Opinions

Completing Your Sets is a Lot of Work!

Time is Money…and Money is Money. 

Earlier this month, I was writing an article about goalie-themed hockey card sets and mentioned the Between the Pipes sets that came out in the 2000s and 2010s. I went into my closet and found my 2013-14 Between the Pipes set so I could scan a few of its cards. 

Or, rather, I should say I found my near-complete set of 2013-14 Between the Pipes, as it is missing 14 cards. That means that, in over 10 years, I’ve never bothered to finish the set. I opened one box, put the cards in order, then promptly forgot about it for a decade.

I was then reminded that I made a Collecting Resolution for 2025 that I was going to try and complete as many sets as possible this year. Heck, I even wrote about it back in January, thinking that by making this proclamation public, I would follow through on it. 

Do you care to guess how many sets I’ve finished in 2025 so far? Continue reading “Completing Your Sets is a Lot of Work!”

I Had a Blast at the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention

I Met Great People & Got Some Great Cards, Too! 

Puck Junk Podcast hosts Tim Parish, Clemente Lisi, and Sal Barry.

About six weeks ago, I was disappointed to learn that my usual booth space at the National Sports Collectors Convention would no longer be available. With the show only weeks away, there was zero chance for me to get a booth for the 2025 convention. 

So, once I got over the initial disappointment, I decided that I would go to the National as a fan. I purchased a 5-Day VIP pass and updated my want list. 

And boy, did I have fun! 

This year, I had time to hang out with friends at the show, including Puck Junk Podcast co-hosts Tim Parish and Clemente Lisi, who have a knack for helping me find things I am looking for. I got to talk with many listeners of the podcast, as well as readers of the Puck Junk newsletter and blog. 

I also had tons of time to look around and find new treasures for my personal collection. This is pretty much impossible to do when I am tied (figuratively speaking) to a booth at the National. Instead, I got to roam freely around, get a few autographs, and buy some great hockey cards. 

Here are some of my best pickups from the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention.  Continue reading “I Had a Blast at the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention”

How Should You Invest in Cards?

Here’s Two Things to Know if You Invest in Cards

Earlier this week, I was a guest on the XM Radio talk show NHL Morning Skate LIVE, talking about hockey cards, as well as the upcoming National Sports Collectors Convention. Host Mick Kern asked me an interesting question – one that I do not get asked too often.

He asked what I would tell someone if they asked how they can get started investing in trading cards. Continue reading “How Should You Invest in Cards?”

The 8th Annual Puck Junk Awards

Another NHL season has come to an end, some players won awards – and some players who should have won awards were overlooked. 

Hence, the foundation of the annual Puck Junk Awards in 2018. Now in its 8th year, the Puck Junk Awards honor the unsung heroes – such as the best scorer who can fight, the player who came out of nowhere and wowed everyone, and the least-likely goalie to tend the twine. 

So, without further delay, here are the Puck Junk Award Winners for 2025. 

Continue reading “The 8th Annual Puck Junk Awards”

4 Nations Face-Off Delivered What it Promised

Does This Mean the End of the All-Star Game?

Like pretty much every other hockey fan, I was excited about the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament that the NHL held instead of its usual NHL All-Star Game Weekend.

I watched as many games live as I could, and even recorded games that conflicted with my night classes so I could watch them on “tape delay” when I got home that night. (I took extra care to NOT go on social media while on break from class, on my commute home, or while I was watching a game that was about over by the time I started watching it. No spoilers for this guy.) 

So exciting was the tournament that even non-hockey fans were talking about it. Continue reading “4 Nations Face-Off Delivered What it Promised”

Blake’s Takes: 4 Nations Face-Off Proves Hockey is Better than Hoops

NHL Goes Toe-to-Toe with NBA – and Wins!

After a three-year-plus hiatus, I’m back. After watching the entirety of the NHL’s 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, I had to share my thoughts on the tournament with the hockey community. 

First off, it’s great to be back. I’m always grateful for Sal and the opportunity to write for Puck Junk. 

Second, what a freaking tournament! Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: 4 Nations Face-Off Proves Hockey is Better than Hoops”

The 7th Annual Puck Junk Awards

At the end of June, the NHL doled out its annual awards, giving props to the best rookie, the top defenseman, and the most valuable player, among others. 

Unfortunately, the NHL overlooks other players who should also receive awards, but don’t – such as the player who came out of nowhere and impressed everyone, the player who can put up the points and their fists, and the player that everyone wants to punch in the face. 

That’s where the Puck Junk awards come in. For seven years now, this website has given shout-outs to the players who really deserve them. So, here are your Puck Junk Award Winners for 2024! 

Continue reading “The 7th Annual Puck Junk Awards”

Defense Wins Championships – But Offense Wins MVP?

The Panthers Win…and So Does McDavid?

Monday night’s Stanley Cup Final Game 7 between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers was certainly…something.

Exciting? Sure. It was a close Game 7 that was decided by one goal. But honestly, I feel that a lot of the excitement was the anticipation leading up to the game, and maybe not the game so much.

Did the game have exciting moments? Sure, that mad scramble in front of the Panthers’ crease, where both Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman were unable to tie the game, was intense. So was the breakaway goal scored by Oilers center Mattias Janmark. The game had its moments for sure. 

But the bottom line is that this was a game that was won by one goal because the Panthers played their suffocating style of defense, knowing that they could win the game 2-1 but not 8-7. 

And the saying goes, offense wins games, but defense wins championships.

Apparently, offense wins the MVP award, too. Continue reading “Defense Wins Championships – But Offense Wins MVP?”

Connor McDavid is For Real!

McJesus Went from Zero to Hero in a Hurry

In last week’s newsletter, I mentioned how stellar Panthers’ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was through the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final. He allowed just one goal in the first two games, leading the Panthers to a 2-0 series lead. The Panthers also won Game 3 and looked poised to sweep the series.

Meanwhile, Oilers captain Connor McDavid was all but absent, scoring one assist in Game 2 and two assists in Game 3 in two losing efforts. 

Then McDavid woke up. Continue reading “Connor McDavid is For Real!”

Why I Want the Edmonton Oilers to Win the Stanley Cup

We All Want to See McDavid Win It Sooner Than Later, Right? 

This Saturday is Game One of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers – and I’ll admit that I want the Oilers to win the Cup. 

Not because I want to see a Canadian team win the Stanley Cup for the first time in 31 years. I could care less about that. Continue reading “Why I Want the Edmonton Oilers to Win the Stanley Cup”