Kevyn Adams

Kevyn Adams

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: September 17, 2007.

Autographs received: September 27, 2007.

I sent Adams two of the same Parkhurst cards, and he signed them both. The Blackhawks traded Radim Vrbata for this guy....which kind of pissed me off. Vrbata was one of the few offesnive sparks for the 'Hawks last season.

Not to discount Adams, though. The Blackhawks think he'll provide leadership for this young team.

Cristobal Huet

Cristobal Huet

Currently with the Montreal Canadiens.

Fan letter sent: December 19, 2006.

Autographs received: September 25, 2007.

Well, it took nine months, but I'm not complaining. While I love getting autographs from retired players, it's always great to get some cards back from a current player.

Marty McInnis

Marty McInnis

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 7, 2007.

Autographs received: September 24, 2007.

Marty McInnis was a part of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team. He'd finish the 91-92 season with the Islanders, and then play 11 more seasons in the NHL.

Gilles Meloche

Gilles Meloche

Retired player. Currently the Goaltending Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fan letter sent: April 18, 2007.

Autographs received: September 24, 2007.

I once wrote to Gilles Meloche back in the 1990s, and he signed my cards back then. Well, some things don't change. He signed my cards this time too, and just like before, he signed them in ballpoint pen. Oh well.

Meloche is a player I always admired. He was a good player that spent his career on dog teams--the California Seals, who in turn became the Cleveland Barons. And when the Barons merged with the North Stars in 1978, he became Minnesota's top goalie. Despite playing for three different teams in that 14 year span, he was never traded...which I think says a lot about his value to those teams.

He would eventually wind down his career in Pittsburgh, but he still played a lot of games--104 contests in his final three seasons. And while his Goals-Against Average always floated around 3.33-4.10, remember that he played a lot of games with lousy teams. It makes you wonder what his career would have been like if he played with Montreal or Philadelphia or any other contending team. If he was on a better team, he may very well have won a Stanley Cup, or at least some personal awards....maybe even a spot in the Hall of Fame. Who knows? But 17 years in the NHL is an amazing feat itself.

Dwight Foster

Dwight Foster

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 4, 2007.

Autographs received: September 24, 2007.

The first time I wrote to Foster, I got an RTS. Fortunately, the envelope had a label with his new address, so I gave it a second try. He nicely signed these cards, including his jersey number on three of them...but unfortunately signed them in pen. This would be an *awesome* signature if only it were in marker.

Aaron Broten

Aaron Broten

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: July 5, 2007.

Autographs received: September 20, 2007.

Broten signed all six cards--three in black marker, and three in blue marker, for some reason.

Barry Pederson

Barry Pederson

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 7, 2007.

Autographs received: September 20, 2007.

Wow! Another guy who signed six cards. I guess most retired players don't mind if I send a lot of cards...especially if they played a long time.

Jim Pappin

Jim Pappin

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: June 21, 2007.

Autograph received: September 20, 2007.

Jim Pappin was a member of the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs--the last year the Leafs won the Stanley Cup. He also played seven seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1970s.

Val Fonteyne

Val Fonteyne

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 4, 2007.

Autograph received: September 20, 2007.

Les Binkley

Les Binkley

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 7, 2007.

Autograph received: September 15, 2007.

Today I got back signed cards from two former Penguins--Paul Coffey and Les Binkley. Binkley was the Penguins 1st "#1" goalie, playing 54 games for them in their inaugural season. He would play five years for the Pens before playing four more seasons in the WHA. Mr. Binkley neatly signed my card, and also enclosed an autographed color photo. The photo is about 3.5" wide by 5" tall, and printed on thin computer paper. Still, a very nice vintage photo.

Paul Coffey

Paul Coffey

Retired player. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

Fan letter sent: July 5, 2007.

Autographs received: September 19, 2007.

As much as I admire Paul Coffey for what he accomplished, his head shape always reminded me of Mr. Potato Head. He has that kind of chubby face, you know, like Phil Esposito. In fact, my Aunt and I would refer to him as "Potato". We had all sorts of dumb nicknames for the players back then ("Weiner", "Whiner", "Brat", "Thero the Hero", "Fat Eddie").

Anyway, four autographs from this HHOF member is awesome. I hear that Coffey does not sign Red Wings items. So, if you write to him, don't bother sending Red Wings cards. I wonder if he signs Blackhawks stuff.

Mark Smith

Mark Smith

Currently with the San Jose Sharks.

Fan letter sent: February 14, 2007.

Autograph received: September 15, 2007.

I sent Smith two 2005-06 Parkhurst cards, and he signed them both. He has a bit of a "rock star" autograph, though he did add his number 16.

Paul Fenton

Paul Fenton

Retired player. Currently the Assistant General Manager with the Nashville Predators.

Fan letter sent: September 7, 2007.

Autographs received: September 15, 2007.

Paul Fenton signed all five of my cards....but unfortunately, he used a ballpoint pen. Still, it's the thought that counts, I guess.

Interestingly, the blue-bordered Score Series 2 card from 91-92 is a bit of an anomaly. Fenton was traded from the Flames to the Whalers in August of 1991, but then was traded again to the Sharks in October. So, he only played in the preseason for Hartford and technically was not on their team that year (he may have been on that team, but did not dress for the Whalers that year). He did play for Hartford in the 1980s, but didn't get a card until he was a King.

Also worth noting is that Fenton was the leading scorer for the old IHL's Peoria Prancers in the 1982-1983 season. I still can't get over the fact that the Blues had a farm team called the "Prancers". Fenton was top Prancer, netting 60 goals 51 assists that year.

Mark Osborne

Mark Osborne

Retired player.

Autograph received: September 13, 2007.

My friend Anthony in Montreal hooked me up with this card. Thanks, Anthony!

Gordon Labossiere

Gordon Labossiere

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 7, 2007.

Autograph received: September 13, 2007.

Another quick turnaround--only six days. Unfortunately, Mr. Labossiere used ballpoint pen which seemed to be running out of ink. He wrote Best Wishes, Gordon Labossiere. A shame that such a thoughtful signature was rendered so poorly.

Dave Richardson

Dave Richardson

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 4, 2007.

Autograph received: September 13, 2007.

Dave Richardson played a scant 45 games in the NHL, and did not have a hockey card until the Parkhurst "Tall Boys" set was released in 1994 (the set is made to look like it is from the 1960s, but is in fact a 1990s product).

You got to wonder what the card makers were thinking...and I don't mean that as a detriment to Ricahrdson. Forty-five games in the NHL is 45 more than I'll ever play. But it just seems odd...like they made the card just because the guy didn't have a card at all. He did play 34 games in 1963-64, and the text on the back of the card says "[coach] Muzz Patrick is not about to give up on him and another opportunity will be available this season." Well, that opportunity lasted 7 games, before being dealt to the Blackhawks (3 games) and then the Red Wings (1 game).

It must have been frustrating to be a fringe player in the Original Six era. Those guys would languish in the minors for years, seldom--if ever--getting an opportunity in the NHL. Today, a guy like Richardson would easily make the NHL. OK, well maybe not easily in this day of gigantic defensemen. But the skills would be there.

Mr. Richardson signed his card in blue ballpoint pen, which actually looks OK even though the card itself is mostly blue.

Gary Leeman

Gary Leeman

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 4, 2007.

Autographs received: September 13, 2007.

Cool! Leeman nicely signed my cards--including his 84-85 OPC rookie card, and a 90-91 Upper Deck checklist. I *normally* don't send out six cards to get signed, but thought I'd give it a try, as all of these cards had some significance.