Daniel Carcillo

Daniel Carcillo

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Signed insert card.

Purchased at a card show in November 2012.

Since joining the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011, Daniel Carcillo has been either injured or suspended. He even injured himself when he made an illegal hit that resulted in a suspension. Last year Carcillo only played in 28 games. This year, he got injured in the very first game of the lockout-shortened season.

This card is from the 2011-12 Artifacts set. It is signed in blue Sharpie marker on a sticker. I am surprised the card has a Flyers logo on it, since Carcillo was a member of the 'Hawks when it came out.

Colton Sceviour

Colton Sceviour

Currently with the Texas Stars (AHL).

Autograph received in a trade from a fellow collector.

Colton Sceviour played 1 game last season and 1 game this season for the Dallas Stars. He's been a member of their AHL team, the Texas Stars, since 2009.

I am not sure why Sceviour has the captain's "C" on his jersey. Maybe he was team captain in a rookie camp game or something like that.

Anyway, this card is nicely signed in blue Sharpie marker. The autograph was obtained in-person by a friend who asked to remain anonymous.

Jeff Hoggan

Jeff Hoggan

Currently with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

Autograph received in a trade from a fellow collector.

Jeff Hoggan has played in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes. He's also played in the minors and in Europe. Hoggan is presently with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL, where he is team captain.

This card was traded to me by fellow autograph blogger JonWayne, who received this autograph in-person after attending a Griffins game.

Jiri Fischer

Jiri Fischer

Retired player. Currently the Director of Player Development for the Detroit Red Wings.

Autograph received in a trade from a fellow collector.

Jiri Fischer played 305 games for the Detroit Red Wings. In a game in November 2005, Fischer went into cardiac arrest and collapsed on the bench. He was resuscitated, and the game was postponed. Fischer continued having heart abnormalities, and retired. He is now the Director of Player Development for the Red Wings.

This card was traded to me by fellow autograph blogger JonWayne, who is a big Red Wings fan.

Sean Couturier

2012-13 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 55
Successes:30
Percentage: 54%

Sean Couturier

Currently with the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Fan letter sent: December 10, 2012.

Autographs received: January 18, 2013.

Sean Couturier put up some good numbers earlier this season with the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms, scoring 10 goals and 18 assists in 31 games. Now that the lockout has ended, Couturier is back with the Flyers.

Couturier autographed my card in black Sharpie marker. It's a pretty janky looking signature; it looks more like the letters "SAT" than his name.

Alex Stalock

2012-13 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 55
Successes: 29
Percentage: 52%

Alex Stalock

Currently with the Worcester Sharks (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 24, 2012.

Autographs received: January 17, 2013.

Twenty-five year-old Alex Stalock is third on the San Jose Sharks depth chart for goaltenders. He currently is in the American Hockey League with the Worcester Sharks. There, he is the team's starter.

Stalock autographed my two trading cards in blue Sharpie marker. This is my second success when writing to Stalock. I also got two cards signed by him last year--coincidentally, a day shy of exactly a year ago.

Brandon Pirri

Brandon Pirri

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Signed insert card.

Did I get this at a show? Or did someone give this to me? This has been sitting on my desk for a while, so I don't remember. If you gave it to me, then thank you :)

This card of 'Hawks prospect Brandon Pirri is from the 2010-11 Score Update set.  It is signed on a sticker in blue Sharpie marker.

Pirri has spent most of the past 2 seasons with the Rockford IceHogs, seeing action with the Blackhawks only 7 times in that span. This year, he appears to be a "bubble player" that will be shipped back and forth between the AHL and NHL.

Mark Dekanich

2012-13 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 55
Successes: 28
Percentage: 50%

Mark Dekanich

Currently with the St. John's IceCaps (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 10, 2012.

Autographs received: January 12, 2013.

January 12 of this year was a great day for TTMs. I received signed cards from Mark Dekanich, Colby Robak and Kristopher Foucault.

Goaltender Mark Dekanich played 1 game for the Nashville Predators in 2010-11. He is now in the Winnipeg Jets' system, currently playing for the St. John's IceCaps. He might see some duty with the Jets this year, though they seem pretty set on goaltending with Ondrej Pavelec and Al Montoya.

Dekanich signed both of my cards in black Sharpie marker. I like the way he put a dash before and after his jersey number (-31-), and the way the 31 is part of the autograph, nestled between what I am assuming is the "K" and the "H" in his last name.

Dekanich also took my letter and wrapped it around my cards so they'd be protected. On it, he wrote a short note thanking me for my letter.

Colby Robak

2012-13 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 55
Successes: 27
Percentage: 49%

Colby Robak

Currently with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL). 

Fan letter sent: December 24, 2012.

Autographs received: January 12, 2013.

Colby Robak appeared in 3 games for the Florida Panthers last season, scoring no points but getting no penalty minutes, either. He is currently with the San Antonio Rampage in the American Hockey League.

Robak autographed my card in black Sharpie marker. His signature looks like a capital "R" with the number "47" written after it.

Kristopher Foucault

2012-13 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 55
Successes: 26
Percentage: 47%

Kristopher Foucault

Currently with the Houston Aeros (AHL). 

Fan letter sent: December 24, 2012.

Autographs received: January 12, 2013.

Kristopher Foucault autographed this Young Guns rookie card in black Sharpie marker.

Unfortunately, I did not send him this card. I actually sent Foucault a 2012-13 O-Pee-Chee Marquee Rookies card, a 2012-13 Retro Parallel card and a 2012-13 Score Hot Rookies card.

Although it was very nice of Foucault to autograph a card for me, I'm pretty bummed that I did not get back my OPC Marquee Rookies card of him, as I am concentrating on getting that set signed. 

If this is your card, and got my cards by mistake, let me know if you want to trade.

Travis Hamonic

2012-13 TTM Stats
Letters sent: 55
Successes: 25
Percentage: 45%

Travis Hamonic

Currently with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL).

Fan letter sent: December 18, 2012.

Autographs received: December 31, 2012.

On New Year's Eve, I received my last autograph success for 2012--two signed cards from New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic. He signed both of my cards in blue Sharpie marker.

I would have mentioned this success sooner, but a case of bronchitis (cough! cough!) has pretty much kept my blogging to a minimum these past two weeks.

Anyway, Hamonic has spent the 2012-13 season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL, but should be back in action with the Islanders as soon as the NHL season gets underway.

Linus Omark

Linus Omark

Currently with EV Zug in the Swiss-A Leauge.

Signed insert card.

A friend of mine gave me this autographed card of Linus Omark. It is signed on a sticker in blue Sharpie marker.

Omark split last season between the Edmonton Oilers and the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL. During the 2012-13 NHL lockout, Omark has been playing for EV Zug, a team in Switzerland. He has 45 points in 33 games this year.

James Van Riemsdyk

James Van Riemsdyk

Currently with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Signed insert card. Purchased at eBay in November 2012.

James Van Riemsdyk spent the past 3 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was traded in the off-season to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Luke Schenn.

Personally, I would have preferred to see Van Riemsdyk stay with the Flyers. He's a big player, and looked like he'd be the next Eric Lindros. And the Maple Leafs have a way of ruining good players, so I don't think playing for Toronto will help his career. 

This 2010-11 Artifacts "Auto-Facts" insert card is signed on-sticker in blue Sharpie marker. I now have 14 signed cards from this set.

Bobby Ryan

Bobby Ryan

Currently with the Anaheim Ducks.

Signed insert card. Purchased at eBay in November 2012.

Over the past 4 seasons, Bobby Ryan has been a consistent 30-goal scorer with the Anaheim Ducks. That streak might be in jeopardy, with the NHL resorting to a shortened schedule for the 2012-13 season.

This card is from the 2010-11 Artifacts signed "Auto-Facts" set. Although it is signed on a sticker, I like the design of these cards, and try to pick them up when I find them on the cheap.

Brad McCrimmon

Brad McCrimmon

1959 - 2011

Signed insert card. Purchased on eBay in November 2012.

Brad McCrimmon played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League. He played for the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers and Phoenix Coyotes. He won the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989, and was a Second Team All-Star with the Flyers in 1987-88. He also led the league in Plus/Minus that year.

After playing, McCrimmon went into coaching. He was the head coach of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, the Russian team that died in a plane accident on September 7, 2011. McCrimmon was on that plane and died with his team. He never officially coached a game for Yaroslavl.

This card is from the 1995-96 Be A Player signed insert set. It is signed on-card in black Sharpie marker. The set was not licensed by the NHL, so team logos could not be shown. McCrimmon's glove is covering where the Hartford Whalers logo would be.

Michael Blunden

Michael Blunden

Currently with the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Signed insert card. Purchased at a card show in November 2012.

Michael "Mike" Blunden broke into the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks. He has since played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Montreal Canadiens. Right now, he's in the AHL with the Canadiens' affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. With the lockout now ending, Bluden will probably return to the NHL.

This card is from the 2006-07 SP Authentic Future Watch set. It is signed on-card in blue Sharpie marker, and serial numbered out of 999.

Ben Eager

Ben Eager

Currently not playing due to the NHL lockout.

Signed insert card. Purchased at a card show in November 2012.

Ben Eager was a member of the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks team that won the Stanley Cup. Since then, he has played for the Atlanta Thrashers, San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers. He is currently under contract with Edmonton, but not playing due to the lockout.

This card is pretty sweet. It is from the 2005-06 SP Authentic Future Watch set. I think I paid $2 for it, which is worth it to me. It is a rookie card of a former Blackhawks' player, signed on-card in blue Sharpie marker and serial numbered to 999. 

Jamie McBain

Jamie McBain

Currently with the Lahti Pelicans of SM-Liga (Finland).

Signed insert card. Purchased at a card show in November 2012.

Jamie McBain was an NHL regular for the past two seasons, so I guess he could not be assigned to the AHL once the lockout hit. He's currently playing in Finland with the Lahti Pelicans.

Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson

Currently locked out from playing for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Signed insert card. Purchased online in November 2012.

Nick Johnson played 77 games for the Minnesota Wild last season. Over the summer, he signed with the Phoenix Coyotes and would probably be playing there now if not for the lockout. Johnson played 5 games for the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) earlier this season, but is currently not with any team. 

Jared Cowen

Jared Cowen

Currently with the Binghamton Senators (AHL).

Signed insert card. Purchased at a card show in November 2012.

Jared Cowen was assigned to the AHL due to the NHL lockout. However, 3 games in, he suffered a season-ending injury. He underwent hip surgery and will make a full recovery within 6 to 8 months. Ouch!

Philip Larsen

Philip Larsen

Currently with Lukko Rauma of SM-Liga (Finland).

Signed insert card. Purchased online in November 2012.

Phillip Larsen is biding his time in Finland during the NHL lockout.

This card is from the 2010-11 SP Authentic Future Watch signed insert set. It is autographed on-card in blue Sharpie marker.