Who to Collect - Jamie Benn

Jamie Benn was drafted 129th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. Not exactly a big name prospect, Benn has always been able to do one important thing. Score.

During his major junior career with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL, Benn scored 65 points in his rookie season and then scored a team-high 46 goals and 82 points in only 56 games in 2008–09. Benn didn't stop there and paced the Rockets with a playoff-leading 33 points in only 19 games to capture the 2009 Ed Chynoweth Cup title. Jamie Benn made the Stars' roster for the 2009–10 season and has scored 3 goals and 10 points in his young NHL career.



In terms of international play, Jamie Benn was selected to Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships and scored 4 goals and 6 points in 6 games. Benn shared the stage with John Tavares, Cody Hodgson, and PK Subban and helped lead Canada to its fifth straight gold medal.

Jamie Benn has appeared previously in ITG Heroes and Prospects but his first Upper Deck rookie card will be his UD Series One Young Gun (#212) and will be available this season at Canada Card World

Who to Collect - Ryan O'Reilly

Teenagers! Normally people complain about teenagers. This NHL season, however, collectors are loving all of the teenagers who are lighting up the scoreboard and bringing the excitement back to the NHL. Ryan O'Reilly is part of this group. The Colorado Avalanche drafted O'Reilly 33rd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and along with Matt Duchene and a stone wall in the net named Craig Anderson, the Avalanche have quickly jumped back to the NHL elite for the first quarter of the season.



Ryan O'Reilly was not expected to make the Avalanche team this season but a strong pre-season and 11 points in his first 13 NHL games made it an easy decision. Just what Tavares needed... another Calder challenger!

Ryan O'Reilly has appeared previously in ITG Heroes and Prospects but his first Upper Deck rookie card will be his UD Series One Young Gun (#213) and will be available this season at Canada Card World

Upper Deck Releases 2009-10 NHL UD Black Rookie Letterman Exchange Checklist

The 2009-10 NHL season is turning out many special young players.
Here is the checklist of redemptions from this season's 09-10 UD Black hockey.



2009/10 NHL UD Black Autographed Rookie Letterman Exchange Cards
73 John Tavares
74 Matt Duchene
75 Victor Hedman
76 Evander Kane
77 James Van Riemsdyk
78 Jonas Gustavsson
79 Logan Couture
80 Brad Marchand
81 Tyler Myers
82 Jamie Benn
83 Colin Wilson
84 Michael Del Zotto
85 Viktor Stalberg
86 Michael Grabner
87 Tyler Bozak
88 Erik Karlsson
89 Matt Gilroy
90 Ryan O'Reilly
91 Dmitry Kulikov
92 Sergei Shirokov
93 Cody Franson

The UD Black Letterman Redemption cards are all sequentially numbered to only 99 copies and will be autographed. Upper Deck expects to send these cards to collectors in late February 2010.

Upper Deck Releases 2009-10 NHL Fleer Ultra Rookie Exchange Checklist

If you were lucky enough to pull a Fleer Ultra Rookie Redemption card, we now know who exactly you pulled.
It's a great rookie class this season so it's hard to go wrong.



2009/10 NHL Ultra Rookies Exchange Cards
201 John Tavares
202 Matt Duchene
203 Victor Hedman
204 Evander Kane
205 James Van Riemsdyk
206 Jonas Gustavsson
207 Jamie Benn
208 Erik Karlsson
209 Tyler Myers
210 Ryan O'Reilly
211 Matt Gilroy
212 Michael Del Zotto
213 Viktor Stalberg
214 Tyler Bozak
215 Sergei Shirokov
216 Colin Wilson
217 Benn Ferriero
218 Michael Grabner
219 Dmitry Kulikov
220 Cody Franson

Upper Deck expects the Fleer Ultra cards to be completed in early February 2010.

Who to Collect (In Retrospect) - James Neal

James Neal was selected 33rd overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. Known for hard-hitting style mixed with skill, Neal earned a place on the gold medal winning Canadian World Junior hockey team in 2007. Neal was also chosen for the OHL Western Conference All-Star team and later in the season helped the Plymouth Whalers win the OHL title. He led all scorers with 5 goals in the Memorial Cup final and 25 points in 20 total playoff games.

During his rookie season in 2008-09, James Neal broke the Dallas Stars' franchise record for goals scored by a rookie with 24 goals in total on the season. Currently, Neal is lighting up the score sheet on a consistent basis and is in the top-20 NHL scorers will 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points after only 12 games this season.

As Neal's scoring skills are starting to take over the spotlight, his first NHL fight was one of historic proportions as he mauled fellow rookie Derrick Brassard. The fight not only bloodied Brassard into submission but it also ended Brassard's promising rookie season.



Upper Deck Series One 2008-09 containing Neal's Young Gun RC is out now and available at Canada Card World

Who to Collect - Michael Del Zotto

Hedman. Duchene. Tavares. Van Riemsdyk. Del Zotto?

When thinking of the major contenders for this year's Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year, there was one name that wasn't mentioned and at the moment, he's the name on many people's lips. Defenseman Michael Del Zotto of the New York Rangers has made collectors take notice.



Michael Del Zotto was chosen 20th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. No stranger to playing with skill, Del Zotto has already played pre-junior and junior hockey with Steven Stamkos as well as John Tavares. Now, out on his own, Del Zotto is leading NHL rookies with 12 points in his first 12 NHL games.

Del Zotto has appeared previously in ITG Heroes and Prospects, ITG Ultimate and ITG Superlative, however his first Upper Deck rookie card will be his UD Series One Young Gun (#206) and will be available this season at Canada Card World

Who to Collect - Tyler Myers

The next Zdeno Chara. That's a phrase that isn't spoken very often. First off, he would have to be a massive NHL defenseman of about 6'8 and over 220 lbs. Meeting that rare criteria first, he must then have offensive and defensive skills. After that, he has to be aggressive and a player that a team can build around. The Buffalo Sabres believe they've found that man in Tyler Myers, a 19 year old defenseman from Texas, USA.

Myers, unlike many Americans, began his major junior career in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets. Myers was selected 12th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and in the following season, he helped the Rockets to a 2009 Championship following a career-high 42-points in the regular season. Scoring an amazing 20 points during the Rockets playoff run, Myers was selected as the WHL Playoff MVP. Already with more points than fellow rookie defenseman Victor Hedman, Myers is showing skill not normally shown for a man his size and even scored a shoot-out winner for the Sabres.

Check out this move for the hulking defenseman:


Myers has appeared previously in ITG Heroes and Prospects, however his first big Upper Deck card will be his UD Series One Young Gun (#214) and will be available this season at Canada Card World

2009-10 NHL Upper Deck Rookie Boot Camp Video IV

PK Subban, Logan Couture, and Eric Tangradi learn how to tie their skates properly. It's easy to tell that Subban will be a character when he finally gets the call-up by the Montreal Canadiens.



Subban, Couture, and Tangradi should all be available as Young Guns in Upper Deck Series One or Two, the first of which will be released next month and will be available at Canada Card World

Who to Collect (Future Prospect) - Cody Hodgson

Cody Hodgson of Brampton Battalion in the Ontario Hockey League was drafted 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Winner of the CHL Player of the Year trophy and a two-time OHL All-Star, he holds the record for most goals and points in a single OHL Al-Star game. Hodgson has also represented Canada at two IIHF events, winning gold and leading the tournament in scoring at both the 2008 World U18 Championships and 2009 World Junior Hockey Championships. Not only a skilled player, an annual OHL poll of coaches recognized Hodgson as the smartest player in the league, as well as the hardest worker, the best penalty killer, and the best on faceoffs.



Hodgson, currently 19, was expected to secure a roster spot with Vancouver for the 09-10 NHL season but was returned to the Brampton Battalion in late September 2009, after struggling in the pre-season. Until he gets his first NHL game, Hodgson will remain without an NHLPA-licensed hockey card.

Cody Hodgson is currently available in previous versions of ITG Heroes and Prospects and will be available in early November's ITG Ultimate 9th Edition.

Who to Collect (In Retrospect) - Craig Anderson

Every now and then a player floats around the NHL for an amount of time and gets lost in the shuffle. He plays for a few teams and people think he's a marginal NHL player. Now 28, Craig Anderson fits the bill... almost. Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks, Anderson had the back-up role before being traded to Florida and almost wrestling the starting job away from Tomas Vokoun.



During the 2007–08 season, Craig Anderson set NHL records for most saves in a shutout (53) and most saves in back-to-back shutouts (93 in total). After the 2008–09 season, Anderson signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche and has found his stride after being a league-leader in save percentage. Now the starter in Colorado, Anderson began his new career by recording a shutout in his second game and was named the league's second star of the week twice in October. Anderson has turned a poor Colorado team into one of the bright spots of the new season... if he continues, his All-Star debut should follow soon.

Craig Anderson's rookie cards are available in 2002-03 products and can be purchased by contacting Canada Card World

Who to Collect - Sleeper Suspect - Antti Niemi

Antti Niemi is not your usual suspect when thinking of rookie cards to collect in the 2009-10 NHL season. He's 26 and he's a back-up goaltender. But consider this. Most goaltenders do not come into their own until their mid-20's, Chicago's team is stacked with stars and future stars like Toews, Kane, Hossa, Campbell, Barker, Bolland, and Seabrook to name but a few, and Cristobal Huet, Chicago's #1 goaltender, has been good but has never really been a player who could carry a team.



Niemi will be playing his second full season in North America after a successful career with the Pelicans in Lahti, Finland. His first start of the 2009-10 season resulted in his first NHL shutout. Although Niemi may not play more than 40 games this year, the future looks very bright for next year and the years that follow. This team is a Stanley Cup contender. Don't forget about Niemi!

Antti Niemi's rookie cards will be available in most NHL releases for the 09-10 NHL season at Canada Card World

ITG Ultimate 9th Edition - Stunning!

In The Game has released some of the hits which collectors will find within packs of ITG Ultimate 9th Edition which is being released in November.

One word: Phenomenal!








If you are interested in ordering ITG Ultimate 9th Edition please contact Canada Card World

09-10 UD Artifacts Checklist is Live

With 2009-10 UD NHL Artifacts set to release next week, it only makes sense for the checklist to appear. As usual, it's a scary checklist for many player collectors. The challenge of the season. Finding and capturing all that cardboard won't be easy.

UD NHL 2009-10 Artifacts Checklist

As usual, there are parallels galore. But within most of the 10 packs within each box, there are big hits to be had as well. Lots of short-prints, auto, rookies, and jerseys.



2009-10 UD NHL Artifacts will be available next week at Canada Card World

Who to Collect - Evander Kane

Only 18 years old, Evander Kane made the opening day line-up of the Atlanta Thrashers for the 2009-10 NHL season. Recently drafted 4th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Kane has the size, skill, and the name to be a big star in the league beside Ilya Kovalchuk on the currently rebuilding Atlanta team.



Kane helped Team Canada win gold medals with the national Under-18 team and at the World Junior Championships as well. He did not surprise many by making the Thrashers line-up immediately with his combination of effort and scoring. Kane has 4 points in his first 6 NHL games and will challenge for the Calder Trophy this season. Named after Evander Holyfield, this kid will be a heavyweight contender in card values for the next decade.

Kane has appeared previously in ITG Heroes and Prospects, however his first big Upper Deck card will be his UD Series One Young Gun (#205) and will be available this season at Canada Card World

UD Series One 2009-10 Young Guns Checklist

Well speak of the devil and the devil appears. Hot off the press from Upper Deck's Facebook group:
Here are all of the rookies in 09/10 NHL UD Series 1 ...

Young Guns

201 John Tavares
202 Victor Hedman
203 Matt Duchene
204 Ville Leino
205 Evander Kane
206 Michael Del Zotto
207 James Van Riemsdyk
208 Viktor Stalberg
209 Sergei Shirokov
210 Erik Karlsson
211 Dmitry Kulikov
212 Jamie Benn
213 Ryan O'Reilly
214 Tyler Myers
215 Jason Demers
216 Jay Rosehill
217 Brian Salcido
218 Luca Caputi
219 Spencer Machacek
220 Yannick Weber
221 Artem Anisimov
222 Ivan Vishnevskiy
223 Riku Helenius
224 Peter Regin
225 Antti Niemi
226 Byron Bitz
227 John Negrin
228 Ray Macias
229 Taylor Chorney
230 Mika Pyorala
231 Alec Martinez
232 Grant Lewis
233 Cal O'Reilly
234 Jesse Joensuu
235 Michal Neuvirth
236 John Scott
237 Benn Ferriero
238 Teemu Laakso
239 Jhonas Enroth
240 Matt Beleskey
241 T.J. Galiardi
242 Kris Chucko
243 James Wright
244 Joel Rechlicz
245 Matt Pelech
246 Christian Hanson
247 Matt Hendricks
248 Mike Santorelli
249 Frazer McLaren

Upper Deck Series One 2009-10 will be available in a few weeks at Canada Card World

UD Series One 2009-10 Young Guns - Partial List

With the release of Upper Deck Series One 2009-10 only a few weeks away, collectors are anxiously awaiting the release of which rookies will be included in the always popular Young Gun subset. Although not a complete list, Upper Deck released this information on their Facebook page:

Here's the key information you need to know about rookies in 2009/10 NHL UD1: One of the most-anticipated rookie classes in NHL history has arrived and 2009-10 Upper Deck Series One has it covered! From Islanders super-rookie John Tavares, to Colorado’s two-way sensation Matt Duchene, to Tampa Bay’s defenseman-extraordinaire Victor Hedman, this year’s Young Guns rookie subset is loaded with future hockey icons. Other standout RCs include 2009 Canadian World Junior Team standouts Evander Kane (Atlanta), Jamie Benn (Dallas) and Tyler Myers (Buffalo), as well as former first-round draft picks James Van Riemsdyk (Philadelphia), Erik Karlsson (Ottawa), and Michael Del Zotto (NY Rangers).

You can look for 'The Monster', Jonas Gustavsson in UD Series 2.

Upper Deck Series One 2009-10 will be available in a few weeks at Canada Card World

ITG Ultimate 9 Checklist Released

In The Game has released the checklist for ITG Ultimate Edition 9 which is set to be released on November 10, 2009.



ITG Ultimate 9th Edition Checklist

Production of this year's product has been reduced to just 1,500 boxes containing 7,500 packs. That means there will only be 22,500 cards in the entire print run of ITG Ultimate 9th Edition.



Not only does this product contain many future stars like John Tavares and Hall of Famers like Mario Lemieux and Vladislav Tretiak but it also contains cut signatures of some of the most infamous names in the game including Tim Horton, Ching Johnson, Art Ross, Turk Broda, Terry Sawchuk, Hap Day, Ace Bailey, Bill Durnan, Toe Blake, Punch Imlach, Harold Ballard, James Norris, Conn Smythe, Foster Hewitt, Jack Adams, and King Clancy.

Please contact Canada Card World if you're interested in one of the hottest releases in years.

Yzerman/Ovechkin - Exclusive to Upper Deck

In August, Upper Deck announced the signing of two-time NHL MVP Alexander Ovechkin and Hall-of-Famer Steve Yzerman to autograph products for the 2009-10 season.



Yzerman will appear as an autographed card in 2009-10 Black Diamond, SPx, and SP Game-Used as well as other products later in the season. His autograph has not appeared in Upper Deck products since 2005-06, however, he has appeared in various In The Game products during his absence from Upper Deck.



Alexander Ovechkin will appear exclusive to Upper Deck this fall. Ovechkin will also start to finally appear on packaging for various brands as well. After years of Sidney Crosby and Hall-of-Famers on virtually all boxes, collectors will finally see the best player in the NHL on the shelves as well.

UD Black Diamond, SPx, and SP Game-Used 2009-10 will be out soon and are available for pre-sale at Canada Card World

2009-10 NHL Upper Deck Rookie Boot Camp Video III

Victor Hedman and Jonas Gustavsson learn how to treat the mascot.



Hedman and Gustavsson should both be available as Young Guns in Upper Deck Series One 2009-10 which will be released next month and will be available at Canada Card World

Product Preview - 2009-10 UD NHL Artifacts

On October 27th, 2009, Upper Deck will unleash 2009-10 UD NHL Artifacts to the card collecting world. This will be the first mid-to-high end product released this season. Artifacts will be comprised of a 100 card base set along with short-printed Legends, Rookies, and Rookie Exchange cards. These exchange cards will be your first opporunity to collect Tavares, Hedman, Duchene, etc.



Each box will contain 10 packs. Included in the packs will be, on average, 3 memorablia cards, 2 rookie cards, 1 rookie exchange card, and often, in the past, I've received one autograph card as well. Besides these hits, you'll also receive various short-printed versions of cards. The hits are many, however for the player collector, this set is either a nightmare or the ultimate challenge depending on your viewpoint. Some players can have upwards of 20 or more cards in this set. However, this means more hits and more opportunity for great hits to the box breaker.



UD Artifacts 2009-10 is out soon and is available for pre-sale at Canada Card World

Branded NHL UD Rookie Shoot

Brought to you by The Score, Branded goes behind the scenes of the Upper Deck NHL rookie card shoot in Mississauga, Ontario. The potential future stars of the game discuss their collecting history and their favourite poses.

Updated NHL Hobby Box Release Dates

09/10 Upper Deck Artifacts Hockey - October 27th

ITG Ultimate Edition 9 Hockey - Early November
09/10 UD Black Hockey - November 3rd (new date)
09/10 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey - November 10th
09/10 Upper Deck MVP Hockey - December 1st
09/10 Upper Deck Black Diamond Hockey - December 15th

These products and more will be available at Canada Card World

Who to Collect (In Retrospect) - Steven Stamkos

Seems like a no-brainer, right?

Steven Stamkos was selected first overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and Tampa Bay put on a massive marketing campaign via their 'Seen Stamkos?' website. Although he arrived with great fanfare, Stamkos was heavily criticized for his lack of scoring during the first half of the season and was limited to 10 minutes or less of ice time in many games. In turn, his place in collector's hearts took a downturn as well. Many of his cards suffered on secondary markets and Steve Mason stole the fire of the 08-09 rookie season. Many collectors were wondering if this was all that Stamkos had to offer. Box breaks featuring Stamkos' RCs did not draw much excitement nor did his lacklustre 46 point season.



What many collectors missed out on was that Stamkos finished the season on an impressive run, with 19 points in his final 20 games. He continued to play well at the 2009 IIHF World Championships, combining with fellow Tampa Bay forward Martin St. Louis for 7 goals, 11 points and a plus 9 plus/minus rating. Stamkos has continued this fine play into the 2009-10 season with 6 points in his first 5 games. It's time to take notice again before it's too late and the deals are gone.

Upper Deck Series One 2008-09 containing Stamkos Young Gun RCs is out now and available at Canada Card World

2009-10 NHL UD Rookie Boot Camp Video II

Another clever entry in the Upper Deck Rookie Boot Camp Series



Note - Not all of these rookies will make it into this year's product.

Upper Deck Series One 2009-10 will be released next month and will be available at Canada Card World

ITG Redemptions for the 2009 Fall Expo in Toronto

In The Game will be at the Sport Card Expo in Toronto, Ontario on November 13th, 14th, and 15th, 2009, and will be handing out redemption cards to collectors who open specific boxes at their booth. As usual, this is a great promotion and a great bonus for those who enjoy ITG products. The products which may be redeemed this year are:

1972 - The Year In Hockey
Open any sealed box of "1972 - The Year In Hockey" and receive a redemption card made exclusively for the Fall Expo. There will be 21 different cards each featuring two pieces of authentic game-worn memorabilia. Each card will have 19 black versions, 9 silver versions and 1 gold 1/1. (Collectors can also qualify for a redemption card by opening five "1972 - The Year in Hockey" blaster boxes)

Ultimate Memorabilia - 9th Edition
Collectors opening boxes of "Ultimate Memorabilia 9th Edition" will be thrilled with the Redemption Program for this product. For each pack (not box) you open at the In The Game booth, you will receive a specially produced redemption card featuring players who wore a number nine on their jerseys. Each card will have 19 black versions, 9 silver versions and a 1/1 gold version. There will be 45 different cards produced including #9's Howe and Richard, #19's Yzerman and Sakic, #29's Dryden and Sawchuk, #91 Fedorov and Tavares, #99 and many more.

Superlative Hockey
If you want to open books of "Superlative Hockey Volume I", "Bleu Blanc et Rouge" or "Superlative Franchise", ITG has a Redemption Program for you as well. Bring your unopened book to the In The Game booth and receive three Superlative Redemption cards stamped 1/1 specially for the Fall Expo.

Note - In The Game will limit the number of cards being redeemed each day of the show.

For complete product checklists and information, please visit In The Game Trading Cards

In The Game "1972 - The Year In Hockey" is out now and available at Canada Card World

Who to Collect - Jonas Gustavsson

It's rare for collectors to be interested in a back-up goaltender who is about to turn 25 years old. However, in this case the goalie was considered the best player outside of the NHL and he is suiting up in the blue and white of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonas Gustavsson, nicknamed the Monster, recorded phenomenal statistics in the Swedish Elite League and if he can replicate that success in the NHL he will de-throne Vesa Toskala and become a superstar at the shrine of hockey in Canada, the Air Canada Centre.



A slow start out of the gate for the Toronto Maple Leafs has meant some confusion between the pipes. With no wins after 4 games the fans are getting restless and Toskala may be losing his grip on #1 status. Gustavsson has played well so far but is still adjusting to the North American style. If he gets his act together quickly, he will be this season's Steve Mason or Carey Price.

Jonas Gustavsson's first North American hockey cards will be available in this season's new products and will be available at Canada Card World

2009-10 NHL Upper Deck Rookie Boot Camp Video

A great idea from Upper Deck. They've been quite creative in their marketing by having fun and showing the lighter side of sports and collecting.



Note - Not all of these rookies will make it into this year's product. For example, Cody Hodgson was returned to his junior team and will be a longshot to receive a rookie card this season.

Upper Deck Series One 2009-10 will be released next month and will be available at Canada Card World

Who to Collect - Victor Hedman

Drafted 2nd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, standing 6'6 and 230 lbs., and already playing 25 minutes a night in the NHL at the age of 18, Victor Hedman is a phenom in the truest sense. After much decision-making over who to choose 1st overall, the Islanders selected John Tavares leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning with the pleasure of selecting the franchise defenseman who plays in a style reminiscent of Chris Pronger and Nicklas Lidstrom.



In terms of collecting, Victor Hedman is what some might regard as a 'tough call'. Although he is a top draft pick and has loads of talent, the hobby rarely gives the credit which is due to young defensemen or defensemen period. Many are moderately collected but even the best defensemen of the past few years rarely reach the level of flashy forwards or phenoms between the pipes. Hedman will have a massive following overseas... but Tampa Bay is not a hockey hotbed. There are many negatives and positives to consider when collecting Hedman or defensemen in general. In the grand scheme, I believe his cards will be on the same level as Dion Phaneuf when he entered the NHL in 2005-06. It's up to Victor Hedman and collectors to prove me wrong.

Hedman has appeared in previous releases of In The Game Ultimate and Heroes and Prospects, however his first NHLPA sanctioned hockey card releases will be available at Canada Card World

Who To Collect - James van Riemsdyk

Another top contender for the coveted Calder trophy will be this bruising forward for the Philadelphia Flyers. James van Riemsdyk is a 6'3 left wing with a little more seasoning than other rookies like John Tavares and Matt Duchene. He took the US College route to the NHL and also spent last season getting a taste of professional hockey in the AHL with the Philadelphia Phantoms.



This young Flyer forward was drafted in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft as the 2nd overall pick behind Patrick Kane. Already collecting points in the NHL, James van Riemsdyk should be a consistent entry on score sheets this season on a powerful Flyers team which should contend in the Eastern Conference.

Upper Deck NHL products in 2009-10 will carry James van Riemsdyk first professional hockey cards.

What To Collect - OPC NHL 2009-10

Anyone who knows hockey cards knows that there is one set that must be collected each year no matter what. O-Pee-Chee Hockey has been around since before many of us started collecting. It has seen good days and bad... it has worked in combo with Topps and it is now owned by Upper Deck. If you want cards of Hall of Famers, you no doubt want their OPC rookie card. Even though it is considered a low-end product due to its price point, collectors young and old, new and experienced, tend to break lots of packs or lots of boxes of this historic product.



In 2009-10, there is an awesome 600-card set that is the epitome of set collecting! It features a variation retro-set of the entire regular set. There are Canadian Heroes insert cards to collect, averaging 1 per box, which even contains some of the best women hockey players in Canada! Also returning this year are the laminated, rainbow foil inserts that shine as bright as the players! Although not deep in rookie cards, OPC contains RCs of players who debuted near the end of the '08/09 season. There are lots of hits and the ever-popular quad memorabilia and buyback cards. A must-buy!

OPC NHL 2009-10 is out now and available at Canada Card World

Upcoming NHL Hobby Box Release Dates

09/10 Upper Deck Artifacts Hockey - October 27th
ITG Ultimate Edition 9 - Early November
09/10 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey - November 10th
09/10 Upper Deck MVP Hockey - December 1st
09/10 Upper Deck Black Diamond Hockey - December 15th

Who To Collect - Matt Duchene

Last season was a horrible season to be a Colorado Avalanche fan. After years of being part of the elite crowd, Colorado took a nose-dive. Even worse, Joe Sakic announced his retirement. But while one franchise player left, a new one has appeared. A terrible showing on the ice meant a high draft choice in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and the Avalanche drafted a talented offensive beast by the name of Matt Duchene.



After two seasons with the Brampton Battalion, Duchene impressed the Avalanche coaching staff and has cracked the roster at the age of 18. With one point already and lots of minutes, this third overall draft choice will challenge John Tavares for the coveted Calder Trophy this season. He will also challenge collectors who will no doubt need to pay high prices to attain his rookie cards unless they're lucky enough to pull one from a pack.

Although previously available in ITG Heroes and Prospects, Matt Duchene's first NHLPA sanctioned hockey cards will be available in most Upper Deck NHL releases this season.

Who to Collect - John Tavares

In the NHL this season, fans will be catching Johnny Fever as they watch the New York Islanders young star light up the score board. If fans aren't catching the fever, they'll be hoping to catch some John Tavares 2009-10 NHL rookie cards from various Upper Deck NHL products. Whether it's low-end, middle-tier, or high-end, collectors will be craving this young stars hockey cards.



John Tavares was selected 1st overall in the July 2009 NHL Entry Draft after a career in the OHL which saw him break numerous offensive records including one held previously by Wayne Gretzky. Now that he has appeared in his first NHL game, one that saw him record one goal and one assist, Upper Deck will be able to showcase him in their winter line-up. The early favourite for Rookie of the Year, John Tavares should create a buzz similar to that created in 2005-06 when we saw Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby set the hobby on fire.

Tavares has appeared in previous releases of In The Game Ultimate, Superlative, and Heroes and Prospects, however these will be his first NHLPA sanctioned hockey card releases.