Jonathon Blum Autograph Card

My second ''hit'' (yes, I'm pseudo-live-blogging in order!) from my box of Upper Deck's 2012-13 Fleer Retro is of Nashville Predators' prospect Jonathon Blum, a former first-round draft pick, chosen 23rd overall in 2007, ahead of T.J. Brennan (31st), P.K. Subban (43rd), T.J. Galiardi (55th), Wayne Simmonds (61st), Yannick Weber (73rd), Jamie Benn (129th), and Paul Postma (205th).

He was named CHL defenseman of the year in 2008-09, ahead of fellow Pred prospect Ryan Ellis and Florida Panthers wünderkind Dmitry Kulikov. and represented Team USA three times so far (once at the World U-18 and twice at the World Juniors), captaining it once (WJC, 2009); he won silver at the 2006 U-18, and failed to medal twice at the World Juniors.

I have full confidence he will become a top-3 defender in this league, but with Shea Weber, Ellis and new draftee Seth Jones doing it for Nashville, it could, ultimately, be for another team.

This is a beautiful card, almost making me forget how much I despise the Predators' uniforms:

Ugh, the piping and the sub-piping... looks like a bad teen-league football uniform. But the colours are great. The card uses the 1996-97 Skybox Autographics design (it's #96-BL in the set), and this particular card (a Group 'E') is found in every ten packs. Which explains why I've seen this card for a buck or two all over Ebay. It contains an on-sticker autograph in blue sharpie.

Noteworthy is Upper Deck's claim that 99% of autographs were obtained in person rather than by mail, reducing the chances of a fake signature.