Good deal

Living in Ontario and attending Ontario Hockey League games affords hockey fans the ability to watch tomorrow's NHL stars today, says Al, Hound Central 5.0's correspondent in Toronto.

It also makes it quite easy to snag autographs from tomorrow's stars through player appearances. Aside from the occasional John Tavares, who likely has been hounded since the second week he strapped on skates, most of the junior players are more than willing to sign autographs.

Most times, especially if you're a speculative collector, you keep these items. There are times, though, when you work out a trade, just like Al did before the season with a like-minded collector:

Al got these items, pucks signed by Windsor Spitfires left winger Taylor Hall, center, in photo above, and defenseman Cam Fowler, right, both top prospects in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, as well as right winger Richard Panik, a Tampa Bay Lightning draftee, for ...

... these items signed by Oshawa Generals defenseman Calvin de Haan, top, taken 12th overall in 2009 by the New York Islanders, and center Boone Jenner, the Generals' first-round pick in 2009.

Pretty fair trade, don't you think?