John Anderson

John Anderson

Retired player. Currently the Head Coach of the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Fan letter sent: November 16, 2007.

Autographs received: November 29, 2007.

John Anderson is an awesome coach. He's been with the Chicago Wolves for the past 10 years. He's coached the team to two Turner Cup Championships when the Wolves were in the IHL (1998 and 2000). He coached them to a Calder Cup Championship too, in 2002. I don't know why he's not coaching in the NHL, and I don't care. The Wolves have always been an awesome, competitive and exciting team--even more so in the past decade.

Anderson signed my three cards in thin black marker. One of the cards is from a 1998-1999 Chicago Wolves team set that was given away at a game that season. I have about 12 cards signed from that set now.

Mike Sillinger

Mike Sillinger

Currently with the New York Islanders.

Fan letter sent: September 27, 2007.

Autographs received: November 28, 2007.

Mike Sillinger has played in the NHL since 1991, and has played for 12 different teams. Twelve!!! I remember when we all thought that Brent Ashton's record of playing for nine different teams was safe.

Anyway, Sillinger nicely signed all five cards I sent him. It took about two months to get these cards back from him.

Karl Stewart

Karl Stewart

Currently with the Norfolk Admirals (AHL).

Fan letter sent: October 27, 2007.

Autographs received: November 27, 2007.

Man, I was pissed when the Blackhawks traded Karl Stewart. He played three seasons for the Chicago Wolves, which is the AHL affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers. Early in the 2006-07 season, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. It was awesome to see this former Chicago Wolves player now skate with the Blackhawks. Of course, the 'Hawks never mentioned that Stewart was with the Wolves, because they don't ever acknowledge the *other* hockey team in Chicago.

The 'Hawks traded Stewart to the Tampa Bay Lightning late last season, and the Lightning sent him down to the minors. He's now playing for the Norfolk Admirals--who *used* to be the 'Hawks minor league affiliate last season, but are now the Lightning's affiliate. So, we have a former Blackhawk playing for the former affiliate of the Blackhawks.

Either way, I hope Karl Stewart makes it back in the NHL. I thought he was an exciting player to watch.

Chuck Kobasew

Chuck Kobasew

Currently with the Boston Bruins.

Fan letter sent: November 9, 2007.

Autographs received: November 23, 2007.

Not a bad turnaround for an active player--only 14 days.

Robbie Ftorek

Robbie Ftorek

Retired player. Currently the head coach of the Erie Otters (OHL).

Fan letter sent: November 16, 2007.

Autographs received: November 23, 2007.

Ftorek's been coaching a long time. I'm flattered that he signed my cards--and that he didn't keep his rookie card, which is from the 1975-76 O-Pee-Chee World Hockey Association set.

Gary McAdam

Gary McAdam

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: November 16, 2007.

Autographs received: November 23, 2007.

Nice! A one-week turnaround. Too bad that both he and Ftorek used pen. Oh well, still nice.

Brent Seabrook

Brent Seabrook

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: October 26, 2007.

Autographs received: November 21, 2007.

Another Blackhawk! Another signed team card (left), bringing me up to 12 signed cards from this set.

I wrote to Seabrook last season, and got two cards back, signed by him. This time, he signed three (out of three) cards for me.

The Chicago Blackhawks have to be one of the most fan-friendly teams in the NHL, as I've had 23 successes out of the 26 fan letters that I've sent out between last season and this one.

Jim Vandermeer

Jim Vandermeer

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: October 26, 2007.

Autographs received: November 20, 2007.

Wow, what a day! I received five successes in the mail today--all from Chicago Blackhawks. They have some downtime between games, having four days off before their game on Thanksgiving. So, I guess a lot of them used this time to answer fan mail.

This is the second time I've written to Jim Vandermeer. The first time, he signed the card I sent. This time, he signed two more, including his '06-07 Blackhawks Team Set card.

I now have 11 cards from that set autographed.

Tuomo Ruutu

Tuomo Ruutu

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: October 26, 2007.

Autographs received: November 20, 2007.

The first time I wrote to Tuomo Ruutu, he signed 2 cards for me, but used a dried-out marker. This time, he used a better marker, signing all four cards I sent to him.

Rene Bourque

Rene Bourque

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: October 26, 2007.

Autographs received: November 20, 2007.

This is the second time I have written to Rene Bourque. Last season, he signed two cards for me through the mail. Here, he signed two more, including his 2006-07 Blackhawks Team Card.

James Wisniewski

James Wisniewski

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: October 27, 2007.

Autographs received: November 20, 2007.

Wisniewski is in his second full season with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Ryan Stewart

Ryan Stewart

Currently an Assistant Coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: October 27, 2007.

Autographs received: November 20, 2007.

Stewart played college hockey for four seasons, and then another six seasons in the ECHL. He was the Video Coach of the Blackhawks last season, and was promoted to Assistant Coach when Denis Savard took over as head coach.

Tom Fergus

Tom Fergus

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 4, 2007.

Autographs received: November 19, 2007.

I sent Tom Fergus six cards, and he kept one of them--his 1982-83 O-Pee-Chee rookie card. No big deal. As much as I'm starting to really like the '82-83 set for autographs, the five cards he sent back--nicely signed--are more important to me.

I currently have 56 signed cards from the '84-85 Topps/OPC set, 56 signed cards from the '87-88 Topps/OPC set, 116 signed cards from the '89-90 Topps/OPC set, 273 signed cards from the '90-91 Pro Set set and 44 signed cards from the '91-92 Score set.

Pat LaFontaine

Pat LaFontaine

Retired player. Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2003.

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

Back in the 1990s, I wrote to Pat LaFontaine two times. Both times, I got my cards back from him unsigned. I wrote to him in 1990 when he was with the Islanders, and again around 1995 when he was with the Sabres. And both times, I got back my cards exactly the way I sent them.

Based on past experiences, I've pretty much given up on getting any cards signed by him through the mail. That's why I bought this, and several other autographed cards, at the sports show I attended today.

Allan Stanley

Allan Stanley

Retired player. Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1981.

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

This was a neat find--an autographed card from the Hockey Hall of Fame set. I have not written to Mr. Stanley, as I don't know where I could send him a letter. I've always loved these paintings, so I'm trying to get as many of them signed (by the pictured player) as possible.

Denis Potvin

Denis Potvin

Retired player. Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

I never saw Potvin play, though I do remember him as an analyst for SportsChannel back in the late 1980s. I did try writing to him in the 1990s with the Florida Panthers, where he does TV color commentary. That was unsuccessful. I've never heard anyone getting their cards back signed by Potvin through the mail. I've been meaning to try again, just for the hell of it.

Borje Salming

Borje Salming

Retired player. Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1996.

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

Since Salming lives in Sweden, I figured it'd be easier to just pick this up at the card show instead of trying to write to him. Though I might try and do that, if I can figure out what address I could write to...

Marcel Dionne

Marcel Dionne

Retired player. Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

I've always liked this card of Dionne. And now that I'm trying to get all '81-82 Topps cards signed, I had to pick this one up. I think Dionne charges for autographs through the mail these days. Not sure how much, but I figured this card would be less expensive than trying to write to him.

Bernie Federko

Bernie Federko

Retired player. Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2002.

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

This signature looked great, and the price was right, so I picked this up at the card show. I am trying to get all/as many cards from the '81-82 Topps set signed as possible. Today, I am four cards closer to that goal.

Niklas Lidstrom

Niklas Lidstrom

Currently with the Detroit Red Wings.

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

I wrote to Lidstrom nine months ago, without any success thus far. So, I purchased this card at the show I went to. I love the design of the '91-92 Score set, and the blue signature really stood out against the red, white and green of the card.

Al MacInnis

Al MacInnis

Retired player. Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2007

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

I know that writing to Al MacInnis is hit-or-miss. I heard that he never replied to autograph requests, but now hear that lately he does. I will try writing to him later this year, but figured I'd pick up this card anyway.

Lanny McDonald

Lanny McDonald

Retired player. Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1992.

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

Since I have no idea where I could send Lanny McDonald a fan letter, I decided to pick up this up at the card show I attended. The dealer only dealt in in-person autographs, and literally had thousands of signed cards, and probably ten thousand signed photos at their booth.

I remember Lanny McDonald winning the Stanley Cup in 1989, with that gigantic bushy mustache of his. He retired after that season, and I always wanted to get a card signed by him.

Darren McCarthy

Darren McCarthy

Retired player.

Autograph purchased at a card show on November 17, 2007.

I love card shows! They are a great place to find cool stuff for cheap. Today I purchased, among other things, nine signed insert cards from the 1998-1999 Be A Player set.

The players I picked up signed BAP cards for were Darren McCarthy, Michael Peca, Kevin Dean, Scott Lachance, Alexei Morozov, Fredrik Modin, Joe Juneau, Peter Skudra and Patrick Poulin...I always seem to find Patrick Poulin signed insert cards for a buck.

Patrice Bergeron

Patrice Bergeron

Currently with the Boston Bruins.

Fan letter sent: September 17, 2007.

Autographs received: November 17, 2007.

Bergeron is on the up and up with the Bruins, scoring almost a point-per-game in his last two NHL seasons. He nicely signed these three cards, personalizing them "To Sal" and adding his #37.

Jacques Caron

Jacques Caron

Retired player. Currently the Goalie Coach for the New Jersey Devils.

Fan letter sent: October 27, 2007.

Autographs received: November 17, 2007.

Jacques Caron played in the 1970s, and had that cool, spider-web like goalie mask. He is now the goalie coach for the New Jersey Devils.

I have probably 5 or 6 copies of this Topps card you see here. I sent him two, and he signed both of them very nicely. The signature is in pen, but still it is nice.

I have an extra copy of this card, signed, if anyone would like to trade me for it.

Duncan Keith

Duncan Keith

Currently with the Calgary Flames.

Fan letter sent: October 26, 2007.

Autographs received: November 15, 2007.

I sent Duncan Keith four cards, and he neatly signed all four. I only really wanted to get the 'Hawks team card signed, but threw in the other three cards just for the hell of it. The Fleer Ultra card (left) was a nice shot of Keith, as there are no boards or other players or anything, which I think looks cool. The Upper Deck card (center)is also a nice photo, but those Upper Deck cards tend to smudge easily. The Victory card (right) was an afterthought, as I'm not sure I want to start getting cards signed from that set. I have quite a few doubles from that set, but I'd rather focus on '06-07 Fleer or '05-06 Parkhurst. Keith does not have a card in either of those sets, though.

I now have six cards signed from the 2006-2007 Chicago Blackhawks Team Set. I've written to almost every player who has a card in that set. Hopefully, more autographs should roll in soon.

Also worth noting is that this is my 250th TTM Autograph success since I've started writing fan letters in November of 2006. So thank you, Duncan Keith, for signing my cards and being #250.