Johnny Bower

Retired player.  Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame in 1976.

Purchased September 18, 2011.

This one I have some questions about.  It just doesn't quite look like some of his other autographs that I looked at online.  Can anyone tell if this is his signature or not?  I think I spent like $18 for all three cards that I got today, so no big deal if it isn't real.

Bobby Hull

Retired player.  Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.

Purchased September 18, 2011.

Having played 24 seasons in the NHL and WHA, Bobby Hull's numbers are staggering.  610 goals and 560 assists in the NHL; 303 goals and 335 assists in the WHA.  One Stanley Cup.  You just never know when or if you will ever win a Stanley Cup (or another one having won his only Cup in his fourth NHL season).  Anyway, I was looking through the collection of autographed cards and this was one that stood out to me; another fairly cheap addition to my autograph collection.

Ed Belfour

Retired player.

Purchased at a Carolina Hurricanes preseason practice, September 18, 2011.

After winning the Vezina, Calder and Jennings Trophies in the same year (1990-91), Belfour went on to win 484 regular season and 88 postseason NHL games, winning the 1999 Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars.  Autographed card serial numbered 0546/1500.

Jaromir Jagr Second Attempt Success

Currently with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Fan letter sent May 17, 2011.

2/2 Autographed cards received September 17, 2011.

I had written to Jagr a few months prior to sending out this letter and got it returned to me unopened from some sports agent in California.  Well, I scoured through the Internet fan success posts on a few forums and found his team in the Czech Republic (this being before he signed with the Flyers).  So lo and behold less than a month before the season starts I receive a letter today with my name on it, albeit not in my handwriting and not my envelope that I had sent with the letter, a turnaround time of about four months from the Czech Republic, my first success overseas (woohoo!!!).  Both cards signed by Jagr.  Another 500+ goal scorer to add to my growing list of autographs!!!

Matt Duchene

Fan letter sent December 18, 2010.
1/1 autographed card received September 8, 2011.

Approx. nine-month turnaround for the Third Overall selection in 2009.  Duchene has already proven that he belongs in the NHL, improving 12 points from his rookie season in his sophomore campaign.  You hate to see a team like the Av's stumble the very next year after clinching a playoff spot and making everyone in the NHL think that the former stud of a franchise was on the rebound, but it happens to the best of them I guess.  Didn't really keep up with the Av's last year.  Letter and card sent to the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO.