Panini done?

[ChuckNorrisFearsS]

This put things into perspective. NBA, MLB and NFL has success with products that are not not licensed with the likes of UD, Leaf and Panini offering college and minor league products, but how successful would a minor league product be for hockey? AHL only for example? Interesting.

ITG has been doing it for over a decade with Heroes & Prospects basically so I think your question has been answered already. It has some current/former NHLers but predominantly focuses on AHL/CHL etc.

[RGM81]

You know what though, based on that Rich, this is a reason I wouldnt want ITG to get a license if they had to make that deal. What keeps ITG neck and neck without a license is the amazing specialty sets they do put out. Looks how many over the past couple years, Captain C, Motown Madness, Broad Street Boys, FOREVER RIVALS (the best one :D), Superlative First Six, StickWork coming up looks ridiculously good, etc.

These specialty sets are what makes ITG the unique company and IMO the #1 company

They can still do a product like those but they'd have licensing and therefore greater levels of access to the photo and memorabilia archives out there. 1-2 of those per season would still give them that opportunity to rock the house.

ITG has been doing it for over a decade with Heroes & Prospects basically so I think your question has been answered already. It has some current/former NHLers but predominantly focuses on AHL/CHL etc.

H&P has been CHL-only the past couple of releases due to the AHL license going elsewhere.

[RGM81]

Another thing that would make life much easier for ITG should they get a license - they would have a collective agreement with every active NHL player for likeness use rights and therefore greater access to the current players. No more having to make individual agreements with 200+ players per year / per product which would free up a lot of time & energy for the company.

[Inferno]

I'm afraid a Panini exclusive might be on the horizon. UD is in a position of weakness, ITG has been denied licenses for years, and Panini has deep pockets and isn't afraid to expand their influence in the industry. I hope I'm wrong as exclusives are bad for everybody.

[bprice]

Attention Rumor Only

Several larger distributors we in NYC at the Toy Fair and the rumor that has come out of that encounter is that there is an exclusive and it is not Panini.

I guess it's easy to figure what that means to us.

Remember this is a rumor nothing more.

Brian Price

[cardscardscards]

I'm afraid a Panini exclusive might be on the horizon. UD is in a position of weakness, ITG has been denied licenses for years, and Panini has deep pockets and isn't afraid to expand their influence in the industry. I hope I'm wrong as exclusives are bad for everybody.

I'm not debating, but how is UD in a position of weakness? They don't seem to be gaining any ground, but they're not losing any either and their almost exclusive love story with the NHL/NHLPA for the past 20-some years speaks pretty loudly. Maybe a few recent lawsuits involving the NHL/PA I'm not aware of?

[jogesc2]

Attention Rumor Only

Several larger distributors we in NYC at the Toy Fair and the rumor that has come out of that encounter is that there is an exclusive and it is not Panini.

I guess it's easy to figure what that means to us.

Remember this is a rumor nothing more.

Brian Price

While my first choice by far would be to have ITG, Panini and UD all with a license. If there has to be an excusive betwen Panini and UD, my choice would be for UD to have the exclusive. Panini's cards just don't interest me.

[mingus_md]

While my first choice by far would be to have ITG, Panini and UD all with a license. If there has to be an excusive betwen Panini and UD, my choice would be for UD to have the exclusive. Panini's cards just don't interest me.

I second this. I really liked Panini when it started, but once Al Muir left, everything went down hill. If Panini stopped making cards, I would not be sad. However, one of the downsides of another UD exclusive, is that I felt like UD stepped up their game once Panini came along, and I find that I like their products more now than before. I would hate for them to slip back into their old ways due to an exclusive.

[canucksfan007]

If its a 2 man race between Panini and UD ..... I really hope UD wins it.

I would have no problems giving a license to all 3 of the major hockey card companies, and really think that it would help the hobby having more competition .... make the companies all step up their game, as there is only so much money to go around. The problem with this, is even if ITG or Panini make a superior product compared to UD ... there are too many UD loyalists. They only buy UD, because its what they've always done .... in wax form and on the secondary market. Of course, wax is everyones personal choice that really doesnt effect anyone else .... but if sales from ITG and Panini are far less on the secondary market, it will mean the average person just comparing products to break will have to lean towards UD products .... as they are far easier to trade, and provide the biggest return if looking to sell. Even right now, its kind of sad to say, but #1 right now is obviously Upper Deck ..... with the little guy ( ITG ) holding down the middle spot ..... and the other licensed company Panini, bringing in the rear.


EDIT - I would probably go as far as saying that my current release purchases would basically stop if it were a Panini Monopoly. Sure, Panini is good for releasing cards of players that UD tends to not create, which is great for the PCs ..... but for rookies and the bulk of most peoples purchases, it would really destroy the hobby. No Future Watch Auto Rookies, no Future Watch Auto Patches, no Young Guns, no Cup Rookies ........ what a scary day for the hobby if it came to that

[cardscardscards]

If the rumor turns out to bear truth (I'd love for neither UD or Panini to get a license even it that's extremely unlikely), I hope UD comes out on top too. Panini has no products that draw major attention and even I have no brand loyalty towards them anymore. I loved what they did in 2010-11 and I fell in love with the Limited Phenoms. Maybe it was the feeling of being liberated from the UD monopoly, but I had nothing but positive comments for their products.

Fast forward to today and that love has evaporated. I am not liking any Panini products this year, even Dominion. I feel dirty for admitting this, but I miss some of UD's discontinued lines like Ice and BAP. Heck I even miss OPC Premier and UD Black. Getting the monopoly back would allow for those to make a comeback and that would be totally awesome.

I hope we don't have to go back to a monopoly but if we do, well you know where I stand.