Marc-Édouard Vlasic

Sent: 2/10/12
Received: 3/14/12
Time: 33 Days
Address: c/o San Jose Sharks
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2011-12 O-Pee-Chee, 2011-12 Score
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2011-12 O-Pee-Chee, 2011-12 Score.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Vlasic came to San Jose as a 19 year old rookie in 2006 and showed a world of potential with his smooth skating and crisp passing.  Two years later he had a career year with 6 goals and 30 assists and appeared to be on the cusp of joining the NHL's elite blueliners.  In the three seasons since, he has held his own as a solid member of the Sharks defensive corps, but his point totals have regressed.  Still, he just turned 25.  There's still time to become an All-Star.  But even if that doesn't happen, he has the chops to be a steady player for another decade.

David Bruce

Sent: 11/17/11
Received: 2/28/12
Time: 103 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1992-93 Topps, 1992-93 Ultra
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1992-93 Topps, 1992-93 Ultra.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
After shuffling up and down between the Vancouver Canucks and the minors for four seasons, David Bruce put it all together for the Peoria Rivermen of the IHL in 1990-91.  He scored an incredible 116 points in 60 games and earned a 12-game call-up to the St. Louis Blues.  He didn't do much for the Blues, but his banner year was enough to get him selected by the San Jose Sharks in that season's expansion draft.  He set NHL career highs across the board during the Sharks' inaugural season: 60 games, 22 goals, and 16 assists.

Jeff Hackett

Sent: 12/8/11
Received: 1/10/12
Time: 33 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded, 1999-00 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded, 1999-00 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Jeff Hackett was the starting goalie in the first game in San Jose Sharks history.  He had a rough first two seasons for the expansion club, including a historically bad 1992-93 season (2-30-1 with a 5.28 GAA) and was shipped off to Chicago to back up Ed Belfour.  Hackett turned his career around with the Blackhawks, and was very good when he assumed the number one spot following Belfour's trade to San Jose in 1997.  Hackett's bloodlines have returned to the NHL this year with the arrival of his nephew Matt Hackett to the Minnesota Wild lineup in November.

Ken Hammond

Sent: 11/1/11
Received: 1/9/12
Time: 69 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Ken Hammond was an All-American and National Champion defenseman at R.P.I. before going pro.  He was up and down with the Los Angeles Kings for a few years before brief stints with the Maple Leafs (14 games), Oilers (5 games), Rangers (3 games) and Bruins (one game).  He finally got some regular NHL playing time with the expansion Sharks in 1991-92 and scored 15 points in 46 games.  At the end of the year, he was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks.  He did not play a regular season game for Vancouver but did make two appearances for them in the playoffs.

Bob McGill

Sent: 11/15/11
Received: 12/6/11
Time: 21 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded
Item Received: 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
I best remember Bob McGill as a tough-as-nails defenseman for the hated Chicago Blackhawks when I was a young North Stars fan.  He wasn't much of an offensive factor, but was a big hitter and willing fighter.  He was an alternate captain on the inaugural San Jose Sharks squad.

Alex Stalock

Sent: 11/7/11
Received: 11/21/11
Time: 14 Days
Address: c/o Worcester Sharks
Item Sent: 2010-11 Score Rookies & Traded, 2011-12 Upper Deck Victory
Item Received: 2010-11 Score Rookies & Traded, 2011-12 Upper Deck Victory.  Both signed in thin black Sharpie.

Notes:
UMD great Alex Stalock has to be chomping at the bit to build on his perfect NHL stat line.  That's right.  Perfect.  He was called up as an emergency backup by the Sharks last season.  He made his NHL debut in a relief role and didn't allow a goal.  Meanwhile, his offense mounted a comeback, giving him a career 1-0 record, 0.00 GAA, and 1.000 save percentage.  He returned to the minors and suffered a freak knee injury, from which he is still rehabilitating.

Tony Hrkac

Sent: 10/11/11
Received: 10/17/11
Time: 6 Days
Address: c/o Concordia University-Wisconsin Athletic Department
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
This is my second return from former Hobey Baker Award winner Tony Hrkac.  The first one, from June 2010, was sent just before I officially decided to start collecting the 1991-92 Score set.  Hrkac has two cards in the Canadian base set and a third in the American "Traded" set.  And, of course, none of them were among the three cards I originally sent him.  Thankfully, Mr. Hrkac is a gracious signer and three more cards from my '91 Score set are knocked out.

Brad Staubitz

Sent: 12/27/10
Received: 9/22/11
Time: 269 Days
Address: c/o Minnesota Wild
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
The Wild brought in Brad Staubitz before last season to give them a bit of bulk after losing John Scott and the late Derek Boogaard to free agency.  So far, Staubitz has been more of a checking forward and less of a thug for hire.  Sure, he dropped the gloves a few times, but he didn't seem to have anything resembling the intimidation factor of his predecessors.  He did display more hockey skill, though, and is currently slated for a spot on the Wild's fourth line with Eric Nystrom and Colton Gillies.

Rob Zettler

Sent: 10/15/10
Received: 4/9/11
Time: 176 Days
Address: c/o Toronto Maple Leafs
Item Sent: 1990-91 Topps, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1990-91 Topps, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
At only 23 years old and with parts of three NHL seasons already under his belt, Zettler was arguably the Minnesota North Stars' biggest loss to the Sharks in the 1991 dispersal draft.  He was viewed as a solid prospect for the Stars' aging blue line.  While he didn't put up mind-blowing numbers during his career, he did hang around for 14 NHL seasons, retiring from the Washington Capitals in 2002.  He has worked as a coach and television analyst since and currently serves as an assistant for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brian Campbell

Sent: 2/11/11
Received: 3/24/11
Time: 41 Days
Address: c/o Chicago Blackhawks
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Update Retro, 2010-11 O-Pee-Chee
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Update Retro, 2010-11 O-Pee-Chee.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Campbell was a two-time NHL All-Star while with the Buffalo Sabres, and thought of as one of the elite offensive defensemen in the league when he was dealt to San Jose for a first round draft pick at the 2008 trading deadline.  Split between the two teams, he finished with a career high 62 points that season, including a whopping 54 assists.  He parlayed that into a monster eight-year, $56 million free agent contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.  He's been fine for Chicago, though probably not quite at the level the expected when signing him.  He's probably only the third best blueliner currently on the Blackhaws (behind Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook), but he did help them to a Stanley Cup last year.  Then again, his untradeable contract and massive cap hit led to the necessary trading of guys like Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, and Kris Versteeg in the offseason.  Never the less, he's a solid player with a great signature.  Thanks, Brian!

Trent Yawney

Sent: 1/3/11
Received: 1/21/11
Time: 18 Days
Address: c/o San Jose Sharks
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Trent Yawney was a solid defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames before getting into coaching.  He was the Blackhawks head coach for a little more than a year, but it was a little too soon to reap the rewards of all the young talent that would eventually win the 2010 Stanley Cup.  He is currently an assistant for the San Jose Sharks.

Joe Pavelski

Sent: 11/20/10
Received: 1/13/11
Time: 54 Days
Address: c/o San Jose Sharks
Item Sent: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro
Item Received: 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro.  Both signed in thin blue Sharpie.

Notes:
From Plover, Wisconsin, Joe Pavelski has been an underrated secondary scorer on the Sharks for the last couple of years.  Overshadowed by big-name teammates like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley, and Dan Boyle, Pavelski finally made a name for himself during Team USA's Silver Medal run at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.  His key assist set up the game-tying goal with 24 seconds remaining in the Gold Medal game against Canada.  I generally don't care for rooting for Wisconsin Badgers, but it's hard to not love Joe.

Dean Evason

Sent: 7/9/10
Received: 12/24/10
Time: 168 Days
Address: c/o Washington Capitals
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Topps, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Topps, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
I wrote to Dean Evason (now an assistant coach for the Capitals) during the offseason, figuring it could take a while to get a response.  Unfortunately, I had not yet decided to focus on specific sets yet when I sent the request.  While I did get one card here to add to my 1991 Score set, he has two more (one in the base set and one in the traded set) that I need.  So, I'll probably be writing again at some point.  Thanks, Dean!

Brian Hayward

Sent: 11/8/10
Received: 11/16/10
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Brian Hayward was Jon Casey's backup during the Minnesota North Stars run to the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals.  Left unprotected in the San Jose Sharks dispersal draft that offseason, he ended up netting the first win in Sharks history.  He has been a broadcaster for the Anaheim Ducks for the past several seasons.

Pat Falloon

Sent: 9/23/10
Received: 11/9/10
Time: 47 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian Memorial Cup Champs, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1991-92 Pro Set, 1991-92 Score Canadian Memorial Cup Champs, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Poor Pat Falloon had huge expectations as the second overall pick of the 1991 draft, and the first draft pick in San Jose Sharks history.  That was the Eric Lindros draft.  Falloon was deemed the next-best prospect available, and he did produce a fine rookie season in 1991-92 (25 goals, 34 assists).  Unfortunately, that was the best season of his professional career.  Four teams later, he was out of the league at age 27.  Still, I'll always remember the frenzy of Lindros rookie cards thrusting hockey into the card-collecting mainstream of the early nineties, and Falloon picking up some big residual interest.  Ah, the early nineties!

Steve Bozek

Sent: 8/4/10
Received: 9/11/10
Time: 38 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
"Boom Boom" spent 11 years in the NHL with five different teams - most notably the L.A. Kings and Vancouver Canucks.  He's also a key to my collecting the 1991 Score Canadian and 1991 Score Traded sets, as he appears on three cards between them.  Here they are, all signed in Sharpie.  Thanks, Steve!

Perry Berezan

Sent: 8/23/10
Received: 9/7/10
Time: 15 Days
Address: Work
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Score, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded, 1991-92 Stadium Club
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Score, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded, 1991-92 Stadium Club.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Former North Star Perry Berezan is best-known for a goal he "scored" while with the Calgary Flames.  When Edmonton defenseman Steve Smith accidentally put the puck in his own net to clinch the 1986 Smythe Division Finals series for Calgary, Berezan was given credit for the goal.  He spent two seasons as a solid defensive forward for the North Stars before heading to San Jose in the 1991 expansion draft.  Sending five cards is pushing it for me -- I don't like to send more than three or four -- but I couldn't help myself here.  Thanks for being so generous, Mr. Berezan.

Mike McHugh

Sent: 6/14/10
Received: 6/22/10
Time: 8 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set North Stars Logo, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set North Stars Logo, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  Both signed in metallic blue paint pen.

Notes:
What do you do with those annoying team logo cards that ran rampant in early '90s sets?  Find a player from that year's team who didn't have a card in the set and send to them.  It worked here for Mike McHugh, who played in 12 games over a couple of seasons for the Minnesota North Stars, but never had a card of his own until the 1991-92 Score set (as a member of the San Jose Sharks).  Seemed like a perfect use of the card to me, and I'll be sending out more of those logo cards to other obscure players.  I didn't ask him to sign the logo card in paint pen, but I'm glad he did.  It looks great over the dark background.  Thanks, Mike!

Tony Hrkac

Sent: 6/14/10
Received: 6/19/10
Time: 5 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum, 1991-92 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum, 1991-92 Upper Deck.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
My introduction to Tony Hrkac was his 1991-92 Upper Deck card.  With his Busey-esque face and almost-white hair, I had a hard time accepting that he was just 25 years old.  In reading the back of the card, I learned that he had won the Hobey Baker Award while in college at North Dakota, so I decided to keep my eye on him.  He was maddeningly inconsistent as a pro, but was a nice role player on the 1999 Stanley Cup winning Dallas Stars team.  Still, I had not thought about him in years until just a few months ago.  After a Minnesota Wild game on FSN, a tape-delayed Houston Aeros (the Wild's AHL affiliate) game was aired.  I kept hearing the name "Hrkac."  Curious as to if Tony had a son in the Wild system, I looked up the Aeros roster.  Unbelievably, it was a 43 year old Tony Hrkac, attempting a comeback seven years after his last NHL game.