Even though 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1 is two months away from being released to the hobby, the company has released its plans for Series 2, which will be released in the winter of 2025.
The 250-card set will be a continuation of Series 1, with cards numbered 251-500. The configuration will remain the same, with 12 cards per pack and 12 packs per box and a Young Guns rookie card in every other pack.
While we have to see what rookies step on the ice for their first NHL games before a checklist can be created for this product, the driver of Upper Deck Series 2 will be Macklin Celebrini. As a 17-year-old Freshman at Boston University, he had 32 goals and 32 assists for 64 points in just 38 games before being selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks.
Celebrini is from the same minor hockey program that produced Connor Bedard. The comparisons have already started, meaning that Celebrini’s Young Guns cards will be among the most sought after cards in the set.
Will Smith has also joined the Sharks. He was selected fourth overall by the Sharks in 2023. Smith scored 25 goals and had 46 assists 71 points in 41 games for the Boston College Eagles, which made him one of the nation’s top players.
Another highly anticipated player is Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Matvei Michkov. As an 18-year-old in his first KHL season with SKA St. Petersburg, he scored 19 goals and 41 points in 47 games. He also got first line and power play experience that will enable to make an immediate impact in Philadelphia.
A wildcard to watch for is Maxim Tsyplakov, a veteran of the KHL who turns 26 on Sept. 19. In order to be eligible for the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year, a player has to be 25 years old on Sept. 15. The 6’3 goal-scoring winger from Moscow Spartak made the cut by four days. The New York Islanders, desperate for scoring, signed him to a one-year-deal.
Young Guns parallels include:
Young Guns – Outburst Silver Parallel 1:60 packs
Young Guns – Clear Cut Parallel 1:144 packs
Young Guns –Deluxe Parallel #’d to 250 packs
Young Guns – Exclusives Parallel #’d to 100
Young Guns – Outburst Red Parallel #’d to 25
Young Guns – High Gloss Parallel #’d to 10
Young Guns – Outburst Gold Parallel #’d 1-of-1
UD Canvas Young Guns 1:24 packs
UD Canvas Young Guns Printing Plates N/A
UD Canvas Young Guns – Black & White Parallel 1:216 packs
There is also a second installment of the Young Guns-themed insert set. Young Guns Renewed, inserted 1:4 packs, features iconic Upper Deck Young Guns cards from previous years, reimagined by Luke the Cardist. Parallels to that set include:
Young Guns Renewed Printing Plates N/A
Young Guns Renewed – Exclusives Parallel #’d to 100
Young Guns Renewed – High Gloss Parallel #’d to 10
There are several parallels in the Upper Deck Series 2 base set (301-500), including:
Outburst – 1:15 packs
Clear Cut – 1:48 packs
Deluxe – #/250
Exclusives – #/100
Outburst Red – #/25
High Gloss – #/10
Outburst Gold – #1/1
UD Canvas is back with an expanded selection of cards printed on canvas. Series 2 not only includes base set veterans and Young Guns, but it also features Hockey Canada Program of Excellence players and retired stars.
UD Canvas 1:4 packs
UD Canvas Printing Plates N/A
UD Canvas – Black & White Parallel 1:48 packs
UD Canvas – Program of Excellence 1:96 packs
UD Canvas – Program of Excellence – Printing Plates N/A
UD Canvas – Program of Excellence – Black & White Parallel 1:864 packs
UD Canvas – Retired 1:96 packs
UD Canvas – Retired – Printing Plates N/A
UD Canvas – Retired – Black & White Parallel 1:864 packs
Inserts
Bang For Your Puck is inserted 1:7 packs and includes Speckle Parallel 1:53; Black Parallel 1:314; Red Parallel #’d to 99; and Gold Parallel #’d to 10
Dazzlers is a continuation insert set with cards DZ51 to DZ100 in Series 2 and features top veteran stars of the NHL. Parallels are Dazzlers – Blue 1:12; Dazzlers – Pink 1:144; and Dazzlers – Printing Plates N/A.
UD Portraits is back and is inserted 1:5 packs. It includes UD Portraits – Speckle Parallel 1:40; UD Portraits – Black Parallel 1:240 ; UD Portraits – Red Parallel #’d to 99; and UD Portraits – Gold Parallel #’d to 10.
ElectrCITY cards are inserted 1:5 packs and include ElectriCITY Speckle Parallel 1:40; and ElectriCITY – Black Parallel 1:360.
Fluorescence Red is inserted 1:36 packs with Fluorescence – Gold Parallel #’d to 150; Fluorescence – Blue Parallel #’d to 50; Fluorescence – Green Parallel #’d to 15; and Fluorescence – Magenta Parallel #’d to 5.
On a Heater is inserted 1:10 packs, and includes On a Heater – Speckle Parallel 1:80; On a Heater – Black Parallel 1:480 ; On a Heater – Red Parallel #’d to 99; and On a Heater – Gold Parallel #’d to 10.
On Tour is a new set designed to look like a promotional concert poster, is inserted 1:5 packs. It includes On Tour – Speckle Parallel 1:38; On Tour – Black Parallel 1:225 ; On Tour – Red Parallel #’d to 99; and On Tour – Gold Parallel #’d to 10.
Ooh La La is another new insert set, and it is inserted 1:5 packs. It includes Ooh La La – Speckle Parallel 1:40 and Ooh La La – Black Parallel 1:360.
Playlist is also a new insert set and is inserted 1:5 packs. It includes Playlist – Speckle Parallel 1:40 ; Playlist – Black Parallel 1:360.
Welcome Aboard is a new insert set that looks like a photo you would get taken when boarding a cruise ship. They are inserted 1:5 packs. Also included are Welcome Aboard – Speckle Parallel 1:40 and Welcome Aboard – Black Parallel 1:360.
Average Box Break
A typical hobby box of Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey should yield:
6 Young Guns rookie cards
1 Outburst Parallel card
4 UD Canvas cards
8 UD Portraits/Bang for Your Puck/On Tour/On a Heater cards
9 Ooh La La/Playlist/ElectriCITY/Welcome Aboard cards.
3 Young Guns Renewed cards
1 Blue Dazzler card
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