2022-23 Archives - Puck Junk

Puck Junk Podcast: 2022-23 Black Diamond Hockey Cards

Plus: The Return of Topps Now Stickers
Episode #168: October 18, 2023

In Episode #168 of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the 2022-23 Black Diamond Hockey Card set. Other topics include the return of Topps Now Hockey Stickers and Game Dated Moments for 2023-24, Ebay’s revised policy for trading card listings, and how Tim organizes his Pittsburgh Penguins hockey card collection. It’s 83 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links & Images:
The first six Topps Now Hockey Stickers (Topps)
Info on Game Dated Moments (Upper Deck)
Revised Policy on Ebay Trading Card Listings (Ebay)
Ebay Trading Card Conditions Explained (Ebay)
Connor McDavid “Gold Label Edition” SportsPicks Figure (McFarlane Toys)
A few Images of 2022-23 Upper Deck Black Diamond Hockey Cards:

2022-23 Black Diamond – Exquisite Collection Rookie Card

2022-23 Black Diamond – Team Logo Jumbos Autograph

2022-23 Black Diamond – Diamond Might insert card

2022-23 Black Diamond – Relics jersey card

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube.

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Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,
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or Transistor.

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Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Box Break: 2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe Hockey Cards

Now three years into its comeback, Skybox Metal Universe hockey cards feature colorful designs of NHL players superimposed over space backdrops, with metal design elements. Hence, “metal” and “universe.” The cards are also printed on shiny, foil cardstock, While the designs aren’t quite as over-the-top as the Metal Universe cards from the 1990s, they will still appeal to both oldschool collectors who remember those sets, as well as the newer collectors who want something different.

A hobby box of 2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe contains 15 packs. Each pack has seve cards, for a total of 105 cards. Hobby boxes originally cost around $130, but are now down to around $120 per box. A box has 15 various insert cards – including autographs, though those are not guaranteed – and 30 short-printed cards.

I recently opened a hobby box of 2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe hockey cards. Here is what was inside.

Continue reading “Box Break: 2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe Hockey Cards”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe Hockey Cards

Plus: The Return of NHL SportsPicks
Episode #166: September 29, 2023

In Episode #166, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the new 2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe Hockey card set, including what’s great about it, what could be better, and strategies for completing a set. They also discuss the new NHL SportsPicks figures by McFarlane Toys, Brad Marchand being named team captain of the Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Mike Babcock getting fired for doing Mike Babcock things, and more! It’s 100 minutes of hockey goodness.

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Todd McFarlane Interview (Puck Junk)
The National Picks Chicago as Site for 2026 (Twitter)
Panini Stickers Feature on 60 Minutes (YouTube)
A few images from 2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe Hockey:

2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe base card (back)

2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe short-printed rookie card

2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe – 2013 Retro

2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe – 1998-99 Retro

2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe – Premium Prospects

2022-23 Skybox Metal Universe – All-Starring

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Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.

Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

2022-23 Upper Deck AHL Hockey Box Break

Upper Deck issued its 2022-23 American Hockey League trading card set in June of 2023. The set has 150 cards of AHL players – some prospects who will go onto long careers in the NHL, and others who played a handful of NHL games but went on to long careers in “The A.”

Fortunately for minor league hockey card enthusiasts, this set isn’t too hard to put together. There are 100 base cards and 50 short-printed Star Rookies – and you get one Star Rookie in each pack!

A box of 2022-23 Upper Deck AHL costs around $50 and has 12 packs. Each pack has 10 cards. Here’s a look at what’s inside a box of 2022-23 Upper Deck AHL.

Continue reading “2022-23 Upper Deck AHL Hockey Box Break”

2022-23 Upper Deck Synergy Box Break

First released during the 2017-18 season, Upper Deck Synergy hockey cards feature all the bells and whistles. Synergy cards are two layers thick. Like past years, the 2022-23 Synergy cards have a top layer that is printed on die-cut foil board, and a bottom layer is printed on clear plastic.

One thing that makes Synergy an odd release is that the base cards are very hard to find. You read that right; the base cards are tough pulls. Synergy base cards of veteran players are serial-numbered to 13 copies each, while Synergy rookie cards are numbered to 23 copies each. What you will normally get in a box is mainly Red Parallels, which some may mistake for the base cards.

That said, Synergy is not a cheap product. A box has eight packs, with each pack containing three cards, for a total of 24 cards. When 2022-23 Synergy launched at the end of June 2023, a box was $100; now the price has settled to $85.

I opened a hobby box of 2022-23 Synergy. Here is what was inside.

Continue reading “2022-23 Upper Deck Synergy Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2022-23 Upper Deck Synergy Hockey Cards

Episode #162: August 24, 2023

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish discuss the 2022-23 Upper Deck Synergy hockey card set, including the design, the inserts…and why the parallels should really be the base set. It’s 71 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Connor McDavid Plays in Beer League Hockey Game (Toronto Star)
NHL Ref O’Rourke Biking from California to Chicago for Charity (NHL.com)
Tim’s Take: Is Fanatics a Monopoly? (Puck Junk)
Tim’s Take: Fanatics Strikes Back (Puck Junk)
Sign up for the Puck Junk Email Newsletter here.
Some images from 2022-23 Upper Deck Synergy Hockey Cards:

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Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.

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Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

2022-23 Upper Deck Extended Series Box Break

Like the final part of a three-act play, Upper Deck Extended Series rounds out the company’s most-exciting card set. Extended Series adds 200 more base cards and 30 new Young Guns to collect, as well as 20 “Round 1 Draft Picks” short prints, making Upper Deck’s flagship release the biggest set of the 2022-23 season.

2022-23 Upper Deck Extended Series costs about $95 per box and contains 24 eight-card packs. This is the last Upper Deck flagship set that will have this pack configuration, as the set will increase the card count – but decrease the number of packs – starting next year.

I opened a box of 2022-23 Extended Series. Here is what was inside.

Continue reading “2022-23 Upper Deck Extended Series Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2022-23 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey Cards

Episode #160: August 12, 2023

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about the 2022-23 Upper Deck Extended Series, including the crop of Young Guns, the new “Round 1 Draft” short prints, and the myriad of inserts. The guys also discuss why Extended Series – as great as it is – is often overlooked by hockey collectors. It’s 59 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Sign up for the Puck Junk Email Newsletter here.
Tim references our interview with Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel (Episode #78) who is a huge hockey fan.
You should also give a listen to our interview with Paul Zickler of Upper Deck (Episode #149), who discusses in detail the changes to the pack configuration starting with 2023-24 Upper Deck Series One.
Finally, some images of 2022-23 Upper Deck Extended Series cards:

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Subscribe to the Puck Junk Email Newsletter and the YouTube Channel.

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Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

2022-23 Upper Deck Series Two Hockey Hobby Box Break

If you collect Upper Deck Series One, then collecting Upper Deck Series Two is a must. The 2022-23 Upper Deck Series Two set features 200 base cards and 50 Young Guns rookie cards. The Young Guns are short-prints that are seeded one in every four packs.

While I opened a box of Series Two a few months ago (to discuss in Episode #154 of the Puck Junk Podcast), I still wanted to post a full box break so you could see the sheer variety of inserts that you get in a box.

Continue reading “2022-23 Upper Deck Series Two Hockey Hobby Box Break”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2023 NHL Free Agency

Plus: The Upcoming National Convention – and Puckdoku!
Episode #157: July 14, 2023

In this episode, Sal Barry and Tim Parish talk about many of the NHL free agency signings for 2023 so far, including goalies who signed mega-deals, and a few stars who changed teams. They also discuss the upcoming 2023 National Sports Collectors Convention and the addicting new game Puckdoku. It’s 75 minutes of hockey goodness!

Show Notes, Links and Images:
Clemente’s Corner: Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 National Sports Collectors Convention (Puck Junk)
The Puck Junk Online Shop – Now on Etsy (Etsy)
Check out the new Puckdoku game – it’s fun! (Puckdoku)

Here’s that photo of a 19-year-old Dominik Hasek with Tesla Pardubice in 1984-85.

Dominik Hasek is in the front row, third from right.. And Sal erroneously said in the podcast that Jiri Hrdina is also in the photo. It is actually Frantisek Musil (back row, third from left) who went on to play in the NHL.

And finally – here’s that FREE set of cards that Sal will be giving away at The National this year.

Just drop by the Puck Junk Booth (booth #1011), say hi, and ask for a set.

If you are not going to The National and would like a set, contact Sal on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or email and ask for one.

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.
Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Podcast music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard (Instagram @flyingV2112)

Subscribe
Subscribe to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Overcast,
PlayerFM, PocketCasts, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher,
or Transistor. Subscribe to the Puck Junk Channel on YouTube.

Connect
Connect with us and other hockey fans on the Puck Junk Facebook Group.

Support
Support this podcast and buy a shirt from the Puck Junk Online Shop. ■

Plus: The Return of Topps Now Stickers Episode #168: October 18, 2023

Plus: The Return of NHL SportsPicks Episode #166: September 29, 2023

Episode #162: August 24, 2023

Episode #160: August 12, 2023

Plus: The Upcoming National Convention – and Puckdoku! Episode #157: July 14, 2023

Plus: The Return of Topps Now Stickers
Episode #168: October 18, 2023

Plus: The Return of NHL SportsPicks
Episode #166: September 29, 2023

Plus: The Upcoming National Convention – and Puckdoku!
Episode #157: July 14, 2023