Puck Junk Podcast: 2025-26 SPx Hockey Cards

Plus: 2026 Stanley Cup Final Preview
Episode #247: June 2, 2026

In this episode, Sal, Tim and Clemente discuss the passing of two NHL legends: Claude Lemieux and Dennis Hull. The guys then give a preview of – and their predictions for – the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, then have a long discussion about the 2025-26 SPx Hockey set. It’s two hours of hockey goodness -with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite parts. 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. 

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. ■

Three More Great Uses for Playmat Topload Holders

BCW’s Spectrum Playmat Topload Holders are a great way to display your favorite gaming playmats and protect them when going to your next CCG tournament.

But don’t let the name fool you; these may be “playmat” toploaders for gamers, but sports collectors will find these useful, too.

Here are three ways I use the Playmat Topload Holders to protect some of my sports memorabilia. Read the rest of the story at the BCW Supplies Blog.

Video: 2023-24 SPx Hockey Box Break

Sal Barry of the Puck Junk Podcast opens a box of 2023-24 SPx Hockey cards. Each box contains five premium hockey cards – including one guaranteed autograph.

Will you collect any 2023-24 SPx Hockey cards? Leave a comment and let us know what you think of SPx.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, listen to the Podcast, subscribe to the Newsletter and YouTube Channel, and support this site at the Online Shop. 

Follow Sal Barry on Bluesky @PuckJunk and on X/Twitter @PuckJunk. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 2025-26 Flair Hockey Cards

Plus: 2026 Second Round Playoff Recap
Episode #246: May 20, 2026

Sal and Clemente recap Round 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs and preview Round 3. Then they look at the 2025-26 Flair Hockey set, which hearkens back to the original 1994-95 Flair Hockey set, but with several new twists. The 1990s are back and won’t be going away anytime soon. It’s 122 minutes of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite parts. 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. ■

Video: 2023-24 Ultimate Collection Hockey Box Break

Sal Barry of the Puck Junk Podcast opens a box of 2023-24 Ultimate Collection Hockey cards. Each box contains four premium hockey cards.

Will you collect any 2023-24 Ultimate Collection Hockey cards? Leave a comment and let us know!

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, listen to the Podcast, subscribe to the Newsletter and YouTube Channel, and support this site at the Online Shop. 

Follow Sal Barry on Bluesky @PuckJunk and on X/Twitter @PuckJunk. ■

Clemente’s Corner: Why Stanley Cup Success Rarely Boost Card Values

Every spring, as the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs heat up, a familiar pattern emerges in the hockey card market. 

Both collectors, and increasingly speculators in the form of YouTubers, turn their attention to the biggest names on the ice, hoping to capitalize on breakout performances and championship runs. 

Prices for certain players’ trading cards can spike sometimes in a matter of days. Despite this frenzy, the recent past reveals that the Stanley Cup Playoffs have little to no lasting impact on the long-term value of cards. Instead, they create short-lived surges that often fade once the Nationals Sports Collectors Convention rolls around in the summer.

At first glance, it makes sense why playoff performances would influence card prices.

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Why Stanley Cup Success Rarely Boost Card Values”

Video: 2024-25 Stature Hockey Box Break

Sal Barry of the Puck Junk Podcast opens a box of 2024-25 Upper Deck Stature Hockey cards. Each box contains five premium hockey cards.

Will you collect any 2024-25 Stature Hockey cards? Leave a comment and let us know!

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, listen to the Podcast, subscribe to the Newsletter and YouTube Channel, and support this site at the Online Shop. 

Follow Sal Barry on Bluesky @PuckJunk and on X/Twitter @PuckJunk. ■

Digital, Fractional, or Physical?

It’s Crazy That These are Now Hobby Terms

“Let’s get physical! Physic – I mean, digital! Digital!”

In the latest episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, we talked at length about the 2025-26 Fleer Ultra Hockey card set, and how it is the first time in a long time that Fleer Ultra is back as a “physical card product.”

A physical card product. That just sounds WEIRD, doesn’t it? Like, what else would trading cards be…right? 

We now live in the day and age of where we have to sometimes state specifically if the cards we are talking about are PHYSICAL or DIGITAL.

Continue reading “Digital, Fractional, or Physical?”

2025-26 Upper Deck Series Two Box Break

Released in March, the 2025-26 Upper Deck Series Two Hockey card set is a continuation of Series One, which was released in October. Like Series One, Series Two has 200 base cards and 50 short-printed Young Guns. You get one Young Guns rookie card in every other pack, for a total of six per box.

A hobby box – costing around $230 – has 12 packs. Each pack has 12 cards. Let’s look at what’s inside a typical box of 2025-26 Upper Deck Series Two Hockey. 

Continue reading “2025-26 Upper Deck Series Two Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2025-26 Fleer Ultra Hockey Cards

Plus: 2026 First Round Playoff Recap
Episode #245: May 6, 2026

The stars have aligned and all three hosts are back! This week, Sal, Tim, and Clemente give a recap of the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs – including some upsets and some not-so-surprising sweeps. The guys then take a long look at the new 2025-26 Fleer Ultra hockey card set, which is back as a physical card product for the first time in over a decade. It’s 118 minutes of hockey goodness – with chapters, so you can skip to your favorite parts. 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. ■