Corey Locke Autographed Card

Corey Locke was once named the CHL's 200-03 Player Of The Year and was the OHL's top points leader in 2003-04, justifying to his being drafted in the fourth round (113th overall) by the Montréal Canadiens in 2003 as an undersized center (5'8" and 165 pounds).

He never could make his mark with the Habs because they already had another such skilled, small center in David Desharnais, who happened to get along and play extremely well with captain-to-be Max Pacioretty.

He was traded to the Minnesota Wild organization in 2008, for Shawn Belle, but was unable to make the team; instead, he posted 79 points in 77 games with their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros and another 23 points in 20 post-season games, leading the team to the Calder Cup Final (he had won it with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2006-07).

He then signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers and later the Ottawa Senators, surpassing the point-per-game mark in the AHL for three straight seasons (two of which were at 85 points or better) but unable to crack the NHL line-up. He did win the Calder Cup for the second time with the Binghamton Senators in 2010-11, the same year he was deemed the AHL's Most Valuable Player. As a matter of fact, he shares the league record for most All-Star Game appearances, with six.

He then plied his trade in Finland and Germany, then briefly again in the AHL (Chicago Wolves and Abbotsford Heat in 2013-14), before going back to Europe in Germany, Switzerland, and now Austria. He's still a point-per-game player at 32 years of age, meaning he technically still has enough skill to perhaps crack an NHL line-up. He's definitely good enough to be on the Arizona Coyotes' second line, and the Colorado Avalanche or Carolina Hurricanes' third.

Here he is sporting the Bulldogs' white (home) uniform, on card #71 from In The Game's 2006-07 Heroes And Prospects set and Prospect sub-set:

He signed it in blue sharpie during a Sens training camp (2010 or 2011).