Some Mail - 76 New Graphs

I've acquired 76 new graphs since the last mail post.  The grand total of unique NHL signatures is now 3,750 as goalie Michael Hutchinson recently moved from my 'backup only' binder to official NHL player.  Just 250 signatures away from 4,000, a goal I hope to reach by the end of the year.

Matt Zaba

I'm going to start this mail post with my #1 star.  Matt Zaba, #1 star?  This UD Autofacts happens to be Matt Zaba's only certified autograph and its just the third I've set my eyes on.  The other two are tucked away in collections. I wish I knew the story about it, a seemingly common signature that appears to be super limited.  I don't know if a few were produced by accident, or if there's more but people aren't listing them because its Matt Zaba. Thanks to someone who listed it poorly in a lot, unbeknownst to its rarity, I scooped it up for dirt cheap.  Matt Zaba's NHL career lasted all of 34 minutes, appearing in 1 game for the 2009/2010 New York Rangers. 

Sergei Bobrovky

Sergei Bobrovsky was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers as an undrafted free agent.  The Russian made his NHL debut for the 2010/2011 team.  He won the 2013 Vezina Trophy as a Columbus Blue Jacket.

Ryan Miller

Ryan Miller had a career year in 2010 when he won the Vezina Trophy as NHL goalie of the year and backstopped Team USA to an Olympic Silver medal. 

Steve Janaszak

Steve Janaszak was Jim Craig's backup goalie on the 1980 US Miracle team. Janaszak later played 3 games in the NHL, 1 for the 1979/80 Minnesota North Stars and 2 for the 1981/82 Colorado Rockies.

Marty Turco

Between 2000 and 2012 Marty Turco played well over 500 games in the NHL.  He spent most of his career with the Dallas Stars but also saw time with the Blackhawks and Bruins. 

Alex Stalock

Alex Stalock has played in 25 games with the San Jose Sharks since making his debut with the club in 2010/2011.  

Anton Khudobin

Russian Anton Khudobin has appeared in 50+ NHL games since 2010.  He has played for the Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes.

Duncan Keith

For a Norris trophy winner and 2 time Olympic Gold medalist Duncan Keith has a very limited number of certified autographs on the market. The 3 time NHL All-Star has won 2 Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks.

Mike Green

Since 2005 Mike Green has played 500+ games for the Washington Capitals.  He's put up huge offensive numbers for the Caps and is a multiple time NHL All-Star.  

Bruce Boudreau

Winner of the 2008 Jack Adams award as NHL coach of the year, Bruce Boudreau was a high scoring pro hockey player in his youth.  He played in 141 NHL games between 1976 and 1986.  He spent most of that time with the Toronto Maple Leafs but also dressed for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Derek Dorsett

Tough guy Derek Dorsett lead the NHL in penalty minutes through the 2011/2012 season.  He has played well over 300 NHL games between the Blue Jackets and Rangers.

Dennis Bonvie

There were a number of new signers in Enforcers II, the most notable in my books was Dennis Bonvie.  If any enforcer deserves some more recognition, its him.  He is the most penalized professional hockey player in the history of our game, racking up over 4,800 minutes in the sin bin.  He played 92 games in the NHL between 1994 and 2004, dressing for the Oilers, Blackhawks, Penguins, Bruins, Senators and Avalanche.

Gordie Dwyer

Gordie Dwyer played 100+ NHL games between 1999 and 2004.  He recorded 5 assists and nearly 400 penalty minutes while dressing for the Lightning, Rangers and Canadiens. He's been head coach of the QMJHL's PEI Rocket/Charlottetown Islanders since 2011. 

Glen Cochrane

Though the 1980's Glen Cochrane played well over 400 games in the NHL.  He spent most of that time as a Philadelphia Flyer but also played for the Canucks, Blackhawks and Oilers. Although he racked up a significant amount of penalty minutes, he was more than just a goon.  As Mark Howe's defense partner he posted a +42 season for the 1982/83 Flyers.

Craig Coxe

From 1984 to 1992 Craig Coxe played in 235 regular season NHL games.  He played for the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks.

Nick Fotiu

Nick Fotiu played in over 100 WHA games and well over 600 NHL games from 1974 to 1989.  He accumulated 1300+ penalty minutes in the NHL. 

Jim Sandlak

From 1985 to 1996 Jim Sandlak played well over 500 games in the NHL.  He spent most of his career in Vancouver but also played for Hartford.  Although he was a tough customer Sandlak also scored over 100 goals in the NHL.

Kurt Walker

From 1975 to 1978 Kurt Walker played nearly 100 regular season and playoff games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  This Globe & Mail article describes the difficulties he's been experiencing health wise due to a tough pro hockey career. I'll add that he's got a pretty weak signature. 

Landon Ferraro

The son of Ray Ferraro, Landon was drafted 32nd overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2009.  He recently made his NHL debut for the 2013/2014 team, playing 4 games so far this season.

Tyler Wotherspoon

A 2011 second round pick, defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon recently made his NHL debut with the 2013/2014 Calgary Flames.

Jonathan Racine

Defenseman Jonathan Racine recently made his NHL debut with the 2013/2014 Florida Panthers.  He has played 1 game for the team so far. He won the 2012 Memorial Cup with the Shawinigan Cataractes.

Nathan Lieuwen

After a successful junior career with the Kootenay Ice Nathan Lieuwen joined the Buffalo Sabres, who had drafted him in 2011.  He made his NHL debut this season and has played 7 games for the 2013/2014 Sabres.

Harri Pesonen

An undrafted Finnish forward, Harri Pesonen played 4 games for the 2012/2013 New Jersey Devils.

Anthony Peluso

Originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2007, Anthony Peluso was acquired via waivers by the Winnipeg Jets in 2011 and made his NHL debut shortly after.  He was a regular on the 2013/2014 Jets, playing 50+ games.

Anders Lee

Anders Lee has played over 20 games for the New York Islanders since making his NHL debut with the 2012/2013 club.  

Chris Brown

A second round pick by the Coyotes in 2009, Chris Brown attended the University of Michigan before turning pro.  Since 2012 he has played 17 NHL games between the Coyotes and Capitals.

Tyson Barrie

Tyson Barrie has played 100+ NHL games for the Avalanche since making his debut with the 2011/2012 team.  His father, Len Barrie, also played in the NHL and was part owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

Ryan Hamilton

Ryan Hamilton made his NHL debut with the 2011/2012 Toronto Maple Leafs.  He played a dozen games for the Leafs and has since dressed for the 2013/2014 Edmonton Oilers. 

Jimmy Hayes

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008, the Boston College alumni made his NHL debut with the 2011/2012 Chicago Blackhawks.  He's played almost 100 games in the NHL between the Hawks and Florida Panthers.

Jake Gardiner

Originally drafted 17th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2008, Jake Gardiner was acquired by the Leafs in 2011 and made his NHL debut with the team later that year.  He's played 150+ games for Toronto.  

Travis Turnbull

An undrafted University of Michigan alumni, Travis Turnbull played 3 games for the 2011/2012 Buffalo Sabres and scored 1 goal.  He's spent the last couple seasons playing in Europe.  His fater, Perry, also played in the NHL.

Raphael Diaz

Defenseman Raphael Diaz was signed by the Montreal Canadiens as a free agent in 2011.  The undrafted Swiss has played 140+ NHL games between the Habs, Canucks and Rangers.  He represented Switzerland at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. 

Sean Collins 

A Cornell University alumni, Sean Collins has played over a dozen games for the Columbus Blues Jackets since making his NHL debut with the team in 2012/2013.

Louis Leblanc

A Quebec native, Louis Leblanc was drafted 18th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2009.  Since 2011/12 he has played 50 games in the NHL, scoring 5 goals and 10 points.

Mikko Lehtonen (b. 1987)

Finnish native Mikko Lehtonen played 2 career games in the NHL, 1 for the 2008/09 Boston Bruins and 1 for the 2009/10 Bruins.  

 Martin Cibak

From 2001 to 2006 Martin Cibak played 150+ NHL games for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Mika Pyorala

An undrafted forward from Finland, Mika Pyorala spent 1 year in North America.  He played 36 games for the 2009/2010 Philadelphia Flyers. 

Alexei Mikhnov

Ukrainian Alexei Mikhnov was drafted 17th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2000.  He only spent 1 season in North America, playing 2 games for the 2006/2007 Oilers

Fedor Fedorov

The younger brother of Sergei, Fedor Fedorov played just 18 games in the NHL.  He was with the Vancouver Canucks from 2002 to 2004 and then played 3 games for the 2005/2006 New York Rangers. 

Daniel Laperriere

From 1992 to 1996 Daniel Laperriere played 48 games in the NHL, dressing for the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators. He's now a scout for the Colorado Avalanche.

Denny Felsner

I really like the look of this card, great picture. These old Classic cards, certifying the signature on the back, are getting hard to find. Between 1992 and 1995 Denny Felsner played 28 games for the St. Louis Blues. 

Alex Mogilny

Alex Mogilny's NHL career lasted from 1989 to 2006.  The Russian retired with 1032 points in just 990 regular season games.  He won the 2002/2003 Lady Byng Trophy and was a 6 time NHL All-Star.   He also helped the Devils win the 2000 Stanley Cup.

Mike Krushelnyski

Mike Krushnelnyski started his career with the Boston Bruins in 1981.  He's best known for being a member of 3 Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup championship teams; 1985, 1987 and 1988.  He also won the 1998 Stanley Cup as a Detroit Red Wing assistant coach.  

Blake Wheeler

Blake Wheeler was surprisingly drafted 5th overall by Wayne Gretzky and the Phoenix Coyotes in 2004.  The University of Minnesota alumni later made headlines when he refused to play for the Coyotes.  He made his NHL debut with the 2008 Bruins and has since been a quality player.  He's been with the Atlanta Trashers/Winnipeg Jets since 2011.

Clayton Stoner
I was pleasantly surprised to see Clayton Stoner on the Gemography checklist.  This is his first and only certified autograph since making his NHL debut back in 2009.  He's earned it, having played well over 200 games for the Minnesota Wild since then.  He's also got a rather nice looking autograph compared to every other modern day player.  You can actually read his last name!

Brandon Gormley

A native of my hometown province, Prince Edward Island, Brandon Gormley recently made his NHL debut for the 2013/2014 Phoenix Coyotes.  The team drafted him in 2010 with the 13th overall pick. 

Boris Valabik

A giant at 6 ft 7 inches, defenseman Boris Valabik was selected 10th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2004 NHL entry draft.  Between 2007 and 2010 the Slovakian played 80 games in the NHL, all for the Atlanta Thrashers. 

Stefan Ruzicka

Between 2006 and 2008 Slovakian forward Stefan Ruzicka played 55 games for the Philadelphia Flyers.  He scored 4 goals and 17 points for the club.  

Marcel Goc

German born Marcel Goc made his NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks during the 2004 playoffs. He's been an NHL regular since then, playing over 600 games in the league.  He's played for the Sharks, Predators, Panthers and Penguins. He represented Germany at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.  His brother, Sasha, also played in the NHL.

Kyle Wellwood

Kyle Wellwood played over 500 career regular season+playoff games in the NHL.  He dressed for the Maple Leafs, Canucks, Sharks and Jets.

Mikko Eloranta

From 1999 to 2003 Mikko Eloranta played 250+ NHL games between the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings.  The Finnish forward scored 32 career goals in the NHL.  He dressed in the 2002 winter Olympics with Team Finland. 

Gilbert Brule

A junior star, Gilbert Brule was drafted 6th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2005.  He played 300+ regular season + playoff games in the NHL but never lived up to his potential.  

Tobias Enstrom

Tobias Enstrom has played nearly 500 games for the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets. He was selected to represent the Thrashers in the 2011 NHL All-Star game. 

Scott Niedermayer

Recently inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Scott Niedermayer had an impressive career.  He was a 4 time Stanley Cup champion, 2 time Olympic Gold medalist, 5 time NHL All-Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner and Norris Trophy winner.

Jay Bouwmeester

Jay Bouwmeester has played well over 800 games in the NHL since being drafted 3rd overall by the Panthers in 2002.  He recently helped Team Canada capture the 2014 Olympic Gold medal.

Jody Shelley

Jody Shelley retired in 2013 with over 1500 penalty minutes in the NHL.  He played for the Blue Jackets, Sharks, Rangers and Flyers.

Mathieu Darche

These oversized cards were given away by the Worcester Sharks and guarantee the authenticity of the autograph on the back, a nice replacement for someone who doesn't have a certified autograph card from a major company.  From 2000 to 2012 Mathieu Darche played 250 games in the NHL.  He dressed for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens. His older brother, JP, played in the NFL. 

Vlastimil Kroupa

From 1993 to 1997 Vlastimil Kroupa played over 100 games for the San Jose Sharks.  The Czech defenseman also played a couple games for the 1997/98 New Jersey Devils.  

Jamie Leach

Between 1989 and 1994 Jamie Leach dressed in 81 NHL games.  He played for the Penguins, Whalers and Panthers. He played for the 1991 and 1992 Penguins but only got his name on the Stanley Cup in 1992. 

Jeff Toms

Between 1995 and 2003 Jeff Toms dressed in 236 NHL games.  He made his debut with the Lightning and then would go on to play for the Capitals, Islanders, Rangers, Penguins and Panthers.  He played in Europe until retiring in 2011.  He represented Canada 3 times at the Spengler Cup.

Jose Charbonneau

A french Canadian drafted 12th overall by the Habs in 1985, Jose Charbonneau was largely a disappointment, playing only 25 games for the team.  He had a bit more success in Vancouver, playing for the Canuck squad that reached the 1994 Cup finals. He retired with less than 100 NHL games played.

Brett Lindros

The New York Islanders drafted Eric's little brother 9th overall in 1994. Brett Lindros was forced to retired in 1996 due to post concussion symptoms.  He scored 2 goals and 7 points in 55 games with the Islanders. 

Philippe Audet

Philippe Audet played 4 games for the 1998/1999 Detroit Red Wings. As a junior player he lead Granby to the 1996 Memorial Cup championship, scoring more points than any other player in the tournament.  

Christer Olsson

From 1995 to 1997 Christer Olsson played 56 NHL games between the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators.  He's best remembered by Senators fans for being the guy they traded Pavol Demitra away for.  Demitra went on to have an amazing career while Olsson only played 25 games for the Senators.

Cam Brown

A 'one game wonder,' Cam Brown played 1 game for the 1990/1991 Vancouver Canucks.  In 2010 he was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame. 

Rick Hayward

Rick Hayward played 4 games for the 1990/1991 Los Angeles Kings.  He collected no points but fought Craig Berube in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Dale Henry

Drafted by the Islanders in 1983, Dale Henry played just under 150 regular season and playoff games with the club between 1984 and 1990.  He played pro hockey long after his NHL career was over, retiring in 2002.  

Don Waddell

Don Waddell is best known in the hockey world as General Manager of the Atlanta Thrashers from 1999 to 2010.  He played just 1 game in the NHL, for the 1980/1981 LA Kings.  He won the Stanley Cup as an assistant GM with the 1998 Detroit Red Wings.  Since 2012 he has been working as a pro scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Colin Patterson

An undrafted Clarkson University grad, Colin Patterson played 500+ NHL games from 1983 to 1993.  He spent most of his career with the Flames, winning a Stanley Cup in 1989. 

Glenn Merkosky

Between 1981 and 1990 Glenn Merkosky suited up in 66 NHL games.  He saw time with the Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings.  He later spent some time as a head coach in the AHL and since 1999 has been a scout with the Red Wings. 

Gilbert Delorme

Between 1981 and 1990 Gilbert Delorme played nearly 600 regular season/playoff games in the NHL.  The defenseman played for the Canadiens, Blues, Nordiques, Red Wings and Penguins.  

Greg Hotham

From 1979 to 1985 Greg Hotham played 230 NHL games between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Gerry O'Flaherty

From 1971 to 1979 Gerry O'Flaherty played well over 400 games in the NHL.  He spent the majority of that time with the Vancouver Canucks but also dressed for the Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames. His father, Peanuts O'Flaherty, also played in the NHL.

Bob Hurlburt

Bob Hurlburt dressed in 1 NHL game for the 1975/1976 Vancouver Canucks. 

Kirk Tomlinson

Kirk Tomlinson played just 1 game in the NHL, for the 1987/1988 Minnesota North Stars. 

Marco Baron

This card suffered a little water damage along its journey.  The autograph is undamaged so I'll likely just cut it up and put it in a new index.  Marco Baron played 86 games in the NHL through the 1980s.  He dressed for the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers. 

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As usual I'll end the post with signatures that fall outside of my NHL signature project.

Len Lilyholm

Len Lilyholm played 1 season in the WHA, dressing in 77 games for the 1972/73 Minnesota Fighting Saints.  He wrote me a great note back, he was an architect and actually helped design the very building that the Fighting Saints played in.  He also represented Team USA at the 1968 winter Olympics.

Calvin Pickard

Calvin Pickard has dressed in 3 NHL games as a backup goalie for the Colorado Avalanche.  He's likely to see some playing time with the Aves soon.  

Kenton Rein

Kenton Rein dressed in 1 NHL game as a backup goalie for the Buffalo Sabres during the 1987/88 season.  He wrote me a short letter and I updated his bio on my other blog, read his story here. 

Bill Christian

Bill Christian helped Team USA win the 1960 Olympic Gold medal.  His son, Dave, was a member of the 1980 Team USA Miracle squad. 

Mike Babcock

Mike Babcock won the 2008 Stanley Cup as Detroit's head coach.  He also coached Team Canada to Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014.  I wish there were more certified coach autograph cards on the market, this one has been selling well and it took me a while to find an affordable one.

Doug MacLean

I was pleasantly surprised to see Dough MacLean's name on the Decades checklist.  The PEI native got his first certified autograph in the set.  He coached the Florida Panthers to the Stanley Cup finals in 1996 and later became General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Paul Fixter

From 1995 to 2001 Paul Fixter was an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche.  He got his name on the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001 with the Avs.  He included a certified autograph card from a set recently released by the team he coaches, the Sudbury Wolves.  I haven't yet decided which autograph I want to keep so I scanned both.