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Wyatt Johnston card prices soaring during dominant playoff run
Wyatt Johnston has propelled the Stars back in their Round 1 series vs. Vegas. The Hockey Card community is taking notice and buying up his cards in droves.
Wyatt Johnston is a star in the making
The 20-year-old Dallas Stars forward is leading the charge for his team as they rallied from a 0-2 series deficit to the defending Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.
Through the first two games of the series, Johnston had just one assist. Since then, however, he’s been the catalyst for the surging Stars, picking up three goals and two helpers in the following three games to put the Stars ahead 3-2 in the series. He also got the overtime winner in a very pivotal Game 3 matchup.
It’s these types of playoff performances from young players that get the attention of the hockey world.
Well, the card-collecting community has taken notice as well, and his market is red-hot right now.
At the start of the playoffs, Johnston’s PSA 10 Young Guns rookie card was selling regularly in the $150 range. After a few big games from the Stars youngster, the last sale of that same card was for $223.
Overall, Johnston’s market has seen a 55% increase over the last 30 days.
Wyatt Johnston's 'Young Guns' rookie card comes from the 2022–23 Series 2 set.
There are 1,451 graded copies of Johnston’s flagship rookie card, but only 453 of them were given a perfect 10/10 grade from PSA with just a 33% Gem Rate. That sounds bad, but it’s actually a good thing for the hobby. If the card is a tough grade and the PSA 10s are more scarce, the card creates extra value when in high demand. Which we’re seeing right now.
If Johnston continues to drive Dallas on a Stanley Cup run, who knows how high in demand his cards will continue to get, thus pushing the value even higher.
*All prices in this article are in CAD.
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The Spring Sport Card Expo is Upon Us!
The spring edition of the Toronto Sport Card Expo, Canada's largest card and collectibles show, kicks off this week. It will see thousands of collectors walk through its doors over the four-day event, running from April 25th–27th at The International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.
The Toronto Spring Sport Card Expo is Upon us!
The spring edition of the Toronto Sport Card Expo kicks off this week and will see thousands of collectors walk through its doors over the four-day event.
The Expo runs April 25th–27th at The International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. It's Canada's largest sports card show and offers a little something for everyone.
Expo brings out collectors and hobby enthusiasts of all kinds to buy, sell, and trade collectibles. The main seller at the show is hockey cards. It’s considered the hockey card mecca, with millions of pieces of cardboard in one room.
However, it’s not just hockey cards—basketball, soccer, UFC, F1, and baseball cards are starting to become more popular at the show, as are top TCG’s like Pokemon, One Piece, Magic the Gathering, and so much more.
Upper Deck is a major sponsor of the Expo and will once again have a breakers lounge for collectors to open up packs of cards. The wrapper redemption program returns as well, where collectors will get free packs of Expo exclusive cards with the purchase of select cases and boxes from certified diamond dealers on the show floor.
Additionally, there will be an opportunity for collectors to grade their cards. Beckett, MNT, and KSA will be in attendance doing on-site grading, whereas PSA, TAG, and CGC will be there accepting submissions.
Although most associate the Expo with sports cards, it is also known for its top-tier Ultra Pro Autograph Pavilion, where attendees can purchase a ticket to attend a signing session with various athletes and celebrities.
A few of the marquee athletes who will be signing at this year’s show are Dennis Rodman, George St-Pierre, Curtis Joseph, and George Bell. A few actors will be available for signings as well, including Bill Shatner, Christopher McDonald, and Thomas Ian Nicholas.
Each signing session is one hour long, and tickets can be purchased ahead of time on the Sport Card Expo website or the day of the event. However, some of the most sought-after athletes may sell out before the event, so be sure to check online. The signing schedule can be found here.
Additional events associated with the Sport Card Expo festivities
- Sports Cards Live Expo Kickoff Networking EventWhere: Jack Astors, 25 Carlson Ct., Mississauga, ON. When: 8:00pm, Thursday, April 25th.
- MintInk Trade Night After PartyWhere: Avalon Ballroom, International Centre (inside the expo hall)When: Saturday, April 27th, 6 p.m. start time.
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Hockey Cards are back at Tim Hortons!
Tim Hortons and Upper Deck have partnered up once again providing their guests and collectors with another exciting hockey card set to chase throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
There’s no such thing as a perfect match, but coffee and cards are pretty close, right?
Tim Hortons and Upper Deck have partnered up once again, providing their guests and collectors with another exciting hockey card set to chase throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Greatest Duos Trading Card Set features NHL stars, rookies, and legends of the game, along with some of the top PWHL players.
Each pack of cards will cost $1.50 plus tax with the purchase of a qualifying beverage, or $1.99 plus tax per pack without the purchase of a beverage. Additionally, you can purchase a Greatest Duos-themed collection binder that can fit the full 180-card set for $19.99 plus tax.
"Our new Greatest Duos set is unique and exciting as it gives guests the chance to collect cards featuring some of the most iconic names in hockey together," says Hope Bagozzi, Chief Marketing Officer at Tim Hortons.
“There are 180 cards to collect, with each card featuring two players who have made up impactful and iconic duos on the ice—from rink rivals like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, rookie connections like Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, family foundations like Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, and those united in victory like Marie-Philip Poulin and Sarah Nurse.”
The big chase of the set will be a dual autographed card of Sidney Crosby and Nathan Mackinnon, which is limited to just 75 copies, as well as 25 copies of a Matthew and Brady Tkachuk dual autographed card.
Additionally, select packs will have Collect to Win Prize Cards for a chance to win other great prizes, such as a 2024 Hyundai Venue or Elantra, a $500 Tims card, and a $500 Esso gift card. You can also win a trip to Montreal to watch the Montreal Canadiens play, along with a meet and greet with Habs captain Nick Suzuki.
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National Hockey Card Day is upon us!
This year is expected to be the most anticipated and active National Hockey Card Day yet, with Bedard Mania reigniting the passion of many collectors while driving many newcomers to the hobby.
National Hockey Card Day is fast approaching this Saturday, April 13th, and all signs point to this year being the most highly anticipated one in the 15-year history of the holiday.
Upper Deck founded the holiday to celebrate the joy of hockey card collecting. This year is expected to be the most active one yet, with Bedard Mania reigniting the passion of many collectors while driving many newcomers to the hobby.
“There’s such a large focus on hockey cards right now, and the excitement around rising stars like Connor Bedard is part of that. The fan engagement around 2023-24 Upper Deck Hockey Series 2 has been phenomenal, and we anticipate that excitement continuing during National Hockey Card Day,” said Paul Nguyen of Upper Deck.
Fans and hobbyists around the world can visit any participating hobby and sports card shop to receive their free NHCD packs to try and collect the full 30-card set.
The checklist for the set includes multiple Connor Bedard rookie cards, along with a few of the other big rookies, stars, and legends of the game (I.E. Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, and Wayne Gretzky). Fans can also find mascot autographed cards specially inserted into select packs.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to acquire an additional Bedard ‘Rookie Moments’ card with any $10 purchase of an Upper Deck product, as seen below.
Canadian hockey card collectors can also visit select retailers, such as The Hockey Hall of Fame, Toys 'R' Us, and Game Stop, for free nine-card sheets of exclusive NHL trading cards (all while supplies last).
There are three unique nine-card sheets to collect, so be sure to visit all participating retailers near you if you want to complete the set.
“Collectors of all levels will love the chance to add these unique cards to their collections, and best of all, they are completely free!” Upper Deck said in a statement.
Enjoy the special day, collectors!
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$1,000,000 bounty offered for coveted Connor Bedard rookie card
Connor Bedard's Young Guns will be released this week, including the 1-of-1 Outburst Gold variant, which now has a $1,000,000 bounty on it from Dave and Adam's.
Upper Deck is getting ready to release its flagship Series Two product this week and it has the entire card-collecting community in a buzz.
This is one of the most highly collectible sets in hockey every year due to the popularity of the Young Guns rookie cards, featuring the best and brightest young rooks in the game.
This year, however, has more anticipation than ever before because of card #451—the Connor Bedard Young Guns.
There are over 20 different Bedard rookie cards available in Series Two, but none will be more coveted than the 1-of-1 Outburst Gold Young Guns variant, which just had the bounty set at $1,000,000 (USD) by Dave and Adam's Card World.
Dave and Adam's have been a leader in the collectibles industry for over 30 years and are known to post outrageously high bounties on highly sought-after sports cards and collectibles.
There is one catch, however.
“The card must be in good condition. That’s right, no damage like dents, dings, creases, or scrapes. It should look like it would grade a 9,” Dave and Adams wrote on their website.
There’s a good chance this card will come out of the factory looking like a PSA 9 worthy card, but boy it would be an absolute shame if the 1-of-1 gets pulled and doesn’t meet the criteria.
The set releases on Wednesday, March 6th, and boxes are retailing for $329 Canadian at most hobby shops. That price is an increase of 106% from a Series One hobby box. That caused a stir amongst the collecting community, but I suppose this million-dollar bounty makes the cost a bit more digestible. It’s almost like a lottery ticket now.
Will you be opening a box of Series Two this week and joining the hunt for the coveted Bedard 1-of-1?
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2023-24 Upper Deck Series Two Young Guns Tier Ranking
Upper Deck Series Two is about to release and the frenzy that is about to take place will be as wild as we’ve seen in the hockey card hobby in years. In this article, I outline the players that I think will be the more highly sought-after cards in the set by placing them in a tiered list.
2023-24 Upper Deck Series Two Young Guns Tiers Ranking
Upper Deck Series Two is about to release and the frenzy that is about to take place will be as wild as we’ve seen in the hockey card hobby in years. In this article, I outline the players that I think will be the more highly sought-after cards in the set by placing them in a tier list.
Let's get started.
The Chase Tier: The chase is what makes opening cards fun. It’s like a slot machine, and every year there is one jackpot that everyone is trying to find. This year, in particular, it's more like the mega-ball lottery with the insane hype around the set.
#451- Connor Bedard, RW, Chicago Blackhawks
One could argue that this is the most highly anticipated Young Guns in the history of the hobby. The pre-release pricing is sky-high selling for as much as $2,000. As of March 4th, Bedard had 17 goals and 41 points, more than any other rookie in the NHL.
His card will be very highly sought after. In fact, there's already a $1,000,000 bounty on his 1-of-1 Gold Outburst Young Guns.
The Runner-Up Tier: There are always a few secondary chases that still excite collectors when the card(s) gets pulled. Sometimes there are two or three in this category, but this set to me only has one clear-cut runner-up to Bedard.
#468- Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim Ducks
Just like in the draft, Leo will come in second here as well when it comes to the Young Guns chase. The 2023 #2 overall pick has been hampered by injury this season, but he’s been able to get on the score sheet nine times with 23 total points through the first 40 games of his career. He’s got a bright future and he’ll be the next most desired card in this set after Bedard.
Tertiary Chases Tier: It wouldn’t be a fun set to collect or open up if there weren’t a few other intriguing rookie cards to obtain. Here’s the list of the next tier of players with mid-level value and/or collectibility.
#496- Connor Zary, C, Calgary Flames
Zary was the 24th pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and is finally making his mark in the big leagues this season with 12 goals and 29 points through 50 games with the Flames. He currently sits sixth in rookie scoring but is second in points per game behind only Connor Bedard.
Also, playing in a Canadian market doesn’t hurt his stock either when it comes to the hockey card hobby and his overall desirability.
#492- Dmitri Voronkov, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets
Voronkov is a 23-year-old Russian forward who is playing in his first season ever on North American ice. He’s faired well so far with 16 goals and 30 points, good for fifth in rookie scoring. His market should be similar to his teammate Kirill Marchenko’s last season, which was around $25 on release day.
#478- Matthew Poitras, C, Boston Bruins
The 19-year-old Bruins forward surprised a lot of people by being named to the NHL roster and sticking with the team just one year after being drafted in the second round. Unfortunately, an injury cut his rookie season short as he’s now expected to be out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Before the surgery, however, Poitras scored five times and had 15 points in just 33 games. Boston is a big hockey market, and it doesn’t hurt that he was loaned out to play for Team Canada at eh World Championships either.
#482- Fraser Minten, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Minten’s story is fairly similar to Poitras. He was a 2022 second-round pick who surprisingly made the Leafs roster out of training camp and later found himself playing for Team Canada at the World Juniors. However, unlike Poitras, Minten didn’t earn his keep at the NHL level and was sent back to the WHL for extra seasoning after just a few games.
The assumption is he’ll be ready for a prime-time role on the club next season. Plus, Maple Leafs Young Guns are always in high demand in the hockey card market, so he’ll be coveted by many in the hobby regardless.
#474- Zach Benson, LW, Buffalo Sabres
Benson is the lone player outside of the top three selections in the 2023 NHL Draft to crack his team’s roster and play games this year. The 13th overall pick in this past June’s draft has 49 games under his belt with six goals and 18 points with the Sabres this year. Buffalo is expected to turn the corner here soon, and you have to think Benson plans to play a big role along the way.
#479- Bobby McMann, LW Toronto Maple Leafs
McMann is what we call a late-bloomer. He’s finally made himself into an NHL regular at age 27. He’s been able to score nine times in 36 games with 17 total points this year. He’s become a bit of a folk hero for the Leafs, and this always helps when speaking of hockey card popularity.
Getting Defensive Tier: Defensemen never get the hobby love they should get unless their name is Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes. Every year there are a plethora of good blue liners who have their Young Guns release and the chase isn’t all that exciting. In Series Two there are two defensemen to get excited about in this class on release day.
#486- Kevin Korchinski, LHD, Chicago Blackhawks
Korchinski was selected 7th overall by the Blackhawks in 2022. He made the roster this season as a 19-year-old and has averaged 19:41 per game for Chicago. In his 55-game sample size, Korchinski has three goals and 10 total points. He doesn’t project to be a massive offensive producer, but his name will hold weight on release day.
#488- Pavel Mintyukov, LHD, Anaheim Ducks
Mintyukov was the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The Russian blue-liner has had an impressive campaign as he’s second in rookie scoring among defensemen with 24 points through 50 games while averaging 18:28 minutes of ice time per game. The Ducks are in a rebuild, but this young defenseman could be an anchor on their backend for years to come.
The Commons Tier: Everyone else. The other players I did not mention by name will typically be collected by fans of those individual teams or set builders looking to acquire all 50 Young Guns.
The beauty of this list, however, is that it's fluid. Players all develop differently and on varying timelines. So there is as much of a chance for someone in the ‘Runner Up’ or ‘Tertiary’ tier falling into ‘Commons’ status as there is one of the lesser coveted Young Guns breaking out a few years down the road, raising its collectability and value.
Series Two releases Wednesday, March 6th. Good luck, and enjoy the hunt!
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Does the Connor Bedard Young Guns pre-sale value make sense?
The much anticipated Connor Bedard Young Guns releases on March 6th, but are pre-order prices getting carried away?
How much will the Connor Bedard Young Guns sell for on release day?
This is a question I’ve been asking myself, along with many fellow collectors and card shop owners, over the past couple of months in anticipation of his Young Guns rookie card release with Series Two dropping on Wednesday, March 6th, 2024.
Bedard has been the most hyped NHL prospect since Connor McDavid and has adequately lived up to those expectations as an 18-year-old, with 17 goals and 40 points through the first 48 games of his career.
If you take a look at the most recent pre-order eBay sales for Bedard's Young Guns, you'll see it selling in the $1300-$1500 range. But does that price point make sense?
The easy answer is no. Not in my opinion at least.
Even a raw Connor McDavid Young Guns doesn’t sell for that much on the open market, with the most recent sale being $1205 (Cardladder data).
So what is a reasonable price point for Bedard's flagship rookie card?
With the insanely inflated cost of a 2023-24 Series Two hobby box, I do think his card value will be set higher than any recent Young Guns upon release.
The pre-order price of a 2023-24 Series Two hobby box is in the $329 range (which is an increase of 106% from Series One... I'll pick that bone on a later day). Meanwhile, if you look back historically on the price of a hobby box for McDavid's rookie year, it was roughly $120 on release day. So since 2015-16, the price of Upper Deck's flagship set has risen by 174%
Is that a good place to start to try and find a realistic value?
Cardladder shows McDavid’s first recorded Young Guns sale came in at $304 on release day. Raise that number by 174%, and you get $528. Does that sound right?
Maybe, but the hockey card market itself is up considerably since 2015— nearly triple, according to sales data.
So if you triple McDavid's value, you get $912. Does that make more sense? Not really once you realize that a raw Auston Matthews rookie card sold on eBay for $800 on February 29, 2024.
Could you justify paying more for a Bedard Young Guns than Matthews? I’d personally rather purchase the rookie card of the soon-to-be three-time Rocket Richard winner.
However, the amount of money it'll take to 'mine' each Bedard may play a role too.
There are 50 Young Guns in each set, with an average of six inserted in each hobby box. So basic math would suggest there will be just one Bedard Young Guns per nine boxes on average. That would cost nearly $3000 of hobby money per Bedard card that hits the market.
That's a lot of dough. You'd have to think collectors and re-sellers will hope to recoup a portion of their losses and take advantage of the Bedard hype, inflating the value higher than expected.
So the answer is probably somewhere between $500-$900. Which is quite a large gap. Hence, why I've been wondering aloud and trying to get a feel from other hobbyists on what they think the value would/should be.
Your guess is as good as mine at this point. I suppose we’ll just have to let the market dictate that on March 6th.
Happy Bedard hunting!
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Tips Tuesday: Strategizing the hockey card market ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline
Welcome back to another installment of Tips Tuesday, where I provide collectors of all levels with a little information to help them in their journey through the hobby. Today’s tip is geared toward the investing hobbyist as I take a look at a card-flipping tactic I like to deploy in the final week leading into the NHL trade deadline.
Welcome back to another installment of Tips Tuesday, where I provide collectors of all levels with a little information to help them in their journey through the hobby. I believe our website can be a vessel to help grow the hobby one collector at a time, and that education is key to making that happen.
Today’s tip is geared toward the investing hobbyist as I take a look at a card-flipping tactic I like to deploy in the final week leading into the NHL trade deadline.
Card flipping is when you identify a player or card that is undervalued and purchase it to resell the card at a later date in anticipation of the card rising in value. It’s part of the ‘buy low, sell high’ mantra.
When players get traded, it often creates a new demand for the card with the new fan base.
For example: last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs were aggressive at the deadline and made several moves, including a trade for Ryan O’Reilly. I knew there was interest around the league for O’Reilly and figured he would be a hot commodity at the deadline, and if he landed in Toronto, the demand would be sky-high for his cards.
My hunch was correct.
O’Reilly was dealt to Toronto on February 19th, a couple of weeks before the deadline, and his market skyrocketed immediately to a record-high sale of $129 for a BGS 9.5 graded copy of his Young Guns.
Even for raw cards, before the trade, O’Reilly was an afterthought in the hobby while in St. Louis, but once he got dealt to Toronto, his Young Guns rookie card went from around $10 to $25-$30 overnight.
I remember going to a card show the Sunday after the trade was made and all of a sudden, everyone had dug out the O’Reilly cards from the value boxes and had them all displayed with a fresh $40 sticker on them.
That is the type of flip investment you're looking to take advantage of around the trade deadline. Either as an immediate flip or as a hold for the playoffs.
However, it’s not an extremely strong list of players this year on the trade bait boards that fit the mold of what Ryan O'Reilly did last year. The trade boards are all littered with defenders, depth forwards, and a couple of top goaltenders. Unfortunately, those types of players just don’t have as much value in the card market as goal scorers do.
That said, here are three players I’ve identified as intriguing buys to make with this tactic ahead of the deadline:
Jake Guentzel, Pittsburgh Penguins.
To me, this is the player that has the most to gain at the NHL Trade Deadline, especially when you hear the names that are being attached to Guentzel with interest in the player. Both the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks are said to have significant interest in the penguin star, and if he lands in either of those markets, I think there is growth potential in his card market.
Last Young Guns sale: $38 (Feb.24)
Pavel Buchnevich, St. Louis Blues.There is no guarantee that Buchnevich will be dealt at the deadline. However, Jeremy Rutherford, Blues writer for The Athletic, believes there has been interest in the power forward, and General Manager Doug Armstrong is willing to listen to offers. Buchnevich has 189 points over the past two and a half years in St. Louis and still has another year left on his deal at a $5.8M cap hit, so teams would have to pony up to get his talents for not one, but two playoff runs. He’d be worth it and would certainly play a major role for whoever acquires him, which should enhance his value as well.
Last Young Guns sale: $3 (Feb.25)
Noah Hanifin, Calgary FlamesTypically, defensemen don’t garner much hobby love. However, the price point of Noah Hanifin rookie cards is quite low. You can purchase his Young Guns rookie card online for just a few dollars, which means there could be a high growth margin if he gets dealt to the right team and goes on a deep playoff run (IE: Dallas, Boston, Tampa).
Last Young Guns sale: $3 (Feb.26)
Overall, it’s not a great group of players to pick from this year, but there are always a few players who are dealt at the deadline that see an uptick in their market right away, and then further growth if that player plays a prominent role in a long playoff run.
Who do you think fits the bill for this tactic? Will you be proactive and make some purchases with the flip game in mind?
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Sealed Case of 1979-80 OPC Hockey cards containing Gretzky Rookie cards sells for $3.72M
Record-setting sale of a sealed Case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards containing Wayne Gretzky rookie cards sells for $3.1M
Someone call the Guinness World Book of Records, we have a new leader in the locker room for the most expensive sealed case of sports cards ever sold.
Over the past few weeks, Heritage Auction House has been taking bids on what is the only known sealed case of the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey set in the world. Bidding finally closed early on the morning of February 25th, 2024, just after midnight for a record high of $3.1M, plus a $620,000 'Buyer's Premium'. That is a total purchase price of $3.72M (USD).
The backstory behind this item is fascinating. It was stored away in the basement of somebody’s house in Regina, Saskatchewan collecting dust for many years, and was thought to be the 1980-81 set. That was until recently when someone told them to double-check the boxes to make sure it wasn't the 1979-80 set.
Thus, the owner of the sealed case peeled back a small piece of the box and realized that it was, in fact, a case of 16 sealed boxes 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey hobby boxes instead. A difference that is worth millions.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jNYyYZauko[/embed]
The reason why the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee set is so much more sought after is because it is the set that contains Wayne Gretzky’s flagship rookie card.
The Great One’s rookie card can vary in price based on condition, but most sell in the $1,000's range with a record-high sale of $3.75 million at auction in 2021. This was a perfectly mint PSA 10 graded copy which only two currently exist in the world.
However, that could all change with the sale of this box. Estimates have suggested that there could be as many as 27 pack fresh Gretzky rookie cards per case of 79-80 O-Pee-Chee based on the number of cards per pack/box and the 396-card checklist.
That said, there were many printing issues with this set right out of the factory. This is why only two out of the 11,905 PSA-graded cards came back a perfect 10. So safe to say, it would still be highly unlikely to pull a pack fresh perfectly graded PSA 10 version of the Gretzky rookie out of this case. Nevertheless, pack fresh pulls would give someone the best chance to have such a desired item in the collecting world.
Which is ultimately why this holy grail just sold for over $3M.
Many enthusiasts suggest the case should never be broken, however.
The reason is two-fold:
#1. Unless by luck and one of the Gretzky rookie cards inside that case does grade a PSA 10, the buyer will never be able to recoup the $3.72M cost of the item. There's a strong likelihood that the contents inside of the opened case will never sell individually for anything even close to the purchase price of this sealed case.
#2. The value of the sealed item will most likely continue to climb. The allure of the great potential of what 'could' be inside the case is what gives the item its enhanced value. So as long as the case remains sealed, it should not only hold value but appreciate even further over time.
Either way, It's got to be pretty cool to be the only known owner of a sealed case of hockey's most coveted card set.
Would you be able to keep this one-of-a-kind collector's item sealed or would you be dying to know how many Gretzky's are inside, and gamble that at least one of them could be in perfect PSA 10 condition?
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Upper Deck announces 2023-24 Series Two release date & checklist
The hockey card community has been patiently waiting for the release of Upper Deck’s flagship Series Two for the chase of Connor Bedard’s highly anticipated Young Guns rookie card.
The hockey card community has been patiently waiting for the release of Upper Deck’s flagship Series Two to begin the chase for Connor Bedard’s highly anticipated Young Guns rookie card.
Good news, card collectors… the wait is almost over as the release date has been set and the official checklist has been established.
Upper Deck announced that Series Two will be released on March 6th, 2024, which features a 50-player Young Guns set, highlighted by Blackhawks star Connor Bedard who checks in as #451 on the checklist.
Upper Deck has featured Bedard quite heavily in this set with 44 unique cards on the checklist, featuring multiple parallels with the prized ‘Gold 1/1 Young Guns Outburst’ being the main chase of the set.
Other notable rookies named in the Series Two Young Guns checklist: Leo Carlsson (ANA), Matthew Poitras (BOS), Connor Zary (CGY), Zach Benson (BUF), and Pavel Mintyukov (ANA).
Each Series Two hobby box will have 12 packs in it with 12 cards per pack, with an average of three hits in each pack. The main chase is the Young Guns and its subsequent parallels, but there are many other highly collectible insert sets including Dazzlers, Population Count, Fluorescence, and Highlighters.
There is quite a controversy brewing on the pricing of these hobby boxes, however. Series One of 2023-24 sold for $159 a box, but the current pre-sale pricing for Series Two has jumped up to as high as $329 CAD, which is nearly $200 more than what the product was selling for one year prior.
That is the power of Connor Bedard. Let the games begin.
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Tips Tuesday: The importance of protecting your hockey cards.
Today’s tip is to make sure collectors know how to protect and store their hockey cards and the importance of condition in the market.
Welcome back to another installment of Tips Tuesday, where I provide collectors of all levels with a little information to help them in their journey through the hobby. I believe our website can be a vessel to help grow the hobby one collector at a time, and that education is key to making that happen.
Today’s tip is to make sure collectors know how to protect and store their hockey cards and the importance of condition in the market.
Let’s begin with why it’s important to protect your cards and keep them in as good condition as possible.
Firstly, eye appeal is important for any collector. I’d much prefer my card to look immaculate without creases, fading, or damaged corners. I’m sure most -if not all- collectors feel this way.
This leads to the second reason why it’s important: value.
Whether a card I sell is raw or graded, the condition of it is important.
For example, the difference in value between a PSA 10 Auston Matthews Young Guns ($1,508) and a PSA 9 graded one ($623) is quite vast. Or even if it’s an ungraded card, you’re more likely to buy one that looks to be in better shape than one that is beaten up with a scratch or dented corner. The same can be said for you as a seller—you'd expect a nicer-condition card to sell for more than if it were damaged.
Now the question is: how do I protect my cards and keep them in good condition to maintain their high values?
There are a few ways.
- Grade the card (PSA, BGS, SGC, etc.): This will give your card the ultimate protection with a permanent encasing to maintain its current condition. However, most cards are not worthy of being graded. It’s an expensive cost, so typically only cards of significant monetary or sentimental value should get this treatment.
- One-Touch case:This product is a heavy-duty hard acrylic case with a magnetic closure and UV protection to keep raw cards in pristine shape. My recommendation is to use this case for cards in your collection that are ungraded but still worth a lot of money (like a raw Matthews Young Guns). Or a card that is very sentimental to you, like a personalized autographed card from a favorite player of yours that you got at an autograph signing or by waiting outside of the arena.
- Penny sleeve + top loader This is the most common method to protect and store hockey cards. A penny sleeve is just a thin piece of plastic you put the raw card into, and then you slide the sleeved card into a hard-plastic top loader for added protection.
- Binders This is what most pure collectors use to store and protect their cards. It allows them to keep them in decent condition while also being easily accessible and visible by just turning a page. However, traditional ringed binders have been known to damage some cards, so keep that in mind if you plan to store highly valued cards inside a binder.
There is no right or wrong way to store your cards; it all depends on what your ultimate goal is and whether or not you’re collecting for fun or as an eventual investment. Either way, keeping your cards safe and well-protected will always be a wise decision.
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NHL Three Stars of the Week: Kaprizov, Pastrnak, & Thompson see growth in card market after hot week
Did the NHLs Three Stars of the Week see a bump in value in the hockey card market?
The NHL named Kirill Kaprizov, David Pastrnak, and Logan Thompson the three stars of the week for January 15–21. Let’s take a look and see if their hot week impacted their hockey card market by analyzing the sales data (via Cardladder) of their PSA 10 Young Guns rookie card.
First Star: Kirill Kaprizov, LW, Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild sniper co-led the NHL with eight points in four games this week, capped off by a hat-trick against the Carolina Hurricanes Sunday afternoon. He now has 18 goals and 42 total points in 39 games this season.
7-Day Growth: Up 14% with the last sale being $184.25 on January 21st.30-Day Growth: Up 10%. There was a registered sale of $167.50 on December 23rd, 2023.
Second Star: David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins star winger scored five goals this week, tying him with Kaprizov and Auston Mathews for the league lead. Pastrnak made a statement this week when he recorded a hat-trick in a big 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on January 18th.
7-Day Growth: Up %24, with the last sale being $1,473 on January 19th.30-Day Growth: Up 24%. The last registered sale was over 30 days ago, on December 17th, 2023, which sold for $1,180.
Third Star: Logan Thompson, G, Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights goaltender was perfect on the week with a 3-0 record, posting a 1.34 goals-against-average with a .956 save percentage. Since the beginning of December, Thompson has taken over the starting job in Vegas due to the injury to Adin Hill. He’s been great with a 16-9-3 record and a .910 save percentage.
7-Day Growth: Up 16%, with the latest sale being $79.80 on January 21st.30-Day Growth: Up 57%. There was a registered sale of $50.75 on December 28th, 2023.
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Upper Deck announces Boston Bruins Centennial Box Set
Upper Deck announces the release of the ‘Boston Bruins Centennial Box Set’, which is to include a 100-card base set with colored and autographed parallels of the most historic Bruins of the past and present.
Calling all Bruins collectors!
It’s the centennial season for one of the NHL’s most historic franchises, and Upper Deck has decided to commemorate the milestone with the ‘Boston Bruins Centennial Box Set’, which is set to release on Wednesday, December 6th.
Each box will consist of the full 100-card base set, along with five different insert or parallel cards to give you 105 total cards per box.
The checklist for the set consists of 100 base cards of the most iconic Bruins of the past and present, while also featuring two differing colored parallels to each card, along with autographed parallels and a 20-card insert set.
The two different parallels to collect are yellow and gold spectrum cards. There will be three yellow ones per box, while gold spectrum cards are limited to just one per box.
Additionally, there is also a 20-card insert set named “Beantown Classics”, and it’ll consist of 20 of the greatest Bruins to wear the jersey in the team’s 100-year history. These inserts are expected to be one per box as well.
The big attraction of this set is surely to be the chase for the autograph parallels. The pull rates for these are going to be tough as autos are only expected in one out of every 10 boxes.
Upper Deck announced a 50-player autograph checklist that includes modern-day Bruins stars like Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and Torrey Krug, while also including team legends like Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, and Ray Bourque.
There are three different pull rates depending on which group the player resides in. Group A autographs will be the most difficult to get with pack odds of 1:187 boxes, Group B is 1:170, with Group C being the most common at 1:12 box odds.
Headlining each group are some of the following players:
Group A- Marchand, Cam Neely, Bergeron, Orr, Joe Thornton, Bourque, Rogie Vachon, Coffey, and Rick Nash.
Group B- Terry O’Reilly, Charlie Coyle, Krug, Andy Moog, Gerry Cheevers, Mark Recchi.
Group C- Brian Rolston, Bill Guerin, Marc Savard, Ted Donato, Eddie Westfall, Tim Thomas.
With the holidays around the corner, this set sounds like the perfect gift for any Bruins fan!
Will you be collecting the Boston Bruins Centennial Box Set?
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Tips Tuesday: Game-Used vs Player-Worn jersey cards
Welcome back to another installment of Tips Tuesday where I provide collectors of all levels a little information to help them in their journey through the hobby. Today’s tip is to make sure collectors know the difference between Game-Used and Player-Worn jersey cards.
Welcome back to another installment of Tips Tuesday where I provide collectors of all levels a little information to help them in their journey through the hobby. I believe our website can be a vessel to help grow the hobby one collector at a time, and that education is key to making that happen.
Today’s tip is to make sure collectors know the difference between Game-Used and Player-Worn jersey relic cards.
I still remember the feeling of pulling my first game-used jersey card from an unopened pack—it was a red Jerome Iginla jersey swatch from the 2005-06 Series 1 set. I still have the card in my collection nearly 20 years later.
Something I realized much later in my collecting life is that not all jersey cards are built the same. There are some obvious differences whether it’s differing colors or sizes of the swatch. But something even more important to know is whether the relic is ‘Game Used’ or ‘Player/Event Worn’.
My assumption as a kid was that all the jersey cards were game-worn, but this is not the case in the modern era of hockey card collecting, and there's a massive monetary and collectability difference between the two types.
Game-used swatches are just that… it’s a piece of a jersey that was used by that player in an official NHL game.
Player or event-worn jersey relics, however, have not been used in a game. It just means that the jersey was put on by the player at some point, typically at a photo-op event or an autograph signing session where a player could've put on a dozen different jerseys to give Upper Deck a good stockpile of materials to use for future products.
The easiest way to know which type of jersey card you have to to look at the back where it will indicate it’s guaranteed authenticity and will explicitly say “Game-Used” or “Player/Event worn.”
Also, be aware of manufactured patches that look like cool jersey cards, such as this Black Diamond rookie Jumbo patch card below, but they aren’t. These cards have no affiliation with the player on the card as the patch was manufactured by Upper Deck and say so on the back.
Put the tip to the test— take a look in your collection and see if you have any Player/Event-worn jersey cards that you thought were Game-Used or vice versa.
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Tips Tuesday: How do I know the value of my cards?
Today’s tip is more geared to newcomers in the hobby as it’s a question I get all the time from people entering the hockey card world: “How much are my cards worth?”.
Welcome back to another installment of Tips Tuesday where I provide collectors of all levels a little information to help them in their journey through the hobby. I believe our website can be a vessel to help grow the hobby one collector at a time, and that education is key to making that happen.
Today’s tip is more geared to newcomers in the hobby as it’s a question I get all the time from people entering the hockey card world: “How much are my cards worth?”
I joined Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy on ‘The Hockey News Pre-Game Show’ a couple of weeks ago and we busted into a box of 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 1 and the question I was asked after our first decent hit was: “How much is that worth?”
This is obviously a very important question as knowing card values is imperative. However, I find that newcomers or outsiders to the hobby don’t know where to look to find card values.
Well, today I’ll give you some good resources to find the answer to that question.
Firstly, I should note that this is not an exact science, but rather a method to give you a good idea of a price range or a comparison of card values. Also, remember that not all cards are built the same as condition plays a role in values as well… but that’s a conversation for another day.
There are three primary methods to finding the value of your cards, or cards that you are purchasing or trading for, and those would be eBay sold listings, 130point.com, and the Beckett Guide.
The Beckett guide is a little outdated for most modern collectors, but a lot of old-school hobbyists still view it as the bible of sports card collecting. The Beckett book is a monthly subscription magazine (now also digitized online) that comes out with card values for almost every single card out there dating back to the pre-50s right up to the most recent release.
Prior to the internet age, this was the gold standard in determining card valuations. “What does it book for?” was a commonly used phrase to ask how much a card was worth. The problem with the guide in today’s market is that card values are so fluid and the Beckett price quickly becomes outdated - either too high or too low - before the magazines even reach store shelves.
Thus, eBay sold listings and 130point.com have become the more modern resources for figuring out the current values within the hockey card market.
We’ll start with a quick discussion about eBay because it has to be used properly to be an accurate source. Too often I’ll be set up at a show and someone will bring a card up to my table to try and sell it saying it’s worth $1,500 because they saw that price on eBay. What often happens is people look up the card and see an asking price of $1,500 and automatically assume that’s the value. This is a common mistake made by new collectors.
People can ask for whatever they want online, but it doesn't mean it's going to sell for that amount. To find the true market value of your item on eBay you have to look at the actual sold listings of your card by checking off the “sold items” box on the filters sidebar.
Sometimes you’ll come across a sold listing that has the number crossed out like in the photo below.
This means that the seller accepted an offer for a lower amount than the listed price. However, eBay does not show the exact number at which the card was accepted and purchased.
Which brings me to the next good resource: 130point.com.
This website has become a staple for sports card enthusiasts as it seems to give the most accurate representation of card values. 130point will not only show sales from eBay, but also sales from the big auction retailers as well, such as Goldin, PWCC, or Heritage Auctions.
The reason why this site is becoming increasingly popular is that, unlike eBay, 130point does in fact show the accepted offer values on cards.
This is the exact same eBay sale as previously shown (currency converted to CAD on eBay sale). However, as you'll see, this site gives the exact sale price as the accepted offer amount is shown at $50 less than the asking price, thus giving us a clearer indication of the value of the item.
However, not all cards will have sales online, especially those that are low-numbered or short-printed. In these cases, the best method is to find a player of similar value in the overall market and see if that person has a sold listing of that card or a card with a similar print run ( /5, /25, /50, etc.).
When all else fails and you can’t find a comparable value online, ask a friend in the hobby or a veteran collector for their opinion. There are some great people in sports card collecting and they’ll certainly guide you in the right direction if you ask.
Put the tip to the test. Pull out your collection and look up some card values using these methods. Who knows, maybe you have a more expensive card in your collection than you thought!
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Tips-Tuesday: Five tips to prepare you for the Toronto Sport Card Expo
It's Tips-Tuesday, and with the Toronto Sport Card expo kicking off this Thursday, I thought what a great time to start this series up by delivering five tips to prepare you for the Expo.
This is the inaugural installment of a new weekly column I’ll be writing on this website titled “Tips Tuesday”.
Each week, I will be giving some tips for hockey card collectors and/or investors. Some columns will be tips targeted at newcomers to the hobby, while others may be geared toward more seasoned veterans.
With the Toronto Sport Card Expo kicking off this Thursday, I thought what a great time to start this series by delivering five tips to prepare you for the Expo.
1) Cash is king.
If there’s one thing you need to know, it’s that cash will always be the preferred method of payment at any convention like this. Most vendors will take PayPal, e-transfer, and perhaps even credit or debit if you don’t have any money left on hand, but cash will make your dealings go further. So much so that cash can be used as a negotiation tool. Paying for cards with bills laid out on the table is a far more effective tactic than offering to send money electronically or using a credit or debit card.
I should point out that there will be ATMs on location if you need them, but your best bet is to get your money ahead of time from the bank just in case the machines get tapped out, which happens occasionally at this show.
2) If you see a card you like, buy it.
I can’t tell you how many times in my early collecting days I’d attend a card show and walk away from a card I liked at a reasonable price only to come to my senses shortly after and go back to the vendor to buy it only to find out the card had been sold. It happens all the time. So if you see a card you like and it’s at a price you’re comfortable with, just grab it, because if you think it’s a good price, someone else will too, and that person will pull the trigger.
I should also note as a bonus tip related to this: Negotiating is accepted and encouraged. This isn’t Walmart or the grocery store. You can haggle with the dealer and try to get a cheaper price than what’s posted on the sticker. Additionally, the more cards you buy from one person, the more likely that seller is to give you a bulk deal.
3) ‘Comps’ are your friends.
Information is key in any walk of life, but especially in the sports card market. Prices are fluid and change by the minute. The best way to know if you’re getting a good or fair deal on a card is to check comparable sales of sold listings online, either on eBay or 130pt.com.
Here’s a true story of how checking comps saved me $200 at a card show.
I was at the Expo one year looking to buy a Connor McDavid rookie card. His graded Young Guns were selling for well over $1,000 at the time, which was completely out of my budget. However, I was ecstatic to stumble upon a BGS 9.5 Young Guns canvas checklist with McDavid and Jake Virtanen on it. I knew the market was obviously down on this card with Virtanen being on it given what happened with his career on and off the ice, but with a $300 sticker price, I still thought it was a steal considering the McJesus’ Young Guns Canvas was selling in the $1,000 range.
However, prior to pulling the trigger on the deal, I figured I’d check and make sure that the price on the card accurately reflected the current market. It was only then that I realized the value plummeted on that card specifically and it was only selling for around $100. I was able to show the dealer the comparables, and he opted to sell me the card for the market price as opposed to his original stick price, which was outdated.
So make sure that you're paying market value with current sales comparisons if you’re about to pull the trigger on a higher-priced card.
4) If you’re bringing your own cards, know the value of them ahead of time.
The expo is not just for buying cards. It’s also a great place to sell and trade with others. That said, know the value of the cards you're looking to move. Vendors are busy and don’t always have time to look up the prices on all your cards, so make sure you’ve done that work ahead of time. I recommend spending the night before the show checking comparables to establish values on all of your cards. Trust me, it will be a much smoother and more pleasant selling and trading experience for both parties if you've put that work in prior to coming to the show.
A couple of free tools you can use to check those values are eBay sold listings and 130pt.com. Both will give you an accurate understanding of what your cards are worth. If you can't find a value because the card is rare and/or doesn't have a public sale, that's when you ask other collectors for their opinion on the value.
5) Wear good shoes. No, seriously.
It’s a long day on your feet, and there aren’t many places to sit and rest them, so make sure you’re wearing the most comfortable shoes you own. Plus, if you’re like me and you get FOMO easily, you’ll spend most of the day walking the show floor looking for that next deal.
Also, don’t forget to eat and drink. Pack water and snacks to keep yourself fed and hydrated throughout the day. You’d be surprised at how often people forget to do this at events like these. Myself included.
So there you have it: five tips to prepare you for the Sport Card Expo this weekend. It’s such a fun-filled event with so much to do. If you’re only going for one day, I’d also advise you to have a game plan for how you want to spend your time.
Oh, and have fun. That’s the most important tip of them all.
Enjoy the Expo, folks!
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Hobbyists to gather at the Toronto Sport Card Expo this weekend
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, I'm not referring to the holiday season. I’m talking about the Toronto Sport Card Expo – the Disneyland of sports collectibles.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
No, I'm not referring to the holiday season. I’m talking about the Fall Toronto Sport Card Expo, the Disneyland of sports collectibles.
It truly is a magical weekend for hobbyists as thousands of like-minded sports enthusiasts gather together for Canada's largest card and collectibles show. There are well over 300 vendors with millions of sports cards and collectibles on display, showcasing some of the best cards and memorabilia across all sports and TCGs.
“Anyone who’s a collector or a sports fan should be at the Expo,” event organizer Steve Menzie said.
The event takes place the weekend of November 9th–12th at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. The show will stretch across three different halls at the venue for the first time in its existence as the card and collectibles hobby has grown exponentially over the last few years.
“The growth has been huge... and this year is expected to be bigger and better than ever,” Menzie said. “We added another hall to the event this year, and now we’re looking at nearly 200,000 square feet of space for the show.”
Taking up the majority of the new hall this year is the on-site grading pavilion.
“For the first time ever, PSA is doing on-site grading somewhere other than The National,” Menzie said, "and that’s a super big deal.”
As a fellow collector in the hobby, I agree. It is a big deal.
Getting PSA on site was a goal that Menzie set out for himself when he took over the coordination of this event back in 2016. PSA is considered the leading card grading service in the sports card hobby, and the company will be accepting submissions at the Expo this weekend starting at $129.
Other grading services, such as BGS, TAG, MNT, and KSA, will also be in attendance doing on-site grading.
Another great thing about the Expo is the family inclusiveness. The amount of child-parent duos walking the floor each year is remarkable. Menzie believes that kids are the backbone of the hobby and wants the event to be even more family-friendly.
Thus, this year the the Expo will unveil the ‘Kids Trading Zone’ for the young hobbyists to mingle and make trades with one another while establishing friendships and connections within the collecting world.
One of the other big features every year is the Upper Deck wrapper redemption program where you can obtain extra Expo-exclusive packs of hockey cards with the purchase of certain hobby boxes from qualified diamond dealers at the event. These packs could contain rookies, short prints, or even autographs of the NHL's biggest stars.
Cards and collectibles certainly make up the majority of the space at the Expo, but another prominent feature at the show is the Ultra Pro Autograph Pavilion. This year is expected to be the most star-studded lineup to date, with stars like Mike Tyson, Ric Flair, and Carey Price holding paid autograph sessions.
“It’s become the de facto place for people to come sign,” said Menzie. “Carey Price’s VIP ticket package sold out in four hours.”
There will also be a trio of current Maple Leafs in attendance (Max Domi, Matthew Knies, Joseph Woll), along with many other Toronto sports legends. You can find the full list and schedule of signees below or on the ‘Sport Card Expo’ app.
So whether you’re a card collector, sports memorabilia enthusiast, or an autograph seeker, there’s something for everyone at the Toronto Expo.
“If you are looking for something in this space, you will find it here. Guaranteed,” said Mikey Singer, another one of the show organizers.
Hopefully, the Expo will have another massive turnout, with hobbyists across the country uniting once again for Canada's biggest sports cards and collectibles event of the year.
Singer also had two solid pieces of advice for those planning on going to the show this weekend: "Cash is king, and wear comfortable shoes."
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Is it time to capitalize on the rising Jack Hughes card market?
The hockey card market is heating up and this year’s early candidate breakout star seems to be Devils' star forward Jack Hughes who has seen a 49% rise in values over October.
The hockey card market is heating up with the season now three weeks old. Typically, we see some players begin to make their rise in the hobby, and this year’s early candidate breakout star seems to be Devils star forward Jack Hughes.
Through October, Hughes leads the NHL with 18 points and has rocketed himself up near the top of the board at most sportsbooks for league MVP, with only Connor McDavid having shorter odds.
That buzz has led to a 49% increase in Hughes’ card values since the start of the season. We’ll use data from the latest sales of his flagship Young Guns rookie card to further explain how hot Hughes is right now in the hobby and whether or not he’s worth the current acquisition price.
According to Cardladder, a PSA 10 graded Jack Hughes Young Guns sold for $378 CAD on October 2, 2023. Fast forward to the end of the month, and that same card sold for a record-high $615 on October 29th, just two days after Hughes’ impressive four-point outing against the Buffalo Sabres. The last sale of this card was for $566, which is roughly what the median values have been for the past few days.
That is a massive increase in value in a short amount of time.
The real question many hobbyists have now about Hughes is whether it's time to buy, sell, or hold his cards.
Ultimately, the decision is yours, and this is by no means financial advice. However, this simple statement will always ring true: buy low, sell high, and the demand for Hughes right now is sky-high.
Hughes is clearly an extremely talented player, but he seems to be doing the most damage when there’s more time and space available to him on the ice. If you look closely at his 18 points on the year, you’ll see that only five of the 18 are at 5-on-5, where the game is played the most, with the remaining 13 points coming on the man-advantage, 4-on-4, or at 3-on-3. That's the first indicator that he may be punching above his weight right now and that this level of production will start to slow down as the season prolongs and the sample size gets bigger.
Additionally, Hughes is more of a playmaker than a natural scorer, with nearly 60% of his total career points being assists. The Devils knew this and made a splash this offseason to bring in sharpshooting winger Tyler Toffoli to pair up with the 22-year-old superstar.
The plan is working swimmingly so far. Toffoli is off to an amazing start alongside Hughes with seven goals in eight games, but he's shooting at a 23% clip. That doesn’t seem sustainable. In fact, the shooting percentage as a whole when Hughes has been on the ice this season is a whopping 18%, nearly double the league average. That is bound to come down drastically, which will inherently impact Hughes’ production, which could have a negative impact on the value of his card market.
If you’re a collector getting FOMO with Hughes’ card market and think you’ve missed your chance to buy at a reasonable price, here’s something else to consider: There are a lot of them out there.
The basis of any buy-and-sell economic market is supply vs. demand. Hughes has 4,025 PSA 10 Young Guns with an extremely high gem rate of 74%, with only 1,186 grading as a PSA 9. That might not be so great for the values of these seemingly demanded cards in the future if every three of four submitted items continue to come back as a 10 grade. That higher supply of PSA 10’s could water down the market. Not to mention the 722 BGS 9.5s with an 80% gem rate and the influx of Hughes Young Guns being prepped for submission at the Toronto Sports Card Expo later this month with PSA in attendance.
Overall, Hughes may very well still be a perennial 100-point superstar and be in the MVP conversation year after year. However, there is an expected dip in production coming at some point this season, and maybe that’s the better time to buy into the Hughes market if you missed out as opposed to right now when the prices are at all-time highs.
So although the demand is high for Hughes’ cards right now, the supply is plentiful and seemingly growing, which could level out his market a little bit in the future.
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A trio of Maple Leafs to attend the Toronto Sports Card Expo.
New athletes continue to be announced for this autograph signing event, and the latest names to join the list of attendees include a trio of current Toronto Maple Leafs players.
We’re just a couple of weeks away from the Toronto Sports Card Expo, which is the largest card and collectibles event in the country. The show kicks off Thursday evening on the 9th of November and runs through the weekend until Sunday, November 12th.
Sports cards are the main draw of this event, with thousands of collectors buying, selling, and trading all weekend long. However, it’s also a great place to seek autographs from some big-name athletes who attend these events to hold paid signing sessions. A few of the top attendees this year include WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, boxing legend ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, and Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens.
New athletes continue to be announced for this event, and the latest names to join the list of attendees include a trio of current Toronto Maple Leafs players: Max Domi, Matthew Knies, and Joseph Woll.
The signings will take place Sunday, November 12th between 12 and 1p.m. at the 'Ultra Pro Autograph Pavilion' inside The International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Tickets are now available to be purchased individually for each player.
Prices vary depending on the athlete, the type of service, or the item being autographed. There are three levels of autographs at the event. The cheapest would be a regular item, which includes things like pucks, magazines, cards, photos, etc. A premium item would be more costly, and those would include jerseys, equipment, and sticks.
Domi is the priciest of the three, ranging from $39 to $149, depending on which service you purchase. Knies ranges between $29 and $109. Woll is the most cost-effective of the three, with signing prices between $17 and $75.
It’s also worth noting that former Maple Leafs alumni Doug Gilmour, Dave Keon, Wendel Clark, and many more will also be holding autograph or meet-and-greet sessions, along with dozens more NHL legends like Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, and Scotty Bowman.
You can find the full list of participating athletes here, along with the schedule for each autograph session.
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DeBrincat’s blazing start leading to strong gains in hockey card market
Alex DeBrincat earns first-star honors and sees big gains on his rookie card market to start the season.
The Detroit Red Wings have been the early season surprise to start the year with a 5-1 record, averaging a league-leading five goals per game.
Alex DeBrincat's goal-scoring bender has been a big reason for Detroit's hot start to the year. The 25-year-old Michigan native was acquired this summer from the Ottawa Senators and quickly extended long-term with the Wings and has been worth every penny so far.
DeBrincat was named first star of the week by the NHL on Monday after recording five goals and three assists for eight total points through four games. This recognition comes a day after recording a hat trick against Calgary in Detroit’s 6-2 win over the Flames.
So let’s take a look at how his hockey card market is performing after a big week.
According to CardLadder.com, DeBrincat’s flagship PSA 10 Young Guns is up 38% since the start of the season. The sales history feature of the website shows a $112 CAD sale for this card on October 14th, just a couple of days after the year began. Since then, the Wings’ sniper has gotten off to a blazing hot start with a league-leading eight goals and 12 points to this point in the season.
Goals are gold in the hockey card market, which is the main reason why DeBrincat rookie cards have increased by 38% over the past two weeks with the last recorded sale being purchased for $155.31 CAD. Not too shabby!
So is this the time to buy or sell this card?
Well, it really depends on how well you think DeBrincat and the Red Wings will do this season. It is possible, after all, that the soon-to-be 26-year-old could be in the midst of a career year.
One thing that would worry me about whether or not he can continue this torrid pace, however, is his 42% shooting thus far into the season. That’s just not sustainable. So maybe now is the time to take advantage of a hot week with his cards reaching 2023 highs.
That said, a move back to a larger market like Detroit should allow for more buzz and higher demand for DeBrincat, especially if he continues to score. So perhaps we could see his PSA 10 Young Guns jump back into the $200+ range.
According to Cardladder.com, the highest ever recorded sale of DeBrincat’s PSA 10 Young Guns was $465 CAD on February 24th, 2022. However, that sale was from when the hobby was reaching all-time highs. The market has been down significantly since then, with Debrincat’s card market specifically down 66% since then.
What game plan do you have when it comes to Alex DeBrincat’s collectibles market?
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