Will Hype and Hope Help the Often-Overlooked Set?
Upper Deck announced that Alexander Ovechkin has autographed eight copies of this 2005-06 Young Guns rookie cards, which will be randomly found in packs of 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series. Each card will bear Ovie’s autograph in bright blue ink and be hand numbered out of 8. These are original Young Guns cards that Upper Deck purchased to get signed (a.k.a. “buybacks.”)
Will the hype and hope of pulling an autographed Ovechkin Young Guns rookie card give Extended Series that push it needs?
Since the 1993-94 season, Upper Deck released its flagship set with a “Series One” set issued in the fall and a “Series Two” set issued around the spring.
Starting in 2020-21, Upper Deck released a third series of its flagship set. But instead of calling it “Series Three,” it is referred to as “Extended Series” on the packaging and advertising.
I’ve always been a fan of Extended Series, as it features cards of players who changed teams, rookies who made their debut later in the season, and photos of players from the All-Star Game. Extended Series is also loaded with fun insert sets – many of them serial-numbered – that use designs of Upper Deck cards from the late 1990s, such has HoloGRFX and UD3.
However, Extended Series has failed to catch on with the larger collecting population. In fact, you can still find boxes from the past four seasons, for less than their original prices:
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- 2020-21 Extended Series Hockey: $50 hobby box / $15(!) retail box
- 2021-22 Extended Series Hockey: $60 hobby box / $30 retail box
- 2022-23 Extended Series Hockey: $70 hobby box
- 2023-24 Extended Series Hockey: $105 hobby box / $25 blaster box.
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The price on 2023-24 Extended Series hasn’t dropped much from its initial price because that set is loaded with Connor Bedard cards, including his “First Round Rookies” and “UD Canvas” cards.
But the card that everyone really wanted – Bedard’s Young Guns rookie card – was found in packs of Series Two.
Speaking of which, do you remember how the nearly impossible odds of pulling the 1/1 Gold Outburst parallel of Bedard’s Young Guns RC almost tripled the price of Series Two hobby boxes? A box of Series One was selling for $120 while Series Two was around $330 per box.
That, in turn, also drove up the demand for Series Two retail boxes for collectors who didn’t care about a stupid bounty and just wanted to complete their sets.
So, will the chance of getting a signed Ovechkin Young Guns card push Extended Series over the top, making it a set that will sell out on e-Pack and in hobby stores across North America?
Probably. I could totally see breakers and hobby bros snapping up Extended Series to chase this card. Ovechkin’s Young Guns rookie card has been one of the most-sough-after and most-popular hockey cards over the past few years. Not the most expensive card, mind you; just a card that everyone wants.
Now, everyone has a shot at getting one that is autographed, too.
Hobby boxes of 2024-25 Extended Series are currently pre-selling for $120 for a 12-pack box.
Do you collect Extended Series? Do you like Upper Deck putting signed Ovie YGs in 2024-25 Extended Series? Or do you think this will just artificially inflate the price? Post a reply – or hit me up on social media @puckjunk – and let me know.
Note: This article is an updated version of an editorial that originally appeared in Volume 3 – Issue 18 of the Puck Junk Newsletter. For stories like these, plus news and updates about hockey cards and collectibles, subscribe to the newsletter here.
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