New Project Help: What to Choose?

[oilfan10]

Hey everyone,
I have been trying to diversify my Oilers collection a bit lately and decided to collect Oilers Ultimate Rookies a couples months ago. Thanks to Matt(tuukkatime) helping me land the 2 biggies, I've almost completed my set(wantlist if anyone can help still).

So, now that my first project is almost complete, I'm starting to think of another project to start. I don't want to start another player collection right, but I have a few set options on my mind right now:

1) Oilers Dominion Rookie Patches
Pros:
Hard-signed autographed patches
True Rookies
Good checklist

Cons:
Price-I may want to do something smaller after the Ultimate Rookies


2)Oilers SPA Future Watch Patch Autographs
Pros:
Hard-signed autgraphed patches
Consistently nice/popular set

Cons:
Price(see above)
Scrubs(Winchester, Pouliot, Thoresen, etc.)-I can always be more selective though


3)Oilers Private Signings
Pros:
Ongoing set

Cons:
Three RNH cards

4) Oilers Draft Boads
Pros:
One of my favorite sets
Great checklist

Cons:
Expensive
Expensive
Expensive

5) Oilers Young Guns
Pros:
Iconic rookie set
Affordable

Cons:
None that I can think of


6) Non-Oilers autograph set-Would love to hear suggestions
Pros:
Adds diversity to the collection
The Oilers are moving to Seattle, so I shouldn't waste my time with the team/above options

Cons:
It likely won't keep my interest long and I will sell them sooner rather than later


7) Don't bother with a set and just continue focusing on my current player collections
Pros:
Collecting my favorite players

Cons:
I'm getting bored with it(but that doesn't mean I want to sell it)

8) Other
Suggestions welcome!


I want to keep my collecting interests going, so I thought now would be a good time to change up my collecting habits. Obviously I would still like to finish my Ultimate Collection project first, but I look forward to hearing your opinions, thanks!

[reoddai]

I think that the young Guns might be your best bet. I'm seeing words in your post that suggest that you want something affordable, has long term value and will capture your interest for a long time. Young Gungs tend to fit all those categories. Plus, there are about 20 years worth of young guns to collect. You'll have the kitschy 90's stuff through to the Hemsky YG as well as the more current ones and while they will b costing you money, the less popular ones will still be hard to find. Plus, I know that Gretzky has an EDM YG in 04-05, and what Edmonton collection would be complete without him. In some 9 pocket pages, it will look great. I think your biggest task will be getting the checklist first. If you don't take the idea, careful, I just might!

GL & cheers.

reoddai

[30ranfordfan]

Jordan,

My best suggestion is the collection I've started myself :) Every Oilers Rookie Card, Every Oilers Autograph.

It's reasonably cheep, it's a ton of fun, it never really ends, and if you go strong at it for 5 years, you still won't be finsihed :)



I should mention, I don't mean every single rookie card of an Oilers, just one of everyone to play for them.

The pros, I think, are kind of obvious. The history that goes into a collection like this, I love it. The oldest card I had to aquire was a Paul Popiel from 65-66 Topps. You'd end up with a couple of others from the 60s, lots from the 70s (inlcuiding some WHA stuff) and then obviously a lot from the 80s, 90s, and 00s. I will also mention that there has been at least one card made of every player who has ever worn an Oilers uniform. Some of them are minor league or team issued stuff (they never had a real NHL card) but the cards are out there. For the more modern players, I usually try and pick "the best" RC I can get. That was usually ones from The Cup, but starting last year I had to start picking other sets, as the price on guys like Hall, Eberle, and RNH are a little too rich for my blood.

On the Autograph front, most players that played in the 90s, or later, have certified autographs. Typically, they're very easy to find, and most can be had for a buck or two. Older guys its a bigger challange.... though you can find signed cards of most players that had 'significant' NHL careers. Guys who played one game back in 1983, that's where the real challange game in.

The cons to this, well - I suppose it's how you look at things. You'd end up aquiring a bunch of cards of a bunch of guys that you never saw play, probably have little interest in. The autograph, in particular, get very hard to come by once you nail down that wantlist to less than 60 players. It would become a frustrating project after a while - becuase it can be months inbetween adding a new card to it.

[centrehice]

Oilers Vintage.

You know you want to. Besides older cards are more interesting.

[Tivo32]

Oilers Vintage.

You know you want to. Besides older cards are more interesting.

I'd actually say go with this! It could be wicked fun.

[oilfan10]

Some good advice/suggestions so far!

Matt: I agree with a lot of what you said, especially seeing them in pocket pages together. That would look great/

Sean: I've followed your project since I've been on the site, and like how it continually grows. Like you said though, I wouldn't know half the players and would have a tough time feeling motivated to collect those ones.

centrehice(Tim, I believe): This may not be an idea that I want to do as a full set, but you may have just convinced me to try to find a Gretzky Rookie soon!

[MasonRaymond0320]

Id do draft board because it's more rewarding once you are done. And it's way more fun to put together. If u did a cheaper set it'd get boring after a while in my opinion. Plus if you ever decide to sell the draftboards, it shouldn't be a problem.

[MasonRaymond0320]

U could even just put together the big 3 in Edmonton (Hopper, eberle, hall) so you wouldnt feel the need to find the lesser known players.

[oilfan10]

Bumping this up now that I've completed the Ultimate set!

[miscs75]

What about attempting to master the Oilers Ice Rookies? The /99s hold value extremely well and the cards look pretty sweet themselves.