The hockey card collecting world has been buzzing with anticipation and now, with the curtain finally raised, the 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey set has stepped into the spotlight. Completing the year’s trilogy of flagship releases, this new set isn’t just a complement to Series 1 and Series 2, but a grand expansion on the established excellence of Upper Deck’s hockey catalog. Toting a massive total of 750 cards for the full collection, the Extended Series skyrockets in with a trumpeting 250 new additions. It’s an ultimate treasure chest for collectors who are always on the lookout for the finest gems in the hockey card universe.
Among these 250 newcomers, the first 200 cards shine a light on veteran players trotting out in their updated jerseys, or perhaps alongside their new teams. It’s all about fresh visuals and updates to quench the thirst of fans hungry for the latest and greatest in player aesthetics. But the limelight is something the rookies refuse to share, with the final 50 cards being none other than the thrilling Young Guns and exclusive 1st Round Rookies. These short-printed beauties appear nearly every other pack, sparking a game of hide and seek that’s as delightful as it is devilishly challenging.
But what would a tantalizing set of hockey cards be without the electrifying thrill of parallel cards? As every collector knows, it’s all about the chase. Get ready for a lineup of parallel cards that vary not just in art but in rarity:
– Outburst – Landing in your hobby packs at a rate of 1 in 30, and in blasters at 1 in 90 packs.
– Clear Cut – A tantalizing find at 1 in every 96 packs.
– Deluxe, numbered mere 250.
– Exclusives, running a cool count of 100.
– Outburst Red, a red-hot find with only 25 in existence.
– High Gloss, limited to a mere 10.
– The dazzling Outburst Gold is a singular sensation in every meaning of the word: a unique 1 of 1 creation.
All these parallels add an extra zing to any collection, catching the eye and the envy of fellow collectors with their rarity and sheen.
Even the inserts refuse to be overshadowed. Returning favorites among them include the UD Canvas cards, threading through boxes with their own signature charm — expect four visits per hobby box, featuring subsets that pay homage to Young Guns and the legends of the rink. Turning the dial to ten, fans will find rare Black and White parallels and the exclusivity of Printing Plates to be enough fuel to their collector’s fire.
As if things weren’t shimmering enough, Dazzlers swing back to claim the dazzle mantle — blue, pink, and even one-of-a-kind Printing Plates versions. Blaster boxes play host to their own breed of exclusivity, introducing Green Dazzlers nestled safely at 1 in every 4 packs.
In a plot twist worthy of a fantasy epic, the series also serves up a mystical tarot card-inspired addition: Oracles. These spellbinding cards make strides with SP (Special Pack) versions of 1 in 30 packs, to ultra-rares at 1 in 45, and the rarest soul-tingling variants at 1 in every 180 packs. A true divine challenge for any card collector with a sense of adventure.
Classic inserts aren’t just here for nostalgia’s sake — they return to remind collectors why they’ve been yearned for, now like bread dipped in the finest of gravies. From Pros and Prospects to the Beehive, through UD3 and Upper Deck Encore, these renamed favorites provide a comforting yet exciting ride through Upper Deck’s illustrious history. Whether you’re an enthusiast for the Trilogy Rookie Premiere or taken by the triple-dimension allure of Reflections in a ruby, amethyst, emerald, gold, or sapphire coat, there’s no shortage of memories and memorabilia.
Silver Skates slide onto the circuit, showcasing their golden edge with limited parallel numbers to a cool 250.
As you prepare to dive headfirst into a hobby box, here’s a little teaser of the package within:
– Per hobby box: 12 cards per pack, 12 packs per box,
– For the blaster box: 12 cards per pack, but only 4 packs,
– And should you be aiming big, remember: 12 boxes per hobby case or 20 per blaster case,
Each hobby box promises a randomly assorted bouquet that could contain:
– Eight servings of Beehive, Pros and Prospects, or Upper Deck Encore,
– A singular yet striking Blue Dazzler,
– The mystic marvel as Oracles (two within),
– Pieces from Rookie Reflections, Silver Skates, or UD3,
– If luck’s on your skates, look out for a pair of Triple Dimensions Reflections,
– Not to forget the fabulous four, that being the UD Canvas,
– An outburst of one Parallels,
– And a collective cheer to either Young Guns or 1st Round Rookies, found six times in total,
Plus, as the cherry on this very frosted cake, you’ll uncover a Special Find (whether that’s a Clear Cut, a UD Canvas Black and White, or a rare SSP Oracles) within the magical mystery tour that is this hockey series.
The 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey is not just any collection — it’s a collector’s odyssey. With its bountiful mix of inserts, limitations, and rookie-treasures, it offers a journey that promises excitement and satisfaction. For anyone ready to leap into its world of wonder and intrigue, there’s only one piece of advice: lace up, and off you dash into this exhilarating arena of delights.
