Upper Deck Opens 2023–24 NHL Season, Continues Prior Releases – WorthPoint

Recently, the sole provider of licensed NHL hockey cards continued its roll through the 2022–23 production season while giving collectors their first taste of 2023–24 card action.

Yes, Upper Deck is rolling through its continual “make-good” on issuing 2022–23 season products, delayed in release as the 20–21 and 21–22 campaigns reached close. But the first set of the 2023–24 NHL season arrived as tradition—before the puck dropped on a new year of ice action.

Let’s take a closer look at recent releases.

2023–24 MVP

MVP is the definition of an entry-level product with a low price point and a huge checklist that features a wide array of players from each of the thirty-two NHL teams. Yes, these are stars and superstars more than role-players, but in a collecting universe where it’s not uncommon to have a hundred-card base set, MVP’s 250-card primary stream goes deeper than most.

What many collectors need to remember is the Ice Battles subset. This portion is a CCG built into the primary MVP product, with cards coming roughly one per pack, offering fun for younger collectors.

MVP shines with various cool inserts that are kid-oriented, like the Ice Reps program that combines a skater and a mascot. For the die-hard collector, though, there is a big chase—redemption cards for one of two Connor Bedard rookie cards. The odds on the latter are staggeringly high, but it does lead to many boxes breaking.

2022–23 Stature

I opened my first pack of Stature last season and thought it was an excellent standout. Unfortunately, this year feels more like a redux than a fresh opportunity.

The 2022–23 Stature issue again features one pack per box with a guaranteed autograph. Thicker card stock, foil embossing, and rainbow effects return, but the feeling of this being more of a Part Two rather than an original stems from the design being highly similar to the 2021–22 edition.

That’s not to say that Stature is a passable set. There’s a lot to enjoy here, especially if you’re a rainbow chaser who likes to go for a higher-end challenge. Admittedly, after pulling a red parallel with only eleven serial-numbered copies, I’m tempted to get as many cards of the same player as possible from the other color assortments.

In contrast to Stature is Skybox, which has many similarities to the 21–22 set. The design is entirely re-imagined, using a foil background that resembles a honeycomb (or net mesh if you prefer). The jersey variations are gone, replaced with Stars cards as the short print element of the base set, along with rookie cards.

Precious Metal Gems continue to be the most in-demand cards from Metal Universe, but the set once again gets creative with its inserts. Along with throwbacks to past base designs and popular titles like Jambalaya, there are some stunning parts like All-Starring. Others, like Cache, do an excellent job of making the player picture pop against a recessed background.

Autographs are more challenging to come by in Skybox, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Give Upper Deck credit for playing this conservatively and not going hog wild with ink, ensuring long-term value.

2022–23 Black Diamond

When this sample arrived in my mailbox from Upper Deck, I was tempted to do a comparison box break with Allure. I’m glad I didn’t because Black Diamond blows its counterpart out of the water and pretty much any other product I’ve opened this year.

Black Diamond is stellar in design and insert programs. Hold a few cards in your hand, and you’ll see what I mean. Thickness means these cards aren’t as easily damaged, designs pop, and the unique programs make you want to open more packs or hunt down individual cards for your collection.

The blend of technologies is stellar. Whether you pull a jersey card, autograph, or combination acetate/foilboard piece like I did with the above Owen Power insert, you instantly feel like you’ve got a premium and showcaseable card for your collection.

The price tag is high for each card, but there’s no better product if you’re looking for something that pops in a display.

2022–23 Upper Deck Extended Series

Many collectors look down on the Extended Series, which features the final 250 cards in the base brand, but Upper Deck puts out a very competent product that has its advantages.

The base set is still a pretty decent pickup, featuring additional Young Guns from late-season debut rookies and All-Star cards. This year’s edition also features First Round Draft Pick cards, a throwback to a subset from the early 1990s. Whether these are considered rookie cards is debatable, as many players already had a Young Gun in an earlier series.

Extended also brings in some retro feel with throwback designs from the likes of Black Diamond, which garner older collector interest. Other inserts feature new and old concepts and the continuation of existing runs from the earlier 22–23 series, including Canvas.

2022–23 Upper Deck AHL

Similar in purpose to the CHL series, AHL expands Upper Deck’s hockey coverage to the highest-level minor league in the sport.

Many of the names won’t be familiar to collectors yet, but regional favorites get some shine here, as do young prospects in the one-per-pack Star Rookies subset.

For team collectors like myself, AHL expands the pursuit of getting cards from all team members. You enter a different world where draftees who may never get into the NHL are still available for a collection, adding a bit of difficulty and chase to pursuit.

AHL also features a variety of cool inserts and parallels. These include cards focused on goaltenders, postseason all-stars, and other themes.

2021–22 Upper Deck Credentials

One of the last sets from the vaunted Trevor Zegras rookie year, Credentials is actually two sets in one, drawing both 2021–22 and 2020–21 rookies together.

The 2020–21 portion of the set serves as an update to the original release, adding one hundred rookies to the checklist, while the 2021–22 portion is all new content.

Generally speaking, Credentials delivers a decent value with an autograph or limited acetate card in every box. There are several parallels to the main set here, which give collectors a good chase factor. The assortment of inserts will also appeal to most collectors, with some cool themes like Star of the Night. The value may differ from what collectors want, but the chase of a full set is achievable.

All images are of samples provided to WorthPoint by The Upper Deck Company.

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Jon Waldman is a Winnipeg-based writer. He has written for Beckett, Go GTS, Canadian Sports Collector, and several other hobby outlets over his two decades in the hobby. His experience also includes two books on sports cards and memorabilia. Connect with Jon on Twitter at @jonwaldman.

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