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”

Should Upper Deck Change Its Redemption Policy?

Topps Changed Its Policy. Will UD Follow Suit?

Late last month, the Topps Trading Card Company announced that all redemption cards will now be valid for 10 years from the date of issue. This extends back to include redemption cards that were issued in 2021-22 products.

Normally, a redemption card – a little cardboard “I.O.U.” that promises the collector a premium card – would expire after two years or so. This would take the luster off of buying sealed products that were more than two years old. Sure, you might get a rookie card of a player that is now a superstar…or you might get an expired redemption card for an autograph of that same rookie that was now worthless. 

What this move does for Topps is increase desirability in both old and new card products. We all dislike getting redemption cards – but it is nice to know that if we buy a product from 2021 in 2024 that the redemption card is still worth something.

Of course, Topps does not make hockey cards, but Upper Deck does. So, will Upper Deck keep up with its main rival and also extend the window of its own redemption cards?

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Puck Junk Podcast: Why Connor Bedard Will Win the Calder Trophy

Plus: How Topps Policy Changes Could Affect Hockey Cards
Episode #188: May 10, 2024

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, the guys discuss why Connor Bedard will win the Calder Trophy, as well as the latest population counts on graded copies of his Young Guns card. They also talk about Topps changing its redemption card policy and how it might force Upper Deck to do the same. Plus, how Fanatics is changing local cards shops…but not necessarily for the better. It’s 98 minutes of hockey goodness!

Links
Topps Announces Redemption Extension (Sports Collectors Daily)
Bedard, Faber, Hughes Named Calder Trophy Finalists (NHL.com)

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Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube

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Clemente’s Corner: Rookies You Should Collect Besides Connor Bedard

Say the word “rookie” and the name Connor Bedard instantly comes to mind. It’s a reflex. None of us can help.

While the Chicago Blackhawks center may very well be on his way to taking the Calder Trophy, there are other rookies – even sleeper ones – that may be worth gobbling up now given that the majority of people are so laser-focused on acquiring Bedard.

Players like Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils and Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks have lived up to the preseason hype, although both have been overshadowed by Bedard mania. Both Hughes and Carlsson remain in the mix – although they are longshots – to capture the Calder.

Instead, here are five NHL rookies from this season (not named Bedard) who remain under the radar and worth chasing:   

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: Rookies You Should Collect Besides Connor Bedard”

Puck Junk Podcast: 2023-24 Topps NHL Sticker Collection

Plus: Connor Bedard’s OPC RC is on Fire!
Episode #179: February 17, 2024

In the latest episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal and Tim talk all about the 2023-24 Topps NHL Sticker Collection. They also talk about the insane prices that Connor Bedard’s O-Pee-Chee Marquee Rookie card is selling for, the Penguins retiring Jaromir Jagr’s number 68, and more. It’s 95 minutes of hockey goodness!

Links
Upper Deck My MVP Contest Website
LastSticker.com is a great site for trading duplicate stickers with others

Follow
Follow Sal Barry on X/Twitter @PuckJunk & Instagram @PuckJunk.1993-94
Follow Tim Parish on X/Twitter @TheRealDFG & Instagram @therealdfg66.
Follow Clemente Lisi on X/Twitter @ClementeLisi
Podcast music by Retro Game Remix – follow them on YouTube

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercast,  
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or Transistor.

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

 

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 base card
2022-23 Black Diamond Rookie Gems
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

Listen
Listen to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercast,  
PlayerFMPocketCastsPodcast AddictPodchaserSpotifyStitcher,
or Transistor.

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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

Puck Junk Podcast: 2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers

Plus: Tim’s Thoughts on ’20-21 The Cup
Episode #145: March 2, 2023

In this episode of the Puck Junk Podcast, Sal Barry and Tim Parish take a long look at the new 2022-23 Topps Hockey Sticker Album set. Tim also gives his thoughts on the recently-released 2020-21 The Cup set, as well as the upcoming 2020-21 SP Signature Legends set. Plus, Linus Ullmark’s “Goalie Goal,” Sal’s recent trip to see two Hurricanes games, and more. It’s 92 minutes of hockey goodness! 

Show Notes, Links and Images: 
Video of the Goalie Goal scored by Linus Ulmark (Twitter)
Crawford under fire after hurling homophobic slur at referee (Yahoo!)
An example of the Bruce Boudreau meme (Video)
Tim’s Twitter thread with his observations on 2020-21 The Cup (Twitter)
2021-22 Topps Sticker of Seth Jones Topps that’s Photoshopped (TCDB)
Sal’s Box Breaks of 2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers (Box 1, Box 2, Box 3)
Some pictures of 2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers:

Base sticker design.
Foil sticker design (superstar)
Foil sticker design (mascot)
Foil sticker design (team logo)
Celly Season sticker design
NHL Rookies sticker design
Art of the Deke sticker design
Season Highlight sticker design
2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers Wrapper

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)

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Subscribe to the Puck Junk Podcast on Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsAmazon MusicCastboxDeezeriHeartRadioOvercast,  
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2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #3

The Law of Diminishing Returns is in full effect when opening packs of stickers. The first box is always fun because you need every sticker. The second box is also fun because you will need most of the stickers. Any box after that is will most likely be mostly doubles, with a few needed stickers mixed in. And that was pretty much the case with my third box of 2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers. While most of it was doubles of stickers I got in my prior two boxes, I still got a lot of new stickers towards my set. 

Here’s my breakdown of my third and final box of 2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers. 

Continue reading “2022-23 Topps Hockey Stickers Box Break #3”