Signature Sundays - Hawerchuk, Shutt & Gadsby - A Trio of Hall-of-Famers

Yes, I still have a few more 2012-13 Panini Classics Signatures autographs kicking around that I've yet to post.  For this week's Signature Sundays installment let's take a look at another trio...

Fantastic photo, sub-par signature.  Dale Hawerchuk was a young hockey prodigy when the Jets drafted him first overall in the 1981 entry draft.  It didn't take him long to make his mark at the NHL level as he became the youngest player (at the time, since bested by Sidney Crosby) to record 100 points in a season en route to a Calder Trophy for rookie of the year.  He never won a Stanley Cup, but he did rack up over 500 goals and over 1,400 points even though he retired at the relatively young age of 34.  Dale was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

Steve Shutt played before my time, so I really can't say in all fairness, but it seems to me like he's one of those questionable members of the Hall of Fame.  Yes, he was a member of those powerhouse Canadiens teams in the '70s and captured multiple Stanley Cups as a result, and yes he tallied plenty of points.  I'm sure that anyone playing on a line with Lafleur and Lemaire would have had some success though.  In an era known for offense, Steve managed just a single 100-point season and was only named an All-Star three times (and a First-Team All-Star only once).  Whatever the case, he's certainly got a very nice signature.

Wrapping up today's trio is Bill Gadsby of the Chicago Blackhawks.  Bill wasn't as lucky as Steve Shutt, and like Dale Hawerchuk never got to raise Lord Stanley's Cup.  He was a rock solid defenseman though, with multiple First and Second Team All-Star appearances to his credit.

For playing the back end, he could certainly put up some points as well.  At one point he set a record for assists in a season for a blue-liner, and his offensive numbers are very impressive when you consider the era he played in.  Gadsby was a physical presence also; apparently during the course of his career he received over 650 stitches, 11 broken noses, multiple separated shoulders, a broken leg, and had a handful of teeth knocked out.  That is a real hockey player right there.

Well, that's a wrap for this week.  These three take me over the century mark to 102 autographs from this beautiful set.  I've got a few more still to come, I'd like to get them all posted soon so I can put this set to bed during the summer...