Sal Barry, Author at Puck Junk

Puck Junk Podcast: Where will the Arizona Coyotes Go?

Plus: The Return of Fleer Ultra
Episode #153: May 30, 2023

In this episode, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about where the Coyotes might relocate to if they can’t get an arena deal in Arizona. They also discuss the Maple Leafs firing GM Kyle Dubas, Fanatics acquiring PWCC, Leaf Trading Cards new Art of Hockey set, and the return of Fleer Ultra. It’s 90 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Arizona Coyotes Arena Plan Rejected by Voters (ESPN)
Fanatics Buys PWCC (ESPN)
2021-22 Leaf Art of Hockey Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
2021-22 Fleer Ultra Coming Out on e-Pack
Images of the upcoming 2021-22 Fleer Ultra Hockey set (click to enlarge)

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Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

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Puck Junk Podcast: Blackhawks Win the NHL Draft Lottery

Plus: 2021-22 SPx Hockey Cards
Episode #152: May 12, 2023

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery. They also discuss the first round upsets in the 2023 NHL Playoffs, some of the NHL coaches who were fired, and 2021-22 SPx Hockey cards. It’s 86 minutes of hockey goodness.

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Blackhawks Win Draft Lottery, Connor Bedard Sweepstakes (ESPN)
2021-22 SPx Hockey Box Break (Puck Junk)

Here’s that Mike Grier hockey card we talk about on the show:

And here are the four cards Sal got in his box of 2021-22 SPx Hockey:

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Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast closing theme music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

Podcast opening music for this episode “Get Ready for This” by 2 Unlimited.

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

2021-22 SPx Hockey Box Break

Another set that was released a year after it was supposed to is 2021-22 SPx Hockey by Upper Deck, which came out at the end of March 2023. A box of SPx costs around $130 and contains four packs. Each pack contains one card.

I’ll say that again for emphasis: a box of 2021-22 SPx Hockey costs $130, and contains four one-card packs. Math may not be my strong suit, but that averages to $32.50 per card.

Yikes!

With a buy-in like that, SPx is not for the meek. It’s a high-risk / high-reward type of set where you get at least two “hits” per box — those hits being either autographs, memorabilia cards, or one of each. The other two cards are referred to as “Tech Cards,” presumably because they go above and beyond standard card design.

I recently opened a box of 2021-22 SPx Hockey. Let’s see what I got.

Continue reading “2021-22 SPx Hockey Box Break”

2021-22 Allure Hockey Box Break

The Allure hockey card set that was supposed to come out last year — during the 2021-22 season — came out this year, in 2023. That’s pretty standard these days, with the trading card industry still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some sets come out on time, while others — such as the 2021-22 Allure hockey card set — are late by a season or more.

Allure cards are known for their thick, chromium cardstock, giving the cards a nice heft and a metal look to them. A hobby box of 2021-22 Allure has eight packs, with each pack containing eight cards. Allure promises you one autographed card per box, on average. Not too long ago, I opened a box of 2021-22 Allure. Let’s see what’s inside.

Continue reading “2021-22 Allure Hockey Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: SP Signature Editions Legends Hockey Cards

Episode #151: April 28, 2023

In the latest Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk all about the SP Signature Edition Legends Hockey Card set — including some of the insane prices that the Future Watch Autographs are currently selling for. They also discuss the new line of Upper Deck Evolution “Authentic Digital Collectibles,” and Jonathan Toews’ last game with the Blackhawks. It’s 78 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Upper Deck Unveils Evolution (Press Release)
Upper Deck Evolution Website (CollectEVO.com)
SP Signature Edition Legends Checklist (Cardboard Connection)

SP Signature Edition Legends – Base Card Front

SP Signature Edition Legends – Base Card Back

An example of the Future Watch Autographs. This Dominik Hasek card sold on eBay for $1,000 on 4/18/2023.

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No Stanley for Old Men: 2023 Edition

Every year, many new players make their NHL debut. Some play in only a handful of NHL games, while a few are good enough to stick around for over a decade. Eventually, the fresh-faced rookies of yesteryear become the grizzled old veterans of today, who toiled season after season in the hopes of winning the Stanley Cup one day. And that day might be soon.

With the 2023 NHL Playoffs starting tonight, here is a list of the oldest player from each team in the postseason — and why we should be rooting for each of them.

Continue reading “No Stanley for Old Men: 2023 Edition”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2021-22 Allure Hockey Cards

Plus: The Chicago Wolves Go Independent
Episode #150: April 14, 2023

Sal Barry, Tim Parish, and Jim Howard talk about the new 2021-22 Allure Hockey card set, including their thoughts on the design, the various inserts like 16-Bit, and the various parallels. They also discuss the Chicago Wolves AHL team going without a parent NHL club for next season, the Boston Bruins making NHL history, EBUG Jett Alexander getting his 70 seconds of fame, the new Evolution digital trading cards by Upper Deck, and more!. It’s 73 minutes of hockey goodness.

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Chicago Wolves to Shed Hurricanes Affiliation (The Athletic)
Chicago Wolves Goalie Pyotr Kochetkov Scores a Goalie Goal (YouTube)
Boston Bruins Secure NHL Record for Single-Season Victories (ESPN)
Jett Alexander Plays for Leafs as Emergency Goalie (NHL)
Press Release About Evolution Digital Trading Cards (Upper Deck)
2021-22 Allure Hockey Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
Some images from 2021-22 Allure Hockey

16-Bit inserts are allegedly a “case hit” found once in every case.

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

2021-22 Synergy Hockey Box Break

Don’t let the release date fool you. The 2021-22 Synergy Hockey set was released in February 2023, about a year later than it should have come out. Part of the reason for this is that the plastic used to make Synergy cards was in short supply during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, things are starting to normalize again — at least with trading cards, which are coming out, *ahem*, less than a year late instead of over a year late.

Two features make Synergy base cards unique. The cards are twice as thick as normal cards, with a top layer that is printed on die-cut foil board and a bottom layer printed on Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) plastic, usually referred to as acetate. Synergy cards are similar to the “two-layer thick” Fleer EX cards from the 1990s and in various retro-themed sets over the past decade. Synergy base cards, and even more so the insert cards, feel like they would fit right in with the zany, overdesigned hockey cards from the 1990s.

This is the fifth year that Upper Deck has released Synergy as a hockey card set. A box costs about $100 and contains eight three-card packs, for a total of 24 cards. I recently broke a box of 2021-22 Synergy. Let’s see what’s inside.

Continue reading “2021-22 Synergy Hockey Box Break”

2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Box Break

Normally an early-season release, the 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey set was released on March 1, right as the regular season was winding down. Releasing the set later later in the season allowed Upper Deck to include rookie cards of players who made their debut early in the ’22-23 season, such as Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken and first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens.

A hobby box of 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee costs around $60 for 18 packs. Each pack contains 10 cards, so a box yields 180 cards. As usual, O-Pee-Chee has numerous parallels, as well as popular inserts, such as Playing Cards.

I recently opened a box of 2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards. Here’s what was inside.

Continue reading “2022-23 O-Pee-Chee Hockey Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: Interview with Paul Zickler of Upper Deck

Episode #149: April 6, 2023

Sal Barry and Tim Parish are joined by Paul Zickler, the Senior Sports Brand Manager at Upper Deck. Paul talks about the big changes coming to Upper Deck hockey cards starting with 2023-24 Upper Deck Series One. Paul also talks about some of the other new and upcoming hockey card sets. It’s 48 minutes of hockey goodness!

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

Plus: The Return of Fleer Ultra Episode #153: May 30, 2023

Plus: 2021-22 SPx Hockey Cards Episode #152: May 12, 2023

Episode #151: April 28, 2023

Plus: The Chicago Wolves Go Independent Episode #150: April 14, 2023

Episode #149: April 6, 2023

Plus: The Return of Fleer Ultra
Episode #153: May 30, 2023

Plus: 2021-22 SPx Hockey Cards
Episode #152: May 12, 2023

Plus: The Chicago Wolves Go Independent
Episode #150: April 14, 2023