Ryan Walter

Sent: 11/14/11
Received: 11/28/11
Time: 14 Days
Address: c/o Abbotsford Heat
Item Sent: 1979-80 Topps, 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded
Item Received: 1979-80 Topps, 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Score Rookies & Traded.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Ryan Walter is a hockey renaissance man.  Prior to his new job as President of the AHL Abbotsford Heat, his resumer looked like this: 15 year NHL career; Stanley Cup Champion (1986); NHL Man of the Year (1992); vice-president of the NHLPA; broadcaster; NHL assistant coach; head coach of the Canadian National Women's Hockey Team; author; motivational speaker; actor.  Either he's a very sharp dude or he has a severe fear of commitment!

Garth Butcher

Sent: 11/7/11
Received: 11/21/11
Time: 14 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Topps, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Upper Deck
Item Received: 1990-91 Topps, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian, 1991-92 Upper Deck.  All signed in black or blue Sharpie.

Notes:
Appropriately named given the intimidating presence that he was, Butcher logged a ton of ice time, and spent basically every other minute of the game in the penalty box.  I really like what he did here - he signed in team colors!  Both Canucks cards are signed in black and both Blues cards are signed in... uh... blue.

Dana Murzyn

Sent: 3/16/11
Received: 4/2/11
Time: 17 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Score, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian
Item Received: 1990-91 Pro Set, 1990-91 Score, 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian.  All signed in black Sharpie.
 
Notes:
Dana Murzyn was a solid defenseman who I best remember for being a member of the 1989 Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames.  He was a member of the NHL All-Rookie team while with the Whalers in 1985-86.  He spent the majority of his career with the Vancouver Canucks, including a return trip to the Finals in 1994.  He retired from the Canucks in 1998 with 204 points in 838 career NHL games.

Willie Mitchell

Sent: 12/30/10
Received: 3/10/11
Time: 70 Days
Address: c/o Los Angeles Kings
Item Sent: 2003-04 Upper Deck, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro
Item Received: 2003-04 Upper Deck, 2008-09 O-Pee-Chee Retro.  Both signed in thin black Sharpie.

Notes:
One of former GM Doug Risebrough's great moves during the Minnesota Wild's early days came during the trade deadline of the Wild's inaugural 2000-01 season when he sent Sean O'Donnell to New Jersey for young blueline prospect Willie Mitchell.  A large, physical stay-at-home type, Mitchell established himself as a legitimate top-four defenseman and was one of the biggest contributors to the Wild's surprise run to the 2003 Western Conference Finals.  After a brief stint in Dallas and a long stay in Vancouver, Mitchell has now joined an impressive corps of d-men in Los Angeles, led by young stars Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson.  He was always one of my favorite Wild players.  This is a very cool return.  Thanks, Willie!

Tom Kurvers

Sent: 1/3/11
Received: 1/15/11
Time: 12 Days
Address: c/o Tampa Bay Lightning
Item Sent: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded
Item Received: 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 1, 1991-92 Score Canadian Series 2, 1991-92 Score Rookie & Traded.  All signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Minneapolis native Tom Kurvers won the 1984 Hobey Baker award as a senior at Minnesota-Duluth (the second Minnesotan to win the award, following Neal Broten) and followed that with a solid 11-year pro career.  He was an excellent offensive defenseman, with 421 points in 659 NHL games, but couldn't defend worth a lick.  He is currently Steve Yzerman's assistant general manager in Tampa Bay.

Rob McClanahan

Sent: 12/3/10
Received: 12/21/10
Time: 18 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee
Item Received: 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee, signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
A University of Minnesota hockey legend, Rob McClanahan found hockey immortality as one of the top scorers on the 1980 US Olympic team.  Following that, he spent parts of five seasons in the NHL with three different teams.  In his one full season, with the New York Rangers, he posted career highs of 22 goals and 26 assists.  Interestingly, the Vancouver Canucks were not one of the teams he played for in the NHL.  Notice the airbrushed uniform on this O-Pee-Chee card.  He was traded by New York to Vancouver, but retired before playing a game in the Canucks' hideous black, orange, and yellow "V" sweaters.

Harold Snepsts

Sent: 11/20/10
Received: 12/8/10
Time: 18 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee, 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee
Item Received: 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee, 1984-85 O-Pee-Chee.  Both signed in black Sharpie.

Notes:
Harold Snepsts was a terrific defensman with an even better mustache.  It's a shame that his lone season at the Met Center was arguably the worst of his career.  He was the Vancouver Canucks all-time leader in games played and penalty minutes when he was dealt to the North Stars staight up for Al MacAdam.  Both were fan favorites in their respective towns, and it was a highly unpopular move for each.  As it turns out, both Snepsts and MacAdam's best days were behind them.  Snepsts only trading card in a North Stars uniform was this 1984 O-Pee-Chee card, featuring one of the worst full-uniform airbrush jobs in hockey card history.

Andre Boudrias

Sent: 10/23/10
Received: 11/5/10
Time: 13 Days
Address: Home
Item Sent: 1968-69 Topps
Item Received: 1968-69 Topps, signed in thin black Sharpie.  1999-00 Molson Export Montreal Canadiens, signed in black marker.  2004-05 In the Game Franchises, signed in blue ballpoint.

Notes:
Well, this is by far the widest variety in writing utensils used on a single return.  Andre Boudrias was an original North Star, acquired from Montreal during the 1967 expansion draft.  He only spent a year and a half in green and gold, but was second on the team in scoring during that inaugural 1967-68 season.  After very short stints with the Blackhawks and Blues, he finally became a star for the Vancouver Canucks in the early '70s.  As for the cards received here, I'm assuming he had the cards he generously added to my request just sitting around, already signed.  I don't know how else to explain the use of different pens on each.  Of course, I am very grateful.  Thanks, Mr. Boudrias!

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!