Patrick Galivan

Patrick Galivan

Currently with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Fan letter sent: April 19, 2010.

Autograph received: April 22, 2010.

This might be my quickest turnaround for an autograph--I sent the card out on a Monday, and got it back signed later that Thursday. Of course, I live in Chicago and I wrote to a Chicago Wolves player.

Patrick Galivan signed my card in black Sharpie marker, and added his uniform number--"lucky" number 13. He started the 2009-10 season with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL, but has since worked his way up to the AHL.

Daymond Langkow

Daymond Langkow

Currently with the Calgary Flames.

Fan letter sent: December 18, 2009.

Autograph received: April 9, 2010.

Langkow signed all 3 cards sent in black Sharpie marker, and added his uniform number 22 to each.

Hannu Toivonen

Hannu Toivonen

Currently with the Rockford Icehogs (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2009.

Autograph received: April 7, 2010.

When I wrote to Hannu Toivonen, he was with the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL. He was since traded, and reassigned to the Rockford Icehogs...which is where my envelope was postmarked from.

Toivonen signed all 3 cards in blue Sharpie marker. I now have 60 signed cards from the 2006-07 Fleer Set.

Jim Hrivnak

Jim Hrivnak

Retired player.

Fan letter sent: September 14, 2009.

Autograph received: March 23, 2010.

I got these cards back from Jim Hrivnak about a month ago, but they got lost on my desk, under stacks of other hockey cards.

Hrivnak signed all 5 card sent in black Sharpie marker. Besides playing for the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues, he also appeared in 3 games for the Winnipeg Jets.

Mikkel Boedker

Mikkel Boedker

Currently with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL).

Signed insert purchased at a card shop on February 23.

Man, this card has everything...

>> Autograph--in blue Sharpie marker, no less
>> A big jersey swatch
>> Shiny silver foil (the words SPX Rookie and the Upper Deck logo)
>> Colorful rainbow foil (around the giant "X" of aforementioned jersey swatch)
>> Serial number

The only thing missing is perhaps a hair sample. Of course, the jersey swatch is not "game used," but rather "event used"--meaning, the player wore the jersey while his picture was taken in it.

The serial number--hard to read as it is over his photo-is 255/999. I'm sure this card isn't too in-demand right now. Boedker spent the 2008-09 season with the Phoenix Coyotes, but has been playing in the AHL this year.

In '08-09, Phoenix rushed a lot of their prospects into NHL action. This season, some of those prospects--Boedker, Kyle Turris and Viktor Tikhonov--are toiling in the minors (Tikhonov in the KHL) to better develop their skills.

James Sheppard & Colton Gillies

James Sheppard & Colton Gillies

Sheppard is currently with the Minnesota Wild.
Gillies is currently with the Houston Aeros (AHL).

Signed insert purchased at a card shop on February 23.

Sheppard is in this 3rd year with the Wild. Gilles, on the other hand, is currently playing in the AHL after spending last season with the parent club. Perhaps he was rushed too quickly into NHL action last year.

Both of the autographs you see here have been signed on a sticker, and later affixed to the card. This was another card I picked up in an amazing grab bag lot. What can I say; I like autographs, and I like cheap cards.

John-Michael Liles

John-Michael Liles

Currently with the Colorado Avalanche.

Signed insert purchased at a card shop on February 23.

A cool-looking autographed card of the 6-year NHL veteran. I normally don't collect cards like Black Diamond, but if I can I try to score a signed insert card on the cheap. I got this card in a mixed lot, so I paid about $2 for it. Not bad, all things considered.

Chris Osgood

Chris Osgood

Currently with the Detroit Red Wings.

Signed insert purchased at a card shop on February 23.

Nice! Osgood has been in the NHL for 16 years (give or take), and this "Be A Player" autograph looks great. I got it in a grab bag lot with some other autographed and jersey cards.

Paul Martin

Paul Martin

Currently with the New Jersey Devils

Signed insert purchased at a card shop on February 23.

I am not too familiar with Paul Martin as a player, but he has been with the Devils since 2003. Another "sticker autograph," but that's OK. I got this card in a mixed lot with other autographs and some jersey cards too.

Dan Boyle

Dan Boyle

Currently with the San Jose Sharks.

Signed insert purchased at a card shop on February 23.

I picked up this card in a mixed "grab bag" lot of autographed and jersey cards. Score! Dan Boyle has been one of the top defenseman all season.

The only drawback of owning this cool card is that the top of the "D" in his first name got "clipped." The autograph is actually on a sticker that has been affixed to the card. Unfortunately, not all of his sig got on the sticker--but close enough.

Brendan Morrison

Brendan Morrison

Currently with the Washington Capitals.

Fan letter sent: December 21, 2009.

Autograph received: April 3, 2010.

Morrison, who is in his 11th season in the NHL, autographed all four cards sent in black Sharpie marker.

Notice the 2005-06 Parkhurst card on the lower left. I now have 130 cards from that set autographed.

Cristobal Huet

Cristobal Huet

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: November 6, 2009.

Autograph received: March 31, 2010.

Huet signed all four cards sent in black Sharpie marker. He is currently in his second season with the Chicago Blackhawks. A few years back, I had another TTM success with Huet.

Andrew Ladd

Andrew Ladd

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Fan letter sent: December 18, 2009.

Autograph received: March 31, 2010.

Ladd signed all three cards sent in black Sharpie marker. The last time I wrote to Ladd, he only singed three out of four cards; that's why I sent him three cards this time.

Dan Hamhuis

Dan Hamhuis

Currently with the Nashville Predators.

Fan letter sent: December 18, 2009.

Autograph received: March 30, 2010.

For the most part, I've had outstanding success when requesting autographs from Nashville Predators players. Dan Hamhuis awesomely signed all three cards sent in blue Sharpie marker. The blueliner is in his 6th season with the Preds.

Ivan Vishnevskiy

Ivan Vishnevskiy

Currently with the Chicago Wolves (AHL).

Autographs acquired in-person at a Chicago Wolves game on March 28, 2010

Originally a prospect of the Dallas Stars, Vishnevskiy was part of the Kari Lehtonen trade, and is now in the Atlanta Thrashers system.

The Chicago Wolves game out a set of team cards at their game on March 28--my main reason for going to the game. I also picked up this year's AHL Top Prospect set, and got both of them signed by Vishnevskiy after the game--he and another player were signing, and fortunately the line wasn't very long.

Karl Alzner

Karl Alzner

Currently with the Washington Capitals.

Fan letter sent: December 18, 2009.

Autograph received: February, 2010.

I don't remember the exact date I got these two cards back from Karl Alzner. Truth is, they've been "lost" on my messy computer desk for a few months, buried under other cards I've meant to scan for one reason or another.

Alzner signed both cards in thin black Sharpie marker.