Pavel Datsyuk

Today I recieved one of my favorite players back. Pavel Datsyuk! It came in and is the first to start my collection of pucks of the 2002 Stanley Cup Detroit team. I did ask for him to inscribe "Stanely Cup '02" along the bottom, but thats ok. Its a little smudged, though I sent along a paint pen instead of a silver sharpie like I normally do. I like knowing they are much more permanent, though the smudging is the risk I take. I know Sharpies do fade though too, so, it's not quite a win win situation, haha.

When I get my brothers camera back I'll throw up a picture of it. Maybe I'll try a little later again in the season and try my luck again, and maybe get the inscription on the bottom as well.

Miikka Kiprusoff

Apparently I sent to Mr. Kiprusoff twice on accident. Once to help complete my Fleer card challenge, and once previously I guess just because he's cool. Recieved back both envelopes today, and all my cards were sent back unsigned. He did throw in twos signature postcards, but Im deciding if he really signed them, since the signatures are so different. When I get some pictures of them, i'll throw it up and you can be the judge.

Johnny Bower

This month has gone by pretty slow for me. Picking up in the beginning but now dying out slowly since the middle til now. In the mean time, I've only recieved one autograph, and without a camera i couldn't take a picture of it for everyone.

I sent out my request to Mr. Bower because I heard he was a stud signer. I didnt have any cards for him to sign, so I went ahead and got a puck instead, because in all honesty, i'll take autographed pucks over cards anyday, just my personal preference. He returned it back to me in less than a month, which is very exciting news for me. I asked him to also include his Hall of Fame inscription on the bottom of it, as you can see, he obliged with the HOF '76. I'm happy to that even in his older age he still signs.

You can never have too few Hall of Famers in your autograph collection, so chances are i'll go out of my way to find some Bower cards, and get a few signed from him as well.

David Legwand

It only took about 2 weeks for me to recieve my card back from Mr. Legwand. I sent it to his residence about half an hour away from my house, in a nice neighborhood near Detroit. He was very prompt at his return, and it seemed everyone else recieved their cards back at the same time as me, so he must have signed them at the end of his summer.

Being a big Red Wings fan, I have come to admire our division rivals. And seeing David play at the Joe a few times i have a lot of respect for him. Unfortunatly, Nashville isn't the same team that it used to be, and I do think that Detroit will take the Central Division even easier than it did previously.

Brian Rolston

Recieved Mr. Rolston after only having to wait a few weeks from his residence in Minnesota. Very nice guy, hoping that this year hopefully Minnesota can do a smidgen better in the playoffs. Wish there were more Lake Superior State graduates like him around in the NHL.

Igor Larionov

Recieved today one that I tried to get numerous times before, and always got an RTS on my past two attempts. The Professor was an awesome hockey player, when he played with the Soviets, to playing with the Wings, he had talent. He was able to set up plays, see the open man, and always went about everything with a logical thought first. His high intellegence of course is how he got the nickname. Though, wearing those sweet glasses off the rink that makes him look exactly like a Professor helps as well.

Larionov is the third step in my quest for a auto's from the Russian Five. With Federov, Konstantinov and now Larionov, I am now just waiting for my request from Slava Kozlov, and then just get lucky and hope to find an autographed card of Fetisov in a Red Wings Uni, seeing as no one can seem to locate him, or at least get him to sign TTM anymore.

Ryan Miller

I really didn't start following Ryan's career until last year, with the big "Buffalo is the greatest team assembled" thing at the start of last season. I originally was not a fan due to the fact he went to Michigan State, and being a U of Michigan student, well, he wasn't kosher with me. I'd rather watch Al Montoya. But that changed.

As a goaltender myself, i couldn't believe how huge this guy could make himself look in his equipment, being scrawny without his stuff on him. After a while of watching, dare I say he grew on me, and I like this guy. He's got a lot of potential, and with a little more expierence, he's going to be one of the top 10 goaltenders in the league I think. So i'm happy to have gotten his autograh now.

The wait on it was a little more than 3 months, and I did send to his home in East Lansing. Maybe his parents house, I'm not quite sure. But regardless, I'm very thankful I did get a reply from him. I just wish I could see his signature a little better. I should've sent a gold pen, even though i hate gold for autographs.

Eric Staal

My girlfriend has so kindly let me know that Mr. Eric Staal sent me back my autograph request from the beginning of the summer. I sent it to his family farm, and I just recieved my response, which is ok with me, because a long response is better than no response. He signed 3/3 for my Fleer set, and as soon as these cards come in to my possesion (hopefully either Friday or Saturday) I will post up the pictures of them.

Ilya Bryzgalov

From after my post on Wednesday to just now, I have been out of the country. When I returned home at 9 tonight, I found a letter waiting for me on the table. I looked at the Post Mark and got excited, because it was from Santa Anna, CA. I sent this card right after the Stanley Cup Finals started, hoping to get this mail out before they ended and they'd get them before summer. Don't think they did, but oh well. Ilya was awesome at the start of the play-offs last year for the Ducks, and I think if he were anywhere else, he would be a starter. But alas, I'm happy to have another one to scratch off my list and one step closer to completion. Thanks Ilya, you made one man very happy on this long weekend!