[ZoomZoom18]

I thought this may be an interesting topic to discuss. I don't believe we've done a topic like this one.

Which NHLers (or former) have you been able to meet or would like to meet?

In Indianapolis, I got to a chance to meet Brian Noonan (formerly of the Rangers and Blackhawks), Darren Pang (we all know him I'm sure), Glen Featherstone, Jani Hurme, Bruce Cassidy, and Todd White. I thought White and Panger were the nicest of the group, but all were pretty friendly.

In Phoenix, my wife and I got a chance to go to the Coyotes game night for their Coyotes Charities back in the 2006-07 season. I did get a picture and a chance to meet Wayne Gretzky. Gretz was nice, a quiet guy, and a lot bigger than I thought he'd be. He stood in line for about two hours signing autographs for anyone who wanted them. That was a big thrill.

I also got to meet Roenick (a real nice guy and seemed great with the fans), Jovanovski (whom I got to sign his rookie card), Yanic Perreault, Mattias Tjarnqvist, Mike Ricci, Curtis Joseph, Mike Zigomanis, Matt Jones (whom seemed quite surprised that there was someone in attendance who had a Jones jersey personalized...I didn't have the heart to tell him it was because I share his last name), Steven Reinprecht, Oleg Saprykin, Kevyn Adams, and Georges Laraque (dude is one of the nicest guys I've ever met).

Personally, I'd like to meet Yzerman, Lafontaine, Ovechkin, Lemieux, Budaj, Sakic, and Smyth someday as well as more of the Stars players.

[gawdawaful]

I bumped into Sami Salo at the Canucks store today. He had his young kids in toll so I didn't take up too much of his time

[Crimson]

The only ones were the "stand in line to get their autographs" types of encounters, but mine were:

Kirk Maltby
Kris Draper
Joey Kocur
Martin Lapointe
Larry Murphy
Kevin Hodson
Alex Delvecchio

I did see Darren McCarty out at dinner recently, at the Japanese restaurant owned by family friends, but he looked like he was on a date, so we didn't want to bug him -- especially since other people were going up to him already.

[RolandKing]

I have met many many players, so that is a hard one to say. I would say I really who liked to have met Jacques Plante when he was still alive.

[Flames Jersey Collector]

Ive met

Theoren Fleury
Marc Andre Fleury
Evgeni Malkin-sorta....he acknowledged me wearing his jersey
Sidney Crosby
Adam Deadmarsh
Lubomir Visnovsky
Derek Morris
Felix Potvin
Ryan Getzlaf when he was a Hitmen
Craig Conroy
Mike Cammalleri
Mike Green
Jason Allison
Jarome Iginla - On the Ice while recieving an autographed helmet by him
Grant Fuhr
Jordin Tootoo
Jason Larbarbra
Matt Keetley
Colin Patterson
Robyn Regehr
Martin Gelinas

Im sure there are more

[WBSBurghFan2001]

I live in an AHL city, but over the years I've met players who were AHLers then that have become or will be NHLers in the near future:

Current NHLers:
Tyler Kennedy
Max Talbot
Dany Sabourin
Kyle Brodziak
Daniel Carcillo
Tom Gilbert
Marc Antoine Pouliot
Erik Christensen
Alex Goligoski
Riley Cote

Strong change of being in the NHL at some point:
John Curry
Ben Lovejoy
Dustin Jeffrey
Paul Bissonnette
Rod Pelley