Which packs or boxes of hockey cards should you buy?

Raise your hand if the last pack of hockey cards you purchased had a piece of gum inside. There was something different about opening packs of hockey cards from the early 1990's and late 1980's. 

The cards made a different sound as you slowly fanned through the pack to see if your favorite player was the next card. Maybe it was the residue from the gum that made that sound?

Spoiler alert, they stopped putting gum inside packs of hockey cards a long time ago.

Fast forward to the present. You are walking through your local Target and stumble upon the trading card section and there is an endless amount of hockey cards for sale. There are so many choices, what should you buy?

The answer is simple, buy whatever you want! Especially if it has been decades since you opened a pack of hockey cards. Rekindle your childhood excitement as you fan through a pack of hockey cards.

The types of hockey packs and boxes you can purchase from your local Target and similar places are considered "retail." Retail products are not overly expensive, but it is more difficult to hit a rare card that could be autographed or numbered.

Okay, you had some fun ripping packs of hockey cards from your local retailer and are ready to step up. Now what?

This is when you will experience a new portal to collecting. Spoiler alert, this new portal is expensive.

If you have a local card shop nearby, chances are they will have an assortment of "hobby" hockey products, mostly from Upper Deck. Hobby products feature better odds of hitting rare cards that could be more valuable, but they will be more expensive to purchase. Most hobby products offer a guarantee, or average hit count per box.

Using 2023-24 Upper Deck Trilogy Hockey as an example, a hobby box features two hits per box (on average). Hits are usually considered autographed cards or cards with some type of memorabilia on them. 

The most recent installment of Upper Deck Trilogy Hockey was the best ever. 

Be ready for some sticker-shock when you step into a local card shop. Hobby boxes of hockey products can range from under $100 for products like Upper Deck Synergy Hockey and Upper Deck O Pee Chee Hockey. Upper Deck's most expensive and coveted product is "The Cup." 

Last year's version of "The Cup" retails for $899.95 on Dave Adam's Card World. One box features six cards, four of which usually contain autographs. Yes, that breaks down to $150 per card.

Make sure to take the time to talk to the people working at the card shop. Do not just go in there and start picking boxes off the shelf. If you like having a bunch of packs to open and autographed cards are not important to you. Any of the "flagship" products will do. The flagship products are Upper Deck Series One, Series Two, and Extended Series. 

Depending on the year of the product you purchase, a box will contain 12 to 24 packs and six "Young Guns." Young Guns are a player's first rookie card and a must have for collectors.

If you are the type of person that wants to get through a pack of cards quickly and lack the patience to spend time ripping 24 packs of wax, try a box of 2022-23 Upper Deck SP Game Used Hockey.

Upper Deck SP Game Used is a unique product that features the chance to hit net cord and puck relics that were actually used during the Stanley Cup Final. 

Regardless of what your budget is and how much time you like to spend ripping boxes of hockey cards. There is a product that you will enjoy. It simply comes down to who your favorite team and players are. 

Happy hunting and collecting!