News & Views

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! 

Continue reading “The 7th Annual Puck Junk Awards”

Clemente’s Corner: All Eyes on Cleveland for the 2024 National

It’s that time of year. The days are longer and hotter. Kids are out of school. And collectors are gearing up for the National Sports Collectors Convention once again.

The five-day NSCC opens on July 24 (with the annual VIP Party) at Cleveland’s I-X Center featuring over 600 dealers and vendors spread out across 420,000 square feet. Organizers are already calling “the second-largest trade show event to occur in the NSCC’s 44-year history” following last year’s record-breaking show in Chicago.

As always, there will be a plethora of signers – from Hall of Famers to current stars – and corporate booths featuring the likes of Topps, Upper Deck and PSA. In other words, there’s something for everyone – no matter how you collect.

For hockey collectors, the National remains a must-visit – especially if you’ve never been to one – although the Toronto Sport Card Expo (held twice each year) is hockey heaven. Nonetheless, there will be something for hockey fans in Cleveland.  

Here’s a look at what to expect at the 44th National Sports Collectors Convention, which runs from Wednesday, July 24 to Sunday, July 28:

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: All Eyes on Cleveland for the 2024 National”

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?”

Video: Triple Crown Line Interview

In this video, LA Kings legends Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, and Charlie Simmer – a.k.a. the Triple Crown Line – talk to Sal Barry about how their line was formed and share some stories from their careers. It’s 15 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Special thanks to the Sport Card Expo for video of the interview. 

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Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Intro/outro music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube. 

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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”

Clemente’s Corner: Celebrini Adds Hype To This Year’s NHL Draft and Collecting

Move over, Connor Bedard. The hockey hobby will soon have a new darling.

With the two-day NHL Entry Draft scheduled to start on June 28 in Las Vegas, a new No. 1 pick is likely to put the hobby hype machine into overdrive when it comes to Macklin Celebrini.

The Boston University phenom – the consensus top overall pick – is very likely to end up in a San Jose Sharks jersey next season. After recording 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games last season in the NCAA, Celebrini has shown that he’s ready for the NHL.

For Celebrini, a move to San Jose would be good for him and great for the rebuilding Sharks. They were the worst team in the league this season. Like Bedard with the Chicago Blackhawks, Celebrini is expected to get onto the roster and play alongside forwards William Eklund, Will Smith and Logan Couture.

Here’s what you need to know about the promising star ahead of the draft: Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Celebrini Adds Hype To This Year’s NHL Draft and Collecting”