Grab your ice skates and favorite mug of cocoa because the spotlight has shifted to an exciting winter wonderland filled with the allure of shiny new hockey cards. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a newcomer smitten by the hockey bug, the release of the 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey set is just about the most thrilling news to come out of the card-collecting world. Let’s embark on this puck-filled journey and explore just what makes this installment a jewel among the treasures of Upper Deck’s lineup.
Kicking off with what might feel like unwrapping a much-anticipated gift, the 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series completes an essential trio, following the illustrious paths of Series 1 and Series 2. What bonds this trio isn’t just their shared hockey DNA—it’s the sweeping expansion, bringing the grand total to an impressive 750 cards across the series. The Extended Series itself contributes a robust 250 cards, an arsenal of color, parallel madness, and design innovation.
Delving into the heart of the checklist presents a compelling portrait of updated narratives. The first 200 cards celebrate veteran players showcasing their new jerseys or teams, bringing fresh hues and jerseys into collectors’ hands. But what makes any collector’s heart skip a beat has to be the last 50 cards—starring none other than the inimitable Young Guns and the exclusive 1st Round Rookies. A gallery of promising stars, these short-printed rookie cards flicker like northern lights amongst the more common cards, appearing as mystical treats roughly every other pack, all set to ignite that collector’s chase.
What’s a collection if not for the tantalizing thrill of rare art manifesting in the wild? Parallel cards in the Extended Series unleash an array of excitement. You’ll find these chimerical parallels ranging in rarity from Outbursts appearing at sporadic 1:30 packs in Hobby sets to the mesmerizingly unique Outburst Gold numbered at an elusive 1/1. Think of these parallels as your own personalized treasure maps, where every card is a clue leading to a bounty of collecting joy.
Did someone say special features? Fans of the series have reason to rejoice as iconic insert sets are reclaimed from series past. UD Canvas cards—staples in their own right—reappear, now with more grandeur. Each hobby box is a veritable cornucopia, with subsets spotlighting Young Guns, Legends, and NHL All-Stars. Lest hearts go unclaimed, collectors can also stumble upon rare Black and White canvas parallels and exclusive Printing Plates—an indelible mark of authenticity in any collection.
This series introduces a whimsical breath of fresh air with Oracles, a tarot card-inspired addition to the collectors’ universe. With a spectrum spanning from challenging SP to the ultra-rare SSP, these celestial cards encourage fans to delve into the mystical realm of hockey collecting, invoking an aura of mysticism and wonder.
Nostalgia calls, and the Extended Series answers with a reprise of several cherished classics. Inserts like Pros and Prospects, Beehive, UD3, and Upper Deck Encore weave an evocative tapestry of Upper Deck’s storied past. Imagine the dizzying thrill of discovering a Triple Dimensions Reflections card in base, Ruby, Amethyst, or one of its precious variants sparkling like jewels in a crown. Their ethereal charm continues with the return of Silver Skates, simultaneously traditional and sublimely alluring.
Setting the stage with grand orchestration, here’s what collectors can anticipate from hobby boxes: A lazy dozen awaits—12 cards per pack, with 12 packs per box, and the promise of excitement with every reveal. With the shadow of these cherished cards casting long like an evening sunset, boxes overflow with a mix of classic and new: is 8 total of Beehive, Pros, and Encore joy enough, or does the lure of the rare Blue Dazzlers pull stronger? Only two Oracles unveil mysterious revelations per box, while reflections, datings, and parallels tickle imaginations like fireflies in July.
Thus stands the 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series like a colossus, bearing gifts of star-crossed Young Guns, spellbinding Oracles, and prized parallels that collectors will race each other to hoard. Whether you dip your toes into these icy waters as a casual fan or dive headfirst as a seasoned prospector of hockey treasures, this year’s box set holds more than just cards. It offers a vibrant panorama of collecting camaraderie, reflecting every spectrum of hockey enthusiasm thriving within its storied tradition. Collectors, the puck drops with you!
