Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
*Clears throat* Hockey is back, baby!
On Tuesday, the NHL released a video of commissioner Gary Bettman explaining the NHL’s decision to push through the COVID-19 pandemic and finish the season. A lot was explained, some things tentative and others not. I’ll break down Bettman’s explanation and gives my thoughts on the now official 24-team playoff. Continue reading “Hockey is Officially Back: Breaking Down the 24-Team Playoff”
The NHL is back! Well, it will be back in July — hopefully — with 24 postseason teams, qualifying rounds, and a convoluted, two-phase draft lottery. Sal Barry and Tim Parish break down every aspect of the NHL’s proposed “return to play” plan, weighing the pros and cons of each detail. After listing to this show, be sure to chime in and let us know what you think of the NHL’s return strategy.
Show Notes and Links
Commissioner Gary Bettman outlines the NHL’s plan to return (YouTube)
Pat Foley rips Alexander Karpovtsev during hockey game (YouTube)
Sal’s article about the Russian Penguins (The Hockey News)
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.
Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
Sometimes when I wait until Monday to write this it pays off. The NHL released some big news on Monday which gives me something worthwhile to write about out. I’m noticing a trend where the big news is released on Mondays.
That news was that the league announced the logistics for their next phase in their plan to return to hockey. Not only that, but the NHLPA also opted to move forward with the proposed 24-team playoff. It looks like hockey might be coming back. Keep reading to see my thoughts with a few other takes sprinkled in.
In this episode of the Collectors Corner, Sal Barry and Ron Barr talk about the postponement of the National Sports Collectors Convention and the cancellation of the American Hockey League season. They also discuss the upcoming Virtual Sports Card Con.
Collectors Corner airs Friday nights at 9:25 p.m. CST. Find a nearby radio station that carries Sports Byline USA here, or stream online here. You can also listen to past episodes here.Special thanks to Sports Byline USA for providing the audio clip.
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Sports Byline USA on Twitter @SportsBylineUSA. ■
In this episode of the Collectors Corner, Sal Barry discusses the difficulties of moving his sports memorabilia collection to a new home. Plus, the postponement of the Chicago Sports Spectacular, the cancellation of the Chicago Blackhawks Convention…and a pair of goalie skates that fetched top dollar at a recent auction.
Collectors Corner airs Friday nights at 9:25 p.m. CST. Find a nearby radio station that carries Sports Byline USA here, or stream online here. You can also listen to past episodes here.Special thanks to Sports Byline USA for providing the audio clip.
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Sports Byline USA on Twitter @SportsBylineUSA. ■
Sal Barry and Ron Barr talk about a Michael Jordan basketball card that sold for over $52,000 at auction. Also, how COVID-19 has affected business for Panini and Beckett, Upper Deck’s Genuine Heroes digital card set, and more.
Collectors Corner airs Friday nights at 9:25 p.m. CST. Find a nearby radio station that carries Sports Byline USA here, or stream online here. You can also listen to past episodes here.Special thanks to Sports Byline USA for providing the audio clip.
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Sports Byline USA on Twitter @SportsBylineUSA. ■
This week, Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the controversial topic of hockey trading cards with protective film on them. From the mid-1990s until the early 2000s, card companies would put protective film on premium cards to protect them from getting scratched. Collectors were split into two camps on this: some removed the film from the cards, while others believed that doing so would actually reduce the value of the cards on the secondary market. Sal and Tim also talk about the new hockey card releases this week, the potential return of the NHL — and Nordiques jerseys!
Show Notes and Links:
NHL considering 8-9 sites for season restart (NHL.com)
Avalanche may wear Nordiques jerseys next season (NHL.com)
NHL players who wore number 66 (Hockey-Reference.com)
President’s Choice Trading Cards “Equipped” cards (PCTC website)
Upper Deck Game Dated Moments cards for Week 32 (UD website)
And since we brought up 1980-81 Topps Hockey cards, here is a review of that set (Puck Junk)
Images of cards with protective film still on them:
1994-95 Topps Finest #34 – Chris Chelios
1994-95 Donruss – Masked Marvels inserts #1 – Ed Belfour
1995-96 Topps Finest #121 – Chris Chelios
Notice the discoloration (“greening”) on his face
1996-97 Select Certified #27 – Chris Chelios
1996-97 Leaf Preferred – Steel Inserts #7 – Chris Chelios
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.
Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
There seems to be a plan in the works for the NHL to return! It’s going to be weird and a lot of people aren’t going to like it, but hockey could be back soon. I’ll give my thoughts on the proposed plan as well as a few other notable hockey announcements from the past week. I’ll also deliver some takes that are strictly derived from being bored on Twitter. Let me know what you think!
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: My Thoughts on the NHL’s Proposed Plan of Return”
In this episode of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish reminisce about 1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay Hockey, which was a modern day “tall boys” card set that didn’t go over with collectors too well. They also talk about the American Hockey League cancelling the rest of its season, and Brendan Leipsic getting waived by the Capitals after making misogynistic comments on Instagram.
Show Notes and Links:
The Guy Lafleur Disco Album (Puck Junk)
AHL cancels the rest of its season (AHL website)
Article about the NHL’s potential plans to restart the season (ESPN)
Capitals waive Leipsic after misogynistic comments made public (CBC)
National Sports Collectors Convention rescheduled (website)
Upper Deck Game Dated Moments cards for Week 31 (website)
Upper Deck E-Pack (website)
Every 1993-94 Hockey Card Set Ranked (Puck Junk)
We also reflected on collecting hockey in 1993-94 in Podcast #41
Some images of 1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay cards
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #116 – Wayne Gretzky
Card backs had a large picture and up to 10 years of stats.
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #54 – Jeremy Roenick
JR was the spokesman for Fleer Trading Cards.
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #1 – Stu Grimson
Yep, Stu was card #1 in this set.
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #88 – Doug Barrault
Barrault actually played for the Chicago Wolves from 1995-96 to 1997-98.
(I erroneously said that he played with the team in 1994-95.)
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #50 – Dirk Graham
I *love* the photo on this card!
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #426 – Jocelyn Thibault
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #416 – Bryan Trottier
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #147 – Ron Hextall (and yes, the team name is there, right above his name. I couldn’t see it until I scanned the card.)
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #459 – Neil Eisenhut (Rookie Card)
This was his only NHL card.
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #354 – Chris Pronger
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay #508 – Peter Laviolette (Rookie Card)
1993-94 Fleer PowerPlay Series 1 wrapper
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast music: “Power Play” from the album Lafleur!
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.
Love hockey? Join the new Puck Junk Facebook Group
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
I’m glad I pushed my column back a day because a lot happened yesterday. Most notably, the AHL canceled the remainder of their season. I’ll give my take on it and give a few special shoutouts to AHL players. Also, a few reports published yesterday raised some eyebrows in the NHL community.
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: AHL Cancels Remainder of its Season”
