Hounding report: New York Islanders

The schedule hasn't allowed too many opportunities to test the theory that day-before-gameday hounding is the best time to snag autographs from visiting NHL teams. Last Wednesday, with the New York Islanders in Hockey Bay, afforded one of those opportunities. So, with Colin on his spring break, we gave it a try.

Though we didn't snag too many of the big names -- with John Tavares out for the season with a knee injury and Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo winning at a game of hide-and-seek -- we still came home with 33 autographs, a respectable number, even for a tag-team effort.

All told, our spring break efforts, including the Ottawa Senators,  netted us another 65 autographs for the collection. Within them, too, we added the 500th autograph of the 2013-14 hockey-hounding campaign.

Signing the pucks, shown above, were Islanders' recent No. 1 picks Calvin de Haan, left, and Ryan Strome.

Highlights included getting four players and a coach to sign four cards each:

Cal Clutterbuck, who signed the 500th autograph (second from right) of the campaign;

Travis Hamonic;

Matt Martin;

Frans Nielsen; and

Doug Weight.

We added specialty cards, shown below, from de Haan, from left, Thomas Hickey and Strome:

Also signing cards, shown below, were Colin McDonald and Evgeni Nabokov:

We also employed a trio of cheapskates cards, shown below, signed by Brock Nelson, from top, Anders Nilsson and Strome.

Hounding report: Ottawa Senators

If you ever want proof of my "bell-curve approach" to hockey hounding, make a trip out for the Ottawa Senators. In my theory, I surmise that all NHL players go through stages in their willingness to sign. In today's example, we'll discuss Ottawa's Erik Karlsson.

While every one of his teammates took to time to stop and sign for us in early December, the talented Senators' defenseman held himself in such high regard that he repeatedly denied requests. In my theory, which suggests that players become increasingly difficult in signing as they gain in NHL stature, Karlsson must be at or near the apex of the bell curve.

In time, especially as his skills erode and his speed dissipates, Karlsson will likely soften his approach. And, in doing so, further prove my point. When, and not if, he does, I'll be there waiting, blue Sharpie in hand.

Thankfully, though, Karlsson proved to be the exception, rather than the norm. All told, I added another 33 autographs, including this Jason Spezza card for the ever-growing Threads collection, in a hockey-hounding adventure that bookcased Ottawa's game-day morning skate.

Signing pucks, shown above, were Cory Conacher, from left, Hall of Famer Denis Potvin and Mika Zibanejad.


A number of Senators signed cards that day:

Top row: Craig Anderson, Erik Condra, Joe Corvo and Jarde Cowen; and

Bottom row: Eric Gryba, Robin Lehner, Clarke MacArthur and Marc Methot;

Top row: Milan Michalek, Chris Phillips and Zack Smith; and

Bottom row: Spezza, Kyle Turris and Patrick Wiercioch.

Colin Greening also signed four cards: