Most Collectable Hockey Cards?

[Mugs050]

In your opinion what is the most collectable product? Set? Insert? Rookies?

[creasecollector]

The Young Guns rookie are always a popular card. Have been for many, many years now. And since 05-06, The Cup RPA's are always the higher-end card to get when it comes to auto/memorabilia cards. Both these examples have been very consistent 'must haves' when hockey cards are concerned.

[RGM81]

For the masses collecting currently, I would say Young Guns. They're a staple, iconic brand. If you have a favourite player that has debuted in the past twenty years, chances are you've got his YG in your collection.

For niche or player collectors, it can vary widely person to person and collection to collection. There's no "right" answer when it comes to following your interests.

[pwaldo]

Yeah the Upper Deck Young Gun rookies are really hot and popular in hockey. Nothing that's not #D, game used, or autographed come close to them by a mile.

[Goose97]

I concur. Upper Deck's Flagship set with the Young Gun's is always on the radar. As with The Cup RPA's, and also SP Authentic Future Watch Autos.

I have noticed as well for inserts, and getting back to the main Upper Deck set that Canvas have been popular as well.

[sedinfan]

It depends if by 'most collectable' you mean most potential to hold or gain in value... or just what's popular to collect? If it's the former, I'd say vintage cards especially high grade... modern cards nearly always fetch their highest prices right around release date, and either settle somewhat lower or completely tank depending on how the player's career progresses.

If we're talking just what's popular... for Upper Deck at least there is...

OPC for the sheer nostalgia, nice big and affordable base set... Upper Deck Series 1/2 as the flagship set with the ever popular Young Guns rookies (and the Exclusive /100, and HG /10 parallels which are amongst the few parallels that are popular)... SP Authentic for a mid-high end product with the always desirable hard signed FWA rookie cards x/999 (also the FWA Patch x/100's are desirable)... and at the highest end the Cup ARP's x/99 for the handful of most-prized rookies.

Beyond that, other popular rookie material includes UD Ice Premier Rookie Patch Autos x/10 while not true RC's are highly sought after and the regular Ice RC's do well too... Premier Rookie Auto Patches... and SPGU more recently as they have limited the base set to serial numbered to the player's jersey number which can lead to really tough to find RC's for low numbered guys.

Some of the more notable inserts are from UD S1/2 Canvas as well as Clearcut Foundations... Premier Mega Patches... OPC Platinum for the sheer fun of putting together shiny rainbows... and limited print run stuff from McDonald's / Tim Hortons sets.

I'm sure if you ask 100 people you'll get 100 different lists, but I think that covers most of the stuff that has a pretty broad appeal.

ITG / Leaf puts out much more limited releases, the market is definitely more niche, but amongst collectors who like new cards with vintage memorabilia and don't mind the lack of an NHL license, they definitely have an audience (including me :)).

[Devlin]

Vintage, pre 75

[Cunnuc]

I would have to say vintage as well, for most collectible and retaining value.

Upper Deck Series 1/2, SP Authentic, The Cup are hugely popular. 3 levels of affordability but they have all the rookies you need. Some people have deep pockets and prefer The Cup or SP Authentic. UDS1, UDS2 is affordable to most. OPC has been around a long time and it is widely collected. The set is big and contains actual photography. If OPC Platinum continues on I would consider it a widely collected set as well.

People collect for different reasons. For me, I'm still a massive ITG fan. 02-03 ITG Parkhurst Retro, 04-05 ITG Franchise East/West definitely retain value. Both sets have a vintage feel to them, the print run is low and I feel a lot of people are attracted to that sort of style.

I must say I love a lot of the cards Leaf is putting out. Lot of old-time players I've added to my collection like Jack Adams. It's hard to say though if the market will become saturated with Maurice Richard, Tim Horton etc over time from these Leaf releases.

[Mugs050]

Hmm. I ask the question because I am looking on what to zero in on for collecting purposes. I am tired of being all over the map. So far I think I am going to work on sets of Upper Deck Series 1/2, Young Guns Series 1/2 and I was going to go with Artificats for mems/set but I think I will switch it to SP Authentic based on what I am hearing here.

[dudical]

Basic is Upper Deck series 1/2
Medium is SP Authentic
High end is The Cup