his home address and returned in less than 2 weeks.  Phil is a fantastic sniper on a bad team.  He was traded from Boston to Toronto for a few draft picks, one of them ended up being Tyler Seguin.  Phil has been a consistent 30 goal scorer, so he's a great pick up for the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs.  Thanks for the quick signing Phil!

Andy Moog

Date sent: January 27th, 2011
Date received: April 7th, 2011
Total time: 70 days
Total players responses: 233
Total 2011 responses: 228

Andy Moog is the goaltending coach of the Dallas Stars (the obvious choice of profession after retiring in the NHL).  Andy played in 18 NHL season, retiring in 1998.  Andy was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers, where he backstopped them to their first Stanley Cup finals, but was swept by the NY Islanders.  Andy was voted to have the most scariest goalie mask in the NHL by The Hockey News. 

Pascal Leclaire

Date sent: January 15th, 2011
Date received: May 13th, 2011
Total time: 118 days
Total players responses: 232
Total 2011 responses: 227

I guess most of the non-playoff teams must be cleaning out their mailboxes!  Pascal Leclaire is a good goalie for the Ottawa Senators, but seem to have the worst luck in the world.  While most goalies think they're safe on the bench, Pascal managed to get injured by having a puck strike him in the face.  What a way to get injured, to first be benched by the coach, then get injured! Pay attention!

Trevor Linden

Date sent: January 26th, 2011
Date received: May 18th, 2011
Total time: 112 days
Total players responses: 231
Total 2011 responses: 226

Good Ol' Trevor Linden.  Always the type of player to play with his emotions on his sleeve, he's still absolutely famous around the Lower Mainland in BC.  Trevor was drafted by the Canucks in 1988, which featured Mike Modano going 1st overall.  That draft year had some fairly good players, such as Mark Recchi, Tony Amonte, Rob Blake, Teemu Selanne and Jeremy Roenick.  I'm super stoked to get an autograph from Trevor because he's one of the Canucks I actually remember playing!  Smash em' through the glass Trevor.

Jussi Jokinen

Date sent: January 26th, 2011
Date received: May 18th, 2011
Total time: 112 days
Total players responses: 230
Total 2011 responses: 225

Jussi Jokinen is NOT related to "superstar" Olli Jokinen, although has a younger brother who does play hockey in a Finnish league in Europe.  Jussi was originally drafted in the 2nd round in 1993 and has played most of his NHL career with the Dallas Stars and the New Jersey Devils.  Great job Jussi and good luck in Carolina!

Jamie Langebrunner

Date sent: January 15th, 2011
Date received: May 27th, 2011
Total time: 132 days
Total players responses: 229
Total 2011 responses: 224

A nice return from Jamie Lagenbrunner.  Jamie played for Team USA in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, in which he was team captain.  As mentioned and highly publicized, Team USA received a silver medal behind Team Canada.  Although coming short of Gold, Jamie has been on championship teams, the 2003 New Jersey Devils and 1999 Dallas Stars.  Great job Jamie!

Matt Martin

Date sent: April 26th, 2011
Date received: May 27th, 2011
Total time: 31 days
Total players responses: 228
Total 2011 responses: 223

Holy cow!  A great autograph from Matt Martin in about a month!  You can't really get much better than that (ok, I can think about 30 other response times which you can do better)!  Matt has been a great player for the NY Islanders and is a great rookie.  I hope he and Tavares can help the Islanders regain their winning ways.