Player of the Day: Ryan Suter

As I have been doing every day, I will be highlighting a player from Team USA or Team Canada as a player of the day. Today's player from the Nashville Predators and Team USA is one of the best young defensemen in the NHL: Ryan Suter.

Ryan is a consistent, hard checking defensemen for the Nashville Predators. He was taken in the 1st round, 7th overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft. He honed his skills playing for the Wisconsin Badgers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association(WCHA) during the 2003-04 season, his hometown college team. During the lockout season he played for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He played his first NHL season in 2005-06 and was able to pot 16 points in 71 games. Each season his point total increased due to more power play time as he established himself as one of the teams top four defensemen.

Ryan has played for Team USA seven times total. Three times he donned the Red, White and Blue jersey he helped win a gold medal. His first gold came in 2002 at the World Junior Under-17 Hockey Championships. That same year he got another gold at the World Junior Under-18 Hockey Championships. His last gold medal came in 2004 at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Overall he has played in 41 international games and contributed 26 points.

Ryan's, and other players, cards can be purchased through Checkoutmycards.com and Sportsbuy.com. The pictures of the cards will take you to Checkoutmycards, and the links will take you to Sportsbuy.

Player of the Day: Ryan Malone

In case you missed it , I will be highlighting a player from Team USA and Team Canada leading up to the Vancouver Olympics. Today's player, from Team USA and one of the top power forwards in the NHL, Ryan Malone.

With his strength, size, and willingness, Ryan takes the puck hard to the net and is willing to take a beating to screen goalies. He developed these skills by playing against top tier players and by adopting the hard working attitude of his hometown of Pittsburgh. For his junior year of high school he attended and played for Shattuck-St. Mary's. During his senior year of high school he played for the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). After high school he played 4 years at St. Cloud State of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association(WCHA), where he was on over a point a game pace during his junior and senior years.

Ryan was drafted in the 4th round of the NHL entry draft before going to play for St. Cloud State. He made his professional debut for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2002-03. The following year, he made the Pittsburgh Penguins out of training camp and played in all 81 games while putting up respectable numbers totaling 43 points. During the lockout season he spent time playing in Finland, Italy and Switzerland. After the lockout he came back to beat his NHL rookie point total by 1 point. He has had his career season in 2007-08 when he got 51 points and 103 penalty minutes. That same year he helped the Penguins reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs by potting 16 points in 20 games. Over the summer of 2008 him and Gary Roberts' rights were traded to Tampa Bay. Ryan signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 28, 2008. He is currently playing for Tampa Bay. At times he placed on a line with Stamkos and St. Louis, which will only help him eclipse his previous career point totals. Playing in the Vancouver Olympics will be Ryan's first taste of international hockey.

As always, these cards and many others can be purchased through Checkoutmycards.com and Sportsbuy.com.





2009-10 Upper Deck #91

2008-09 Black Diamond #74

Player of the Day: Phil Kessel

In case you missed it , I will be highlighting a player from Team USA and Team Canada leading up to the Vancouver Olympics. Today's player, from Team USA, is Phil Kessel.

As product of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (NTDP), Phil has been able to compete against players that were stronger, faster, older, and had more experience. He played for both the Under-17 and Under-18 teams between 2003 and 2005, while amassing franchise records for goals (104), most points (180), and the most goals in a season (52) whom he shares with Team USA teammate Patrick Kane. It should also be noted that he recorded 62 points in 47 games while playing for Team USA in the World Junior Championships and the Under 18 World Junior Championships.

From there he went on to play with the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey League (WCHA). While with the Gophers, he was awarded the WCHA rookie of the year, made the WCHA's all rookie team, and helped his stacked Gopher's team win the MacNaughton Cup during the 2005-06 season.

From there he went on to play for the Boston Bruins during the 2006-07 season. He started the season off with the Bruins, but needed a stop in Providence for a rehab stint after undergoing surgery to remove testicular cancer. That same season, he was named to the NHL's all rookie team and won the Masterson Trophy for his dedication to the game of hockey.

At the end of the 2008-09 season it was determined that Phil needed shoulder surgery. But before he could play another game for the Bruins, and over a contract dispute, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for 2 first and 1 second round picks. He returned to a Leafs team that was unable to put the wins on the board, and instantly added a more offensive punch to their lineup.

As always, Phil's cards and those of many other players can be purchased through Pat's Cards at Sportsbuy.com and Checkoutmycards.com.





2009-10 Upper Deck #1