Some mail to end 2017 with 27 new NHL player signatures. The grand total of unique player autographs now stands at 5,620 for 75% of everyone who has ever played.
This mail features a package from COMC.com, a couple small trades, a small purchase and some TTM returns.
Johnny Gaudreau
The Calgary Flames found a gem when they drafted Johnny Gaudreau 104th overall in 2011. He turned into a top prospect at Boston College and won the 2014 Hobey Baker Award. He was an instant hit at the NHL level and finished his first season as a Calder Trophy finalist. He's produced at nearly a point-per-game pace with Calgary and in 2016/17 won the NHL's Lady Byng Trophy. Internationally, Gaudreau helped US win gold at the 2013 World Junior Championships and represented America at the Men's World Championships in 2014 and 2017.
Scott Harrington
Scott Harrington was a 2nd round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011. Since making his NHL debut with the 2014/15 Penguins, Harrington has played 62 regular season games in the NHL. He was traded to Toronto in the Phil Kessel trade, played part of a season for the Maple Leafs, and was again traded, this time to the Columbus Blue Jackets. The defenseman has turned into a regular NHL player with the 2017/18 Blue Jackets. Internationally, he represented Canada at the World Junior Hockey championships in 2012 and 2013.
Laurent Dauphin
The Coyotes drafted Laurent Dauphin 39th overall in 2013. From 2015 to 2017 he scored 3 goals in 32 NHL games with the Coyotes. He's since been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks but has yet to crack their NHL roster.
Frank Vatrano
The Boston Bruins signed Frank Vatrano as an undrafted free agent from UMass-Amherst. Since then, he's played over 100 games in the NHL with Boston. Vatrano was the AHL's leading goal scorer in 2015/16 with 36 goals in just 36 games as a Providence Bruin. He was also named the AHL's rookie of the year that season. Internationally, he represented the United States at the 2016 World Championships.
Colin Smith
Forward Colin Smith played 1 game in the NHL with the 2014/15 Colorado Avalanche. He was later traded to the Maple Leafs but hasn't been able to break out of their AHL club.
Ben Hutton
A University of Maine alumni, defenseman Ben Hutton is in his third season as a full time member of the Vancouver Canucks' blueline. He's approaching 200 games played with the Canucks. Internationally, Hutton represented Canada at the 2016 World Championships, helping his country take home Gold.
Melker Karlsson
The San Jose Sharks signed Melker Karlsson as a 24 year old undrafted Swedish professional in 2015. Now entering his fourth season with the Sharks, Karlsson has played well over 200 games in the NHL. He's a reliable bottom line forward who was recently signed to a three year extension by the Sharks.
Trevor Van Riemsdyk
Defenseman Trevor Van Riemsdyk was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as an undrafted University of New Hampshire player in 2014. The younger brother of NHL player James Van Riemsdyk, Trevor is most notable for helping the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2015. Trevor has played nearly 200 games in the NHL between the Hawks and his current club, the Carolina Hurricanes. Internationally, he represented USA at the 2017 World Hockey Championships.
Brett MacDonald
Defenseman Brett MacDonald played 1 game in the NHL with the 1987/88 Vancouver Canucks. He spent the rest of his lengthy pro hockey career in the minors.
Doug Wickenheiser
Through the 1980's Doug Wickenheiser played well over 500 games in the NHL, suiting up with the Canadiens, Blues, Canucks, Rangers and Capitals. He may be best known for being the #1 overall draft pick of the 1980 draft, selected by Montreal. Wickenheiser had just led the Regina Pats to the Memorial Cup tournament and had been named the CHL's player of the year. He's a cousin of famous Canadian Olympian Haley Wickenheiser. Doug Wickenheiser was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and passed away in 1999 at only 37.
Tim Higgins
From 1978 to 1989 Tim Higgins played over 700 games in the NHL, scoring 154 goals and 351 regular season points. He was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings. Higgins was originally drafted 10th overall by Chicago in 1978.
Mike McEwen
From 1976 to 1988 Mike McEwen played over 700 games in the NHL. He played for the Rangers, Rockies, Islanders, Kings, Capitals, Red Wings and Whalers. He scored over 400 points as a reliable puck moving defenseman. He was a important part of the 1979 New York Rangers team that made it to the Stanley Cup finals. A few years later, with the Islanders, McEwen returned to the finals, this time coming out on the winning side. McEwen is most notable for being a member of the 1981, 1982 and 1983 Stanley Cup wining New York Islanders.
John Tonelli
John Tonelli is one of the most notable hockey players from the 1980s/90s who does not have a certified autograph card. His career was certainly worthy of one. He was a part of the New York Islanders' Stanley Cup dynasty in the 1980s, scored 20+ goals nine times (including a 42 goal season in 1984/85) and played over 1000 games in the NHL.
Steve Konroyd
From 1980 to 1995 Steve Konroyd played just under 1,000 regular season+playoff games in the NHL. He was a member of the Flames, Islanders, Blackhawks, Whalers, Red Wings and Senators. Internationally, he represented Canada at the World Championships in 1985 and in 1991. In '85 Konroyd helped Canada take home a Silver.
Bill Stewart
From 1977 to 1986 defenseman Bill Stewart played 260 games in the NHL. He played for the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs and Minnesota North Stars. Stewart briefly returned to the NHL as a head coach with the 1998/99 New York Islanders.
Jere Gillis
Drafted by the Vancouver Canucks 4th overall in 1977, Jere Gillis spent a decade in the big leagues and played 386 NHL games. He played for the Canucks, Rangers, Nordiques, Sabres and Flyers. After his hockey career Gillis became a Hollywood stuntman and has had roles in notable films such as The Notebook, The Day After Tomorrow, Punisher and Pacific Rim to name just a few.
Lance Nethery
Lance Nethery scored 11 goals and 25 points in 41 career NHL games in the early 1980s. A Cornell alumni, he played for the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers. In 1985, Nethery took his skills overseas and has spent most of his time since then in Europe as a player and later as a coach.
Udo Kiessling
Defenseman Udo Kiessling played 1 game in the NHL with the 1982/83 Minnesota North Stars. It made him the first German born and trained player to make the NHL. Kiessling is best known for his long professional hockey career in Germany and his role with the country's national team. Kiessling represented Germany at the Olympics an incredible five times. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2000.
Jason Kasdorf
Jason Kasdorf was originally drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 2011. In 2015, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. At the very end of the 2015/16 season, after Kasdorf had finished his college career with RPI, he played a single game in the NHL with the Sabres. His first full season of pro hockey, 2016/17, was predominantly spent in the ECHL.
Adam Almquist
Swedish defenseman Adam Almquist recorded 1 goal in 2 career NHL games with the 2013/14 Detroit Red Wings. He won a Calder Cup with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013. He's been playing in Europe since 2014/15.
Patrick Sieloff
Defenseman Patrick Sieloff was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2012 NHL draft by the Calgary Flames. He played 1 game in the NHL with the 2015/16 Flames and scored a goal. That remains Sieloff's only NHL game and in the summer of 2016 he was traded to the Ottawa Senators. Internationally, Sieloff represented USA at the 2013 World Juniors, helping his country win Gold.
Jody Gage
From 1980 to 1992 Jody Gage scored 14 goals and 29 points in 68 career games in the NHL. He was a member of the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres. He was a long time pro hockey player who dominated the AHL, scoring 40+ goals 7 times in the league and winning the Calder Cup twice. He was also named the 1987/88 AHL's MVP in a season that saw him score 60 goals in 76 games with the Rochester Americans. He later spent over a decade as General Manager of the Americans.
Neil Nicholson
Between 1970 and 1978 Neil Nicholson played 39 games in the NHL. The defenseman dressed with the Oakland Seals and New York Islanders
Glenn Goldup
From 1973 to 1982 Glenn Goldup scored 52 goals and 119 points in 291 career regular season games in the NHL. He with the Montreal Canadiens but spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Kings. He played 3 games for the 1976 Stanley Cup winning Habs, not enough to get his name on the trophy. His father, Hank Goldup, also played in the NHL.
Michel Mongeau
From 1989 to 1993 Michel Mongeau scored 6 goals and 25 points in 54 career NHL games. He played for the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning, who had selected Mongeau in the 1992 NHL expansion draft. Mongeau passed away in 2010 from a battle with cancer, he was just 45.
Neil Sheehy
A Harvard alumni, tough guy defenseman Neil Sheehy was signed by the Calgary Flames as an undrafted free agent in 1983. He accumulated over 1300 penalty minutes in 379 regular season NHL games from 1983 to 1992. Sheehy is notable for helping Calgary reach the 1986 Stanley Cup finals and for being the only non-goalie to wear the #0 in an official NHL game. He wore the strange number while with the 1987/88 Hartford Whalers.
Bo Berglund
From 1983 to 1986 Bo Berglund played 130 games in the NHL. He was a member of the Nordiques, North Stars and Flyers. As a member of the Swedish national team he won Bronze at the Olympics in 1980 and 1988.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
On top of the 27 NHL player autographs, I also have an NHL coach autograph and 3 female signatures to share.
Don Perry
As a player, Don Perry had a career that lasted two decades. He was a high scoring defenseman who spent most of his career in the old Eastern Hockey League. Perry became a minor league coach and eventually reached the NHL that way. In the early 1980s, Perry was head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. He coached one full season in the NHL and parts of two others.
Shannon Szabados
Shannon Szabados is one of the most recognizable names in women's hockey. The goalie first made history in 2002/03 when she became the first female to play junior hockey in the WHL. She played men's hockey in junior, college and pro. Szabados spent two full seasons as a professional goalie with the SPHL's Columbus Cottonmouths, the only female to sign and play in the league. Internationally, Szabados won Gold at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics with Canada.
Blayre Turnbull
Blayre Turnbull has represented Canada at the Women's World Hockey Championships in 2016 and 2017, bringing home Silver on both occasions. She played NCAA hockey with the Wisconsin Badgers from 2011 to 2015.
Natalie Spooner
Natalie Spooner has been a member of Canada's National Women's Team since 2011. In 2014, she helped Canada bring home a Gold from the Olympics.
No comments:
Post a Comment