Markus Naslund

Markus Naslund

Currently with Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik of the Swedish Elite League.

Signed insert Purchased at a card shop on February 23.

This is the best card of the "Be A Player" lot I purchased. Naslund enjoyed a productive, 15 season career in the NHL--most of it with the Vancouver Canucks. He broke into the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and ended his NHL career with the New York Rangers (2008-09).

John Cullen

John Cullen

Retired player.

Signed insert Purchased at a card shop on February 23.

This is one of the better "Be A Player" cards I picked up in that lot I purchased on February 23. Cullen played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers (remember them?), Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. During the 1990-91 season, he scored 110 points.

John Cullen is the son of Barry Cullen, who also played in the NHL. John broke into the league in 1989. He did not play during the 1997-98 season due to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The following season, he returned to the NHL for 4 games, and then retired. The short-lived comeback merited him the Bill Masterton Trophy, given to the player who best exemplifies perseverance to the sport.

Darren Turcotte

Darren Turcotte

Retired player.

Signed insert Purchased at a card shop on February 23.

Turcotte played in the NHL from 1988 to 2000 with the New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators.

Bill Ranford

Bill Ranford

Retired player.

Signed insert Purchased at a card shop on February 23.

What's the deal with these "Be A Player Cards"? It seems like they are doing everything except being a hockey player. They are either playing golf, or pool, or mugging the camera. Fortunately, not all of the cards are like this one of Bill Ranford, playing pool.

Marty McInnis

Marty McInnis

Retired player.

Signed insert Purchased at a card shop on February 23.

Marty McInnis played for the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team, then went on to enjoy a 12-year NHL career with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Boston Bruins. Another signed insert card that I am glad to add to my collection.

Igor Ulanov

Igor Ulanov

Retired player.

Signed insert Purchased at a card shop on February 23.

Ulanov played 15 seasons in the NHL (1991-92 to 2005-06) with 8 different NHL teams.

Dave Gagner

Dave Gagner

Retired player.

Signed insert Purchased at a card shop on February 23.

OK, sure--Gaqner is playing golf (which sucks) instead of hockey (which is awesome).

But I kind of like the monochromatic look of the foreground figure (clad in blue) against the blue half-tone background. Gagner also neatly signed the card to the right of himself, and added his jersey number 15 too.

A nice pickup that cost me less than $2.

Jeff Norton

Jeff Norton

Retired player.

Signed insert Purchased at a card shop on February 23.

This is the kind of autographed card that most people avoid. First, Norton was a journeyman player--not the type that everyone wants a 'graph of. Secondly, it is from one of those horrible mid-1990's "Be A Player" sets. Notice the generic-looking NHLPA uniform in lieu of that from a real team?

Say what you will, but Norton played 14 seasons in the NHL...which is 14 more seasons than I'll ever play. And the card--which I bought in a lot with 7 other cards--ended up costing me less than $2. Where's the downside?

Dustin Brown

Dustin Brown

Currently with the Los Angeles Kings.

Fan letter sent: December 18, 2009.

Autograph received: March 19, 2010.

Brown signed 3 cards in black Sharpie marker, but kept the fourth one--a 2006-07 Upper Deck card. Maybe he needed it to complete his set. Turnaround time was about 3 months.

Rick Nash

Rick Nash

Currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Fan letter sent: November 6, 2009.

Autograph received: March 18, 2010.

Rick Nash has got to be one of the most fan-friendly superstars out there. This is the fifth time I have written to him, and each time was successful. The only catch is that he signs one card per request.

As you can see, Nash did a heck of a nice job signing this Champ's card in blue Sharpie marker.

Torrey Mitchell

Torrey Mitchell

Currently with the San Jose Sharks.

Fan letter sent: January 20, 2009.

Autograph received: March 12, 2010.

It took 14 months to get this card back, but keep in mind that Mitchell spent pretty much all of the 2008-09 season injured. I wrote to him when he was playing for the Worcester Sharks last season; he re-injured himself during that conditioning stint. Good to see that he is doing well (re: no injuries) this season.

Anyway, Mitchell signed this card in black Sharpie marker.

Guy Chouinard

Guy Chouinard

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 14, 2009.

Autograph received: March 5, 2010.

Chouinard signed all four cards sent in blue Sharpie marker. I wrote to him c/o the Prince Edward Island Rocket of the QMJHL--he was the team's head coach at the time, but apparently not any more. Perhaps the cards had to be forwarded to him by the team, which could be the reason why it took nearly six months to get these back.

No matter. I'm especially glad to have gotten the 1981-82 Topps card signed by Chouinard--I now have 90 autographed cards from that set.

David Koci

David Koci

Currently with the Colorado Avalanche.

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2009.

Autograph received: March 4, 2010.

David Koci broke into the NHL during the 2006-07 season, playing in 9 games for the Chicago Blackhawks. The next season, he played in another 18 games. Since then, he has played for the St. Louis Blues and the Tampa Bay Lightning before finding a home with the Colorado Avalanche.

Koci signed this team-issued Blackhawks card in black Sharpie marker. I now have 24 out of 29 cards from this set signed.

David Legwand

David Legwand

Currently with the Nashville Predators.

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2009.

Autograph received: March 3, 2010.

Legwand signed three cards in black Sharpie marker, but kept the fourth one I sent--a 2007-08 O-Pee-Chee card. This is the second time I've received signed cards from Legwand; the first time was three years ago.

J.P. Parise

J.P. Parise

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2009.

Autograph received: February 26, 2010.

J.P. Parise--father of Zach Parise--played 12 seasons in the NHL. He signed all four cards in blue Sharpie marker.