Perfectly good reason

When presented an opportunity to add depth to our autographed puck collection, I'll dip into our small inventory of minor league, junior, college or international pucks.

Take Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman, for example. After having the Bolts' top 2009 pick sign Lightning and Swedish souvenir pucks last season, I figured it would be years before adding more from the defenseman. Instead, we try to snag a few cards and perhaps an 8x10.

That all changed, though, when Moody, Hound Central 5.0's senior correspondent, recently showed me a picture of Hedman playing for the Norfolk Admirals, the Lightning's American Hockey League affiliate. After that, I wasted little time, getting Hedman to add this puck to the collection before the Lightning's training camp opened.

It seems that Hedman, as well as a few more Lightning players, swapped teams during a 2009-10 preseason exhibition between the Bolts and the Admirals. Even if the game didn't count, it was plenty enough of a reason.