If the 2022 Stanley Cup finals will be remembered by collectors for one thing, it will be for the explosion of interest for Cale Makar in the hobby. The 23-year-old Colorado Avalanche star won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman last week--then added the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs Sunday night. His graded rookie cards and variations … [Read more...] about Is Cale Makar the Most Collectible Defenseman Since Bobby Orr?
Will Alexis Lafrenière Rookie Cards Rebound?
The New York Rangers’ playoff run ended in a humbling way, as the Tampa Bay Lightning came back from a 2-0 deficit to win four straight games to advance to their third straight Stanley Cup Final. For hockey collectors, this was an interesting series with fascinating hobby consequences. The media and analysts continuously tried to sell the puck public on Alexis … [Read more...] about Will Alexis Lafrenière Rookie Cards Rebound?
Jagr, Hull, Team Canada ’72 Stars Highlight Toronto Spring Expo
It had been three years since the last Sport Card and Memorabilia Spring Expo in Toronto, but the general consensus was that it was worth the wait. The show, commonly referred to in the hobby as ‘Canada’s National’, had been postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19 and moved to a virtual format. Having collectors and dealers back in person at the International Centre near the … [Read more...] about Jagr, Hull, Team Canada ’72 Stars Highlight Toronto Spring Expo
Spring Expo 1991 Flashback: How The Hottest Product In The Hobby Became A Punch Line
With the Toronto Spring Expo fast approaching, I wanted to go back through time and think about some memorable shows from past years. I attended by first Toronto Spring Expo in 1991. I had just started working for Canadian Sportscard Collector magazine, which in its infancy was in a newspaper format rather than a magazine format. While the show has always been very … [Read more...] about Spring Expo 1991 Flashback: How The Hottest Product In The Hobby Became A Punch Line
Spring Expo Expected To Be Biggest Show In Canadian History
For the first time since 2019, there will be an in-person Toronto Sport Card and Memorabilia Spring Expo. The show will begin Thurs., June 2 and run through Sun., June 5 at the Toronto International Centre on Airport Road near Pearson Airport. Historically, the semi-annual show has been unofficially referred to by many in the hobby as the “Canadian national.” The Fall Expo … [Read more...] about Spring Expo Expected To Be Biggest Show In Canadian History
Drafts, Trades and Head Transplants: Guy Lafleur’s Domino Impact On 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Hockey
The hockey world stopped to pay tribute to Guy Lafleur over the last two weeks. In some NHL arenas, it was a tribute on the jumbotron. In others, it meant more. In Ottawa, for example, the Senators hosted the Montreal Canadiens the day after the hockey legend's passing. There was a moment of silence and a tribute, and there was not a dry eye in the house. As I stood there, … [Read more...] about Drafts, Trades and Head Transplants: Guy Lafleur’s Domino Impact On 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee Hockey
How Leaf vs Manning Draft Debate Fueled Sports Card Hobby in 1998
Manning or Leaf? Leaf or Manning? It was the biggest question debated between football fans and collectors leading up to, and even months after, the 1998 NFL Draft. Sure, we know how the story ends. Peyton Manning ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and won two Super Bowls. Ryan Leaf did not come anywhere near living up to the expectations the football world … [Read more...] about How Leaf vs Manning Draft Debate Fueled Sports Card Hobby in 1998
Power Gives Strength To 2022-23 NHL Rookie Card Class
The 2022-23 NHL rookie card class just got a little bit stronger. Owen Power, the NHL’s first overall draft pick in 2021, made his NHL debut for the Buffalo Sabres April 12, making him eligible for the 2022-23 Upper Deck NHL/NHLPA-licensed hockey card sets. Upper Deck jumped on his NHL debut earlier this month, producing a Game Dated Moment card of Power for his April 12 … [Read more...] about Power Gives Strength To 2022-23 NHL Rookie Card Class
Getting Burned By The Tom Brady ‘Fleer Ultra Polychrome Refractor RC’
If something is too good to be true, it probably is. I don’t know how many times I have relayed that cliché to collectors when they think they have found an amazing card at an incredibly low price. Yet, here I am, a savvy hobby veteran, industry insider, former executive, and lifelong collector, biting the dangling worm and getting reeled in by the holographic hook stuck in … [Read more...] about Getting Burned By The Tom Brady ‘Fleer Ultra Polychrome Refractor RC’
2022-23 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Preview
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are still two weeks away, but some information about next season's hockey card releases is starting to trickle out, including one of the season's key products. Upper Deck has unveiled its plans for its 2022-23 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey. Traditionally, UD Series 1 is released on the second weekend of November, in conjunction with the Sport Card and … [Read more...] about 2022-23 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Preview