The tin is in

If you're looking for something different to get signed by Carolina's Cam Ward, you might want to keep an eye out for this tin of 2006-07 Fleer Hockey cards. I found this one at our local Target store.

I like it mainly because it's different than photos, pucks and cards.

A word of caution, though, when it comes to getting autographs from Ward. Try to get him earlier in the day, just before the trip for the morning skate. In Tampa recently, he apparently was too focused on the game to accommodate game-time requests.

Oh, so that's where he is

Among the minor deals leading up to the NHL's holiday trade freeze, highlighted, I suppose, by the Islanders shipping Mike York to the Flyers for Randy Robitaille and a fifth-round pick, was news that former NHL tough guy Ryan VandenBuscche signed with the New Mexico Scorpions of the Central Hockey League.

Speaking of goalies

If you're caught up on your holiday shopping and having trouble waiting for Santa's impending arrival, visits to these goalie mask sites should keep you from shaking the presents under the tree:

~ Armor Graphics, which has made masks/helmets for Detroit's Dominik Hasek (when he was with Ottawa), Florida's Eddie Belfour (when he was with Toronto) and Pittsburgh's Jocelyn Thibault.

~ Masked Expressions, which should be a hit with Hurricanes fans because of the masks/helmets for past Carolina goalies Tom Barrasso, Arturs Irbe, Trevor Kidd and Kevin Weekes.

~ Slater Lettering and Graphics, where you'll see masks for Chicago's Nikolai Khabibulin, Phoenix's Curtis Joseph (when he was with Detroit) and Washington's Olaf Kolzig.