Paul Broten

Sent: 1/6/12
Received: 5/19/12
Time: 134 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Score Traded, 1992-93 Ultra, 1993-94 Upper Deck, 1994-95 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990-91 Score Traded, 1992-93 Ultra, 1993-94 Upper Deck, 1994-95 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
The youngest of the three Broten brothers, Paul followed in the footsteps of Neal and Aaron from Roseau High School to the University of Minnesota to the NHL.  He didn't put up the gaudy scoring totals of his older brothers, and his pro career didn't last quite as long, but he did find a niche as a high-energy battler for the early '90s New York Rangers teams.  Paul was also the only Broten who didn't get a chance to lace up the skates for the Minnesota North Stars.  He was a year too late as he joined Neal on the newly relocated Dallas Stars in the fall of 1993.

Toby Petersen

Sent: 10/22/11
Received: 3/27/12
Time: 157 Days
Address: c/o Dallas Stars
Item Sent: 2008-09 Upper Deck, 2010-11 O-Pee-Chee Retro
Item Received: 2008-09 Upper Deck, 2010-11 O-Pee-Chee Retro.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Minnesota's own Toby Petersen had a long journey toward a regular role in the NHL.  Now in his thirties, he has finally found a home with the Dallas Stars.  For the last five seasons, the speedy, low-scoring forward has been a stable presence on the Stars' fourth line and penalty killing units.

Derek Plante

Sent: 11/29/11
Received: 12/14/11
Time: 15 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1993-94 Classic Draft Picks, 1993-94 Stadium Club, 1993-94 Ultra, 2000-01 Pacific
Item Received: 1993-94 Classic Draft Picks, 1993-94 Stadium Club, 1993-94 Ultra, 2000-01 Pacific.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Derek Plante led the WCHA in both goals and assists during his senior season for UMD.  By the end of the year, he was in the NHL.  He became one of the Buffalo Sabres' most dependable scorers throughout the '90s before being dealt to the Dallas Stars late in the 1998-99 season.  He would win the Stanley Cup with the Stars that season, defeating his longtime Sabres teammates.  The Iron Range native is now back at his alma mater as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs.

Mike Modano

Sent: 8/29/11
Received: 9/19/11
Time: 21 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Canadian "The Franchise," 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 8x10 photograph
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Canadian "The Franchise," 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 8x10 photograph.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

 Notes:
Wow.  This is one of the greatest returns I've had.  Near the end of the 2009-10 NHL season, it was announced that the Dallas Stars would not bring back Mike Modano.  Modano, the future Hall of Fame center and the highest scoring U.S.-born player in league history, had been the face of the franchise since their final days as the Minnesota North Stars.  It was widely believed Modano would retire following the season.  The Stars' final game just happened to be against the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Center -- in front of the same fans, in the same state where Modano began his career.  During the game, the Wild showed a wonderful career highlight reel on the scoreboard, which left Modano visibly overcome with emotion.  Following the game, a Wild victory which had brought out many old-school North Stars fans wearing Modano jerseys and displaying "thanks for the memories" signs, Modano waved to the crowd.  He ducked back into the tunnel.  When the Stars of the Game were announced he was predictably number one.  I don't know that anyone in the place was expecting him to skate back out wearing a Minnesota North Stars jersey, though.  It was the first time that sweater had hit the NHL ice since the North Stars lost the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals to the Pittsburgh Penguins (they switched to a more modern black and green motif the following season, a precursor to the Dallas Stars era).  I don't think there was a dry eye in the house, including Modano.  I know there wasn't a dry eye in my house.  I was letting tears of joy flow without shame.  It was such a cool moment.  It's almost too bad Modano didn't actually retire.  Anyway, I've had this image sitting around for quite some time, and finally wrote to Mr. Modano a few weeks ago.  I was taking a chance by sending three cards as well, but I needed them for the two sets I'm working on, so I gave it a shot.  Mike nicely signed everything in blue Sharpie.  It's even his real signature, from his Dallas home (it's well documented that anything sent to his Michigan home is actually signed by his mother)!