You put a lot of time, passion, and money into your collection. So, it is only natural that you would want to display your best cards – either graded or ungraded – on your wall. BCW Interlocking Card Frames are a great way to display your cardboard treasures for the world to see. They are versatile, easy to hang, fit together nicely, and add a touch of class to your display. Read the rest of the story at the BCW Supplies Blog.
News & Views
The 2024-25 Collecting Season Starts Today
Launch of MVP Signals Start of New Collecting Year
Happy New Collecting Year!
Today, Upper Deck released its 2024-25 MVP Hockey card set. In recent history, MVP is always the first hockey set released for the season – meaning that the 2024-25 hockey collecting season has officially begun.
Like previous years’ MVP sets, the 2024-25 MVP Hockey set consists of 200 base cards and 50 short prints. The 50 short prints are either of rookies who made their debuts late during the previous season – a.k.a. “Leftover Rookies,” as I like to call them – or of star NHL players.
Of course, there are parallels and inserts galore, as well as the chance of pulling a redemption card that can be exchanged for a “Number One Draft Pick” card of Sharks’ rookie Macklin Celebrini.
With the start of hockey season still over six weeks away, it does seem a bit premature to release cards for the new season. I mean, some of us are still trying to complete several sets from the 2023-24 season.
Continue reading “The 2024-25 Collecting Season Starts Today”
Clemente’s Corner: Why Fanatics Fest Was Better for Hockey Fans Than the National
It’s been quite a busy summer for card and memorabilia collectors. Over the span of just a few weeks, both the National Sports Collectors Convention and Fanatics Fest NYC took place in Cleveland and New York, respectively.
Many of you went to one of these big shows. Some may have even gone to both. I was among that group who walked thousands of steps in an effort to compare the two shows and figure out which one was better.
So, which one was the better show?
The answer depends largely on what you were looking for. The National is a card and memorabilia show with autograph signers. Fanatics Fest was sold as the first-ever “immersive sports festival” that also had a card show as a part of it. They, too, had signers, but it was much bigger and the production value high enough to make it a first-class event.
Here are three reasons why Fanatics Fest NYC was better than this year’s National when it comes to hockey fans and collectors:
Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Why Fanatics Fest Was Better for Hockey Fans Than the National”
Tim’s Take: Hobby Re-Packs in a Post-Pandemic Society
As Marvin Gaye once pined, “Life Is a Gamble.”
If you know that obscure song (more of an ambiance piece) from the Trouble Man soundtrack, kudos to you and your good taste in music.
But it’s true. Life IS a gamble. The phenomenon of re-pack products for trading cards has pushed its way to the forefront of the hobby over the last few years and surely tests that cliche.
If you want my personal, honest opinion on these right off the top, well, “JUST DON’T!”
There, done, article over.
But what’s the fun in that?
Continue reading “Tim’s Take: Hobby Re-Packs in a Post-Pandemic Society”
My Recap of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention
Last month, the 44th annual National Sports Collectors Convention took place in Cleveland, Ohio. And for the fourth year in a row, I set up at the National to sell hockey cards and Puck Junk t-shirts, and to promote the Puck Junk Podcast.
As much fun as it is to be at a five-day card show, it is also a grind. Continue reading “My Recap of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention”
Visit Puck Junk at the National This Week
Drop by Booth #700 and Get a Free “Bad Hockey Card” Set
I will be at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland later this week to sell some t-shirts and hockey cards – and to promote the Puck Junk Podcast.
Are you coming to the National this year? Visit me at Booth #700 – with Memory Lane and AU Sports, near the entrance and across from the food court. Here’s an easy map that shows how to find me:
Drop by Booth #700, say hi, and get a free set of Bad Hockey Card Hall of Fame Trading Cards – All New Series 2! Continue reading “Visit Puck Junk at the National This Week”
Lack of Hockey Guests at the 2024 National is a Letdown
HOF Goalie Hasek Only Hockey Star at the NSCC
I’ve been thinking about the upcoming National Sports Collectors Convention a lot lately, which will take place in Cleveland July 24-28. The annual, five-day sports card and memorabilia show is always something I look forward to. Although baseball cards make up the majority of what is for sale at the NSCC, you can always find hockey cards, jerseys, and other great memorabilia pieces if you look.
However, what you won’t find at the National this year are many former hockey players signing autographs. In fact, there will be only one hockey autograph guest at the National this year: Hall of Fame goalie Dominik Hasek.
While Hasek is an awesome guest, having just one hockey autograph guest at the biggest card show in the world is a huge letdown.
Continue reading “Lack of Hockey Guests at the 2024 National is a Letdown”
Tim’s Take: COMC & e-Pack – The Race to the Bottom
In January 2016, Upper Deck launched an online platform that gave collectors a way to collect and trade digital trading cards. They called this platform e-Pack. As part of that experience, they added the ability to parlay those digital cards, via the act of “combining” various quantities, to create actual physical cards. For the user, the process was simple: collect cards, trade cards, or have your cards shipped directly to you.
At the same time, Upper Deck also announced a partnership with an online marketplace to act as the fulfillment center for their physical product. That marketplace was Check Out My Cards, or COMC as the hobby has grown to know it. After the initial glitches were worked out, it became an easy way for collectors and users of their platform to make a few bucks on their digital-to-physical cards. Emphasis on a few bucks.
Continue reading “Tim’s Take: COMC & e-Pack – The Race to the Bottom”
NHL Free Agency Frenzy: Don’t Expect Updated Hockey Cards Anytime Soon
It Will Be a While Before Cards Reflect New Teams
Since NHL Free Agency started last week, over 40 NHL players have signed free agency contracts with new teams. Notable signings include Steven Stamkos with the Predators, Jake Guentzel with the Lightning, Ilya Samsonov with the Golden Knights, Elias Lindholm with the Bruins, Sean Monohan with the Blue Jackets, and Vladamir Tarasenko with the Red Wings.
There were some trades too, such as the deal that sent Bruins’ goalie Linus Ullmark to the Senators.
Nearly all of the players changing teams over this summer are NHL regulars who will appear on one or more hockey cards this upcoming season.
Unfortunately, it’s going to take some time before we can expect to see cards picturing these players in their new threads.
The next few cards of Steven Stamkos that we find in packs will still show him in his Lightning jersey. Sorry, Predators’ fans. You’ll just have to wait a little longer.
Of course, part of that reason is because Upper Deck is still releasing sets from the 2023-24 season over the summer, as well as the 2022-23 Premier set coming out this week.
And even sets released prior to the start of the season, like 2024-25 MVP, will use photos from before March’s trade deadline. Other sets like Upper Deck Series One and Artifacts will be released in October – still too soon to see any of the summer signings or trades reflected.
But it wasn’t always that way. Card companies used to go through great lengths to picture players in their new uniforms after a trade or free agent singing.
Continue reading “NHL Free Agency Frenzy: Don’t Expect Updated Hockey Cards Anytime Soon”
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!