Flashbacks 08.10

Here's another player's-only stroll down hockey-hounding memory lane:

March 9, 2009: St. Louis' T.J. Oshie
Jan. 31, 2009: Hall of Famer Joey Mullen
Dec. 28, 2007: Montreal's Carey Price
Nov. 26, 2006: Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson
Dec. 29, 2005: Toronto's Matt Stajan

Dodging raindrops

Sometimes, you just have to grin and bear it. Take Moody, for instance, during a late-season hounding trip to Duluth, Ga., to catch the visiting Ottawa Senators.

Unfortunately for Moody, Hound Central 4.0's roving Southeast correspondent, it started raining. Though most players stopped to sign, their autographs were subpar, ruined by the falling rain. After seeing that, Moody showed his years of experience and stayed dry.

After the team's bus left the arena, Moody went inside where he bumped into Ottawa's Nick Foligno. After signing two cards for Moody, Foligno asked how he did with other players. Moody told him the truth -- he was the only one.

To Moody's surprise, Foligno told him to hang out a moment. Foligno rounded up some teammates, all waiting for a cab ride to a nearby Bass Pro Shop, and brought them back to Moody.

So, who did Foligno round up? How about Shean Donovan, Chris Kelly, Brian Lee, Chris Phillips, Jason Spezza and Jesse Winchester? Even better, Spezza signed five cards.

Not bad for a rainy day, huh? The autographs came out pretty nice, too.

Flashbacks 04.29

You know, I rather enjoy compiling this weekly offseason feature. Each posting is a stroll down memory lane. Hopefully, you'll enjoy them as well:

Feb. 23, 2008: Boston Bruins team sheet
Dec. 14, 2007: Calgary's Jarome Iginla
Feb. 13, 2007: Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky
Nov. 26, 2006: Ottawa's Jason Spezza
Nov. 2, 2005: Then-Florida's Roberto Luongo

Baseball bonus: Tampa Bay's Akinori Iwamura

Feel free to check out Hound Central's 3.0, 2.0 and 1.0.

They delivered

Despite the best-laid plans, there are hounding adventures that simply don't work out. Yesterday's planned morning trip for the Ottawa Senators, in town to play the Lightning, was just one of the instances.

Between morning thunderstorms and an afternoon shift at the newspaper, I was unable to hound Ottawa. Instead, two highly capable replacements -- Colin and Momma -- were dispatched to the scene.

They came through in flying colors, adding a couple of sweet signatures, including Dany Heatley (top left) on the work-in-progress Team Canada jersey, to the collection.

In all, they scored 17, including 11 on Colin's team sheet.

Beyond Heatley, Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson was the other big name who stopped to sign. In doing my prep work, I was surprised that I've yet to get Alfredsson on any type of Senators puck.

This puck, commemorating the 2004 NHL All Star Game, is a welcome addition, nonetheless. It's relevant, too, as Alfredsson scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the midseason classic.

Given that Ottawa will travel twice to Hockey Bay next season, I'll have to remember, though, to try to get Alfredsson on some Senators pucks.

Colin also had pretty decent luck adding to his late-season project, a goalie-only mini stick.

Ottawa's Alex Auld, who's bounced around a bit over the past few seasons, became the fourth netminder to sign the stick.

Sorry, but you'll have to wait until next season for a Senators photo gallery. It's hard to take good pictures when you're sitting at a desk about 18 miles away from the action.

Standing out

It's always nice when one of the NHL's top stars does something to help his autograph stand out on one of Colin's team sheets. This time it's Ottawa's Dany Heatley providing the honors.

Heatley's signature, big and in blue, certainly stands out among the 11 players who took the time to sign the sheet, doesn't it?

Other notable signers were Mike Fisher, Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov.

Sunday morning homily XXVIII

Spring break is one of my favorite times of the year. Especially when it's Colin's. And though I didn't request the week off, letting another Newsroom Dad enjoy a week off, it's still going to be a fun-filled week. In a way, it'll be a working stay-cation.

Beginning this afternoon (the morning trip was postponed due to thunderstorms) with a trip to Tampa with Momma to hound and watch the Ottawa Senators (I'll be at work), we'll spend the rest of the week knee-deep in other adventures down here in increasingly warm and muggy Florida.

Our only regret? The Lightning are on a road trip, rather than a homestand.

No worries, though. Also on the itinerary:

~ a road trip to look for trains, something we haven't done much since leaving New England;
~ go see Monsters vs. Aliens, our latest 3-D movie; and
~ look for Danica Patrick at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Chances are, too, we'll get in a little fishing and skating. Bottom line, though, it'll be about hanging out. Between work and school schedules, our time together is usually somewhat limited. That changes this week.

It's one of the perks of being a parent. And that, my friends, is my favorite job.

The other March Madness

It was a wonderful afternoon yesterday -- house all to myself -- kicking back for a few hours and watching some college hockey. Even better, the game was University of New Hampshire's overtime upset of University of North Dakota in the first round of the NCAA men's championships.

It's nothing against the Fighting Sioux; they're one of Hound Central 4.0's favorites. Our primary loyalties, however, are with UNH.

Having lived in nearby Portsmouth, N.H., we attended games in the early 1990s at the old Snively Arena. They were a fun and feisty team, players like Dominic Amodeo, Savo Mitrovic and Jeff Levy. Only Kevin Dean, a defenseman, made it to the NHL.

Here's hoping the Wildcats make it into the Frozen Four. If not, I'm saving a Flyers puck for left winger James vanRiemsdyk, Philadelphia's second overall pick in 2007 who's expected to turn pro soon.

5 Big Sigs

It'll be a one-and-done kind of trip this week, with only the Ottawa Senators coming to Hockey Bay. In fact, they're in town now. Here's what we're hoping to add:

~ Right winger Daniel Alfredsson on a 2004 NHL All Star Game puck;
~ Center Jason Spezza on the Team Canada jersey, a 2007 NHL All Star Game puck and a Senators mini pennant;
~ Left winger Dany Heatley on the Team Canada jersey, a Team Canada puck and a 2006-07 Bee Hive jumbo card;
~ Forward Ryan Shannon on the Portland Pirates practice jersey and a few cards; and
~ Tampa Bay defenseman Richard Petiot on an 8x10 of Colin and the blueliner.

Getting what we could

Though I would've liked to finish this 2008-09 season project in one trip, I'm going to have to wait until March 29 to complete this Ottawa Senators team helmet. Still, though, getting 11 players and coaches to sign in an abbreviated hounding session is nothing to sneeze at.

Because I had to work Saturday (I'm running out of vacation days to use), we were relegated to about an hour of hounding Ottawa. And though a late afternoon rainstorm cut short the session, I consider ourselves lucky we added another 16 items to the collection.

So, who signed the helmet? Here's who, in alphabetical order: Mike Fisher, Nick (not Mike) Foligno, Martin Gerber, Craig Hartsburg, Curtis Hunt, Filip Kuba, Dean McAmmond, Chris Phillips, Christoph Schubert, Jason Smith and, thankfully, Jason Spezza.

Beyond the decent start to the helmet, other items added to the collection were:

~ Four pucks from Alexandre Picard, a former Bolts defenseman; and
~ Ten players, including Spezza, who signed Colin's team sheet.

Though on-scene reports applauded the Senators' signing habits before the team's morning skate, it was a classic example of role reversal later in the day.

Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, who's becoming tougher with each season, stuck to his "I signed this morning" routine as he headed over to the St. Pete Times Forum. Others following suit, or those who simply ignored requests to sign, were Dany Heatley, Chris Neil, Chris Kelly, Antoine Vermette and Anton Volchenkov.

Bright spot

I wasn't carrying too many pucks for the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, but I managed to get more than half signed. Thankfully, Ottawa's Alexandre Picard, a former Lightning defenseman, was willing to sign all four. On a day limited by work and rain, these were the highlight.

Tough draw

I've gained a greater appreciation for the designer of the Ottawa Senators logo. Though I like to think I possess a little artistic talent, I struggled mightily trying to draw the logo for Colin's team sheet.

As you can see, he did a much better job of coloring, rendering it recognizable to most, than I did using up our card stock.

Though work limited us to only a rain-shortened game time bus session, he was able to score 10 Senators players and coaches.

Notable signers include Jason Spezza, Mike Fisher, Jason Smith, Nick Foligno and ex-Bolts defensemen Filip Kuba and Alexandre Picard.

Friendly Canadian visitors

In a way, we should feel a little sorry for the Ottawa Senators. Taking a break from the chilly Canadian capital in the Sunshine State before tonight's game against Florida, Wednesday's wind-chilled temperatures likely offered little relief.

After all, they've been the model hockey tourists.

Moody, Hound Central 4.0's Southeast correspondent, reports that the Senators lived up to their reputation as a hound-friendly team. He caught up with Ottawa players, and a couple of Panthers, at Florida's practice facility, incredibleICE.

If my math's correct, Moody went home with 31 autographs. Notable signers included Dany Heatley (1 card), Jason Spezza (2 cards), Chris Kelly (4 cards), Alex Auld (4 cards), Mike Fisher (4 cards), Nick Foligno (1 card) and Chris Neil (3 cards).

He also scored a funny story. It seems that Foligno and goalie Brian Elliott, a one-day call-up from AHL Binghamton, missed the post-practice team bus back to the hotel.


The biggest autograph, Moody tells me, came on this Stanley Cup poster of Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson. As you can see, the Senators captain has a fairly distinctive signature.

Alfy's become somewhat of a one-per lately, but it's understandable. He always draws a crowd. A huge crowd.

The autograph also shows a bit of perseverance by Moody. He says he's been carrying that poster for the past two years.

Florida Panthers

And for those of you who think that Florida's Nathan Horton is a toughie (I count myself among them), here's proof that he does indeed sign.

Here's Panthers center Stephen Weiss signing for a young fan.

Sunday morning homily VII

I don't know whether to howl in laughter or shrink in embarrassment, but I've got to hand it to San Jose's Jeremy Roenick. It seems that a certain young hockey hound under the age of 8 forgot to say two magic words after Roenick signed four cards for him Saturday before the Sharks shut out the Lightning, 2-0.

"Hey, where did that kid go?" Roenick asked.

"Colin," we shouted. "J.R. would like to have a word with you."

Colin ran back up in front of Roenick.

"What do you say when someone signs an autograph for you?" he asked.

"Thank you," Colin replied.

"Well," Roenick said.

"Thank you, J.R.," Colin said.

"Now, that's better," Roenick said, smiling.

Trust me, folks, we've told him a thousand times to say "please" and "thank you" whenever anyone, not just NHL players, extends him a courtesy. Hopefully, Roenick drove home the point -- again.

She's a hockey mom

Sarah Palin, the ceremonial-puck-dropping hockey mom running as the Republican vice presidential nominee, may fancy herself -- for real or as a way to connect with mainstream America -- as someone who's sat in many a chilly hockey rink.

While that may be true, though, Palin, in Tampa today, pales in comparison to the hockey mom who I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday. Former Lightning defenseman Dan Boyle was back in Humidity Bay on Saturday, his first place in Humidity Bay since being dealt to San Jose. So, too, were his parents. But it was his mother, who gushed with pride as she spoke about her son, who gladly lived up to the billing.

Like any mom, she was quick to defend her son, saying that he has no ill will toward the Tampa Bay area, the team's fans and any Lightning player. In fact, she said, Boyle will retire here once he hangs 'em up.

It was easy to tell ("I'm getting goosebumps just talking about," she said) that she knew her son has many fans here in Humidity Bay, many of whom who gave him an ovation during the game.

As a rookie hockey parents, we can only hope that someday we'll be in the same position, talking with fans and enjoying a well-deserved spotlight. Until then, though, meeting Momma Boyle will tide us over.

5 Big Sigs

With only the Ottawa Senators coming to town this week, and plans to work a team helmet, I'm having a hard time coming up with five different items to get signed. Indulge me, then, as I hope to add these to the collection:

~ Jason Spezza on the Senators team helmet;
~ Dany Heatley on the Senators team helmet;
~ Daniel Alfredsson on the Senators team helmet;
~ Alexandre Picard on the Senators helmet as well as Ottawa, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia Phantom pucks; and
~ Spezza and Heatley on the Team Canada jersey

Who's the best young forward?

When it comes right down to it, creating this list of the top young forwards for the 2008-09 season was fairly straightforward. In fact, the top four are hockey household names.

But rather than complain about the lack of movement within the list, and, really, that shouldn't be a complaint, why not embrace the talent that these top-shelf players bring to the game?

Are there some surprises? Certainly. It raised my eyebrows when my research and rating formula left off Chicago's twin young stars, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Sure, they're talented and have restored credibility to the moribund Blackhawks franchise. But, there are players who are simply better. In time, I suspect they'll climb up the ratings.

You'll also note that, once again, Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk didn't make a the top-five list. Now, if this was a list of the NHL's most exciting players, well, then, that's a different story. But until he remembers that hockey is a two-way game, and improves his minus-12, he falls far short of having an all-around game.

Rather than dwell on that, let's take a look at who are the top five young forwards, defined as being 25 years old or under as of Oct. 4, in the NHL:

No. 5: Paul Stastny, center
Colorado Avalanche
22 years old (12.27.85)
Drafted 44th overall in 2005
The skinny: Coming from famous hockey bloodlines, there's no doubt about his abilities. He averaged more than a point-per-game (71 points, including 24 goals in 66 games) last season and is aware of his defensive responsibilities (plus-22). He's the Avs' go-to guy.
Last season's ranking: n/a

No. 4: Jason Spezza, center
Ottawa Senators
25 years old (6.13.83)
Drafted second overall in 2001
The skinny: The only reason he dropped a spot from last year's rankings is the trio of players in front of him. Logging 92 points, including 34 goals, in 76 games reaffirms his status as one of the NHL's elite players, no matter his age. At plus-26, his defense is only getting better.
Last season's ranking: No. 3

No. 3: Evgeni Malkin, center
Pittsburgh Penguins
22 years old (7.31.86)
Drafted second overall in 2004
The skinny: Welcome to the first of three no-brainer picks. Simply put, on any given night during the season, Malkin, who had 106 points in 82 games, has the skills and growing experience to be the best player in the game. His play last season when teammate Sidney Crosby was injured is the stuff of legends.
Last season's ranking: No. 5

No. 2: Sidney Crosby, center
Pittsburgh Penguins
21 years old (8.7.87)
Drafted first overall in 2005
The skinny: Only a high ankle sprain kept Sid the Kid from providing Washington's Alex Ovechkin with some competition for postseason hockey hardware. Still, though, he posted 72 points, including 24 goals, in only 53 games. Had he played a full 82-game season, there's no doubt he would have posted a 110-plus-point campaign.
Last season's ranking: No. 4

No. 1: Alex Ovechkin, left wing
Washington Capitals
23 years old (9.17.85)
Drafted first overall in 2004
The skinny: Let's see, he won the Art Ross Trophy (112 points), the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (65 goals), the Hart Memorial Trophy (league MVP) and the Lester B. Pearson Award (most outstanding player, as voted on by NHL players). What I found most impressive was a commitment to defense, evidence by his plus-28. Though I'd still build a team around Crosby, Ovechkin keeps making that decision more difficult.
Last season's ranking: n/a

Ones to watch

C'mon, now, did you really believe that Kovalchuk, Kane and/or Toews wouldn't make some Hound Central 4.0 list of the game's top young forwards? I may be stupid, but I'm not an idiot. Again, the names are presented in alphabetical order:

Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals, center
20 years old (11.23.87) / fourth overall in 2006 Draft
The skinny: With Ovechkin as a linemate, there's no reason why No. 8's abilities and passion for the game won't rub off on Backstrom. He can score and remembers that hockey is a two-way game. In time, he's likely to move up the list.

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, right wing
18 years old (11.19.88) / first overall in 2007 Draft
The skinny: Last season's Calder Cup winner will have to prove that last season's offensive efforts (72 points, including 21 goals, in 82 games) were no fluke. His defense (minus-5), however, needs a little work. still, though, he's a bright young talent. Extra points, too, for being a Buffalo kid.

Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings, center
21 years old (8.24.87) / Drafted 11th overall in 2005
The skinny: It's too bad that Kopitar doesn't play for a stronger team. That way, his glaring minus-15, after two straight minus-12 seasons, wouldn't be held against him, in terms of favorable all-around play. Still, though, 77 points, including 32 goals, in 82 games isn't anything to sneeze at. As the Kings' mature, Kopitar's game will only get better.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers, left wing
25 years old (4.15.83) / first overall in 2001 Draft
The skinny: It's like I keep saying: Kovie is one exciting player -- when he's in the offensive zone. In the Thrashers' defensive zone, well, that's another story. Until he commits to improving his defense, he'll be viewed as a one-dimensional player. That's a shame, too.

Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks, center
23 years old (5.10.85) / 19th overall in 2003 Draft
The skinny: In hockey terms, this guy's a stud: 82 points, including 24 goals, in 72 games and a plus-32. He's big, strong and should define the NHL's power forward position for many, many years. Teammate Corey Perry isn't too bad, either.

Peter Mueller, Phoenix Coyotes, center
20 years old (4.14.88) / eighth overall in 2006 Draft
The skinny: His rookie-season numbers (54 points in 81 games) were pretty good, all expect one -- a minus 13. Once he works on that, there's no stopping his rise to among the elite players.

Tomas Plekanic, Montreal Canadiens, left wing
25 years old (10.31.82) / 71st overall in 2001 Draft
The skinny: A sleeper pick, it's my guess that most folks here in the states couldn't tell you much about Plekanic. Solid scoring (69 points, including 29 goals, in 81 games) and defense (plus-15) should raise his profile around the league.

Jason Pominville, Buffalo Sabres, right wing
25 years old (11.30.82) / 55th overall in 2001 Draft
The skinny: Here's a kid who truly picked up the pace last season, finishing with 80 points, including 27 goals. Though his plus-minus fell from the 2006-07 season, he still finished a plus-16. And, no, I'm not playing favorites here. This kid, like teammate Derek Roy, are certainly worthy of inclusion.

Derek Roy, Buffalo Sabres, center
25 years old (5.4.83) / 32nd overall in 2001 Draft
The skinny: Last year was Roy's coming-out party, picking up 81 points, including a career-high 32 goals, in 78 games, and finishing with a plus-13. He's not the tallest player (5-foot-9) in the NHL, but he's got one of the biggest hearts.

Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes, center
23 years old (10.29.84) / second overall in 2003 Draft
The skinny: Bottom line, the Hurricanes live or die with Staal. It's hard to believe that at 23, he's been in the NHL for four seasons. He rebounded nicely, posting 82 points in as many games, from his Stanley Cup hangover season in 2006-07. Although he was a minus-2, it was his best showing yet.

Jonathan Toews (pronounced TAYVES), Chicago Blackhawks, center
20 years old (4.29.88) / third overall in 2006 Draft
The skinny: Just like his buddy Patrick Kane, expectations are running high for Toews. Fifty-four points in an injury-shortened 64-game season shows he has the offensive skills to become a big star. A plus-11 is surprising, too, given his tender years. He, too, is destined for the top-five list.

Feel free to check out last season's top young forwards.

Points of entry

There's always a point of realization in one's pursuit that branching out only enhances the value of your efforts. While I see no problem maintaining my particular focus -- autographed hockey pucks -- the benefit to building the depth of the collection is crystal clear.

That's why, as we sit on the cusp of an NHL season, a journal's pages more empty than full, Hound Central 4.0 will embark upon another three projects:

Team Canada jersey: Given the many players who've worn the tri-color leaf, this would be easy to fill. I'm thinking, though, that this will be used for cherry-picking. I'm hoping Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Steven Stamkos are the first three to sign it.

Colorado's Joey Sakic, Columbus' Rick Nash, San Jose's Joey Thornton and New Jersey's Martin Brodeur would be a darn good start, too.

Team helmets 2008-09: To me, the Lightning is a must-have. Between all the new faces and last season's retooled logo, working this through the season is something I'm good at: a no-brainer.

The main reason I picked Ottawa and Florida is that I won't have too many pucks, don't need too many more cards and, for the most part, they're good-signing teams. So, why not?

Lots for the Lightning: I've been writing about this for some time now. It's funny, too. Without all of the new ownership group's changes, I was looking at a pretty lean year with the Lightning. That's changed now.

The trio joins these existing projects:

~ American-born goalie stick
~ USA Hockey team jersey
~ Slovakian team jersey
~ Team Canada goalie mask
~ 1999 NHL All Star Game helmet