Let's Have Some Fun - If the Licensees Have a Cap...

[v3rs3]

There's no way they keep McDonalds. They've talked about ending it and why take one of your sets away that aren't even distributed through North America/rest of the world. Unless McDonald's sets start running it in the US, and I don't see that being wildly popular.

Low

Victory
MVP

Mid

Series 1
Series 2
OPC
Black Diamond (raise prices to near SPGU, RC's now RC Lettermen)
Artifacts (Champs, but with a better suited name)
Ice (FIT and Ice Scripts added)
SP Premier (Mix of SPx, SP Authenic, SPGU)
Hot Prospects (Bring it back)

High

Ultimate (Incorporated with OPCP RC levels, IE Quad Jersey, Single Patch, Dual patch, Triple patch, Quad patch)
The Cup

[30ranfordfan]

Here's what I'd do:

Keep:
Upper Deck 1
Upper Deck 2
Artifacts / Champs Hybrid
O-Pee-Chee
McDonald's
MVP
Victory
The Cup
Trilogy / Ice / Back Hybrid
SP Authentic / SP Game Used Hybrid
Black Diamond
Ultra

Drop:
Collector's Choice
OPC PremierUltimate Collection
O-Pee-Chee Metal
Ovation
SPx
***Be A Player


I just left Victory on my list.... so there's actually 12 total. Be A Player I put the stars beside, because I think it's time for the brand to switch companies again, let Panini have a go with it. Also created some "hybrid" sets.... where I'd combine some of the best elements of the current releases, and roll them into one.

[Marko]

i'll go with a 4-4-4 setting

LOW
OPC
Ultra
Upper Deck MVP
Upper Deck Victory

MID
Black Diamond
SP Authentic
Upper Deck Series 1+2
Upper Deck Ice

HIGH
OPC Premier
The Cup
UD Black
Ultimate Collection

[v3rs3]

Am I the only one that thinks Hot Prospects should come back? Best set, ever. Guaranteed RC auto patch in each box. Can't beat it.

[Marko]

Am I the only one that thinks Hot Prospects should come back? Best set, ever. Guaranteed RC auto patch in each box. Can't beat it.

stickers ?
no thx

[RGM81]

Am I the only one that thinks Hot Prospects should come back? Best set, ever. Guaranteed RC auto patch in each box. Can't beat it.

If they were able to make it a hard-signed set, I'd be supportive. It had some nice elements to it, but really, did it do anything truly unique that separated it from any other release? With all the talk about product redundancy, this one was guilty of that in spades.

[v3rs3]

If they were able to make it a hard-signed set, I'd be supportive. It had some nice elements to it, but really, did it do anything truly unique that separated it from any other release? With all the talk about product redundancy, this one was guilty of that in spades.

I feel it's a better version of SPx essentially with actual patch pieces for every card and shorter prints. Plus they have rookie shields in it.

[HammerHawks]

I feel it's a better version of SPx essentially with actual patch pieces for every card and shorter prints. Plus they have rookie shields in it.

+1.

Add in the patches instead of JSYs for SPx and make them hard-signed.

[bidds55]

Hot Prospects had some good stuff, but needed more value in each box to make it worth while. If Hot Prospects APRC's were hard signed, and the Shields, and base jersey & patch parallels were combined with the SPx inserts, and Trilogy inserts, you'd have a product worth breaking. As it was last sold, HP was sorely lacking in return for money spent.

[MatsSundin13Rocks]

OK here's your fun assignment for the weekend.

For the sake of argument, let's assume that each licensee--Upper Deck and Panini--are restricted to 12 sets each. In 2009-10, Upper Deck has 23 products to roll out through the course of the year. They are:

Artifacts
Be A Player
Black
Black Diamond
Champ's
Collector's Choice (I like this better than Victory but Victory is staying so this could get the axe)
Ice
McDonald's (Only with parallels, GU, & autos back)
MVP
OPC Premier
O-Pee-Chee/O-Pee-Chee Update
Ovation (What garbage is this)
SP Authentic
SP Game Used (Upper Deck always ruins this set. They should've done game used sticks, pads, gloves, pants, socks, and pucks in this set instead of just jersey cards plus way over priced for what you get)
SPx
The Cup
Trilogy (Upper Deck ruined Trilogy completely. It could be good but it isn't)
Ultimate Collection
Ultra (I like this product but it gets the axe because UD Series 1&2 do the same thing)
Upper Deck 1/Upper Deck 2
Victory (Why are they keeping this?)

Like it or not, UD has already announced that Victory will continue next year, so you get 11 choices. You can axe whichever sets you like, and you are allowed to fold subsets into the other releases. When done, you should have 11 sets plus Victory plus whatever subsets you want to still see around in other products.

Upper Deck has to do this as well, so who knows, maybe somebody's watching and will take our ideas into consideration.

Have fun!

I bold the ones I think Upper Deck should keep and crossed out the ones they should axe.