Poor thing

So, Washington's Alex Ovechkin played with a sore wrist -- dinged in the regular season -- during the playoffs. Well, he certainly didn't hurt it signing autographs here in Hockey Bay.

One word: Certainly

Technically, I could hold the only two entrants to a serious violation of the "no more than 100 words" rule April's Win this Auto contest for a 2008-09 NHL Victory oversized card signed by Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk. Because I'm a nice guy (most of the time, that is), though, I'll cast that rule aside.

When it comes to deciding the question of whether Kovie deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin, I'm not sure 1,000 words would be enough to adequately present a cogent argument.

But it was Bill, with his voluminous response, who wins the card, not so much for the depth and breadth of his entry, but for the extended analysis.

Rather than repeat Bill's winning response, you can read it here.

Now, if Bill will send me an e-mail, available at my profile, we'll get this card, signed during Atlanta's final visit to Hockey Bay during the 2008-09 NHL season, ready for delivery.

Don't forget, too, to enter May's contest.

Easy to take

As much as I'd love to crow about snagging an autograph or two from Washington's Alex Ovechkin during the Capitals' visit Thursday, one simple fact forbids me. For the second hockey-hounding campaign in a row, I didn't get a single one.

Want to know something? I'm not that disappointed. Not after the day enjoyed by Hockey Bay's Goofy Dudes of Hounding had, Ovie's autograph or not. It helped, too, that other Capitals, including such toughies as Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green and Jose Theodore, were more than willing to sign, especially at gametime.

Besides the pucks shown above -- signed by, from left, Mike Green, Michael Nylander and Simeon Varlamov as Washington's morning skate (yeah, we got in) wound down -- we closed out the visiting team campaign with another 38 autographs from the Capitals.

Signing cards were:

Top row: Matt Bradley, Mike Green and Viktor Kozlov
Bottom row: Brooks Laich, Brian Pothier and Simeon Varlamov.

Washington wingers Alexander Semin, left, and Tomas Fleishmann added to the Portland Pirates practice jersey:


Other highlights of the Capitals adventure:

~ Saying "Ovie who?" after Colin scored a stick from Alexander Semin just after the Capitals' morning skate;
~ Getting Nicklas Backstrom to sign the 330th, and perhaps final, puck of the 2008-09 hockey-hounding campaign;
~ Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, winner of the 2008 Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach, signing an ECHL Mississippi Sea Wolves puck; and
~ Last, but not least, Colin running out of room on his team sheet.

And, let's not forget the Capitals photo gallery.

Sunday morning homily XXIX

For a week devoid of hockey, I'm having a hard time remembering a better one in our time down here in Hockey Bay. From chasing trains to wearing 3-D glasses for a movie to watching race cars top 200 mph, we haven't missed hockey hounding one bit.

Yes, it was Colin's spring break last week. And though we didn't stray too far to home -- our work schedules had something to do with that -- we did the best we could to make it a memorable "stay-cation." Mostly, though, it was about spending time together and, hopefully, creating some memories:

~ Watching Colin's eyes light up as he heard the rumble of an approaching CSX freight train during our visit to the Train Depot Museum (shown above) in Dade City. It had been far too long since he'd seen a train;

~ Squirting some fruit-punch Powerade into his mouth during a break in our back patio hockey practices. Earlier in the day, we stumbled upon the final pieces of his rag-tag collection of goalie equipment. And you know we just had to try it out; and

~ Becoming more jacked-up about open-wheel racing by taking in the opening days of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Among the highlights was having a brief "He's so shy" conversation about Colin with Indy Racing League star Danica Patrick during a nighttime parade down St. Petersburg's Central Avenue.

As much as I try to make this blog about hockey hounding, it's just as much about spending time with one's family. Hockey and hounding play a big role in our lives, but it doesn't consume us. Comes close at times, I'll admit, but there's much more to life than that.

Believin' in Steven

Hound Central 4.0 offers a tip of its roughed-up Cooper SK600 to Lightning rookie Steven Stamkos for tying Tampa Bay's rookie goals record of 21 in his initial NHL season. With a few games remaining, perhaps Stamkos will catapult past Brad Richards for his own team mark.

It's hard to believe, isn't it, that a few people didn't believe that Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, wasn't ready for the rigors of a full season in the NHL. To be honest, his early play did nothing to dispel that notion.

Once he got into a training program, though, Stamkos has shown that he has the abilities to be a top-flight NHL player. I'm thinking, too, that he's only going to get better.

In a season full of disappointment, watching Stamkos make progress has been something to hold on to.

5 Big Sigs

It's the final week of the 2008-09 hockey-hounding season and two of the league's tougher teams -- the star-studded Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals -- are coming to town:

~ As always, getting Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby to sign Colin's Crosby #87 replica Penguins jersey;
~ Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin on Penguins and WJC-Russia pucks;
~ Washington's Alex Ovechkin on Colin's Ovechkin #8 replica Capitals jersey;
~ Washington's Nicklas Backstrom on a Capitals puck; and
~ Knocking out a Lightning team helmet during Thursday's red carpet festivities before the home closer.

Update: Air Canada Centre

Professional courtesies are cool. They certainly help you get into places that others less connected can not. Given that access, any hound worth his or her salt needs to be put the target-rich opportunity to good use. Anything less, I'm afraid, is unacceptable.

For instance, there's Al, Hound Central 4.0's correspondent in Toronto. From time to time, he's able to gain postgame access to the visiting team locker room area at the Air Canada Centre. As a result, he and his children have added some pretty sweet autographs to their collection.

How close do they get to the players? Want a slice of pizza from Washington's Alex Ovechkin? Go ahead, ask.

In a stellar example of practicing quality over quantity, taking place a little more than a week ago, Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Sergei Fedorov signed following a game against the Leafs.

A closer look at the latest haul. Ovechkin's auto is much different than his rare road "AO8."

Another postgame visit, taken place earlier this season, yielded these items from Philadelphia Flyers players: 8x10s signed by, clockwise from top left, Mike Knuble, Mike Richards, Martin Biron and Simon Gagne.

Hall of Famer Bob Clarke signed the Flyers puck.

Here's the end result of some real hustle, a Philadelphia Flyers team helmet signed after a game in Toronto.

Players signing the helmet were Jeff Carter, Matt Carle, Scottie Upshall, Luca Sbisa, Knuble, Antero Niittymaki, Andreas Nodl, Richards, Andrew Alberts, Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, Riley Cote, Joffrey Lupul, Josh Gratton, Biron, Jon Kalinski and Braydon Coburn.

From what I hear, though, not everyone in the vicinity was as thrilled with the effort shown in putting together the piece. From that point forward, quality took precedence over quantity.

Still, though, some things are worth a little grief.

Here's a nice haul from another instance of postgame access: three 8x10s and a puck from Ovechkin. The bottom puck is signed by teammate Michael Nylander.

Bounty from earlier trips include McFarlane bases signed by Ovechkin and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, who signed as he walked from the visiting team locker room to the team bus.

Working alone

After a meatball stunt got hounds booted off a downtown Tampa hotel's property the last time the Washington Capitals were in town, I figured it was time to try an experiment that I'd been kicking around for a couple of weeks.

Rather than join the likely know-little crowd, if it was allowed, at the team's hotel before Thursday's morning skate, I set up closer to the St. Pete Times Forum to catch any player walking to practice.

Well, I'm happy to report that my experiment worked. I got autographs from the player who walked. Everyone else, I'm afraid, rode the bus.

Enter Plan B: Catching the team this morning as it headed out for a pre-flight practice at the Forum. That decision, far from any experiment, yielded much better results -- another 18 autographs, including 15 cards, in less than 30 minutes joining the four from Thursday.

It helped, too, that I was the only hound there.

For the record, I asked Alex Ovechkin, who notched his 50th of the season against the Lightning last night, if he had the time to sign a puck. His response? "Sorry, guys, not today." Also shooting down my requests were Nicklas Backstrom, an ailing Mike Green and Alexander Semin.

Among the signers:

Washington's Eric Fehr and Jeff Schultz, who both signed some speciality set cards, signed four each; and

Defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, top, and John Erskine, the sole player I saw Thursday, also signed four cards each.

Thankfully, these guys weren't the only ones who stopped to sign. Tomas Fleischmann, who I watched play as an American Hockey League rookie up in Portland, Maine, signed this Capitals puck.

Tough guy Donald Brashear and defenseman Milan Jurcina signed the cards shown at top.

To be honest, there's only one other highlight:

~ Getting toughies Sergei Fedorov and Jose Theodore on Capitals pucks

Sorry, folks, but there isn't any photo gallery for the Capitals this time. Maybe next trip.

Hands down, it's Ovie

To be honest, I thought the most recent Hound Central 4.0 poll -- which asked whether Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby or Washington's Alex Ovechkin is the tougher autograph -- would be closer. I was wrong.

Of the 51 votes cast, Ovechkin pulled away from The Next One as being the more difficult to have sign an item -- any item, really. It's no surprise, either, that both would draw this honor. Great players always draw a crowd above the usual hounding suspects.

Thankfully, I've been fortunate to have had Ovechkin and Crosby sign pucks in the past. Recent trips, though, haven't proved as fruitful. I'll get another chance for Crosby tomorrow.

What was surprising, however, was the number of responses. This poll had, by far, the greatest participation.

Thanks. And, please, give yourself a Standing O.

Question: Tougher autograph?

Alex Ovechkin: 29 out of the 51 votes cast (56.9 percent)
Sidney Crosby: 22 out of 51 votes (43.1 percent)

Really, was there any doubt?

When it comes to scoring goals, there's no one more prolific than Washington's Alex Ovechkin. The man is no stranger to red lights. Any shift, any game, can become a highlight. One-timers. Triple dekes. Showing off in skills competition.

At least that's what Hound Central 4.0's readers believe in the latest poll, which asked what NHL sniper would be the first to hit 50 goals. In a landslide, it was Ovechkin, picking up 20 of the 34 votes cast.

How convinced are readers? Ovechkin's numbers topped the combined votes of the other three choices -- Philadelphia's Jeff Carter, Boston's Phil Kessel and Buffalo's Thomas Vanek.

Barring injury, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ovechkin get 60 goals. I believe he's just getting warmed up.

Question: First to 50 goals?

Washington's Alexander Ovechkin: 20 out of 34 votes cast (58.8 percent)
Philadelphia's Jeff Carter: 8 out of 34 votes (23.5 percent)
Boston's Phil Kessel: 3 out of 34 votes (8.8 percent)
Buffalo's Thomas Vanek: 3 out of 34 votes (8.8 percent)

Nice pull

For those of you who poo-poo retail boxes of hockey cards, or hobby versions for that matter, here's a bit of proof that not every box is full of doubles, cheap inserts and your 1,497th card of Jaromir Jagr.

Needless to say, I was a tad surprised to pull this three-color jersey swatch card of Washington's Alexander Ovechkin from an eight-pack retail box of Upper Deck's 2008-09 Artifacts Hockey.

Sure, the swatch may be from an older Caps jersey, but you'll hear no complaints from me. Having said that, though, I doubt I'll by any more boxes. After a pull like this, it can only go downhill from here.

It'll be the Habs in their 100th

When you get right down to it, any predictions for the upcoming NHL season are nothing more than wishful thinking. Yes, you can do research. You can talk with fellow fans. And, if you're lucky enough, you can even talk to some players.

Still, though, no one knows. Players get injured or traded. A team's chemistry may never materialize. A top pick can become a big flop.

Yet, year after year, we put together, on the Internet, a piece of paper or the darkest recesses of our minds, a set of projections for the season ahead. Talk about optimism, eh?

So, for the record, here are Hound Central 4.0's picks. Remember, too, that they're certainly open for your debate:

Eastern Conference

1.) Philadelphia Flyers
2.) Montreal Canadiens
3.) Washington Capitals
4.) Pittsburgh Penguins
5.) New York Rangers
6.) New Jersey Devils
7.) Boston Bruins
8.) Carolina Hurricanes

Just missing: Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference

1.) Detroit Red Wings
2.) Anaheim Ducks
3.) Chicago Blackhawks
4.) San Jose Sharks
5.) Dallas Stars
6.) Calgary Flames
7.) Nashville Predators
8.) Edmonton Oilers

Just missing: Minnesota Wild

Conference champions

Eastern: Montreal Canadiens over Philadelphia Flyers in six games
Western: Anaheim Ducks over Calgary Flames in five games

Stanley Cup Finals

Montreal Canadiens over Anaheim Ducks in six games

Conn Smythe winner: Montreal's Carey Price

Annual awards

Presidents' Trophy
Detroit Red Wings, 112 points
Hart Trophy (MVP)
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Pearson Award (players' MVP)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Art Ross Trophy (top scorer)
Sidney Crosby, 128 points
Maurice Richard Trophy (top goal scorer)
Alexander Ovechkin, 58 goals
Calder Trophy (top rookie)
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Norris Trophy (top defenseman)
Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames
Vezina Trophy (top goalie)
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanlike)
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Selke Trophy (top defensive forward)
Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers
Jennings Trophy (lowest GAA)
Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak, Montreal Canadiens, 2.13 GAA
Masterton Trophy (perseverance)
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
King Clancy Trophy (humanitarian)
Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins

Bonus predictions

No. 1 pick: John Tavares by the New York Islanders
First coach fired: Tony Granato, Colorado Avalanche, or Alain Vigneault, Vancouver Canucks
Biggest trade: Patrick Marleau for Simon Gagne
Biggest cut: Jeremy Roenick, San Jose Sharks
Fighting majors: Daniel Carcillo, Phoenix Coyotes, 17, with one three-game suspension
Shutout leader: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils, eight

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.