Book Review – Barry Melrose: Dropping the Gloves

For almost 30 years, Barry Melrose was THE voice of hockey in the United States. The former player and coach was a fixture on ESPN’s hockey broadcast from the mid-1990s to the early 2020s. For most of his tenure, he was the lead studio analyst for ESPN’s NHL 2Night. 

Sadly, Melrose passed away earlier this year due to complications with Parkinson’s disease. That prompted me to read his book “Dropping the Gloves: Inside the Fiercely Combative World of Professional Hockey.” The book is co-written with author Roger Vaughan and has a foreword by Wayne Gretzky.

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2026-27 Artifacts Hockey Cards

Episode #257: October 5, 2026
Plus: Igor Shesterkin & Jack Hughes

Sal Barry and Tim Parish give their take on the new 2026-27 Artifacts Hockey card set – from the base set to the short prints to the hits to the overwhelming number of parallels. Plus, Igor Shesterkin scores a goalie goal, Jack Hughes can’t take a cringy joke, while his autographed card sells for almost $400K. It’s 110 minutes of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite part. The YouTube version of this episode features photos and videos. 

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Clemente’s Corner: 7 Great NHL Team Giveaways for 2026-27

There’s always something special about walking into an NHL arena and knowing you’re going home with more than just memories of the game.

Giveaway nights have become a big part of the league’s fan experience. While bobbleheads remain the undisputed king of promotional items, teams have gotten increasingly creative in recent years. Blankets, kitchenware, cups and other collectibles now compete for space on fans’ shelves.

The 2026-27 NHL season is no different. From now through to the end of the regular season, there are plenty of promotional nights worth circling on the calendar. Some celebrate the NHL’s biggest stars, while others offer the kind of bizarre memorabilia that makes you wonder who came up with the idea.

If you’re a collector — or just a fan who likes getting something extra with your ticket — here are seven giveaway dates worth getting.

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2026-27 MVP Hockey Cards

Episode #256: September 28, 2026
Plus: 1996 World Cup of Hockey 30th Anniversary

Sal Barry and Tim Parish give their review of the 2026-27 MVP Hockey Card Set, including the notable rookies – and some glaring omissions. They also look back 30 years ago at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey tournament, where the United States became a hockey superpower. Plus, a few thoughts about the upcoming NHL season. It’s two hours of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite part. The YouTube version of this episode features photos and videos. 

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Hughes “Golden Goal” Signed Card at Auction

Card That Mysteriously Appeared Hits Over $100K

Remember back in February, when Jack Hughes scored the “Golden Goal” in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. His overtime heroics gave the U.S. a 2-1 win over Canada – and the country’s first gold medal in men’s Olympic ice hockey since 1980. 

Later that day, Topps was selling cards of Hughes celebrating his goal as a part of its “Topps Now” print-on-demand card set. The card was available for a short period of time for $11.99 each. However, one lucky buyer would receive the card with Hughes’ autograph on it, along with the inscription “Golden Goal 2/22/26 Go USA!”

Well, that card has recently surfaced, and it is currently up for bid at the Fanatics Collect auctions website. The card currently has 26 bids and is at $110,000 – and it still has 7 days to go!

Could it top the $200K mark? It probably will.

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Clemente’s Corner: Get Ready for the Gavin McKenna Rookie Card Hype

Gavin McKenna, this year’s No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL draft, has collectors are watching closely to see whether his rookie cards will become the next big thing in the hobby.

Inevitably, they will be.

The hype surrounding McKenna is easy to understand. Before ever playing an NHL game, he built an impressive resume. He dominated at the junior level, made the jump to Penn State and immediately became one of the most talked-about young hockey players.

Now he is headed to the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the league’s biggest markets, and Upper Deck has signed him to an exclusive autograph trading-card deal. That combination is almost tailor-made for the modern hockey-card market.

But why are collectors willing to pay so much for NHL rookies in the first place? It’s a question I’ve asked myself every fall.

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2025-26 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Hockey Cards

Episode #255: September 10, 2026
Plus: Dick’s Sporting Goods Now Selling Cards

Sal Barry and Clemente Lisi give their review of the 2025-26 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Hockey card set. They also talk about Dick’s Sporting Goods getting into the business of selling graded cards and singles. Plus, Sal pays tribute to one of his non-hockey heroes who recently passed away. The YouTube version of this episode features photos and videos. 

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Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube. 

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Puck Junk Podcast: 2025-26 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey Cards

Episode #254: August 19, 2026
Plus: Celebrini Gold Outburst Sells for $1.281M

Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the Macklin Celebrini Gold Outburst Parallel that sold for over ONE MILLION DOLLARS at a recent auction. Then they talk about the 2025-26 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey set. It’s 91 minutes of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite part. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X/Twitter.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube. 

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,  
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.

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Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

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Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel. 

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Support this podcast! Buy a Puck Junk t-shirt from Etsy or hockey cards from the Puck Junk Card Shop on Buy Sports Cards. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 2025-26 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Cards

Episode #253: August 12, 2026
Plus: Patrick Kane Returns to Chicago

Sal Barry and Tim Parish give their review of the 2025-26 O-Pee-Chee hockey card set. They also talk about Patrick Kane returning to the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s 114 minutes of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite part. The YouTube version of the podcast features photos and video. 

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X/Twitter.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube. 

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,  
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor.

Connect 
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel. 

Shop
Support this podcast! Buy a Puck Junk t-shirt from Etsy or hockey cards from the Puck Junk Card Shop on Buy Sports Cards. ■