These will do

Every NHL team, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, has what you'd call the Big Four. This Tuesday, it consisted of Toronto's Jean-Sebastien Giguere, (clockwise, from top left) Phil Kessel, Luke Schenn and Kris Versteeg.

Had Leafs' captain Dion Phaneuf made the trip, as well as signed one of the two pucks I had for him, it would've been a hard decision picking who to leave out. My guess? Versteeg. I don't think he's yet to meet the mighty expectations of Leafs Nation.

Top Shelf: Arturs Irbe

Younger hockey hounds may not remember former NHL goalie Arturs Irbe. I do, though, as he was among the first two dozen NHL players to provide the foundation of our 2000-plus autographed puck collection.

Back in 1996-97, after the Hartford Whalers headed south to North Carolina, Irbe was a consistent and friendly signer among the Hurricanes. As a result of that and his inspired play, the diminutive Latvian became one of my favorite NHL players. And now, some 14 years later, little has changed.

Not only did Irbe, the Washington Capitals' goaltending coach, sign these three pucks yesterday, but "Archie" was also gracious enough to reminisce a bit about those days when the Hurricanes played their home games at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Top Shelf: Chris Pronger

I've always heard that Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger could be a tough autograph. Now that he signed these two pucks following the team's morning skate. I'm not so sure. It's nice when you're in the right place at the right time, I suppose.