Nail Yakupov

Date sent: March 5, 2012
Date received: March 19, 2012
Total time: 14 days
Total players responses: 468
Total 2012 responses: 71

Super quick return from #1 overall draft pick Nail Yakupov.  Nail personalized this Heroes and Prospects 2012 card of mine.  Nail was selected by the Edmonton Oilers, and is surely going to be in the Oilers line up this year.  There probably isn't much that needs to be mentioned as I'm sure any hockey card autograph collector knows who Nail is!

Freddie Hamilton

Date sent: March 5, 2012
Date received: March 26, 2012
Total time: 21 days
Total players responses: 467
Total 2012 responses: 70

Nice return from Freddie Hamilton of the Niagra Ice Dogs.  Property of the San Jose Sharks who drafted him in the 5th round of the 2010 entry draft, Freddie has helped Team Canada win bronze in the most recent World Junior Championships.  He has been a successful contributor to the Ice Dogs as he's been putting up career numbers for the past 4 seasons in the OHL.  This past season he notched 85 points in 60 games played, the lowest in all 4 seasons in Junior.  Thanks for the auto Freddie!

Denis Kamaev

Date sent: March 5, 2012
Date received: March 21, 2012
Total time: 16 days
Total players responses: 466
Total 2012 responses: 69

Denis Kamaev is a Russian born playmaker, who was eligible for the entry draft this past year.  Unfortunately he wasn't drafted this year, so perhaps next year he'll make the NHL.  Standing at 5'11, Denis has great vision and hockey sense as well as an underrated shot.  He put up 55 points this past year with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies playing in 67 games.  Good luck next year Denis!

Richard Brodeur

Date received: March 23, 2012
Total players responses: 465
Total 2012 responses: 68

King Richard Brodeur signed these two cards for me in a blue sharpie at a hockey event I attended.  Extremely kind man and always seems to be friendly to all that approach him.  He's a short man, on current NHL standards, standing at 5'7".  He started his pro career by being drafted by the New York Islanders, but was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in the early 80s.  Richard played in 8 Canuck seasons, racking up 126 wins in the process.  Surely a far cry from HHOF goaltender Martin Brodeur!

Felix Potvin

Date sent: February 9, 2011
Date received: March 23, 2012
Total time: 408 days
Total players responses: 464
Total 2012 responses: 67

A nice return from Felix "the cat" Potvin.  Felix was a good goaltender, playing in the 90s and 2000s.  He played for team like Toronto, Vancouver, Boston, Los Angeles and New York (Islanders).  He was drafted 31st overall in the 1990 entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.  He had played with the Leafs for 7 seasons before being traded to the NY Islanders.  Potvin signed my Chicoutimi Saguenéens/ Toronto Maple Leafs card in a nice blue sharpie.  

Mike Brown

Date sent: April 1, 2011
Date received: March 22, 2012
Total time: 356 days
Total players responses: 463
Total 2012 responses: 66

A great return from Mike Brown (part of the Leafs at the time of sending my fan letter), who was a former Vancouver Canuck.  Mike was always a tough guy, but its hard to believe that he's only 27 years old.  I recall him playing for the Canucks many years ago.  In the 200+ games he's played, he has racked up about 400 PIM.  Since playing for the Canucks, he's played for team like Anaheim Ducks and the Toronto Maple Leafs.  

Matt Dumba

Date sent: March 5, 2012
Date received: March 19, 2012
Total time: 14 days
Total players responses: 462
Total 2012 responses: 65

Matt Dumba is a new prospect D man for the Wild.  With the most recent additions for the Wild, Matt has a lot to look up to.  Ryan Suter is one of the better defensemen in the league and was one of the most sought after this free agency.  Hopefully Matthew can make the team this year or next and be the physical defenseman that he was meant to be.  Matt quickly signed this card through the Rebels this past year.  Thanks Matt!

Dominik Volek

Date sent: February 29, 2012
Date received: March 16, 2012
Total time: 16 days
Total players responses: 461
Total 2012 responses: 64

Dominik Volek is a Czech born player currently with the Regina Pats.  He was selected 9th overall in the CHL import draft and is the son of David Volek, who had played for the Islanders in the 80's and 90's.  He was potentially slated to go in the later rounds in this years' past draft, but he never got chosen.  He'll have a much better shot in 2013's entry draft, where he can refine more of his skills within the CHL.