Puck Junk

Blake’s Takes: Jerseys in Jersey and Happy Hanukkah

A day late, but better than never! Last week was a huge week around the NHL. This week, I’ll share my thoughts on Evander Kane’s potential return to the ice as well as a dustup involving two of the league’s most frequent offenders.

On a lighter note, a few new uniforms were released last week and they are deserving of my attention. I wrote more than a few words about those uniforms as well another take or two.

Happy Tuesday and Happy Hanukkah!

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Puck Junk Podcast #104: Nov. 24, 2021

In Episode #104 of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the just-announced 2021-22 Pro Set Memories Hockey set. They also discuss Topps Now Hockey Stickers and the Fall 2021 Chicago Sports Spectacular. It’s 88 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes and Links:
Topps Now Hockey Sticker Archive (Topps website)
Definition of “shovelware” (Urban Dictionary)
Sal’s ironic collection of Rene Bourque Artifacts Cards (Puck Junk)
Information about 2021-22 Pro Set Memories (Cardboard Connection)
Sal’s booth at the Fall 2021 Chicago Sports Spectacular (Twitter)

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube.

Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Blake’s Takes: Career Resurrections and Milestones

In this week’s column, I’ll highlight two of my favorite players that have resurrected their careers this season. There were also a few notable milestones reached last week that I want to write about. Get ready for another great column and let’s have a great week.

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Puck Junk Podcast #103: Nov. 17, 2021

2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe Hockey
Plus: Inflated Hobby & Retail Box Prices

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk all about the 2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe set. What makes it great — and not so great? Then, the guys talk about how the prices of hobby and retail boxes are getting out of hand. It’s 1 hour and 8 minutes of hockey goodness.

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Chicago Sports Spectacular (show website)
Bridgeview Card Show & Autograph Signing (show Facebook page)
VintageGraphs: Sports Autographs & Collectibles (Facebook page)
2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe checklist (Cardboard Connection)
The horrible Mel Bridgeman hockey card (Puck Junk)
The equally-horrible Glen Hanlon hockey card (Puck Junk)
The “Lettuce Head” Bryan Pitton hockey card (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Podcast #21: The Worst Insert Sets from the 1990s (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Podcast #78: Brian Slagel Interview (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Podcast #14: 1996-97 Fleer Metal Universe (Puck Junk)

Some images from the 2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe set:

Elias Pettersson – base card

Auston Matthews – retro insert

Carey Price – Intimidation Nation insert

Alex Ovechkin – ALON insert

Patrick Kane – Platinum Portraits insert

Finally, here’s the Ryan Getzlaf card that Tim was talking about:

2013-14 Upper Deck #171 – Ryan Getzlaf…making an entrance indeed!

What do you think of the 2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe set? Are you collecting it? Leave a comment and let us know!

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, subscribe to Puck Junk on Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and support this site at the Puck Junk Online Shop.

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk. ■

Rookie Cards of Every NHL Head Coach for the 2021-22 Season

Every NHL head coach was involved in hockey at a high level prior to coaching in the world’s best hockey league. Some were NHL players, while others played major junior, collegiate, or minor pro hockey before coaching. Thus, all 32 NHL head coaches have had at least one hockey card issued sometime during either their playing or coaching careers.

Here is a list of rookie cards for every head coach in the NHL. Some had mainstream “rookie cards” found in sets like Topps, O-Pee-Chee, Upper Deck, and Pro Set cards. Others did not play — or did not play long — in the NHL. In their cases, I tracked down the earliest trading card that coach had. I’ve indicated the value of each card and how difficult the card is to find today.

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Blake’s Takes: Coaches and GMs Ousted

Last week wasn’t kind to coaches and GMs around the league, as two of them are out of a job. I’ll share my thoughts on those two vacancies. More importantly, I’ll shed some light on two of my favorite positive storylines around the NHL and share a video that should provide you all with some laughs.

Happy Monday!

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Blake’s Takes: Blackhawks Scandal Continues and Jack Eichel Gets Traded

I didn’t pick the best week to go on vacation. While I was gone, the Blackhawks scandal developed in full, and Jack Eichel was finally traded. I’ll lead off with both of those topics in this column. As usual, I’ll share my thoughts on a few other notable stories across the NHL.

Happy Monday!

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Puck Junk Podcast #102: Oct. 27, 2021

NHL, NHLPA, Upper Deck Extend Trading Card Deal

Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the NHL and NHLPA extending their exclusive hockey card licensing agreement with Upper Deck and why this is great for hockey card collectors. The guys also talk about new, upcoming and cancelled — yes, cancelled! — hockey card releases. Finally, Sal and Tim take a look at this season’s NHL television coverage by ESPN and TNT — what’s good so far and what could be better. This week’s episode is 1 hour and 35 minutes of pure hockey goodness!

Show Notes and Links:
NHL and NHLPA Extend Rights Deal with Upper Deck (The Hockey News)
Upper Deck Signs Nick Suzuki to Exclusive Autograph Deal (Upper Deck)
2021-22 Game Dated Moments Week #1 (Upper Deck e-Pack)
Promo Team Pack #1: Vegas Golden Knights (Upper Deck e-Pack)
Upper Deck Cancels & Delays Some Hockey Products (Twitter)
NHL Fails to Televise Marleau’s 500th Goal (Puck Junk)
Lake Station, Indiana VFW Card Show on October 30, 2021 (Facebook)
Fall Sport Card Expo in Toronto, November 11-14, 2021 (Show Website)
Chicago Sports Spectacular, November 19-21, 2021 (Show Website)

Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.

Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube.

Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Blake’s Takes: Hockey is in Full Swing

We enter week two of NHL games and my fantasy hockey team looks better than ever. My takes this week have some variety. From players with damaged reputations, extensions, and major business deals, these takes have it all.

Happy Monday!

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Puck Junk Podcast #101: Oct. 21, 2021

1990-91 Score Hockey
Part 4 of the ’90-91 Retrospective Series

Sal Barry and Tim Parish continue their Retrospective Series about hockey cards from the 1990-91 season. This time, they discuss the 1990-91 Score Hockey sets — the American set, the Canadian set, the Rookie and Traded set, the Young Superstars set and even the 100 Hottest Stars and Rising Stars set. What made Score great back then and do the cards still hold up today? It’s 73 minutes of pure hockey nostalgia!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
1990-91 Score American Checklist (Trading Card DB)
1990-91 Score Canadian Checklist (Trading Card DB)
1990-91 Score Rookie and Traded Checklist (Trading Card DB)
1990-91 Score Young Superstars Checklist (Trading Card DB)
1990-91 Score Hottest Stars & Rising Stars Checklist (Trading Card DB)
The 1990-91 Score mail-away checklist page (Puck Junk)
Every 1990-91 Hockey Card Set Ranked (Puck Junk)
Write us a review at Apple Podcasts (link)