Running through the Isles

Having hounded the New York Islanders during a preseason trip to Manchester, N.H., I really didn't have much to get autographed. That didn't stop me, though, from making the trip over to Tampa last Sunday.

And, much like everything else in life, the effort was rewarded.

The biggest scores of the day, so to speak, were Team USA* and Islanders 2003-04 official game pucks signed by Rick DiPietro, Islanders pucks signed by recent acquisitions Denis Grebeshkov and Jeff Tambellini*, and a Bridgeport Sound Tigers* puck by Trent Hunter. (*=shown above).

For the most part, the Islanders were a great signing team. As usual, the much-maligned Alexei Yashin signed everything (including my four cards) that anyone put in front of him. Somewhat toughies Jason Blake (on an Islanders puck) and Garth Snow (two of four cards) even stopped to sign. (Addendum: What is the Sam Hell Houston was Charles Wang thinking when he named Snow as general manager of this once-proud franchise?)

The day's only disappointment (and a minor one at that) was Shawn Bates, who seemed content to sit on the air-conditioned bus rather than brave the sun-soaked afternoon and sign a few items.

Looking ahead, my ever-changing work schedule, coupled with the fact we close on our house in late April or early May, means I'll have very few opportunities to hound over the next few weeks. So far, I have trips penciled in, and plenty of item ready, for the Atlanta Thrashers and to the Bolts practice facility.