[Huntingwhale]

I'm not surprised they said no. We all like to mock the Oilers and all, but McDavid is the most popular and in-demand player in the league. It should come as a surprise to no one that they can't accomodate the request.

As for the Flames going above and beyond in situations like this, I'm willing to bet that for every successful/classy story we hear about, there's a greater number that are refused. We just don't hear about them.

I know it might seem disappointing to your grandson to not get the autograph. But you can actually spin this to be a ''double gift'' of sorts. Give him the photograph and he'll be super happy regardless. Then with a sly grin and twinkle in your eye, tell him this is only part 1; you're working on getting his hockey hero to sign it for him! This not only makes him super excited, but buys you more time to find a way to get it done. Down the road when you're able to get it autographed, you're grandson gets the same gift all over again except this time it's upgraded. Imagine how excited he's going to be when you come pick up the photo and tell him when you come back, it's going to be signed. The kid will go crazy!

With enough persistence and cunning, you WILL eventually get it done. But don't view it as a disappointment that you're request can't be accommodated right away. Make it a 2 part gift! And IMO the suggestions from some people here to go to the media to 'shame' the Oilers into doing it are pretty classless and opens up a door for others to do the same. Others who might not have as honorable intentions as you. No one likes to be shamed or embarrassed into doing something. It will make the organization resent you and likely make all parties look bad. There is a time and place to go to the media for help (ex: being overcharged for life-saving medicine, insurance not paying out on some typo, etc). Seeking an autograph is hardly the time or place to blackmail a multi-million dollar organization through the media.