Ray Emery UD Game Jersey

Currently with the Anaheim Ducks.

Insert acquired in the same 2010-11 Upper Deck Series 1 box.

Of course after I typed the comment about my first Game Jersey card in the previous post, I saw he did okay in the 10 regular season games he played after Jonas Hiller got injured.

Emery still sucks in my mind.

Francis Bouillon UD Game Jersey

Insert acquired in box of 2010-11 Upper Deck Series 1 cards on May 26, 2011.

Currently with the Nashville Predators.

I kinda sorta really wish I had gotten someone else; then again, I guess I should be thankful for what I got when I saw the next Game Jersey card that I got in the same box (then again, maybe not).

Jamie Langenbrunner

Currently with the Dallas Stars.

Fan letter sent February 28, 2011.

3/3 autographed cards received May 25, 2011.

I sent these cards after Langenbrunner had been traded back to the team that he started his career with before the trade deadline in 2011, the Dallas Stars.  He actually spent parts of eight seasons with Dallas before being traded to New Jersey in the 2001-02 Season, which I hadn't read up on before I sent the letter to him (I didn't mention anything about spending his whole career with New Jersey, thank God).  Anyway, the autographs seemed to stick okay to the cards despite not rubbing them with a white eraser.

FAILURE-Jaromir Jagr

I tried sending former NHLer Jaromir Jagr a fan letter and some cards but got my letter returned to me three weeks later.  Any help with a current address that would help track him down would be appreciated.  Please, no stalkers.

Marty Turco

Currently with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Fan letter sent December 1, 2010.

3/3 autographed cards received May 13, 2011.

Turco was signed by the Blackhawks as a replacement for Antti Niemi, whom they let go after he was awarded a salary in arbitration that would have put them over the salary cap.  Interestingly enough, it was Corey Crawford who stepped in for the Blackhawks as more of a go-to-guy and won 33 of 57 appearances, helping the 'Hawks clinch the eighth seed in the Western Conference.  5 1/2 months turn-around time for a guy who will most likely play only one season for the 'Hawks.

Curtis Joseph

Fan letter sent March 7, 2011.

2/2 autographed cards received May 13, 2011.

Although he never spent more than six seasons with one team, Joseph was able to make his mark in the NHL with 454 career victories, putting him fourth all-time currently behind Ed Belfour, Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur, and should be one of the top candidates to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame beginning with the 2012 Hockey Hall of Fame inductions, if I have calculated it correctly.  I really hate that I only had Coyotes hockey cards and none of his cards from his days with the Blues, Oilers or Maple Leafs.  Maybe I'll purchase some cheap hockey cards from before the lockout next and hope that I can get some of his older cards the next time I shop on eBay.

Dustin Tokarski Rookie Materials Card

Currently withe the Norfolk Admirals (AHL).

Insert acquired March 22, 2011.

Yet another Rookie Materials card that I got from a pack in a different 2010-11 Upper Deck Series 2 box.  Tokarski was drafted in the Fifth Round, 122nd overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.  In 38 games with the AHL's Norfolk Admirals this year, Dustin is 19-15-4 with a .910 Save Percentage and a 2.41 Goals Against.  He has played in two NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning where he allowed 3 goals on 16 shots in 44 minutes of playing time, all in the 2009-10 NHL Season.

Daniel Briere TTM Success

Fan letter sent February 23, 2011.

3/3 Autographed cards received March 9, 2011.

Currently with the Philadelphia Flyers.

It took a mere two weeks to get these cards back from Philly, and all my cards seem to come back on bad days, so it's something to brighten the day up.  Even though I hate Philadelphia deep down, how can one not cheer for the veteran Briere and the rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (I know, there are a lot of reasons to not cheer for them)?  I really should use a fine art eraser on a lot of these cards, but I think that I'm just too lazy to do it (other than the fact that I don't have one).  Anyway, I have another Briere autograph here.

Mark Messier

Acquired through NHL Auctions.

I believe that this is the last autograph that I got through my excessive spending spree on NHL Auctions and it shows Mark Messier hoisting the Stanley Cup above his head in Edmonton during his Oilers' retirement ceremony.  I left it out of a frame for a while and therefore the photo is a little bent, but a pretty cool autographed photo, nonetheless.

Tyler Seguin Rookie Materials card

Insert card acquired March 3, 2011.

I got this pretty cool jersey card of Second Overall pick in 2010 Tyler Seguin from a box of hockey cards that I bought at Wal-Mart of all places (I mean, I live in NC and I only know a few people in my small town of about 7,000 who like hockey).  The stated odds were like 1:480 packs or something, so a pretty cool find to say the least (it might have been 1:240, but anyway).  The piece of jersey is from a rookie photo shoot (sorry Leafs fans).