Higher Deck Opens 2023–24 NHL Season, Continues Prior Releases

Lately, the only supplier of licensed NHL hockey playing cards continued its roll by means of the 2022–23 manufacturing season whereas giving collectors their first style of 2023–24 card motion.

Sure, Upper Deck is rolling by means of its continuous “make-good” on issuing 2022–23 season merchandise, delayed in launch because the 20–21 and 21–22 campaigns reached shut. However the first set of the 2023–24 NHL season arrived as custom—earlier than the puck dropped on a brand new yr of ice motion.

Let’s take a better take a look at current releases.

2023–24 MVP

MVP is the definition of an entry-level product with a low worth level and an enormous guidelines that options a wide selection of gamers from every of the thirty-two NHL groups. Sure, these are stars and superstars greater than role-players, however in a gathering universe the place it’s not unusual to have a hundred-card base set, MVP’s 250-card main stream goes deeper than most.

What many collectors want to recollect is the Ice Battles subset. This portion is a CCG constructed into the first MVP product, with playing cards coming roughly one per pack, providing enjoyable for youthful collectors.

MVP shines with numerous cool inserts which can be kid-oriented, just like the Ice Reps program that mixes a skater and a mascot. For the die-hard collector, although, there’s a large chase—redemption playing cards for one in every of two Connor Bedard rookie playing cards. The chances on the latter are staggeringly excessive, but it surely does result in many bins breaking.

2022–23 Stature

I opened my first pack of Stature final season and thought it was a superb standout. Sadly, this yr feels extra like a redux than a recent alternative.

The 2022–23 Stature challenge once more options one pack per field with a assured autograph. Thicker card inventory, foil embossing, and rainbow results return, however the feeling of this being extra of a Half Two fairly than an unique stems from the design being extremely much like the 2021–22 version.

That’s to not say that Stature is a satisfactory set. There’s so much to take pleasure in right here, particularly for those who’re a rainbow chaser who likes to go for a higher-end problem. Admittedly, after pulling a crimson parallel with solely eleven serial-numbered copies, I’m tempted to get as many playing cards of the identical participant as attainable from the opposite colour assortments.

In distinction to Stature is Skybox, which has many similarities to the 21–22 set. The design is solely re-imagined, utilizing a foil background that resembles a honeycomb (or web mesh for those who want). The jersey variations are gone, changed with Stars playing cards because the quick print factor of the bottom set, together with rookie playing cards.

Valuable Steel Gems proceed to be essentially the most in-demand playing cards from Steel Universe, however the set as soon as once more will get artistic with its inserts. Together with throwbacks to previous base designs and standard titles like Jambalaya, there are some gorgeous elements like All-Starring. Others, like Cache, do a superb job of creating the participant image pop in opposition to a recessed background.

Autographs are more difficult to come back by in Skybox, however that’s not essentially a foul factor. Give Higher Deck credit score for enjoying this conservatively and never going hog wild with ink, making certain long-term worth.

2022–23 Black Diamond

When this pattern arrived in my mailbox from Higher Deck, I used to be tempted to do a comparability field break with Attract. I’m glad I didn’t as a result of Black Diamond blows its counterpart out of the water and just about every other product I’ve opened this yr.

Black Diamond is stellar in design and insert applications. Maintain a couple of playing cards in your hand, and also you’ll see what I imply. Thickness means these playing cards aren’t as simply broken, designs pop, and the distinctive applications make you need to open extra packs or seek out particular person playing cards to your assortment.

The mix of applied sciences is stellar. Whether or not you pull a jersey card, autograph, or mixture acetate/foilboard piece like I did with the above Owen Energy insert, you immediately really feel such as you’ve obtained a premium and showcaseable card to your assortment.

The worth tag is excessive for every card, however there’s no higher product for those who’re on the lookout for one thing that pops in a show.

2022–23 Higher Deck Prolonged Collection

Many collectors look down on the Extended Series, which options the ultimate 250 playing cards within the base model, however Higher Deck places out a really competent product that has its benefits.

The bottom set remains to be a fairly respectable pickup, that includes further Younger Weapons from late-season debut rookies and All-Star playing cards. This yr’s version additionally options First Spherical Draft Decide playing cards, a throwback to a subset from the early Nineteen Nineties. Whether or not these are thought-about rookie playing cards is debatable, as many gamers already had a Younger Gun in an earlier sequence.

Prolonged additionally brings in some retro really feel with throwback designs from the likes of Black Diamond, which garner older collector curiosity. Different inserts function new and outdated ideas and the continuation of present runs from the sooner 22–23 sequence, together with Canvas.

2022–23 Higher Deck AHL

Related in function to the CHL sequence, AHL expands Higher Deck’s hockey protection to the highest-level minor league within the sport.

Lots of the names gained’t be acquainted to collectors but, however regional favorites get some shine right here, as do younger prospects within the one-per-pack Star Rookies subset.

For staff collectors like myself, AHL expands the pursuit of getting playing cards from all staff members. You enter a special world the place draftees who could by no means get into the NHL are nonetheless obtainable for a group, including a little bit of problem and chase to pursuit.

AHL additionally options quite a lot of cool inserts and parallels. These embody playing cards centered on goaltenders, postseason all-stars, and different themes.

2021–22 Higher Deck Credentials

One of many final units from the vaunted Trevor Zegras rookie yr, Credentials is definitely two units in a single, drawing each 2021–22 and 2020–21 rookies collectively.

The 2020–21 portion of the set serves as an replace to the unique launch, including 100 rookies to the guidelines, whereas the 2021–22 portion is all new content material.

Typically talking, Credentials delivers an honest worth with an autograph or restricted acetate card in each field. There are a number of parallels to the principle set right here, which give collectors an excellent chase issue. The assortment of inserts can even enchantment to most collectors, with some cool themes like Star of the Night time. The worth could differ from what collectors need, however the chase of a full set is achievable.

All photos are of samples offered to WorthPoint by The Higher Deck Firm.

Jon Waldman is a Winnipeg-based author. He has written for Beckett, Go GTS, Canadian Sports activities Collector, and a number of other different interest retailers over his twenty years within the interest. His expertise additionally consists of two books on sports activities playing cards and memorabilia. Join with Jon on Twitter at @jonwaldman.

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