Team report: Detroit Red Wings

I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut when it comes to complaining. In a recent e-mail exchange with a fellow hound, I complained that we got "only" 35 autographs from two days of hounding the Detroit Red Wings.

His response, and understandably so, was incredulous: "Oh, you poor thing," or something to that effect. "Complaining that you only got 33 autographs."

You know, I had it coming. Even despite the Red Wings' reputation for being a tough team to hound, there's a certain sense of entitlement whenever a Western Conference team visits Hockey Bay. Most teams come off as willing signers, meaning we routinely come home with more than 60 to 70 autographs.

Given the star power of the lineup, I should've been ecstatic that we scored that many from the Red Wings, including some from the team's bigger names.

So, the lesson has been learned. I'll take what I can get and keep my pie hole shut.

Signing cards, shown above, were:

Top row: Patrick Eaves, Valtteri Filppula and Jimmy Howard;
Bottom row: Jiri Hudler, Jakub Kindl and Drew Miller.

Signing pucks were, from left, Kris Draper, Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski.

Other highlights from two days of hounding:

~ Adding the fifth puck to The Yzerman Project;
~ Colin catching up with Joey MacDonald;
~ Having Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom deepen the international flavor of our autographed pucks collection; and
~ being thankful for Jimmy Howard.

No easy feat

Even before the 2010-11 NHL season began, we scored the four biggest autographs of the current hockey-hounding campaign when Steve Yzerman, the Tampa Bay Lightning's geenral manager, headed out for coffee one afternoon during the club's rookie camp.

Not only did we snag some top-shelf pieces from the Hall of Famer, but all of the stumbling and scrambling we endured also provided a good story. Those four pucks, in turn, made a quick dent in a project that, as the season has progressed, has proven more difficult that I'd imagined.

After thinking that The Yzerman Project, as it was named, would be easy to complete, we've had few opportunities to add to it. Since that day, I've carried at least one puck for the 12-puck project anytime I went hounding in Tampa.

When the Detroit Red Wings came to town recently, though, I knew an opportunity just might exist. My instincts paid off when, on the night before the game, Yzerman met Red Wings GM Ken Holland for dinner in downtown St. Petersburg.

Thankfully, a tip put me in the right place at the right time. This puck, which commemorates the Red Wings' 2002 Presidents' Trophy, leaves us with seven more to go.

Catching up with Joey Mac

By Colin
Hound Central 5.0 junior correspondent

When I first met Joey MacDonald, he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. We were at their morning skate in Tampa. I had asked him for a goalie stick and he gave me one. Then I asked him to sign it, so he did.

After he got traded from the Leafs, I thought I'd never see him again. But I did, when we hounded the Detroit Red Wings a couple weeks ago. I found out he was with the team when my Dad told me.

When he came out, I said "Do you remember me?" Then he said, "Hey, little buddy." I said "Did you get that picture I drew for you?" He said, "Yep." I said" Did you like it?" He said, "Yep."

I was glad to see him again.

I was glad that he signed my team sheet, so I could add it to my collection.

Editor's note: Besides Joey Mac, others the signing the team sheet included Mike Babcock, Dan Cleary, Pavel Datsyuk, Kris Draper, Valtteri Filppula, Johan Franzen, Jimmy Howard, Jiri Hudler and Brian Rafalski.

Exception to the rule

Rumor had it that the Detroit Red Wings were a tough team to hound. Given the potential Hall of Famers who fill the roster, such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and, possibly, Chris Osgood, it's easy to see why.

And while these guys may be hard to hound, there's one member of the Red Wings who was more than willing to sign multiples.

In the two times that goalie Jimmy Howard, a former University of Maine Black Bear, signed for me during Detroit's recent two-day visit to Hockey Bay, I came away with two pucks, shown above, and four cards, including this addition to the Threads collection.

In fact, I believe he signed multiples for anyone with more than a single item. Hopefully, I just haven't jinxed other hounds and Howard continues to be a prolific signer. If not, you can blame me.

The Hockey Life: Week 18

Last Thursday, I started writing a post explaining the absence of reports earlier in the week. The reason was as simple as this: the Detroit Red Wings were in town. And, as any serious hockey hound knows, the team demands your full and undivided attention. That alone meant I didn't have time to finish it.

From the future Hall of Famers on the roster -- Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk come to mind -- to the history surrounding the Original Six team, the Wings always draw a big crowd. Thursday night, a sea of red nearly filled the St. Pete Times Forum, where the Wings spanked the hometown Lightning, 6-2.

A funny thing happened, though, when it came to hounding the Wings. While most of us expected big crowds, numbering into the high 20s at the least, the most at any one time was a baker's dozen -- 13. Not that we were complaining, mind you.

With baseball spring training camps opening up nearby, most of the dealers likely turned their attention elsewhere. Baseball, I hear, sells better than hockey. It helped us, too, that we kept it a secret the Red Wings stayed in St. Petersburg, not at one of the three Tampa hotels frequented by NHL teams.

Still, no complaints. It was nice being among friendly faces. And, as you'll read in the days ahead, once we share the bounty of trips for the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers, the hounding wasn't all that bad.

Stepping up

It was with more than a little bit of pride that I sewed an "A" on Colin's Pinellas P.A.L. Stars jersey Saturday morning before his first game of the winter-spring campaign. Entering the fourth season with the program, his coaches saw fit to make him an alternate captain.

Gaining the "A" carries some extra responsibilities. Though he tries to lead by example on the ice, playing hard and as best as he can, he has developed a growing voice in the locker room, keeping his teammates, even some a little older, focused on the upcoming game.

For the record, too, the Stars kicked off the campaign in fine fashion, beating one of the Ellenton teams, 8-0. Colin had a goal and an assist.

A milestone for Moody

Here's a tip of Hound Central 5.0's battered, old Cooper SK600 to Moody on the one-year anniversary of his authoritative voice on collecting autographs through the mail, Moody's TTM Blog.

Between the in-person reports here at Hound Central 5.0 and at Hockey Hounds Universe, Moody's TTM Blog rounds out our comprehensive look at the hockey-hounding hobby.

Join me, please, in wishing Moody congratulations on his efforts -- over the past year and the many days ahead.

Quote of the week

"Go home, shovel snow!"
Our response to Red Wings fans chanting "Let's go Red Wings" at Thursday's game.

Good for laughs

Now that Moody has told his story of getting autographs from Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman, it's time to spill the beans on what happened just before the new Tampa Bay Lightning general manager made him feel like a 14-year-old girl at a Jonas Brothers concert.

Because it was hot that day during the Lightning's Young Guns player development camp, we braved the outside elements tucked inside the air-conditioned comfort of Moody's truck. It was, after all, summertime in Florida.

As we sat inside, soaking up the AC and trying to stave off an afternoon nap, we spied someone walking down a sidewalk. At first, the person's identity was obscured by bushes and we dismissed it was Yzerman because the person appeared to be wearing a touristlike fanny pack.

Boy, were we ever wrong. Not only was this person not wearing a fanny pack (it was a cell phone holster), but it was, indeed, the Red Wings' legendary captain. The alarms, so to speak, were sounded.

In what can be accurately described only as a jailbreak or a scene from the Three Stooges, the three of us (Moody, Colin and I) sprung to action. Colin nearly climbed over Moody trying to get out. In return, Moody nearly sent Colin back into his seat. Me? I was fumbling through my bag to grab the pucks shown above as well as two paint pens.

Moody was the first to leave the truck, scrambling up a small incline to the sidewalk and begin the chase. Colin, only seconds behind in his departure, ran along the incline, issuing his request.

"Yzerman," he shouted, "can you sign for my friend and Dad?" (It's nice to know where I rank, isn't it?) No "Mr. Yzerman" or "Steve." Just "Yzerman."

Thankfully, Stevie Y stopped.

After gathering the four pucks and pens, I nearly fell out of Moody's truck, getting a foot tangled up in my hounding bag, to join the chase. Despite my girth and age, I made up lost ground as quickly as I could, most likely causing seismic activity from my heavy feet.

As you can see, our reward was well worth the comedic effort. In less than five minutes of actual hounding, coming within a nearly three-hour-long wait, we knocked out one-third of our primary hounding project this season, The Yzerman Project.

For the record, Colin scored the Red Wings and Lightning pucks. Given Yzerman's and Team Canada's success at the 2010 Olympics, I had Yzerman sign the top pucks in gold.

No longer a tough guy

I like to think of myself as a secure man with very few insecurities. I am 6-foot-2, 240 pounds in stature and climb 300- to 400-foot cellular towers for a living.

All that went out the window last week when I saw my childhood hero, Steve Yzerman. I immediately turned into a 14-year-old girl at a Jonas Brothers concert as soon as I saw the Tampa Bay Lightning's new general manager walk by us during the club/s Young Guns development camp.

I have never been nervous or goofy around any player I have met -- and I have met a lot. This, however, was different.

Photo taken in Detroit from an advertisement for my former employer while I lived in the Motor City is now signed by the Hall of Famer.

Photo taken of the tribute on ice after Yzerman's number was retired is now added as an autographed shrine on my wall.

I chose these two photos to get signed because I wanted to make sure that no one else would present the same items to him this year. They needed to stand out in my collection and not be a mass-produced mimic of the usual.

As much as I want a Stanley Cup photo or HOF induction photo (I do plan on adding those) the "14-year-old JoBro fan" in me wanted my first time to be special.

The Yzerman Project

When it comes to Hall of Famers like Steve Yzerman, I have little time for any other hockey-hounding platform, so to speak, than pucks. I don't want him to sign any cards, posters or 8x10s. Nope, all I want are pucks and, once I'm done with them, the Team Canada jersey.

With this dozen of pucks, I'll have my work cut out for me this season. It's hard enough to get 12 autographs out of most players, let alone a hockey hero like Yzerman. And, no, I don't expect him to sign all 12 at one time.

Still, though, I'm up for the challenge, making The Yzerman Project the centerpiece of my 2010-11 hockey-hounding efforts. I hope to make a sizable dent, with Colin's help, by knocking out the top row during the Lightning's upcoming rookie camp. After that, I'll be happy with two at a time during the course of the season.

The lineup:

Top row: Tampa Bay Lightning official game puck, 2010 Winter Olympics hockey champions, Detroit Red Wings and Team Canada;

Middle row: Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings big logo, Red Wings 2002 Stanley Cup champion and Red Wings 2002 Presidents' Trophy; and

Bottom row: Red Wings 1998 Stanley Cup champions, Red Wings 1997 Stanley Cup champions, Red Wings 2008 Stanley Cup champions and Canada souvenir.

Congrats, Dino and Cammi

Yesterday the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada, announced that Dino Ciccarelli and Cammi Granato, among others, will be inducted into the player category.

Dino has been waiting since 2002 for the call. He has 602 goals in his career. He's a former member of the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning, so that sorta makes him a hometown hero wherever I have been.

Dino signed this Lightning third jersey for me in Michigan a week after signing with the Lightning. I was the only person in line at the Gibraltar Trade Center show that didn't have something for him from the Wings. During his first training camp with the Bolts, I made up for the lack of Wings respect and had him sign this puck.

Granato is one of two women (Canadian legend Angela James is the other Class of 2010 inductee) being inducted. This is the first time a woman (Or two for that matter) have been individually inducted. She has been with Team U.S.A. for 15 years and has a few Olympic medals to show for it. She was an analyst during these past Olympic games.

Cammi signed this postcard for my daughter about five years ago and has been in her "Girl Hockey" collection ever since. It is a pretty impressive collection that I may showcase for her one day.

Also named to the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2010 were Detroit's Jimmy Devellano and former Calgary Flames owner, the late Daryl "Doc" Seaman.

Guess who?

What Hall of Famer and big-footed cheater did Moody get to sign three cards in 10 days?

Welcome to Hockey Bay, Stevie Y

I don't know about you, but if Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman does, indeed, become the next general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, I just might be able to find a few items to get signed over the next few years.

The official announcement comes in less than 30 minutes.

That's not so Terrible ... Ted

Coming from Detroit, sports are in my blood. Growing up in the 1980s and into the '90s as a Detroit sports nut and idolizing the likes of the Red Wings' Steve Yzerman, the Tigers' Kirk Gibson, the Pistons' Isiah Thomas and the Lions' Barry Sanders, how could you go wrong?

Before my father passed, one of the things I remember most are the debates we would have over whose heroes were better. Sure, he chose some good names. The Tigers' Al Kaline, the Lions' Alex Karras and, of course, the Red Wings' Ted Lindsay.

Well, Dad, I think you got me on this one. None of my guys got a major award in their respective sport named after them.

The National Hockey League Players’ Association announced April 14th at the Hockey Hall of Fame that the Lester B. Pearson Award is being reintroduced as the Ted Lindsay Award.

My father took me to a card show in Detroit when I was a kid so I could meet "Terrible Ted." My Dad told me stories the whole ride over. I walked away that day with more than a signed piece of rubber.

Since that father-son trip, I've been able to watch old videos of Lindsay and have been able to see just what Dad was saying. I've also built my Ted Lindsay collection to include some of the following:

A chair from Detroit's old Olympia Stadium;

A single-signed jersey;

These four cards;

A jersey shared by fellow Hall of Famer Sid Abel; and

How 'bout this gem with Gordie Howe?

Anyways ... Congratulations, Ted, on this well deserved-honor.

10 Questions: Marc Lamothe

Marc Lamothe will be our first "10 Questions" that involves a player who is still playing professionally. He has four NHL games under his belt, two with the Chicago Blackhawks and two with the Detroit Red Wings. Playing in the American and International hockey leagues for most of his career, Lamothe has put up solid numbers.

Recently, as of April 7, Lamothe signed a deal to play for the Hamberg Freezers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (germany's top professional league) during the 2010-11 season.

In 10 Questions, Hound Central 5.0 asks NHL players -- past and present -- a few questions about their views on autographs. Former NHLer Ian Moran was the first to respond, giving us a few minutes of his time. Since then, there have been quite a few former NHL players who've responded.

We truly appreciate the opportunity provided by Lamothe.

Hound Central 5.0: Did you collect cards/autographs as a kid? If so, who's your favorite autograph?
Marc Lamothe: I didn't collect autographs as a kid.

Hound Central 5.0: Is signing autographs fun or a chore?
Marc Lamothe: I enjoy signing cards.

Hound Central 5.0: What's the weirdest thing you've ever signed?
Marc Lamothe: Someone's arm

Hound Central 5.0: Best/worst cities for autograph hound/dealers?
Marc Lamothe: I don't know.

Hound Central 5.0: Can you tell the difference between autograph dealers and collectors?
Marc Lamothe: I don't really think about it.

Hound Central 5.0: Does it really matter to you if someone is selling your autographs?
Marc Lamothe: Not really... I'm sure they're not making a ton of money from my signed cards.

Hound Central 5.0: Would/do you sign blank pieces of photo paper?
Marc Lamothe: Probably, but I can't remember ever signing a blank piece of paper.

Hound Central 5.0: Any items you won't sign?
Marc Lamothe: No, as long as it's relevant to me

Hound Central 5.0: Most famous person to ask for your autograph? Most famous person you've asked for an autograph?
Marc Lamothe: No one.

Hound Central 5.0: Black or blue Sharpies?
Marc Lamothe: Either one works for me.

Hound Central 5.0 and its correspondents thank Lamothe for his time in answering these questions. We appreciate his efforts, on and off the ice.

Returning the favor

When the Carolina Hurricanes visited Hockey Bay in March, I gave goalie Manny Legace one of his newest cards, which showed him in a Hurricanes uniform.

"Thanks, man, I don't have one of these yet," Legace told me.

Well, Manny, after signing these two pucks Tuesday, let's just say we completed a fair deal.

Hogwash, I tell you

Over the years, I'd heard that Phoenix's Robert Lang wasn't the most willing of signers. It's funny, then, how perspectives change. All it took was for Lang sign these three pucks after Tuesday's morning skate for me to now offer that others' perceptions might be a bit outdated.

10 Questions: Kevin Miller

Kevin Miller comes from a hockey family. His brothers Kelly and Kip were in the NHL. His cousins include Ryan, of the Buffalo Sabres, and Drew, of the Detroit Red Wings. Can you imagine how competitive the family reunions are?

Kevin played for nine NHL teams, breaking into the NHL with the New York Rangers. He was also a part of five U.S.A. national teams.

He's president of Kevin Miller Financial Services in his home state of Michigan.

In this new feature, Hound Central 5.0 asks NHL players -- past and present -- a few questions about their views on autographs. Miller is now the second to respond, giving us a few minutes of his time. We truly appreciate the opportunity.

Hound Central 5.0: Did you collect cards/autographs as a kid?
Kevin Miller: Yes.

Hound Central 5.0: Is signing autographs fun or a chore?
Kevin Miller: Fun.

Hound Central 5.0: What's the weirdest thing you've ever signed?
Kevin Miller: No comment given.

Hound Central 5.0: Do people still recognize you in public?
Kevin Miller: Local, yes. Nationwide, no.

Hound Central 5.0: Can you tell the difference between autograph dealers and collectors?
Kevin Miller: No comment given.

Hound Central 5.0: Does it really matter if someone is a dealer?
Kevin Miller: Yes.

Hound Central 5.0: Would/do you sign blank pieces of photo paper?
Kevin Miller: No.

Hound Central 5.0: Most famous person to ask for your autograph?
Kevin Miller: None.

Hound Central 5.0: Most famous person you've asked for an autograph?
Kevin Miller: Ryan Miller.

Hound Central 5.0: Black or blue Sharpies?
Kevin Miller: Either.

Hound Central 5.0's senior correspondent, Moody, was pretty happy when Kevin agreed to complete our questionnaire. Like Miller, Moody grew up in Michigan, watching the Miller Boys of Michigan State University as a fan of the Spartans.

Hound Central 5.0 and its correspondents thank Miller for his time in answering these questions. We appreciate his efforts, on and off the ice.

Moody's Olympics Gold: Team Sweden

Team Sweden won its last gold medal in 2006 at the last Olympiad held in Torino, Italy. Of the 23-man roster, I've managed to get 16 players from the NHL-rich squad.

Cards signed by some of Team Sweden's players:

Top row: Atlanta's Tobias Enstrom, New York's Henrik Lundquist, Columbus' Fred Modin, Tampa's Mattias Ohlund; and
Bottom row: Vancouver's Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Bufalo's Henrik Tallinder and Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg.

More cards signed by Team Sweden players:

Top row: Detroit's Johan Franzen, Dallas' Loui Eriksson; and
Bottom row: Nashville's Patric Hornqvist, Detroit's Niklas Kronwall, and Washington's Nicklas Backstrom.

San Jose's Doug Murray

Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson stadium poster

Toronto's Jonas Gustavsson.

Most of these items have been signed over the past two seasons, either in Hockey Bay or South Florida.

You know you'll hear "no"

It's no secret among Hound Central 5.0 readers that the two NHL teams with the game's brightest young stars are the roughest to hound in most every place but their home cities.

The Pittsburgh Penguins -- featuring Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury -- and the Washington Capitals -- with Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin and Mike Green -- drew significant votes (a combined 87.3 percent) in the most recent Hound Central 5.0 poll.

Really, though, are we surprised? Teams like these draw dealers, hounds and fans out of the woodwork. It's one thing to sign for, say, a dozen or so people. How about facing a crowd of 30-plus people? In a way, I don't blame them. Do you?

Question: Roughest NHL team to hound?

Pittsburgh Penguins: 28 votes out of 55 cast (50.9 percent)
Washington Capitals: 20 votes (36.4 percent)
Boston Bruins: 4 votes (7.3 percent)
Detroit Red Wings: 2 votes (3.6 percent)
Anaheim Ducks: 1 vote (1.8 percent)

Yes, Oatsie, it was

From a hockey hound's point of view, neither Alex Tanguay nor Antero Niittymaki were the Tampa Bay Lightning's best offseason acquisition.

Nope, sorry. That honor goes to assistant coach Adam Oates, brought on primarily to help the Bolts' power play and to work with the team's forwards.

It's my guess, and it's just that -- a guess, that Oates will someday be in hockey's hallowed hall. In a sense, it's a shame he's not already enshrined. During his playing days, the guy was an assist machine, logging more than 1,075 in just under 1,350 games with seven NHL teams.

One of those teams was, in fact, the Detroit Red Wings, the club that Oates signed with an an undrafted free agent in 1985.

"Man, that was a long time ago," Oates told me while signing this puck after practice Monday.