Clemente’s Corner

Clemente’s Corner: Hockey Collectors Find Their Place at the 2026 National

Every summer, the National Sports Collectors Convention is the place to be for card collectors. Dealers, grading companies, card manufacturers, athletes and thousands of passionate collectors gather under one roof to celebrate the hobby and the connections it creates.

Now in its 46th edition, the five-day event returned to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, showcasing everything from vintage treasures to the latest modern releases. While baseball, basketball and football continued to dominate the show floor, hockey once again carved out its presence, drawing dedicated collectors from across North America.

For hockey enthusiasts, the National is about far more than buying and selling cards or memorabilia. It is also an opportunity to reconnect with fellow collectors, discover new products, meet players and, for me, get a firsthand look at where the hobby is headed.

Throughout the convention, dealers specializing in hockey collectibles reported great traffic at their booths, especially on Friday and Saturday. Collectors searched display cases for Hall of Famers such as Wayne Gretzky and Patrick Kane (who recently returned to the Chicago Blackhawks), while interest in today’s young stars remained extremely high. Matthew Schaefer and Macklin Celebrini were among the most sought-after names.

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Clemente’s Corner: The Pros and Cons of Fanatics Buying Upper Deck

As Fanatics continues its rapid expansion across the sports collectibles market, speculation about potential future acquisitions have become a regular topic over the last few years.

Following its acquisition of Topps in 2021 (and its growing influence over pro sports licensing in the ensuing years), many collectors and industry observers have begun asking whether Upper Deck could eventually become a target.

From a strategic standpoint, the idea makes sense. Upper Deck remains one of the few major independent companies left in sports collectibles and controls several valuable assets – most notably the NHL license – that would fit neatly into Fanatics’ long-term vision. While an acquisition could provide significant advantages, it would also create challenges and potential risks for Fanatics itself.

Fanatics, for example, has been sparring with Panini for years now. It recently announced that it would take over the license of World Cup soccer stickers away from Panini starting in 2031, ending a relationship between the Italian company and FIFA dating back to the 1970 tournament.

Upper Deck’s exclusive trading card license with the NHL and NHLPA is a multi-year deal. Both sides have been secretive when it comes to exact expiration date, only fueling speculation that Fanatics could swoop in (like it did with the NBA license in 2025 after Panini’s 16-year run). Upper Deck has produced NHL-licensed cards since the 1990-91 season. A key milestone came in 2005 when Upper Deck became the exclusive trading card manufacturer.

But rumors surface every few months that Upper Deck could be either taken over or that the company can lose its NHL license, bringing a sense a dread among hockey collectors who are happy with how Upper Deck makes cards.

The question isn’t simply whether Fanatics could buy Upper Deck – but if doing so would actually benefit them. Let’s examine the pros and cons of Fanatics purchasing Upper Deck: 

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Clemente’s Corner: When Hockey Heroes Crashed a Soccer Set

The year was 1994. O.J. Simpson was accused of double murder, “I Swear” by All-4-One dominated the music charts and soccer’s World Cup was held in the United States.

As the U.S. prepares to host another FIFA World Cup this month – with co-hosts Canada and Mexico – one can’t help but look back to the summer of ’94 and an iconic Upper Deck soccer set that was released at the time.

The card set was unique in that soccer collectors, until as recently as 2018, were mostly into stickers, not cards. Trading cards are a largely North American pursuit, but one that is now global. This was not the case 32 years ago.

The Upper Deck USA ’94 set made up of 330 base cards (both in English and Spanish versions) and featured the greatest soccer players in the world at the time, including Italy’s Roberto Baggio and U.S. defender Alexi Lalas. There is also an English/Japanese version of the set that’s much harder to find.

I bought lots of these cards starting in 1993. Soccer cards were a rarity at the time. Their design and look were typical Upper Deck for the time. No other mainstream card company had ever made soccer cards in the U.S., other than Pacific’s MISL (Men’s Indoor Soccer League) or Pro Set’s English League sets. Notably, Upper Deck’s soccer set also featured two of hockey’s biggest legends: Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky.

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Clemente’s Corner: Why Stanley Cup Success Rarely Boost Card Values

Every spring, as the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs heat up, a familiar pattern emerges in the hockey card market. 

Both collectors, and increasingly speculators in the form of YouTubers, turn their attention to the biggest names on the ice, hoping to capitalize on breakout performances and championship runs. 

Prices for certain players’ trading cards can spike sometimes in a matter of days. Despite this frenzy, the recent past reveals that the Stanley Cup Playoffs have little to no lasting impact on the long-term value of cards. Instead, they create short-lived surges that often fade once the Nationals Sports Collectors Convention rolls around in the summer.

At first glance, it makes sense why playoff performances would influence card prices.

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Clemente’s Corner: Rangers Centennial Set Delivers Plenty of Nostalgia

The 2025-26 Upper Deck New York Rangers Centennial Box Set was one of the most anticipated releases for hockey collectors this season, celebrating 100 years of one of the NHL’s most iconic franchises.

The Rangers, founded in 1926, are an Original Six team whose history is filled with legendary players – something Upper Deck has captured perfectly in this collectible set. Designed to honor the Rangers’ centennial, this set offers a unique way to celebrate a century of history while enjoying the excitement of premium hockey Upper Deck cards. Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Rangers Centennial Set Delivers Plenty of Nostalgia”

Clemente’s Corner: The Greatest New York Rangers of All Time

Few NHL franchises carry the history and prestige of the New York Rangers. Founded in 1926 and playing at the iconic Madison Square Garden, the Rangers have long represented both the grandeur and the grit of New York City. From the Original Six era to the present, the franchise has featured some of the game’s best players.

Ranking the greatest Rangers of all time in its centennial season is no easy task. I started watching the team in 1986, some 40 years ago, and witnessed some highs (like winning the Stanley Cup in 1994) to many lows (like this season). The team’s history spans multiple eras. Greatness can be measured in different ways. For me, it’s both about impact on the team and a mix of individual awards and defining moments.

For a franchise with four Stanley Cups and 49 Hall of Fame players, narrowing the list was easy in some ways and difficult in others. For the purposes of this month’s post, I decided to create First and Second Teams aimed at capturing what it means to have been a successful member of the Broadway Blues.

Note that I do not consider Jaromir Jagr, Eric Lindros or even Wayne Gretzky among the best players to ever don a Rangers jersey. They were all great players, but not great Rangers.

Who does rank among the very best over the course of 100 years? The First Team represents the very best at each position. These are players who defined eras and set franchise standards. The Second Team honors those who were just a tier below but remain years later foundational to the team’s identity and success. 

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Clemente’s Corner: The 5 Best Olympic Hockey Jerseys of All Time

With the Winter Olympics starting later this week in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo, hockey will once again take center stage in one of sport’s most exciting tournaments.

This edition will be even more special given that it marks the return of NHLers, like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Rasmus Dahlin, to the Winter Olympics. This makes the tournament more competitive as ever given that the best players in the game will go head-to-head for a shot at a gold medal.

I love the Olympics (yes, even the curling), but the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments rank at the very top of my list. With national pride on the line – and maybe even a U.S. vs. Canada gold-medal game lurking in our future – it’s a 12-team tournament that can’t be missed.

In celebration of this quadrennial spectacle, here are my top 5 Olympic men’s hockey jerseys of all time:

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Clemente’s Corner: 3 Things Hockey Collectors Can Expect in 2026

I don’t have a crystal ball, but all indications are that this will once again be a big year for trading cards and collectables.

In a year where you have NHL stars competing at the Winter Olympics, Upper Deck pumping out new sets and some big shows filling our days and nights, the year is likely to be one of the most interesting and potentially impactful 12 months for hockey card collectors. Whether your focus is on Young Guns, international stars or show exclusives, this is a year worth planning for.

Here are three things to watch for this year.

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Clemente’s Corner: “The Next One” a Love Letter to Hockey’s Hidden Heroes

Ken Reid is quickly becoming one of hockey’s best authors. I have enjoyed his writing in recent years – and he’s done it again with his latest book, “The Next One: Hockey Scouts, Remote Rinks and Hidden Talent.” 

Reid’s book takes you to small-town rinks featuring players with big-league dreams. In his new book, Reid gives the reader a backstage pass to it all in what is certainly his most ambitious work to date. Reid’s book peels back the curtain on hockey’s hidden machinery — and he’s done it in a way that feels personal.

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Clemente’s Corner: 6 Great NHL Giveaways for the 2025-26 Season

Free giveaways have been a staple of sporting events – including NHL games – for decades. Over time, they have evolved from mere promotional items into sought-after collectibles.

While giveaways go back decades, the real interest in collecting them took off during the hobby boom in the 1990s, coinciding with the NHL’s growing emphasis on branding and fan engagement at a time when the league was expanding. Teams began releasing limited-edition items — especially bobblehead figures — that celebrated star players. Other items included t-shirts, tote bags, mugs and anything else you could slap a logo on.  

The giveaways created a sense of excitement when trying to decide which games to attend, driving up attendance on promotional nights and giving those items increased value on the secondary market. Over time, teams have gotten more creative when it comes to what they planned to hand out. That, too, helped grow value.

The collectability of giveaways stems from several factors – although limited availability remains a major factor. You just had to be at the game to get the item. These days, gameday giveaways are more than a marketing tool: they have become true artifacts of fandom.

Here are six notable giveaways NHL teams will he handing out during the 2025-26 season:

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