My 2010-11 NHL awards picks

Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP): Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Vezina Trophy (best goalie): Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
James Norris Memorial Trophy (best defenseman): Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie): Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (gentlemanly conduct): Marty St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Frank J. Selke Trophy (top defensive forward): Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Jack Adams Award (top coach): Guy Boucher, Tampa Bay Lightning (yes, I know he's not a finalist)
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (dedication, perseverance and sportsmanship): Ray Emery, Anaheim Ducks (pretty weak field, too)
Ted Lindsay Award (players' MVP): Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Done with Doug

Unless Doug Weight, captain of the New York Islanders, ever plays for another NHL team, this Anaheim Ducks puck, which he signed last week, represents the completion of our NHL career collection for him. A gracious signer, he's one of the more personable players in the league.

Farewell to two greats

This week the NHL had two future Hall of Famers hang up their skates. Scott Niedermayer and Rob Blake both decided it was time to move on.

Scott Niedermayer played 18 seasons and is the only hockey player in the world to win the Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, the World Championship, World Junior Championship, the World Cup and the Memorial Cup. He may go done in history as the best defenseman (in his era) to play the game

Rob Blake is another great defenseman with his name on the Stanley Cup as well as an Olympic gold medal around his neck.

Hound Central would like to thank both of these greats and wish them all of the best in their futures.

10 Questions: Todd Ewen

Todd Ewen played for the St Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the San Jose Sharks. He got his name on the Stanley Cup in 1993 while with the Canadiens.

These days, he's a marketing and sales executive at Remax Properties West.

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. Same with the likes of Brian Propp, Kevin Miller, David Harlock and Jeff Shevalier. We truly appreciate the opportunity provided by Ewen.

Hound Central 5.0: Did you collect cards/autographs as a kid? If so, who's your favorite autograph?
Todd Ewen: Todd McFarlane with Spawn comics ( Vancouver born)

Hound Central 5.0: Is signing autographs fun or a chore?
Todd Ewen: Always a pleasure!

Hound Central 5.0: What's the weirdest thing you've ever signed?
Todd Ewen: Never really had a weird situation in signing.

Hound Central 5.0: Best/worst cities for autograph hound/dealers?
Todd Ewen: L.A .. East Coast usually have the most dealers in the crowd, but it was growing when I retired.

Hound Central 5.0: Can you tell the difference between autograph dealers and collectors?
Todd Ewen: After over a decade in the NHL, you see the same faces, doesn’t take long to figure them out.

Hound Central 5.0: Does it really matter to you if someone is selling your autographs?
Todd Ewen: Yes and no. You want to give back to the game and make sure that you sign for the fans. Without them, there is no following.

Hound Central 5.0: Would/do you sign blank pieces of photo paper?
Todd Ewen: No!

Hound Central 5.0: Any items you won't sign?
Todd Ewen: No.

Hound Central 5.0: Most famous person to ask for your autograph? Most famous person you've asked for an autograph?
Todd Ewen: The most famous person I asked for an autograph was former President Gerald R. Ford in Anaheim.

Hound Central 5.0: Black or blue Sharpies?
Todd Ewen: Whatever is available, I will sign with a crayon if they want.

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

Best of days

Hounding in Toronto is like hounding in most any NHL city. You have your good days, bleeding a blue Sharpie dry. Conversely, you have your bad days, when uncapping a paint pen is a waste of time. If you're lucky, you'll have far more good days than bad.

For Al, Hound Central 5.0's man in Toronto, the month of March had a few good days of hounding. Besides loading up on the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs' top farm club, he snagged a nice array of items from some of the Leafs' new arrivals and their teammates:

Al made sure, as any good hound would do, to make acquaintances with new Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf, snagging the pair of 8x10s and a McFarlane base shown above.

Other rewards of Al's efforts:

Blue Sharpie always looks good on a Team Sweden jersey. At least it does on this photo of Jonas Gustavsson, who will soon have his own McFarlane;

It looks pretty good, too, on these 8x10s from Jonas Gustavsson, top, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere;

All Star Game photos, like this one for Jean-Sebestian Giguere, are seldom turned down. An all-expense-paid trip to an NHL city for a weekend of showing off and wide-open hockey? Who wouldn't be happy to remember that?

And, not to be overlooked, 8x10s from Mikhail Grabovski, top, and Francis Beauchemin, shown celebrating the 2007 Stanley Cup championship with the Anaheim Ducks.

10 Questions: Ian Moran

Ian Moran started his National Hockey League career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1993-94 playoffs and stuck with them for several years. He also played for the Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks as well as teams in Europe. He left the NHL after the 2007-08 season.

More recently, he is a partner at the Voila Group, a sourcing and brokering company in Massachusetts.

Moody, Hound Central 5.0's senior correspondent, had the honor of meeting Moran when he played for the Penguins. He was kind enough to sign this card for him.

In this new feature, Hound Central 5.0 asks NHL players -- past and present -- a few questions about their views on autographs. Moran was the first 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?
Ian Moran: Yes

Hound Central 5.0: Is signing autographs fun or a chore?
Ian Moran: Great to sign for kids who are excited

Hound Central 5.0: What's the weirdest thing you've ever signed?
Ian Moran: Skin

Hound Central 5.0: Do people still recognize you in public?
Ian Moran: Yes

Hound Central 5.0: Can you tell the difference between autograph dealers and collectors?
Ian Moran: Yes, very easy to do

Hound Central 5.0: Does it really matter if someone is a dealer?
Ian Moran: I don't really care, but I do not like it when they are "using" kids to get what thay want

Hound Central 5.0: Would/do you sign blank pieces of photo paper?
Ian Moran: Yes. Autograph is different from signature

Hound Central 5.0: Most famous person to ask for your autograph?
Ian Moran: Tim Robbins

Hound Central 5.0: Most famous person you've asked for an autograph?
Ian Moran: I haven't asked for one since I was a kid

Hound Central 5.0: Black or blue Sharpies?
Ian Moran: Doesn't matter

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

Moody's Olympics Gold: Team U.S.A.

Team USA won its last gold medal in 1980 (Miracle On Ice), but failed to medal in the last Olympiad, earning only a eighth-place finish. Of the 23-man roster, I've managed to get only 16 players from the NHL-rich squad.

Cards signed by some of Team U.S.A.'s players:

Top row: St. Louis' David Backes, Carolina's Tim Gleason, Los Angeles's Jack Johnson, Tampa's Ryan Malone; and
Bottom row: Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick, San Jose's Joe Pavelski, Boston's Tim Thomas and Colorado's Paul Stastny.

More cards signed by Team USA players:

Top row: Toronto's Phil Kessel, Nashville's Ryan Suter, New York's Ryan Callahan and Anaheim's Bobby Ryan; and
Bottom row: New Jersey's Zach Parise, Anaheim's Ryan Whitney, LA's Dustin Brown and Buffalo's Ryan Miller

Most of these cards have been signed in the past two seasons, either in Hockey Bay or South Florida. Puckhound helped with the acquisition of the Stastny card.

Moody's Olympics Gold: Team Switzerland

I wanted to take advantage of the Olympic break to show off the diversity of my collection with a small picture gallery for a few of the teams.

Team Switzerland is my first team. The Swiss, or Suisse, have never won a gold and only finished sixth in the last Olympics played in Torino, Italy.


Shown are cards I've received in the past from various Suisse forwards through fan packs:

Top row: Martin Pluss, Sandy Jeannin and Ivo Ruthemann; and
Bottom row: Hnat Domenichelli and Romano Lemm

I have also been fortunate enough to land a few defensemen, including, from left, Rafael Diaz, Philippe Furrer and the New York Islanders' Mark Streit.

Rounding out the Suisse's three-man goaltending squad are the Anaheim Ducks' Jonas Hiller, Dallas Stars prospect Tobias Stephan and Ronnie Rueger.

Growing Monarchy

We've had a bit of a run on the AHL Manchester Monarchs practice jersey. Less than a week after getting Anaheim's George Parros to sign it, New York Islanders players Jeff Tambellini (far left) and Matt Moulson (bottom right) added to the work-in-progress project Thursday.

Parros' signature is above one from Los Angeles' Dustin Brown.

For the rest of the season, we can hope to add the Rangers' Brian Boyle, Carolina's Joe Corvo and Tim Gleason, Phoenix's Jason Labarbera and Buffalo's Adam Mair.

Catching up with Jiggy

Al, Hound Central 5.0's Toronto-based correspondent, went out Wednesday morning with a plan of cherry-picking two of the newest Maple Leafs -- Jean-Sebastien Giguere, above, and Dion Phaneuf.

Let's just say, as Al reports, he had mixed results:

"Funny thing is they came together in Giguere's VW SUV, had the California plates on it. They must be staying in the same hotel and are now carpooling.

"When they pulled into the practice rink's parking lot, it was full, thanks to all the hounds taking the overflow spots. So, Giguere drove to the entrance for the players. The two of them got out and a security guard parked it when a spot became available.

"I got all my autos before practice, except for Giguere, who came out by himself after practice and signed the two photos for me.

"He was telling everyone he was going to be one-per. However, I looped around and got the second one done.

"Phaneuf never came out after practice. Rumor was that he got picked up by a cab in the front of the arena to go downtown to do a radio interview.

"As I told my buddies, 'There's still a lot of practices to be had and sooner or later we will get him.' "

Here are those two 8x10s that Jiggy signed for Al:

It wasn't all that long ago that he was signing photos like this down in Hockey Bay.

A sweet item, but have you ever seen a more-conflicted Conn Smythe Trophy winner?

Not that bad, I'd say

I'd heard earlier this season to expect a rough time when the Anaheim Ducks came to town. In fact, "rude and crude" was a term used to describe one's hound's perception of the team. As a result, I went into the two-day hounding adventure with lowered expectations.

After dealing with the Ducks last week, though, I'm guessing that specific hound, who caught up with Anaheim in New Jersey, was unfortunate enough to witness the team on a bad day. Now, I won't say we all gathered around a campfire, roasted marshmallows and sang Kumbaya, but every player signed at least once for Colin and me.

When all was said and done, meaning four sessions over 32 hours, we added 78 autographs (two away from tying our season best) and a variety of items for our efforts. Know, too, that I passed on several more opportunities to add to the haul, being satisfied with the items we'd gotten signed.

Signing pucks Friday, shown above, were Saku Koivu, left, and Scott Niedermayer, on the Canada souvenir and Ducks 2007 Stanley Cup Champions pucks. On Thursday, Colin snagged Teemu Selanne, as well as a funny exchange, on a puck.

Among the bigger names signing cards were, from left, Jean-Sebastien Giguere (now with the Toronto Maple Leafs), Jonas Hiller, Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne.

Among those also signing cards were:

Top row: Evgeny Artyukhin, Matt Beleskey and Troy Bodie;
Middle row: Mike Brown, Ryan Carter and Kyle Chipchura; and
Bottom row: Todd Marchant, Ryan Whitney and James Wisnieswki.

Other highlights from the Ducks:

~ Getting Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan and Steve Eminger on an AHL Portland Pirates practice jersey;
~ Tough guy George Parros signing an AHL Manchester Monarchs practice jersey;
~ Adding Jonas Hiller to the right-handed goalie glove;
~ Colin loading up a Mighty Ducks jersey and running out of ink on a team sheet;
~ Scott Niedermayer, Saku Koivu and Nick Boynton adding to the Threads project; and
~ Dan Sexton signing the first North American Hockey League puck of the collection.

On one hand

Every so often, I remember one of Hound Central's ongoing projects -- the right-handed goalie glove. Maybe it's because there are so few in the NHL. It was put to good use Friday when Anaheim's Jonas Hiller (far left) became the latest goalie to sign it.

With any luck, I'll get the Islanders' Rick Dipietro to add to it this Thursday and Washington's Jose Theodore, if he isn't dealt before the trade deadline, when the Capitals come back in March.

Random sample

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Anaheim's George Parros, one of the NHL's premier tough guys, is a highly sought-after autograph. I suppose, then, that's why he was shooting down some requests before Friday's morning skate.

I must have been one of the lucky ones, though, using a bit of name-dropping when I asked if he'd sign this AHL Manchester Monarchs practice jersey, a team he played for when he was in the Los Angeles Kings organization.

"A Monarchs' jersey?" he asked. "Sure."

For the record, another former Monarchs player, Denis Grebeshkov, signed the jersey when Edmonton visited Hockey Bay in December.

A mighty effort

Colin may have had some trouble working a team sheet for the Anaheim ducks, but he absolutely nailed his old Anaheim Mighty Ducks jersey before Friday's game, getting 22 members of the organization to sign it. Not a single player or coach he asked, including Randy Carlyle, Ryan Getzlaf, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Saku Koivu and Corey Perry -- didn't take the time to honor his request.

The only big name he missed was Teemu Selanne, but I believe Colin didn't mind all that much.

Bit of bad luck

When it comes to paint pens, it's usually me, not Colin, who's had some issues this season. But his latest team season, worked Thursday for the Anaheim Ducks, shows the ink issues can happen to the best of us. Not quite sure what happened -- it was either a low ink supply or the lack of priming the pen.

You'll have to take our word for it that these nine players honored Colin's request: Troy Bodie, Ryan Carter, Kyle Chipchura, Brett Festerling, Ryan Getzlaf, Jonas Hiller, Petteri Nokelainen, George Parros and Dan Sexton.

Only Nokelainen's and Hiller's signatures are truly legible, despite my best efforts to enhance the image after it was scanned.

Three out of five

Though I carried five jersey memorabilia cards for members of the Anaheim Ducks, I only added these three to the Threads project: Scott Niedermayer, Nick Boynton and Saku Koivu.

Please, accept my apologies for missing out on Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. I suppose I'll have to wait until the Ducks come back to Hockey Bay to add them.

Still, though, three out of five isn't bad, is it? To borrow a phrase, that's batting .600 -- a figure that should get me into the hall of fame.

It's also funny, isn't it, that not a one shows the players with the Ducks. The cards I have for Getzlaf and Perry, however, do, but both are from the Ducks days in purple, teal and white.

They know Salty Pete

Because the AHL's Portland Pirates have been affiliated with three NHL organizations over the past few years -- the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres -- there's quite a few former players who can sign this practice jersey depicting the club's mascot, Salty Pete.

Last Friday, with the Anaheim Ducks in town, four former Pirates signed it, from left, Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan (on the red glove), Steve Eminger and Corey Perry (the faint scribble).

Top Shelf: Teemu Selanne

This puck earns Hound Central 5.0's coveted Top Shelf status not so much that Anaheim's Teemu Selanne signed it for Colin on Thursday, but the funny story behind it.

Last summer, when Colin was playing his first season ever of organized hockey, I told him he could mimic Selanne's iconic duck-hunting celebration after scoring the record-setting 54th goal of his 1992-93 rookie NHL season (he scored 76 that season), if and when he scored his first hat trick.

Lo and behold, about two weeks later, Colin scored three goals in game and, for one of the few times in his young life, remembered something I told him. Unfortunately, not everyone was as excited as Colin, who got a lecture about showboating after returning to the bench.

Now, fast forward to Thursday, when Colin met Selanne down here in Hockey Bay:

Colin to Teemu: "Did you know I got in trouble for celebrating my first hat trick like you did with your world record goal?"

Teemu to Colin: "You mean when I threw my glove up in the air?"

Colin: "Yeah, that's what I did. I got in trouble for that."

Teemu, grinning from ear-to-ear: "Yeah, I can imagine."

We need more like Teemu

Anaheim's Teemu Selanne is living proof that living NHL legends can be friendly toward fans and hounds. At a time when he's coming back from a broken jaw and trying to get ready to represent Finland at the upcoming Olympics, it would have been very easy to understand if he passed on requests to sign autographs Thursday afternoon.

Selanne, one of the nicest players in the NHL, had none of that, taking the time to sign for everyone, including this 2008-09 Victory jumbo card, as he walked back to the team's hotel following the Ducks' practice at the St. Pete Times Forum.

One for the collection

It's not all that often that I get a North American Hockey League puck signed by an NHL player. But that's what happened Thursday when Anaheim winger Dan Sexton signed these two pucks, including the one from the Wichita Falls (Texas) Wildcats.

Drew Pelto, an old hockey-hounding buddy from Beantown who now performs a multitude of media-related tasks for the Wildcats, sent me the Wildcats puck for Sexton to sign. In return, I'll send him the Ducks puck that Sexton signed.

A fair trade, I'd say.