Little Gray Box: Ryan Miller

In all honesty, I can't remember if Buffalo's Ryan Miller signed this cheapskate card in 2002 or 2003. I am positive, though, we got it during our time in Beantown. Either way, it was one of the first autographs we received from the Sabres' talented goalie.

Little Gray Box: Mike Green

Little did I know, during the 2005-06 season, that Washington's Mike Green would become a Norris Trophy finalist, a NHL First Team All Star and set an NHL record for defenseman with his eight-game goal-scoring streak.

Thankfully, I had the presence of mind to have him sign one of my homemade cheap skates cards.

Little Gray Box: Jeff Carter

These days, Philadelphia's Jeff Carter is best known as a goal-scoring sniper. He signed this cheapskate card during the 2004-05 season, when today's young NHL stars were forced by the NHL lockout to play in the American Hockey League.

Little Gray Box: Ryan Getzlaf

There was a time when I had little other than pucks for Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf to sign. Namely, a quick demotion to the Portland Pirates, the Duck's AHL affiliate, during his rookie NHL season. That's when this cheapskate card came in quite handy.

Little Gray Box: Rick Nash

Want to know how much I like this new Hound Central 4.0 feature? So much so that I'd post two within three days. I hope you don't mind.

This is our first autograph from Columbus' Rick Nash, snagged when the Blue Jackets visited Beantown during the 2002-03 season.

Little Gray Box: Tim Thomas

I was putting away some items when I came across our Little Gray Box, where we store our autographed homemade player cards. The box, itself, isn't really that special. It's made of plastic and has a hinged cover (with a USA Hockey sticker on it) that still snaps tight.

It's what's inside, though, that makes it special. It's filled with cards like this one, signed by Boston goalie Tim Thomas during the 2002-03 season, often representing a player's earliest NHL days.

Sometimes, when I'd lack cards for a player, I'd make these instead, rather than using a blank index card.

In going through the box, I came across quite a few from today's stars. In the weeks ahead, this new project will share some of these cards.