The latest installment of Upper Deck Synergy Hockey boasts a nice checklist headlined by Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard. Is Synergy worth its $119.95 price point?
The next installment in the Connor Bedard rookie card chase is 2023-24 Upper Deck Synergy Hockey. Before the product review, it is important to understand Synergy Hockey's place in the hockey card ecosystem.
Synergy Hockey is the least expensive hobby box with a reasonable amount of autographs and hits. The 2023-24 version of Synergy Hockey retails for $119.95 the highest price ever for a Synergy Hockey product on release day.
For comparison, 2022-23 Synergy Hockey retails for $59.95, and 2021-22 Synergy retails for $49.95.
The Bedard tax is real.
On a positive note, 2023-24 Synergy is the least expensive product on the market with a reasonable chance at landing a Bedard autograph or hit.
The most welcome addition to Synergy Hockey are the new acetate inserts. The cards have a clear background and are printed on a thicker card stock than a standard base card. Collectors can expect to find one of the new acetate insert cards per hobby box.
The Upper Deck Bounty program returns to 2023-24 Synergy Hockey.
The first 25 collectors who complete the 125 card base red parallel bounty set, and enter their redemption codes on the Upper Deck Bounty website, will earn the complete low numbered gold base set. In addition, the first 10 collectors who redeem the entire bounty set will receive the low numbered gold Cast for Greatness metal set.
Unlike the 2023-24 installment of Upper Deck Trilogy Hockey, we are back to Bedard or bust. To a degree at least. Bedard has a large variety of hits, including autographs and low numbered parallels. Landing those Bedard hits is a different story.
On a positive note, 2023-24 Synergy Hockey has a nice checklist filled with rookies, veterans, and legends. It is always enjoyable ripping packs with chances at Bedard, Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Connor McDavid, and Alex Ovechkin.
It is important to acknowledge the floor of opening a box of Synergy Hockey. There are many boxes that have a return rate of less than 10% of the cost of the box. It is not the type of product that you should that should be ripped one pack or box at a time.
If your budget allows, strongly consider buying half of a case or getting your favorite team in a group break by the case. That is the best way to manage the high variance factor.
2023-24 Upper Deck Synergy Hockey is not a bad product by any means. This will probably end up being the best Synergy Hockey of all time. Just understand that for every good box you purchase, there are four or five not so great boxes.
Happy hunting and collecting!