Sal Barry

Sal Barry is the editor and webmaster of Puck Junk. He is a freelance hockey writer, college professor and terrible hockey player. Follow him 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.  

Continue reading “Rookie Cards of Every NHL Head Coach for the 2021-22 Season”

Puck Junk Podcast: NHL, NHLPA, Upper Deck Extend Trading Card Deal

Episode #102: October 27, 2021

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)

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. ■

Puck Junk Podcast: 1990-91 Score Hockey Cards

Part 4 of the ’90-91 Retrospective Series
Episode #101: October 21, 2021

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)

Some images of the 1990-91 Score Hockey sets:

1990-91 Score American #1 – Wayne Gretzky

1990-91 Score American #1 – Wayne Gretzky (back)

1990-91 Score American & Canadian #2 – Mario Lemieux

1990-91 Score American & Canadian #2 – Mario Lemieux (back)

1990-91 Score American #440 – Eric Lindros (Rookie Card)

1990-91 Score American #439 – Martin Brodeur (RC)

1990-91 Score American #407 – Jimmy Waite (RC)

1990-91 Score Canadian#330 – 1990 Memorial Cup Champions

1990-91 Score American unopened pack

1990-91 Score American Boxed Set

1990-91 Score Canadian Boxed Set

1990-91 Score mail-away checklist page (more info) 

1990-91 Score Rookie and Traded #70T – Jaromir Jagr

1990-91 Score Rookie and Traded #20T – Sergei Fedorov

1990-91 Score Rookie and Traded #110T – Wayne Gretzky 2000th Point

1990-91 Score Young Superstars #7 – Mats Sundin

1990-91 Score Young Superstars #4 – Peter Sidorkiewicz

1990-91 Score Hockey’s 100 Hottest Stars and Rising Stars set

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. ■

The Best 2021-22 NHL Game-Night Giveaway Items

Today is the start of the 2021-22 season. All teams will play a full 82-game schedule for the first time in three seasons, and all teams will allow spectators at their games. Also making a comeback are game-night giveaways. You know, the free stuff that you can get when you go to certain games. 

So, here is a list of the best game-night giveaway items that teams will dole out during the 2021-22 season — from a Ryan O’Reilly Winter Classic bobblehead, to a Star Wars-themed Flyers poster, to ugly holiday sweater t-shirts that several teams will give out. 

Continue reading “The Best 2021-22 NHL Game-Night Giveaway Items”

Puck Junk Podcast: The Best and Worst NHL Mascots

Episode #100: October 8, 2021

For the 100th Episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry is joined by Tim Parish, Blake Isaacs and Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard to talk all about NHL mascots. Which mascots are the best? The worst? Which mascots give us nightmares? Which mascot are we most likely to kiss? Plus, will the Seattle Kraken ever have a mascot? It’s 95 minutes of fun hockey talk.

Show Notes, Links and Images: 
Gritty hanging out with Patrick Stewart and Stephen Colbert (YouTube)
Gritty on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (YouTube)

The original Tommy Hawk (left) and the current Tommy Hawk:

Nyisles was the New York Islanders’ mascot during the team’s “Fish Sticks” jersey era.

Finally, here is the evil Purple Tentacle from “The Day of the Tentacle” computer game. Could this become the Seattle Kraken’s first mascot?

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk. 
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Blake Isaacs on Twitter @bisaacs1995 & Instagram @bisaacs1995.
Follow Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard on Instagram @flyingv2112.
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. ■

 

David Backes’ First Hockey Card

2001-02 Lincoln Stars #2: David Backes

Today, 15-year NHL veteran David Backes signed a one-day contract with the St. Louis Blues so that he could retire as a member of the team he spent most of his career with. The Blues picked Backes in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft in the second round, 62nd overall. Five years later, Backes made his NHL debut, played 10 seasons with the Blues, and then another five seasons split between the Boston Bruins and the Anaheim Ducks.

But 20 years ago, a fresh-faced, 18-year old Backes was playing Junior A hockey with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL and was included in the team’s 2001-02 trading card set. Of course, back then Backes was a little shorter and a lot lighter 

Continue reading “David Backes’ First Hockey Card”

Puck Junk Podcast: Advertising on NHL Jerseys

Plus: Fanatics Storms the Card Industry
Episode #99: August 27, 2021

Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the NHL’s decision to allow advertising patches on jerseys. Is this a great new way for the teams to make money, the beginning of the end, or both? Plus, they talk about how Fanatics acquisition of the Major League Baseball trading card license will affect the trading card industry — including hockey cards. Also: Henrik Lundqivst, the PWCC-eBay feud, and the time Wayne Gretzky hosted Saturday Night Live. It’s one hour and 38 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes, Links and Images: 
NHL team jersey fronts can have ads starting in 2022-23 season (ESPN)
Solitaire 2.0 cards (President’s Choice Trading Cards)
Video: Henrik Lundqivst blocks pies on The Tonight Show (YouTube)
Video: Henrik Lundqvist playing guitar on The Tonight Show (YouTube)
Video: Car commercial starring four Pittsburg Penguins (Puck Junk)
Video: Wayne Gretzky on Conan O’Brien (YouTube)
Fanatics Acquires Baseball Card Licenses  (Sports Collectors Daily)

Here’s that Red Wings card that has a piece of a manufactured “Buy War Bonds” patch…

This is the patch that was used on this card:

War Bonds Patch

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
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. ■

How to Remove Tape from Trading Card Top Loaders

One of the biggest pet peeves in the trading card hobby is the so-called “tape loader” — a perfectly-good trading card top loader that has clear tape stuck to the top of it. This is done to keep a card from sliding out of the top loader when sent in the mail. While that seems courteous of the sender, the problem is that it pretty much ruins the top loader. Peel off the tape and it leaves behind a sticky residue that will transfer to other top loaders that it is stored with. Leave the tape on and it becomes a trading card supply that you don’t want to look at. Either way, it’s pretty much useless. Price tags adhered to top loaders also cause a similar conundrum. 

Many times, I’d just throw out a sullied top loader. That made sense when a 25-pack of top loaders cost $4 or $5. Who wants to spend time trying to salvage something that could be replaced so cheaply? 

But now, standard-sized top loaders cost upwards of $10 per pack — if you can find them.  Top loaders for jersey and game-used cards cost more. Top loaders are too expensive to throw out these days and are actually worth cleaning and re-using. 

Here is how you can get rid of tape and tape residue from top loaders and make them as good as new.

Continue reading “How to Remove Tape from Trading Card Top Loaders”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series

Plus: Remembering Tony Esposito
Episode #98: August 20, 2021

Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk all about the 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey card set; what’s great about it, and what missed the mark? They also pay tribute to Blackhawks goaltending legend Tony Esposito, who passed away last week. Plus, Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange’s retirement, the Dave Parker “hockey” baseball card, upcoming releases, and more. It’s an hour forty-five  of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes, Links and Images: 
Goodbye and Thank You, Tony Esposito (Puck Junk)
My Quest to Own a Tony-O Rookie Card (Puck Junk)
Ted Lindsay: Remembering a Legend (Puck Junk)
Why Dave Parker wore a goalie mask (Puck Junk)
Sal’s 3 Box Breaks of 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended (first, second, third)

The Topps Project70 Dave Parker card with him wearing a goalie mask: 

Some images from 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey: 

Zdeno Chara (base card)

Braden Holtby (base card)

Connor McDavid – All-Star Game (base card)

Alex Pietrangelo (“Plain Clothes” photo variant)

Bobby Ryan (French parallel variant)

Arthur Kaliyev (Young Guns rookie card)

Mika Zibanejad (2005-06 Tribute insert)

Auston Matthews (Ovation insert)

Mathew Barzal (SPX Finite insert – Spectrum parallel)

Bowen Byram (Rookie Class SE insert)

Ryan O’Reilly (UD3 insert)

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
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. ■

2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series Hobby Box Break #3

Can you have too much of a good thing? Maybe so. My third and final box — for now, anyway — of 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series gave me some new surprise insets, as well as inserts that I’ve already grown a bit tired of.

As much as I love the retro-esque inserts in Extended Series, I seem to get the same types over and over, while there are other types of inserts that I have yet to see. And I don’t mean that I’m getting doubles of any insert cards. Collation for Extended Series has been great overall, and I did get a few types of insert cards that I didn’t get from my previous two boxes. 

So, let’s take a look and see what surprises were inside my third box of Extended Series.

Continue reading “2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series Hobby Box Break #3”