Review: 2007-08 Be A Player

It's a little weird, I suppose, that an autograph hound like myself actually looks forward to a release of a signature-laden product like Upper Deck's 2007-08 Be A Player Hockey. Still, though, there's something about the thrill of the chase in busting a box.

I was more than a little psyched, too, to get this double signature card of Philadelphia's Mike Richards and Mike Knuble.

Richards is a darned-good, hard-nosed captain-in-waiting, something that plays well in Philly. As for Knuble, I've been a big fan since his Bruins days riding shotgun with Joey Thornton. In my book, you won't meet a nicer NHL player than Knuble.

It's hard to get critical of one of favorite products. As a reviewer, though, I must. Like most everyone else, I wish the caliber of the players signing was a little better.

Though it's nice pulling signatures from such players as (top photo, from left) Florida's Keith Ballard (shown with Phoenix), the Rangers' Markus Naslund (shown with Vancouver) and New Jersey's Zach Parise, it's a tad deflating when you get one from a player like Jamal Mayers, Jarkko Ruutu or Jason Williams.

The 200-card base set is decent, but predictable. From a purely hounding standpoint, I'd rather have a few more recognizable tough guys or fifth defensemen rather than yet another card of, say, Rob Blake, Rod Brind'Amour or Brendan Shanahan.

Kudos, too, for showing trade-deadline-day movers in new team colors. Notable names include Dallas' Brad Richards and rentals Marian Hossa, as a Penguin, and Brian Campbell, as a Shark. Lightning fans can find goalie Mike Smith in his Tampa Bay duds.

Product snapshot: Be A Player Hockey
Something nice: A double-signature card of Philadelphia's Mike Richards and Mike Knuble and an opportunity to offer Upper Deck my copy editing talents on a freelance basis
Something not so nice: At nearly $12-$15 a pack, I want better quality among the autographs. Another UD product with a less-than-inspiring checklist. An additional one or two rookie cards would've been nice, too.
Puckhound's grade: 2.5 out of 5 pucks