Gilbert Perreault

Date sent: July 16, 2012
Date received: July 27, 2012
Total time: 11 days
Total players responses: 514
Total 2012 responses: 117

A fantastic return from Gilbert Perreault, one of the members of the famous "French Connection" line. He was drafted 1st overall in the 1970 entry draft and admitted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990, 3 years after his last game in a Buffalo Sabres uniform. Thanks for the autograph Gilbert!

Ryan Miller

Date sent: January 12th, 2011
Date received: April 18th, 2012
Total time: 462 days
Total players responses: 441
Total 2012 responses: 44

This was one heck of a return, a long return I mean.  I'm super happy to have gotten all-star goaltender Ryan Miller's TTM return, as I haven't had the chance to get him in person.  Ryan is a spectacular goaltender, who has previously played for Team USA during the 2010 Olympics.  His Buffalo Sabres didn't do so hot this year, narrowly missing the playoffs.  When Ryan is on his game, the Sabres can go far.  

Thomas Vanek

Date sent: May 23rd, 2011
Date received: August 31th, 2011
Total time: 99 days
Total players responses: 301
Total 2011 responses: 296

Nice!  A great return from Thomas Vanek, with a sweet personalization to me!  I've gotten a return previously from Thomas, but I'm hoping to catch him one day when Buffalo comes into town.  This will most likely be my last return from him as I won't be sending any more letters his way.  For all of you who haven't sent a letter to Thomas, do it! He's a very consistent signer and pretty quick too.  In under 4 months he sent me my autographed cards.  

Clint Malarchuk

Date sent: June 28th, 2011
Date received: July 26th, 2011
Total time: 28 days
Total players responses: 285
Total 2011 responses: 280

A nice, quick return from Clint Malarchuk.  He signed my card, in a black, beginning to dry Sharpie (I assume).  Clint is probably most known for his on-ice injury which led to him almost dying.  A skate blade had struck his throat during a hockey play, and caused him to bleed profusely.  Clint now is the goaltender consultant for the Calgary Flames.  If you decide to youtube Clint's injury, be warned, you'll see a LOT of blood!

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.

Thomas Vanek

Date sent: March 4th, 2011
Date received: March 23rd, 2011
Total time: 19 days
Total players responses: 166
Total 2011 responses: 161

Thomas Vanek, currently leads the Buffalo Sabres, another team on the fence if they'll make the playoffs, in point scoring.  In 72 games, he's amassed 62 points including 10 PPG.  If the Sabres are going to make the post-season, they're going to need Vanek to carry them on his back.  Good luck in the playoffs Thomas! 

Brad May

Date sent: February 4th, 2011
Date received: March 11th, 2011
Total time: 35 days
Total players responses: 122
Total 2011 responses: 117

May day! May day!  Brad May, a former Vancouver Canuck, signed three Buffalo Sabre cards for me.  Brad was a tough customer, always willing to throw down the gloves for any combatant.  Brad currently works for CBC as an analyst. 

Dale Hawerchuk

Date sent: January 21st, 2011
Date received: March 7th, 2011
Total time: 45 days
Total players responses: 114
Total 2011 responses: 109

Hall of Famer, Dale Hawerchuk is the current coach of the Barrie Colts of the OHL.  Although the Barrie Colts aren't doing the greatest this season, Dale was a world class player.  He played over 1000 games, as well as being an over a point a game player, in both the regular season and playoffs.  I actually received two letters back from Dale, so I guess I had accidentally sent him two letters. 

Rick Vaive

Date sent: February 1st, 2011
Date received: March 3rd, 2011
Total time: 30 days
Total players responses: 101
Total 2011 responses: 96

Rick Vaive is a former 50 goal scorer for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  In fact, he was the first to score that many in Toronto's franchise history.  Rick was initially drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 1979, going 5th overall.  He played 47 games for Vancouver, tallying 21 points and 111 penalty minutes.  The season after, he was traded to the Leafs, where he played most of his career.  

Phil Housley

Date sent: December 30th, 2010
Date received: January 20th, 2011
Total time: 22 days
Total players responses: 12
Total 2011 responses: 7

Phil Housley is one of the premier defensemen that played in the NHL.  Although he never won the Stanley Cup (funny I got him and Guy on the same day, where Guy had won five!), he racked up some fantastic statistics!  He is the second highest scoring US born player with 1,232 points.  Two hall of famers in one day.  Not too shabby!!

Dave Andreychuk

Date sent: December 30th, 2010
Date received: January 19th, 2011
Total time: 21 days
Total players responses: 10
Total 2011 responses: 5

Drafted 16th overall in the 1982 draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Dave went on to be one of the highest scoring LW in NHL history.  Dave played for the Sabres, Leafs, Devils, Bruins, Avalanche and Lightning in his 20+ season in the NHL.  He went 22 years without a Stanley Cup before lifting the holy grail with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.  Odd thing is that the cards came in a plastic bag, and the enveloped looked like it was torched.  Weird!  Regardless, yay for Dave!