Jason Krog

Jason Krog

Currently with the Manitoba Moose (AHL).

Fan letter sent: March 9, 2009.

Autograph received: May 29, 2009.

A former Hobey Baker Award Winner, Jason Krog led the Chicago Wolves in scoring during the 2007-08 season, and then lead the Manitoba Moose in scoring a season later. He signed this Wolves team issue card in black Sharpie marker.

Ryan Stewart

Ryan Stewart

Currently a scout with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: November 7, 2008.

Autographs received: May 28, 2009.

Stewart played four seasons of NCAA hockey, followed by six in the ECHL.

During the 2006-07 season, Stewart was the Video Coach for the Chicago Blackhawks. He then served as an assistant coach until early this season, when Joel Quenneville took over as head coach. Then it seems that scout Marc Bergevin "traded" jobs with Stewart; Bergevin was an assistant coach during the 2008-09 season, while Stewart worked the season as a scout.

Stewart signed this card in black Sharpie marker.

Brad Shaw

Brad Shaw

Retired player. Currently an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues.

Fan letter sent: February 19, 2009.

Autographs received: May 28, 2009.

Former NHL defenseman Brad Shaw has been an assistant coach with the Blues since July 2006. Shaw generously signed all six of the cards I sent, using a black Sharpie marker.

Brent Seabrook

Brent Seabrook

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: November 7, 2008.

Autographs received: May 28, 2009.

Seabrook, for the most part, has been rock solid on defense for the Chicago Blackhawks. I hope he stays with the team for a long time.

Seabrook signed both cards I sent in thin black marker. It took a bit over six months to get these cards back, which I sent out in November of 2008.

Harry Howell

Harry Howell

Retired player. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1979.

Fan letter sent: May 15, 2009.

Autographs received: May 26 2009.

Fantastic! Harry Howell retired from playing over 30 years ago, and yet he still signs autographs for the fans. His autograph is among the nicest I have seen.

Howell used a blue Sharpie marker to sign my cards, personalizing them and adding his Hall of Fame induction year and jersey number 3.

He did keep one of the cards I sent--a 2005-06 ITG Heroes and Prospects card that showed a very young Howell from his days in junior hockey in the early 1950s. No complaints from me, though. Hopefully, he needed it for his own collection.

Not only does Howell take his time when signing, he even folded a piece of paper around my cards and taped it, so that the cards would not get jostled around on their return trip.

By the way, I got to point out the card of Howell as a California Seal. For some reason, I love this card. It's a nice portrait shot of a great player with a lousy team.

This is the second time I've written to him. The first time, about two years back, was also successful.

Nathan Oystrick

Nathan Oystrick

Currently with the Atlanta Thrashers

Fan letter sent: December 27, 2008.

Autograph received: May 26, 2009.

After spending 2006-07 and 2007-08 with the Chicago Wolves (AHL), Oystrick graduated to the NHL, spending all of 2008-09 with the Atlanta Thrashers.

Oytrick signed the card in black Sharpie marker, and added his uniform number 22.

I now have 20 out of 30 cards signed from this 2006-07 Chicago Wolves team set.

David Maley

David Maley

Retired player. Currently a radio broadcaster with the San Jose Sharks.

Fan letter sent: September 27, 2007.

Autographs received: May 21, 2009.

I wrote to David Maley so long ago, I had honestly forgotten that I sent him cards to get autographed. It was roughly 20 months ago when I mailed my request, right before the start of the 2007-08 season.

A member of the San Jose Sharks' radio broadcast team, Maley signed all four cards in black Sharpie marker.

Joe Thornton

Joe Thornton

Currently with the San Jose Sharks.

Fan letter sent: November 7, 2008.

Autograph received: May 18, 2009.

Shortly after my first success with Jumbo Joe--a success that took 20 months--I wrote to him again. This time, it took just over 6 months.

Last time I wrote to him, he signed 2 of the 3 cards I sent. This time, he only signed 1 out of 2. Thornton used a blue Sharpie marker, and added his uniform number 19.

Dustin Byfuglien

Dustin Byfuglien

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: March 6, 2009.

Autograph received: May 9, 2009.

"Big Buff" has done pretty well in the playoffs. In 12 games, he has 3 goals and 4 assists. More importantly, he has done pretty well in being a presence around the net, getting Kiprusoft and Luongo off their games in Round 1 and Round 2 respectively. In fact, it seems that Luongo and Byfuglien were developing a pretty tense rivalry over the past six games. It was fun to watch, but now we get to see how Buff can annoy Osgood or Hiller in the next round.

Anyway, Byfuglien signed the one card I sent, using a black Sharpie marker. The last time I wrote to Byfuglien, he was still a defenseman.

Andrew Ladd

Andrew Ladd

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: January 12, 2009.

Autographs received: May 9, 2009.

Andrew Ladd almost single-handedly saved the Blackhawks in Game 4 of the playoff series between the Blackhawks and the Canucks. Martin Havlat tied the game with a few minutes left in the 3rd, and then Ladd scored in the 1st OT to tie the series 2-2.

Two days after his playoff heroics, I got these back from Ladd. He only signed three of the four cards--he did not sign a 2007-08 OPCcard--using a black Sharpie marker. Perhaps three is his limit when signing. No matter, because I'm glad he signed the Parkhurst and Fleer cards.

Bryan Little

Bryan Little

Currently with the Atlanta Thrashers.

Fan letter sent: February 6, 2009.

Autographs received: May 8, 2009.

Bryan Little split the 2007-08 season between the Atlanta Thrashers and the Chicago Wolves. In the 2008-09 season, he would only play for Atlanta, scoring 31 goals and 20 assists in 79 games. Those 51 point were good enough to place him 4th overall in team scoring.

Little signed both cards sent in black Sharpie marker. He also tossed in an unsigned card of him from the 2008-09 MVP set.

Rick Tabaracci

Rick Tabaracci

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: April 6, 2009.

Autographs received: May 7, 2009.

Tabaracci signed all five cards in black Sharpie marker. Apparently, he switched to a new marker halfway, as the ink on the first two cards is not as good as it is on the bottom three cards. Turnaround time was just over a month.

Jerry Korab

Jerry Korab

Retired player.

Autographs received in-person at a Chicago Blackhawks game on May 5, 2009.

Jerry Korab and David Mackey signed autographs at the Chicago Blackhawks game on May 5. Even though it sucks that they lost to the Canucks, I got a few signed things, making the night pretty cool.

In my first go-round during first intermission, I got this 1981-82 Topps card signed.

But I really wanted one of those cool-looking 8 1/2" by 11" photos that the players were giving out. So during second intermission, I came back and got a signed photo from Korab.

As you can see below, Korab spent a lot of time on the signature, writing out:

TO Sal
#1 Fan
Best Of Luck
Jerry Korab
King Kong
#22

David Mackey

David Mackey

Retired player.

Autographs received in-person at a Chicago Blackhawks game on May 5, 2009.

David Mackey was one of the two retired Blackhawks signing autographs at the Chicago Blackhawks playoff game against Vancouver on May 5. Mackey and Jerry Korab were signing before the game, and during the intermissions.

It was limit one autograph per person. During first intermission, I got this Chicago Wolves team card signed by Mackey.

Of course, you knew I'd have to try for another autograph, so at second intermission I came back and got this 8 1/2" by 11 photo signed--the photos were there for anyone who wanted one.

When I asked Mackey nicely for a signed photo, he looked up and jokingly asked me "Didn't you get an autograph already?" (By the way, the line was maybe about six people long, if that).

I responded "Yeah, but...that was like a whole period ago." Mackey and everyone else laughed, and he smiled and asked me who he should sign the photo to.

By the way, I met Mackey at a game last year, and he was so kind as to sign a bunch of stuff for me.

Ryan Parent

Ryan Parent

Currently with the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL)

Fan letter sent: January 20, 2009.

Autograph received: May 4, 2009.

Ryan Parent has spent the past two seasons split between the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms. He signed this card in black Sharpie marker.