The world of hockey collectibles is warming up again with a surprising return from Topps. Once an iconic player in the hockey trading card domain, Topps has been absent for nearly two decades until a recent announcement left fans and collectors buzzing. However, this comeback is not in the familiar form of small cardboard rectangles but rather through an innovative twist and collaboration with their parent company, Fanatics.
Back in the days of slap shots and ice-filled arenas, Topps was synonymous with NHL trading cards. This classical endeavor came to an abrupt halt in the 2003-04 season as their dominance thawed away, melting into a puddle of nostalgia when Upper Deck secured the exclusive rights to the league’s trading card universe. Since then, those eager for a Topps hockey revival have been left daydreaming about what once was. Fast forward to now, and Topps is brushing away the dust and skating back, albeit not in the traditional rookie cards format.
April 3 marks a noteworthy day for fans and collectors alike. It’s on this date that Topps, under the umbrella of the sports merchandise titan Fanatics, will launch a new product sure to entice hockey aficionados: Topps Under Wraps: Emanate 2024-25. An intriguing venture, Emanate is not a trading card release in the strictest sense. Instead, each package contains an 8×10 autographed photo that echoes the aesthetic and layout of an oversized card. With vivid fronts and informative backs, these are more like art pieces for the modern collector.
Sal Barry, an avid collector and dealer, expressed some enthusiasm about these unique offerings in his PuckJunk.com newsletter. He highlighted the creativity involved in translating the trading card format into an oversized collectible with back-of-the-card details. These handy collectibles are not just for show – each Emanate photograph comes individually hand-signed, with not a single sticker autograph in sight. Each photo is serial-numbered and outfitted with a hologram, adding a layer of authenticity and exclusivity.
To further entice collectors, Topps has introduced a variety of color variants for these oversized prints. With options like Gold numbered out of 50, to the particularly limited Iridescent which is a singular one-of-one, completing a collection is both a challenge and a rewarding endeavor. As if fans needed any more reason to be champing at the bit, the roster of players contributing to this venture is a who’s who of hockey royalty. From classic legends such as Mark Messier to contemporary stars like Connor Bedard, Auston Matthews, Alexander Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon, and Igor Shesterkin, the Emanate series promises a rich tapestry of talent.
However, Topps hasn’t stopped there. The company will sprinkle even more magic with rare multi-signed editions. Among these sought-after pieces, collectors might find a dazzling 1/1 triple-signed and inscribed print featuring none other than the trifecta of Ovechkin, Bedard, and Matthews—a veritable holy grail for the serious collector.
Shoppers willing to dive into this venture will find each box priced at around $130, each containing one oversized photo ready for display. The photos come housed in magnetic-ready-to-display folio cases, presenting an opportunity for collectors not only to own a piece of hockey history but also to showcase it with sophistication.
As exciting as all this sounds, the question looms: is Topps truly back in hockey? The verdict? Kind of. Not in the sense of ripping packs open to unveil rookie sensations, or chasing after base parallel variants that fill countless binders and display stands. Instead, with Emanate, Topps has begun a more subtle, yet equally innovative dance back into the icy spotlight. Given that Fanatics, a driving force behind the biggest names and licenses in sports hobbies, is steering this ship, it’s not hard to imagine that this could just be the tip of the iceberg for Topps’ future endeavors in the hockey world.
Thus, while the trading card giants’ full-fledged return might still be a distant dream, the current offering from Topps offers collectors something both familiar and novel—a taste of nostalgia with a modern twist. A new era for Topps has begun and for fans of hockey and collecting alike, it’s certainly something to look forward to. Who knows what could come next? Much like an overtime shootout, the endgame is uncertain, but the excitement of what’s to come is almost palpable.
