Signing curves

When it comes to getting autographs from NHL players, it's important to keep in mind the stage of the player's career. Doing so, I believe, is a critical factor.

For the most part, the average NHL player will take the time to stop and sign for most reasonable requests. Pucks, cards, jerseys and photos are no problem. Blank sheets of photo paper? Well, that's up to each player. Most, but not all, know the difference between collectors, fans and dealers.

The trickiest dribble within hockey hounding comes when dealing with two classes of players -- superstars and top draft picks. Both sit atop any hound's wish list. I mean, who doesn't want an autograph from Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby or Edmonton's Taylor Hall? These type of players truly understand what it means to be hounded, facing crowds wherever they go.

My advice? It never hurts to ask, but be prepared to have them say no. That way, if they do agree to sign, it's a bonus. Of the two classes, I've had better luck over the years with the top draft picks rather than the game's biggest names.

Think of it this way. As players are starting out, signing autographs may be somewhat of a novelty. It's fun to be recognized. After some time, though, and this can be measured in weeks or months, that novelty begins to wear off. Any time players step out in public, from heading out to morning skates or grabbing dinner the night before a game, chances are hockey hounds will be waiting with Sharpies and paint pens in hand.

The same holds true for the NHL's superstars. Only the team bus or hotel room offers sanctuary from hockey hounds. No place, it seems, is off-limits. To me, however, that comes with the territory. It's part of being the best in the game. I suppose that's what makes it easy for them to say no. They're good and they know it.

When talking about players' signing curves, I like to reference a bell curve. For those unfamiliar with the term, think of a camel's hump. The animal's back starts off straight, quickly heads north in a rounded fashion and then slopes down to another straight line.

To me, that best represents an NHL player's signing habits:

~ In the beginning (representing a flat line), most players will sign just about anything. Attention is heaped upon them, as crowds clamor for their scribble on all forms of sports memorabilia. It must be quite a rush.

~ As these players get better (representing the upward slope of the bell curve), and their egos kick in, they become more difficult. It's easy to identify a player in this stage as he'll either limit the number of items he signs or the frequency of his refusals increases.

~ Once these players' skills begin to erode (representing the downward slope), they understand they won't be in the NHL forever. A humbling realization, most players return to early signing habits, even taking the time to chat with fans. In doing this, players become the proverbial fan favorites.

~ The curve is completed (representing another flat line) upon retirement. Most players, except those stars who make the Hockey Hall of Fame, fall out of the hounding public's eye, becoming nearly forgotten, save for the occasional trivia question. To me, this is the best time to approach these players, especially those who take front office, coaching or scouting positions, as it's natural for them to want to be remembered in a positive way.

Now, this observation is based on nearly 15 straight years of hockey hounding, not any scientific data. And it certainly can't be applied to each and every NHL player. Hopefully, though, it might explain why players sign or don't sign.

Feel free to discuss and share your observations.