News & Views Archives - Page 2 of 96

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. Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Hockey Cards a Surprise Hit at the 2025 National”

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?”

Making Lemonade from Lemons

I’ll be at the National This Year – But Not as a Dealer

A few weeks back, I got some disappointing news. The vendor that I set up with at the National Sports Collectors Convention over the past four years informed me that they sold their booth space for the upcoming National to another company.

That means that I will not be setting up to sell hockey cards and collectibles at the National this year because it was way too late for me to get a booth on my own.

Initially, I was disappointed. Heck, I was bummed. I jokingly told a friend that it felt like getting dumped, minus the crying.

But then I asked myself, would going to the National as a shopper – not as a seller – this year be such a bad thing?

Continue reading “Making Lemonade from Lemons”

Clemente’s Corner: The Sharks, Rollerblades and a Time Machine to the ‘90s

We collectors do love nostalgia. It’s a way to connect our memories about legendary teams, players and games to the present using small pieces of cardboard. It’s a wonderful pursuit and the reason why so many of us have binders full of cards on our shelves and in our closets from the 1980s and ‘90s.

Another way to connect with the past is through books. One book that will take hockey fans back to that analog time is Brad Porteus’s “Roll With It.” It’s a heartfelt and humorous memoir that delivers exactly what its subtitle promises: “A trip back to the ‘90s – Gen X style.”

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: The Sharks, Rollerblades and a Time Machine to the ‘90s”

Rookie Cards of Every NHL 1st Overall Pick

Which Top Picks Were Booms – or Busts?

The 2025 NHL Draft took place last weekend, and defenseman Matthew Schaefer was taken first overall by the New York Islanders. If Schaefer makes his NHL debut this fall, collectors will undoubtedly be looking for his Young Guns rookie card when it appears in 2025-26 Upper Deck Series Two. And depending on how good the young d-man plays, collectors may even buy his RCs found in other sets like O-Pee-Chee Platinum or SP Authentic.

In fact, ever since 1990, hockey collectors have anticipated a first-overall pick’s rookie card, usually buying like crazy when their RCs first hit the market. Such was the case with Connor Bedard in 2023-24, Connor McDavid in 2015-16, Sidney Crosby in 2005-06, and numerous other first-overall picks.

I recently wrote a story for Sports Collectors Digest about every first-overall pick since 1963 – the year the NHL implemented a draft – and their rookie cards.

Do you know who the first-ever first-overall pick was?

How about the first goalie taken first overall?

The first American?

The first European?

Which first-overall pick got a rookie card two years before his NHL debut?

Or did not get a rookie card until four years after his NHL debut?

If you want to know the answer to these questions and more, you can read my article here at the Sports Collectors Digest website.

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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”

Clemente’s Corner: Fanatics Fest NYC has Become a Place for Hockey Fans

Fanatics Fest NYC is over and done with for this year.

While some may be wondering if we even need another big card and memorabilia show, I’m here to tell you that we do.

The reason? Aside from the fact that the second edition of FFNYC, which took place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York this past weekend, has modeled itself after Comic Con (over 500 athletes and celebrities were there), it’s also proven to be a show worth the time of hockey collectors.

In fact, there was plenty of hockey to buy and see at this show — from cards to autograph guests — that I can say it has surpassed the National.

Sure, nothing beats the Toronto Sport Card Expo when it comes to hockey, but FFNYC 2025 did have something for hockey collectors.

Here’s a look at what you missed should you want to attend next year:

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Fanatics Fest NYC has Become a Place for Hockey Fans”

The Puck Junk Podcast is 10 Years Old

Well, Sort Of…

Ten years ago this month, I launched the Puck Junk Podcast. On May 12, 2015, the first episode of the show – which didn’t have a name yet – was posted online. Tim Parish and I talked about three different card sets and two other topics in under 30 minutes, if you can believe that. Now, it takes us 30 minutes just to get through the small talk at the start of the show.

This year is technically the 10th anniversary of the podcast. I say “technically” because we released 25 episodes from mid-2015 to mid-2017, then the show went away for two years.

So, is it REALLY a 10-year anniversary? Continue reading “The Puck Junk Podcast is 10 Years Old”

Gretzky Gloves and Sittler Sweater Up for Bid

Two Pieces of NHL History are for Sale

Two historic pieces of game-used memorabilia are currently up for bid at Grey Flannel Auctions. Either of these pieces would make a fantastic centerpiece of a game-used hockey collection.

Continue reading “Gretzky Gloves and Sittler Sweater Up for Bid”

Clemente’s Corner: Will These Gretzky Records Fall? Get These Cards Now!

Last month, Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for most career NHL goals during the regular season – a record that The Great One held for over 30 years. Ovechkin breaking the record was celebrated across the league and highlighted the close of the regular season.

As we get closer to the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, many collectors are working on their want lists. Looking ahead, some of Gretzky’s other records could potentially be broken. So now is a great chance to buy rookie cards of players that very few are paying attention to. Staying ahead of these trends by buying the right cards now could pay off in the end; not just financially, but in the thrill of being a part of hockey history in the making.

Here are three of Gretzky’s records that could be broken in the next few years, and the hockey cards you should buy now.

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Will These Gretzky Records Fall? Get These Cards Now!”