Eraser vs. baby powder

When it comes to removing a card's coating so its more receptive to ink, there are two schools of thought. Some of us use erasers. Some of us use baby powder. In the name of science, and for collectors across the world, I conducted an experiment to solve this debate.

Though I rely upon, and put up with the shavings from, a white eraser to prep my cards, I tried using baby powder on a couple to try that approach. With an unprepped Alexander Ovechkin card, from Upper Deck's 2006-07 Be A Player offering, as my test subject, I signed my name across the middle. The ink bubbled like dinnertime stew.

To initiate the test, I erased the top-left corner of the card's photo. As always, shavings multiplied with each pass. Once cleared, though, the fast-drying writing stuck well to the still-glossy surface. All in all, it's why I prefer this method.

Baby powder, as the testing phase concluded, was dribbled upon and gently rubbed onto the picture's bottom-right corner. Though most slid off easily, it took several tries to rub away the last layer. Even then, the writing fades and appears a little splotchy.

Ironically, the bottom of the card needs no help. It's a nice flat spot, absent of sheen, to have it signed. Good luck, though, getting a player to oblige. Hence, the necessary prep work.

Upon careful consideration, and certainly without any guilt of bias, my opinion, and mine alone, is erasers remain the way to go. To me, they create less mess overall (chalk is like dust; it floats and settles elsewhere.). I also question the durability of a signature that's sitting on a fine powder residue.

Remember, this is just my opinion. Differing opinions are welcomed, too. But I believe that, given the facts and findings presented above, this age-old question can be put to rest.

You're welcome.

And the nominees are . . .

Everybody, and I do mean everybody, likes to win awards. Used-car salesman. Rodeo clowns. Math teachers. You name a profession, chances are there's an award to be won.

Earlier today, the National Hockey League announced the nominees for eight awards:

Jack Adams Award (Outstanding Coach): Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres; Michel Therrien, Pittsburgh Penguins; Alain Vigneault, Vancouver Canucks.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Sportsmanship and Gentlemanly Conduct): Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings, Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche; and Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning.
Calder Memorial Trophy (Outstanding Rookie): Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins, Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh Penguins; and Paul Stastny, Colorado Avalanche.
Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player To His Team): Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins; and Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks.
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Outstanding All-Around Defenseman): Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings; Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks; and Chris Pronger, Anaheim Ducks.
Lester B. Pearson Award (Most Outstanding Player as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players' Association): Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins; Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning; and Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks.
Frank J. Selke Trophy (Outstanding Defensive Forward): Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes; Samuel Pahlsson, Anaheim Ducks; and Jay Pandolfo, New Jersey Devils.
Vezina Trophy (Outstanding Goaltender): Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames, Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers; and Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks. Third-place tie led to four finalists, rather than three.
Winners will be announced June 14.

Based on regular-season results, some award winners have already been named:

Art Ross Trophy (regular-season's top scorer): Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins, 120 points
Maurice Richard Trophy (most regular-season goals): Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning, 52 goals
William M. Jennings Trophy (fewest goals scored against): Nicklas Backstrom and Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild, 191 goals allowed.

Now that the nominees have been named, here are my predictions:

Calder Memorial Trophy: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes
Hart Memorial Trophy: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks
Jack Adams Award: Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Chris Pronger, Anaheim Ducks
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Lester B. Pearson Award: Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning
Vezina Trophy: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks

For comparison purposes, and fodder for a good belly laugh, here are my preseason picks:

Art Ross Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, 119 points
* Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (perseverance and sportsmanship): Jeremy Roenick, Phoenix Coyotes
Calder Memorial Trophy: Gilbert Brule, Columbus Blue Jackets
** Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP): Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Mike Fisher, Ottawa Senators
Hart Memorial Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin
Jack Adams Award: Ron Wilson, San Jose Sharks
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins
* King Clancy Memorial Trophy (leadership and humanitarian efforts): Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
Lester B. Pearson Award: Joe Thornton
Maurice Richard Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin, 58 goals
Vezina Trophy: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
William M. Jennings Trophy: Ryan Miller and Martin Biron, Buffalo Sabres

* Winner will be announced June 14
** Winner announced at conclusion of Stanley Cup finals.

Pretty busy day, eh?

Of all the days to take off from hockey, the NHL's trade deadline on Tuesday has to be one of the hardest. I love watching teams take chances for the Stanley Cup. I like watching teams that are building for the future. Most of all, though, is the frenetic energy that flows through the day.

Despite of all that, I found that I can take a day away from hockey, even if it is a busy one, to just chill out. I watched a movie. I played some darts. I made dinner for my son.

That doesn't mean, though, that I haven't heard the news. Sure, some teams went out and grabbed big-name players (San Jose got Bill Guerin, Gary Roberts agreed to go to Pittsburgh and Detroit took a chance with Todd Bertuzzi). A bunch of minor deals were made, too.

Now that I've had time to review the moves, here are my takes:

~ Even though it's had a terrible year, the Philadelphia Flyers should feel pretty damn proud of themselves. To me, they're a much better team, and one that's prepared for the future. Sure, they lost Peter Forsberg, but they picked up some fairly promising talent in Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and Braydon Coburn. The addition of Martin Biron will only help, too. Adding these guys to Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Joni Pitkanen, Mike Richards and R.J. Umberger could soon cause some serious headaches in the Eastern Conference.

~ Kudos to New York Islanders' Garth Snow for nabbing Ryan Smyth from the Edmonton Oilers. Smyth's a heart-and-soul guy who, to me, will only make the Islanders much more dangerous as the season winds down. Islanders fans can only hope, too, that he'll light a fire under Miroslav Satan and Richard Zednik. If he does, I wouldn't want to meet them in the playoffs.

~ Though I respect the veteran leadership that Georges Laraque and Roberts bring to Pittsburgh, I'm not sure the Penguins addressed every issue (backup goaltending, to be exact). Talent's great, but you need depth to go deep in the playoffs. Florida, by the way, got an excellent return in Noah Welch. Smart kid, too. He graduated from Harvard.

~ I certainly hope it's not a case of too little, too late, but I believe the Bruins upgraded their defense a little with Aaron Ward and Dennis Wideman. Ward adds experience and Wideman is a younger Brad Stuart, if you ask me. I was sorry to see Brad Boyes go, but it was inevitable. Like the Blues, I have faith in his abilities. I can't help but chuckle, too, at those who thought not too long ago that he was worth a fourth-rounder.

~ I'm not quite sure what to think of the Sabres' dealings. On one hand, adding Dainius Zubrus to Buffalo's high-octane offense left me giggling with anticipation. Replacing Biron with Ty Conklin, though, leaves me worried. Though I'll root for Conklin because of his UNH ties, I won't have the confidence with him in net as I would have with Biron. Besides, Biron's one of the nicest players you'll meet -- great signer and loves to talk.

~ As for Tampa Bay, I applaud the moves they made. Not for the enhanced grit that Shane O'Brien, Karl Stewart and Jason Ward bring, but it gives me a reason to hound the Lightning one more time this season.

Awards I'd like to see

We're all familiar with the NHL's end-of-the-season awards. The top rookie wins the Calder. The league's most valuable player wins the Hart. And the players who shows the most perseverance and sportsmanship is awarded the Masterton.

But in my little speck of dust within the hockey universe, there are skills and attributes of the game that are worthy of honoring. That's why I submit, for your consideration, the following suggestions, culled from a once-voluminous list, for the awards I'd like to see:

The Billy Hajt Award: Given to the league's top defensive defenseman, who block shots, plays the body without drawing a penalty and always covers for his more offensive-minded partner on defense.

The Mike Sillinger Award: Given to the center/forward with the best faceoff percentage, with additional weighting based on such critical situations as shorthanded and defensive zone draws.

The Andre "Moose" Dupont Award: If the league is going to award a player for gentlemanly conduct (whatever the hell that is), why not honor the player who puts the fear of God into others with a simple sneer, a pointing of a finger and a gag-inducing facewash?

The Wayne Gretzky Award: Given to the player who revolutionizes the game, in a positive or entertaining way, through the season. For example, how many players have added a leg kick to their breakaway routines once Washington's Alexander Ovechkin started doing it?

The Mr. Hockey Award: In honoring Gordie Howe and his contributions to the game, this would be given to the league's top power forward, with minimum standards for goals (25), assists (40), penalty minutes (100, with at least 30 from elbowing) and fighting majors (five). A letter-perfect autograph is worth bonus points, too.

Finally, to discourage the ever-increasing amount of diving in the league, how about The NHEllie Award: Given to the player who draws the most unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for taking dives. Granted, the winner would get a trophy, handed out at a mandatory player-appearance event, so his peers will know exactly what he is.

Until next June in Toronto, when we'll see whether the NHL has adopted any of my wisdom, I welcome your comments.