Hockey enthusiasts and trading card aficionados are experiencing quite the stir: Topps, that nostalgic titan of card collecting, is sliding back into the hockey scene. However, this isn’t your uncle’s hockey card comeback. No, Topps is adding a novel twist to its game, skating just under the radar in a manner that is sophisticatedly subtle yet delightful for collectors.
You see, Topps has been iced out of the NHL trading card market since the flip phone era—that’s since 2003-04, to be precise—when Upper Deck scooped up exclusive rights to the NHL licensing. Fast forward two decades, Topps’ surprising re-entry isn’t an explosion but a quiet lure, beckoning collectors back with its new project: Topps Under Wraps: Emanate 2024-25.
Before anyone connects dots about Topps and hockey cards, let’s be clear. This isn’t a traditional trading card venture. It’s more akin to a memorabilia siren call—an exquisite merge of showmanship and nostalgia wrapped up in 8×10 autographed photos. But not just any photos; these are carefully crafted to emulate the beloved trading card format, boasting a slick design with artful front and back presentation. It’s trading card vibes, enlarged and enhanced for modern collection aesthetics.
When Fanatics, Topps’ parent holding, declared the April 3rd launch, they weren’t just offering photos with scribbled signatures, oh no. These are primo pieces—each print hand-signed, avoiding those pesky sticker autos that can sometimes feel like the movie Rom-Com on a plane ride—overused and a little un-inspirational. Collectors are attaining a piece of artistry, uniquely serial-numbered and hologrammed to verify authenticity. Each purchase is an experience, faceted with a folio case—a stage of sorts to parade these autographed marvels.
For those enamored with the chase, Topps put together a rainbow contest of sorts in traditional collector fashion. The emissary variants run the gamut in scarcity and color: Gold (#/50), Orange (#/25), Blue (#/10), Red (#/5), and a scintillating Iridescent which is a true unicorn—only 1 copy floating about. Like searching for the North Star among starlets, fervid collectors will have quite an adventure ahead.
Talking talent? The lineup doesn’t pull punches. From the silk-smooth plays of Connor Bedard, Auston Matthews’ sniper artistry, Alexander Ovechkin’s indomitable on-ice presence, to the wizardry in nets by Igor Shesterkin—Topps curates a pantheon of past and present icons. If that’s not juicy enough, they randomly insert multi-signed editions, like an extravagant triple-signed and inscribed piece headlined by Bedard, Matthews, and Ovechkin. It’s like the Avengers of hockey memorabilia—everyone wants in.
To dab this slice of cultured memorabilia will set back enthusiasts $130 per box, a middle-ground where value meets luxury. Each packaged surprise comprises one prized photo, reawakening the exhilarating rush known by any collector with roots deep in hobbyist delight.
So, is Topps fully immersed into the frosty embrace of hockey trading? Not quite. That quintessential card-pack cracking thrill remains in Upper Deck’s icy hands. However, with Emanate’s rollout, Topps signals ambition, gently whispering its reintegration into hockey—maybe a shy toe in today, but expect further strides tomorrow.
Given that Fanatics has harnessed substantial control over the hobby’s wider game-board, commanding several major licenses, this initiative feels less like a one-time skate and more like the prelude to a grand entrance. Topps is warming up, testing the waters, and rekindling connections.
Hockey fans and collectors, buckle up: this is likely just the first chapter in Topps’ new-old ice-time saga. As they build momentum, an entirely new era of collecting might just spin its wheels into action, replete with tradition, surprise, and innovation, ready to be chronicled in collections worldwide.
