Clemente’s Corner: Hockey Cards a Surprise Hit at the 2025 National
The 45th edition of the National Sports Collectors Convention at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on July 30 to August 3, 2025, was expected to be dominated by baseball.
And it was.
With nearly 700 vendors and record-breaking attendance, the five-day bonanza in Chicago was a massive showcase for cards and memorabilia.
What I didn’t anticipate – and was happily surprised by – was the large presence of both vintage and modern hockey cards across the show floor. There were no A‑list hockey signers at the TRISTAR Autograph Pavillion this summer with only two players – former Chicago Blackhawks Kyle Calder and Ben Eager – making an appearance. That gave me and fellow hockey collectors more time to scour showcases and boxes in search for cards.
There were plenty of discount hockey boxes to rummage through at the 2025 NSCC. [Photo by Clemente Lisi]And what I determined once the high-energy show had come to an end was – despite what I feared before flying in from New Yok – that hockey had been a sleeper hit at this year’s National.
Before the show, I had very low expectations. Instead, there was a large amount of hockey cards. In many cases, you had to either search for it or ask dealers if they had any. And much of the time, they did. With two days set aside to figuring out the show’s massive layout, the remaining three were dedicated to finding and buying cards.
The more I looked, the more I saw that that even dealers who typically have large vintage baseball inventories also had hockey from the 1960s and ‘70s. At least enough to keep me and my fellow hockey card collectors plenty busy looking through boxes.
2025-25 Upper Deck #451 – Macklin Celebrini
In fact, many dealers had hockey interspersed in their showcases with other sports. Very few had just hockey. Diane and Paul Bogar, a.k.a. D & P Collectibles, were one of just four dealers I could find that only sold hockey cards and memorabilia. I purchased a Macklin Celebrini Young Guns card from the Ohio-based dealers; a card I had been chasing all spring. I was happy to finally add this card to my collection. I interviewed Celebrini last September at the Upper Deck Rookie Showcase in Washington, D.C. and think he has plenty of upside as he tries to help the San Jose Sharks rebuild into a playoff team once again.
Few collectors could deny the allure of legendary goaltenders like Vladislav Tretiak and Henrik Lundqvist. [Photo by Clemente Lisi]That’s the question everyone asks once a card show comes to an end. Aside from the raw Celebrini rookie, I picked up a few other cards at the National. Among the most notable, my first card ever of the legendary former USSR goaltender Vladislav Tretiak featuring a game-used jersey swatch from his days on the Russian Red Army team. The card, made by In the Game, was issued in 2007 as part of the company’s “Between the Pipes” series.
The other card was also, coincidentally, one of a goaltender and another in my growing Henrik Lundqvist rookie card collection. The card – one I had never seen before – was part of a 2005-06 SPx “Xcitement Rookies.”
1985-86 7 Eleven NHL Collectors’ Series #14 – Mario Lemieux & Mike Bullard. This card was issued the same year as Lemieux’s Topps and O-Pee-Chee rookie cards.
In addition, I picked up the 7 Eleven NHL set from 1985. The 25-card set features Mario Lemieux during his rookie season. It was a set I had only heard about but never seen in person.
Ben Eager and Kyle Calder were the only two hockey autograph signers at the 2025 NSCC in Chicago. [Photo by Clemente Lisi]I got the show’s only two hockey signers to put some ink to paper. Eager and Calder aren’t big names, but the cards will look great in my autograph binder. A big thank you to Sal for providing me with the cards and the extra autograph tickets.
Visiting the Upper Deck Booth
Chance, the Las Vegas Golden Knights mascot, met fans at the Upper Deck booth during the 2025 NSCC. [Photo by Clemente Lisi]No National would be complete without a stop at the Upper Deck booth. Located in the corporate area, Upper Deck is the only card manufacturer that has the license to print NHL trading cards. That means collectors have to make a stop there – even if it’s only to take a quick look at the cards and signed jerseys on display.
Upper Deck’s 2025 NSCC Wrapper Redemption program and giveaways were a major draw. I didn’t partake, but many did. While it was disappointing that Upper Deck didn’t bring in any hockey players for a meet-and-greet, they did bring Chance, the Las Vegas Golden Knights mascot, who signed autographs and posed for photos with fans.
I would have been interested in buying a box of the newly-released 2025-26 MVP. However, no dealers had it for sale at the show and it wasn’t part of the redemption program, anyway.
No Bedard, but Yzerman was Everywhere
What a difference a year makes. Connor Bedard, widely described as a once-in-a-generation talent when he was drafted by the Blackhawks in 2023, was one of the most-hyped athletes in a long time. His rookie cards exploded in value and were everywhere at the National in Cleveland. A year later, much of that hype has cooled.
His Young Guns card was a rare sight in showcases this time. At least they haven’t ended up in dollar boxes. A dealer told me sellers were keeping Bedard off their tables, waiting for values to rise again should he have a strong season.
One card I did see a lot of was Steve Yzerman’s rookie card from both 1984-85 Topps and O-Pee-Chee. I can’t figure out why the former Detroit Redwings star was in fashion after all these decades. Maybe it’s because it was announced during the show the 2028 National will be held in Detroit.
Or maybe it’s because, as one dealer put it, Yzerman “is one of the best hockey players ever. At least for my money he is one of the best.”
Clemente Lisi is a lifelong Rangers fan who first started collecting cards in 1986. He collects both vintage and modern with a focus on rookie cards. Follow him on X/Twitter @ClementeLisi.
Clemente Lisi is a lifelong Rangers fan who first started collecting cards in 1986. He collects both vintage and modern with a focus on rookie cards. Follow him on Twitter @ClementeLisi.
View all posts by Clemente Lisi
