Patrick Kane

Who: Right Winger Patrick Kane

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Card: 2008-09 Victory Game Breakers

Acquired: TTM 2/2 8/15/2009 (25 days)

Comments: Second of two cards that Patrick signed for me. I'm happy to have a pair of autos in my collection - this kid is going to be a stud. Here's the other card Patrick signed, also a Victory card.

Patrick Kane

Who: Right Winger Patrick Kane

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Card: 2008-09 Victory

Acquired: TTM 2/2 8/15/2009 (25 days)

Comments: In the time between this card going out in the mail and the successful return, Patrick's world had been turned upside down. He allegedly assulted a cab driver in his hometown of Buffalo, NY over what amounted 20 cents. Details are sketchy at this point on the whole thing. He plead not guilty in court recently. I guess we'll see how it all plays out.

His recent troubles aside, Patrick is a fantastic young player for the Chicago Blackhawks, leading them to a Stanley Cup appearance this past season. He's certainly one of the brightest young stars in the league and it's neat to get a couple of cards signed by him back in the mail. I wonder how all this recent trouble played into his TTM habits. I'm not the only one to get a return from him recently.

This is the first TTM request I have sent to a current hockey player.

Jeremy Roenick

Who: Center Jeremy Roenick

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Card: 1991 Topps

Acquired: TTM 2/2 7/30/2009 (10 days)

Comments: Coming...

Jeremy Roenick

Who: Center Jeremy Roenick

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Card: 1991 Score

Acquired: TTM 2/2 7/30/2009 (10 days)

Comments: A really quick return from hockey great, Jeremy Roenick. I was mildly in to hockey as a kid for a few years and Roenick was one of my favorites. He was a rising star at the time and a Chicago Blackhawk - my favorite team. What I can't believe is that he's still playing at age 39. Apparently, he's been contemplating retirement during the current off-season, but has yet to make an announcement either way.

UPDATE: It's looking like Jeremy is going to announce his retirement.

Michel Goulet

Who: Left Winger Michel Goulet

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Card: 1991 Topps

Acquired: TTM 3/3 1/13/2009 (10 days)

Comments: Goulet!!!

Michel Goulet

Who: Left Winger Michel Goulet

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Card: 1991 Pro Set

Acquired: TTM 3/3 1/13/2009 (10 days)

Comments: How about these Pro Set cards? It's the cheapest stock you'll find a sports card made on, but I love them. The simple design just does it for me. The brightness in this photo could have used a tweak, but that's okay. I guess NHL arenas back in the day were a little dark??

So, yeah. Another signed card from NHL Hall of Famer Michel Goulet. Goulet!!!

Btw, the Blackhawks jerseys may be my favorite design across all sports. They just hit it right on all angles. Colors - bold red and black. Fantastic logo. The "C" with crossed tomahawks is totally killer. It's all just money.

Michel Goulet

Who: Left Winger Michel Goulet

Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Card: 1991 Score 1000 Point Club

Acquired: TTM 3/3 1/13/2009 (10 days)

Comments: My first hockey autograph! Sweet! From none other than NHL Hall of Famer and former Chicago Blackhawk Michel Goulet. Not a bad way to start a hockey collection huh?

So, I'm a baseball/football guy, but love seeing some hockey games every winter. When I was a dorky little guy in 1991, I became a slightly obsessed with collecting hockey cards. I really knew nothing about hockey, but it fascinated me. I loved the cards, the team names, the logos, the jerseys, all of it. It was whole new world to me. Since I had some relatives in Chicago, I decided that the Blackhawks were my team. So, to this day I'll casually root for them - or the Blue Jackets, now that they are in the league.

So, my first TTM requests from any hockey players were to former Blackhawks, and Goulet came back first - in just 10 days. Amazing. From a Hall of Famer too.

Two more from him to come...