Proof positive

Imagine my surprise just a few minutes ago when checking out the Tampa Bay Lightning's Web site I stumbled across this photo gallery image of Steven Stamkos signing Colin's jersey earlier today during a meet-and-greet with season-ticket holders.

To see the gallery, click on the link inside this story. Colin's is the fourth of seven photographs.

A good start

Say what you will about new Tampa Bay Lightning coach Barry Melrose (he's been out of the game too long to what's up with the mullet?), but he certainly has a knack for putting people at ease.

Though Lightning officials asked that autographs be kept to one per person and that posed photos wait until another day, Melrose entertained nearly every request Thursday during a meet-and-greet with Lightning season-ticket holders.

My question? Will John Buccigross, Melrose's journalist sidekick during ESPN's NHL 2Night run, be joining the Lightning front office?

"Nope, Bucci's staying in Connecticut," Melrose said, laughing. "Right where he belongs."

Not sweating the details

I might have been the only one to notice, but the new Tampa Bay Lightning sign hanging outside the St. Pete Times Forum contains a pretty serious error.

The sign, sandwiched between a couple of tall ads for Heineken, shows the Lightning's newly anointed Big Four -- Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Dan Boyle and Steven Stamkos, the team's No. 1 draft pick for 2008.

The only problem, however, is that the sign shows Stamkos, wearing a No. 91 Lightning sweater in game action, as a lefthanded shot. Sorry, but he's a righthanded shot.

And, for the sake of accuracy, it matters.

Mission accomplished

Seeing that it rains down here in Humidity Bay nearly every afternoon during the summer, our trip over to downtown Tampa was in doubt for awhile earlier today. It wasn't so much the rain, though, as it was the nasty thunder and lightning.

Still, once the storm passed we headed east, dodging a few raindrops along the way, for some more Lightning. Namely, the team's No. 1 overall draft pick, Steven Stamkos.

After the meet-and-greet with season-ticket holders, we were able to get Stamkos to sign this Sarnia Sting puck. Sure, I had more items that I would've liked to gotten signed, but there was a strict one-per limit. Colin had him sign his Lightning jersey.

Once Stamkos signed, we completed a neat little autograph trick -- getting two No. 1 overall picks within a week. Last Thursday, we scored Tim Beckham, the Tampa Bay Rays' first selection in the 2008 MLB draft.

One down ... one to go

With a little bit of luck, we might be able to add autographs from two No. 1 overall picks in little more than a week.

Last Thursday, with the Cubs in town for an interleague matchup with the Rays, Colin scored Tim Beckham, Tampa Bay's top 2008 pick on June 5, on an official practice ball (see stamp on top of ball) that someone gave to him during batting practice.

Tomorrow, we'll head over to Tampa to get Steven Stamkos, taken first overall last Friday by the Lightning in last week's NHL draft. The event is for season-ticket holders, so we'll have to catch him outside. New coach Barry Melrose will be there, too.

A side note on the baseball: Had I been thinking, we should have had Beckham's brother, Jeremy, a 17th-round pick (503rd overall) of the Rays, sign the ball. He was there. It'll have to wait, I suppose.

Hockey always comes first.

Wasn't even close

As expected, the Tampa Bay Lightning made quick work of their No. 1 overall pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, selecting center Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting. Still, though, that didn't end the drama inside Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ontario.

The biggest question, it seems, was who would go second overall -- Guelph's Drew Doughty or Petersborough's Zach Bogosian?

Once again, Hound Central 3.0's readers proved their hockey IQ by overwhelmingly picking Doughty, who went second to Los Angeles, over Bogosian, taken third by Atlanta.

Question: Who will be the No. 2 pick overall at the 2008 NHL Draft?

Drew Doughty: 15 out of 21 votes cast (71.4 percent)
Zach Bogosian: 6 out of 21 (28.6 percent)

Gee, what can I do with this?

If the Tampa Bay Lightning makes, as is expected, Steven Stamkos the No. 1 overall pick of the NHL Draft tonight, do you think this Sarnia Sting puck might come in handy? I do.

Though I've read that Stamkos is planning to spend the weekend in Kanata, Ontario, where the draft is taking place, I'm sure the Lightning will be making the Sarnia Sting star available to its fan base soon enough.

I'm hoping to have this, as well as a few other items, signed by month's end. If not, there's always rookie camp.

Stamkos fans would be well-served to visit this site at the St. Petersburg Times. The newspaper (disclosure notice: my employer) has created a five-card set of Stamkos, available for download, printing and, I imagine, getting autographed.

Please note, though, they won't be considered his true rookie cards.

I'm confused

I'm not 100 percent certain, but I believe I pulled an Sweet Stitches "oopsie" from a tin of 2007-08 Upper Deck Sweet Shot.

Though I'd hardly complain about a three-swatch card, I don't believe Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar ever wore the purple-and-yellow throwback sweater for the Kings in an NHL game.

Kopitar didn't play in the NHL when the Kings last wore the throwbacks, Dec. 2 and Dec. 16, 2004. In fact, Kopitar, who scored two goals in his NHL debut on Oct. 6, 2006, was playing for Sodertalje in the Elitserien in 2004-05.

Now, if you read Upper Deck's certification language, it doesn't specifically state that it was Kopitar who wore the sweater.

However, calling it an "Anze Kopitar Game-Used trading card" certainly leads a reasonable person to expect that the jersey swatches did, indeed, come from a sweater worn by Kopitar.

I've seen other variations of this card showing black and white swatches, but I can't find anything else like this one.

Is it an error card? If not, what would you call it?

I suppose I'll have to ask Upper Deck. Maybe, it'll be able to tell me.

Take 'em when you can get 'em

Just because the NHL season is over doesn't mean that you can't snag an autograph or two. Look at the three we added to our collection earlier this evening.

The old school Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning pucks, shown above, were signed by former NHL player John Tucker, who runs a pro shop and coaches teams at the Clearwater Ice Arena.

I'd been carrying the pucks with me for a couple weeks now, as Colin skates and takes lessons at the arena. Tonight was the first time I'd seen Tucker when he wasn't on the ice.

This card, signed to Colin by another former NHL player Chris Dingman, was obtained following Colin's skating practice when we returned to the Wing House restaurant in Pinellas Park, where the Lightning were holding a live radio broadcast and an event for season ticket-holders.

Now, some might say that these former players are hardly worth the effort. With all due respect, however, I disagree. Sure, both are unlikely candidates for the Hockey Hall of Fame. But, both also played in the NHL, something that, in the grand scheme of things, not too many people get to do.

Even though I'll plead guilty to cherry picking during the season, I'm always happy to add autographs during the offseason.

I think I'll wait

I was going to order three 2008 NHL Draft pucks today from Sensations, the Ottawa Senators' team store at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, until I learned that the shipping to Florida would be $30.

It's bad enough the puck was $7. I get mine for less than $2.75. I'd pay $5 for shipping. Maybe even $8. But $30? I don't think so.

Hopefully, my patience will be rewarded. It's my guess Steven Stamkos, projected as Tampa Bay's first overall pick Friday night, will be around Humidity Bay for quite a while.

No complaints here

Though Buffalo's Ryan Miller is one of the more willing signers in the NHL, I wasn't the least bit disappointed to snag this 2007-08 Upper Deck Sweet Shot card. No, sirree, not one bit.

Hockey, Scrambled: 2008 Draft edition

Though it's likely to be busy today down here in Humidity Bay (the NHL is set to vote on the proposed $200 million sale of the Lightning), don't let that keep you from figuring out who is who in this special edition of Hound Central 3.0's Hockey, Scrambled:

~ Tinika Tifoval =
~ Leax Girtapeleon =
~ Vesnet Kosmtas =
~ Limkek Drokebe =
~ Chaz Chubkoy =

For proper credit, please leave your answers in a message. Thanks.

Sunday morning homily XXX

Now that I've dried off and got the water out of one of my ears following a mid-morning battle with super soakers (my Father's Day present) with Colin (that's him, on the right, with me at a Bolts game), it'll be much easier to share with you why, from my point of view, that Father's Day is, indeed, the best holiday of the year:

~ Fathers get to revel in the joy that they have helped to create. From skating backwards to fishing to sharing a recliner, spending time with your children is the best thing a father can do. Granted, most fathers I know, myself included, want to spend more time with their children and families. At least, though, we all have today.

~ Fathers get to pass along their experience, their love and their beliefs. From working hard at everything you do to remembering to look both ways when entering an intersection after the traffic light has turned green, it's our job, as a child's most important role model, to pass along the wisdom we've gained over the years.

~ If you're lucky (like I am), you'll get one of your better meals of the year today. For me, it'll be grilled steak, marinating for the past three days; twice-baked potatoes, including real bits of bacon and sour cream; and one of my favorite foods -- canned carrots. A slice of cake (or two or three) will top it off.

And though it was nice to open cards and unwrap presents on this day, the best gift I'll ever get is the one I receive every day from Colin -- a hug, a kiss and my favorite words: "I love you, Daddy."

To me, it just doesn't get any better than that.

Stoked, and stocked, for Stamkos

Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit here, but I can't wait for this Friday, when the 2008 NHL Entry Draft kicks off in Kanata, Ontario. If perception becomes reality, that is when the Tampa Bay Lightning, picking first overall, will draft Sarnia's Steven Stamkos, a talented center who many believe is NHL-ready.

Really, it's not that I'm the biggest Lightning fan down here in Humidity Bay. Sure, they're my most recent "hometown team," and I'll root for them to do well every season, but they reside a couple notches down the list.

No, what I'm waiting for is Stamkos' first public visit to Tampa. I'm certain the Lightning, given their "Seen Stamkos" campaign, will be more than happy to show off their latest star. Work schedule permitting, I plan on attending as many introductory events as I can.

Why? Another no-brainer. I have quite a few items -- three pucks, a couple of magazines, a few cards and a Team Canada jersey waiting to be signed. And that, my friends, is just the beginning.

Thanks, again and again and again

As I bring the final Sunday morning homily of the season to a close, I want to thank everyone who has taken time to stop by Hound Central 3.0. I know this blog is an acquired taste, focusing much more on autographs than hockey in general.

And while the summer always represents a slowdown in the hockey autograph cycle, I'm hoping that there's enough news -- within hockey and my hounding activities -- to offer, at the least, a weekly posting until training camps open in September.

As always, folks, I appreciate your support.

Tim Russert: 1950-2008

As a journalist and as a native Western New Yorker, I felt a profound sadness upon learning that Tim Russert, the moderator for NBC's Meet the Press for the past 16 years, had passed away on Friday.

Mr. Russert, a native of Buffalo and a big fan of the NFL's Bills, was a journalist's journalist. He was all about getting the truth, even if it meant throwing a few high-and-tights at an unwilling subject, and protecting the integrity of objectivity.

Sunday mornings and politics, I'm afraid, will never be the same.

The only award show I watch

Five things about last night's NHL awards ceremony in Toronto:

~ Perhaps it was a bit too predictable, but the NHL's awarding of its first Lifetime Achievement Award to Gordie Howe was pretty darn touching. I can't help but wonder, though, if that award will someday be named after Mr. Hockey.

~ It was nice to see Tampa Bay's Vinny Lecavalier honored across the league for his philanthropic efforts, winning the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. Then again, Hockey Bay has known about Vinny's off-the-ice contributions for some time.

~ I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised that Washington's Bruce Boudreau won the Jack Adams Award, for the NHL's best coach. Long before he took his spot behind the Capitals' bench, I watched quite a few games when he was coach of the AHL's Manchester (N.H.) Monarchs. Though he had a tough time getting the Monarchs deep into the playoffs, he led the Hershey Bears to the 2006 Calder Cup championship.

~ Someone from the Anchor Bar ought to send Chicago's Patrick Kane a couple heaping, steaming plates of chicken wings for his shout-out to Buffalo during his acceptance speech after winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. As a native western New Yorker, it's always sweet to see a Buffalo kid do good.

~ For as long as Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk has played in the NHL, don't you think that his English would be a bit better by now. I must admit, though, his acceptance speeches for winning the Frank Selke (defensive forward) and Lady Byng (gentlemanly player) trophies had to be among the shortest in award show history.

Take 2 for No. 2

Really, I should have given much more thought to the most recent Hound Central 3.0 poll, which asked (foolishly) who would be the No. 1 pick at the NHL draft -- Sarnia's Steven Stamkos or Peterborough's Zach Bogosian?

More than anything else, when The Hockey News calls you a "savior" on the cover of its draft preview, I'd say it's a done deal.

Closer to home, though, the Lightning have made no attempt to conceal their intentions with the No. 1 pick. In fact, the big hockey question all over Humidity Bay is have you Seen Stamkos?

So, yes, it's a given Stamkos will bring his talents to the Lightning. That's why I brought the Stamkos-Bogosian poll to a quick end.

The first eight votes, all in Stamkos' favor, further convinced me that there is a much better question to be asked of Hound Central 3.0's faithful: Who's the No. 2 overall pick? Is it Bogosian or Guelph's Drew Doughty?

Question: Who will be the No. 1 pick at the 2008 NHL Draft?

Steven Stamkos: 8 out of 8 votes cast (100 percent)
Zach Bogosian: 0 out of 8

Stanley likes Wings

Congratulations are in order for the Detroit Red Wings, who dispatched the Pittsburgh Penguins last night to win their 11th Stanley Cup in the team's history. The team was simply too talented, too deep and too experienced for the Penguins.

Good advice

After getting Dave Andreychuk, the former Tampa Bay Lightning captain, to sign a few items earlier tonight, I'm not sure what I was more excited about.

From a hounding standpoint, I'm thrilled that I finally got him to sign, at left, my Lightning Andreychuk jersey.

And I certainly won't complain that he also signed, above, Tampa Bay Lightning 2004 Stanley Cup champions and Oshawa Generals pucks.

From a Daddy standpoint, though, I'm downright ecstatic about the advice he had for Colin, fresh off a hockey skating lesson just down the road from where Andreychuk was part of a remote radio broadcast.

"So, you're hockey skating?" Andreychuk asked.

"Yep," Colin replied, "just got done with my lessons."

"How'd you do? Did you fall?" Andreychuk asked.

"All the time," Colin said.

"That's OK. Did you ever see me fall? I fell all the time, too," Andreychuk said.

"You fell?" Colin asked.

"All the time. But you know what I did every time I fell?" Andreychuk said.

"What?" Colin replied.

"I always got right back up," Andreychuk said. "That's what you have to do."

Why not?

Looking for a new job? The Tampa Bay Lightning are looking for a head coach.

Follow my lead and send your resume to:

Tampa Bay Lightning
c/o Head coach search
401 Channelside Drive
Tampa FL 33602

Hopefully, the Lightning will, at the least, send rejection letters to those of us who don't make the cut.

One more thing, too: Tell 'em Hound Central 3.0 sent you.

Phlashback

After pulling this card, signed by NHL Hall of Famer Bernie Parent, from a pack of 2007-08 Upper Deck Sweet Shot earlier today, the first thought that popped into my hounding-deprived mind was the 1974-75 Stanley Cup Finals.

Not only did the Broad Street Bullies beat my beloved Buffalo Sabres, 4 games to 2, for their second Cup, but Parent was the star of the series, giving up only 12 goals in the six games on his way to winning his second consecutive Conn Smythe Trophy.

Did you know that he has his own blog?

Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!

Given that Detroit can claim its 11th Stanley Cup tonight by beating Pittsburgh (fulfilling my prediction of the Wings in five), it's no wonder that Hound Central 3.0 readers voted Detroit's Chris Osgood as a better goalie than Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury.

And just like this Stanley Cup Final, the poll, the blog's 18th of the season, wasn't as close as it appears. Osgood, who's had himself one whale of a playoffs as his backup (sounds weird, doesn't it?) Dominik Hasek, a future Hall of Famer, watches from the bench, remained in front throughout the poll.

In the interest of full disclosure, I voted for Fleury. At this time, he isn't the best goalie. Down the road, when the Penguins are in the midst of a long run of winning the Cup, I believe Fleury will be a better goalie. Right now, though, it's Osgood.

And, unless Detroit's Johan Franzen gets a hat trick tonight, including the Cup winner, I don't see anyone other than Osgood picking up the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Question: Who's the better goalie?

Wings' Chris Osgood: 13 votes out 23 votes cast (56 percent)
Pens' Marc-Andre Fleury: 10 out of 23 (43 percent)