Hockey cards, collectibles and culture
Last week was a great week for milestones and great plays. Four out of five of this week’s takes are from those two categories. The last take is rather sad; it’s about Ben Bishop and an injury that will cost him the rest of his playing career.
I won’t keep everyone down in the dumps for too long. It’s the holiday season and there is still a lot of hockey to be played.
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Ben Bishop’s Career Has Come to an End”
For those who celebrated, I hope you all had a great Hanukkah. For those who don’t, Christmas is right around the corner. In this week’s column, I’ll lead off with my favorite topic, another big extension. This week’s recipient is none other than former first-overall pick, Jack Hughes. I’ll comment on Hughes’ newfound wealth as well as the most-recent player to receive the honor of a jersey retirement.
Those weren’t the only two things to happen in hockey last week. I’ll also take a look at the two new Stadium Series jerseys and a few of my favorite plays.
Happy Monday!
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: The Jack Hughes Contract Extension”
Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the new 2020-21 O-Pee-Chee Platinum hockey card set. They also talk about how we are currently living in “the stupid era” of card collecting. Plus: Brad Marchand’s antics, Rod Brind’Amour’s tantrum, Brendan Lemieux bites Brady Tkachuk, the Penguins get sold, and the Habs clean house. It’s 80 minutes of hockey goodness!
Show Notes, Links and Images:
Dec. 12 Bridgeview Card Show & Autograph Signing (Facebook page)
Complete List of Brad Marchand’s Fights (HockeyFights.com)
Video: Brady Tkachuk vs. Brandon Lemieux Altercation (YouTube)
Video: Rod Brind’Amour Throws a Tantrum (YouTube)
2020-21 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Hockey Checklist (Cardboard Connection)
Some images from the 2020-21 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Hockey set:
Jack Eichel – base card
Alexis Lafreniere – Marquee Rookies
Auston Matthews – Cosmic parallel
Sidney Crosby – Best in the World insert
Elias Pettersson – Photo Driven insert
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.
Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube.
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
A day late, but better than never! Last week was a huge week around the NHL. This week, I’ll share my thoughts on Evander Kane’s potential return to the ice as well as a dustup involving two of the league’s most frequent offenders.
On a lighter note, a few new uniforms were released last week and they are deserving of my attention. I wrote more than a few words about those uniforms as well another take or two.
Happy Tuesday and Happy Hanukkah!
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Jerseys in Jersey and Happy Hanukkah”
In Episode #104 of the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the just-announced 2021-22 Pro Set Memories Hockey set. They also discuss Topps Now Hockey Stickers and the Fall 2021 Chicago Sports Spectacular. It’s 88 minutes of hockey goodness!
Show Notes and Links:
Topps Now Hockey Sticker Archive (Topps website)
Definition of “shovelware” (Urban Dictionary)
Sal’s ironic collection of Rene Bourque Artifacts Cards (Puck Junk)
Information about 2021-22 Pro Set Memories (Cardboard Connection)
Sal’s booth at the Fall 2021 Chicago Sports Spectacular (Twitter)
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast opening and closing music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Hockey Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podchaser, PocketCasts, Castbox , Castro,
Overcast, TuneIn and SoundCloud.
Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group and subscribe to Puck Junk on YouTube.
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■
In this week’s column, I’ll highlight two of my favorite players that have resurrected their careers this season. There were also a few notable milestones reached last week that I want to write about. Get ready for another great column and let’s have a great week.
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Career Resurrections and Milestones”
In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk all about the 2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe set. What makes it great — and not so great? Then, the guys talk about how the prices of hobby and retail boxes are getting out of hand. It’s 1 hour and 8 minutes of hockey goodness.
Show Notes, Links and Images:
Chicago Sports Spectacular (show website)
Bridgeview Card Show & Autograph Signing (show Facebook page)
VintageGraphs: Sports Autographs & Collectibles (Facebook page)
2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe checklist (Cardboard Connection)
The horrible Mel Bridgeman hockey card (Puck Junk)
The equally-horrible Glen Hanlon hockey card (Puck Junk)
The “Lettuce Head” Bryan Pitton hockey card (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Podcast #21: The Worst Insert Sets from the 1990s (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Podcast #78: Brian Slagel Interview (Puck Junk)
Puck Junk Podcast #14: 1996-97 Fleer Metal Universe (Puck Junk)
Some images from the 2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe set:
Elias Pettersson – base card
Auston Matthews – retro insert
Carey Price – Intimidation Nation insert
Alex Ovechkin – ALON insert
Patrick Kane – Platinum Portraits insert
Finally, here’s the Ryan Getzlaf card that Tim was talking about:
2013-14 Upper Deck #171 – Ryan Getzlaf…making an entrance indeed!
What do you think of the 2020-21 Skybox Metal Universe set? Are you collecting it? Leave a comment and let us know!
Love hockey? Join the Puck Junk Facebook Group, subscribe to Puck Junk on Apple Podcasts and YouTube, and support this site at the Puck Junk Online Shop.
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk. ■
Every NHL head coach was involved in hockey at a high level prior to coaching in the world’s best hockey league. Some were NHL players, while others played major junior, collegiate, or minor pro hockey before coaching. Thus, all 32 NHL head coaches have had at least one hockey card issued sometime during either their playing or coaching careers.
Here is a list of rookie cards for every head coach in the NHL. Some had mainstream “rookie cards” found in sets like Topps, O-Pee-Chee, Upper Deck, and Pro Set cards. Others did not play — or did not play long — in the NHL. In their cases, I tracked down the earliest trading card that coach had. I’ve indicated the value of each card and how difficult the card is to find today.
Continue reading “Rookie Cards of Every NHL Head Coach for the 2021-22 Season”
Last week wasn’t kind to coaches and GMs around the league, as two of them are out of a job. I’ll share my thoughts on those two vacancies. More importantly, I’ll shed some light on two of my favorite positive storylines around the NHL and share a video that should provide you all with some laughs.
Happy Monday!
I didn’t pick the best week to go on vacation. While I was gone, the Blackhawks scandal developed in full, and Jack Eichel was finally traded. I’ll lead off with both of those topics in this column. As usual, I’ll share my thoughts on a few other notable stories across the NHL.
Happy Monday!
Continue reading “Blake’s Takes: Blackhawks Scandal Continues and Jack Eichel Gets Traded”