After a lengthy absence from the thrilling and occasionally icy domain of hockey collectibles, Topps is making a surprise return that has left fans and collectors intrigued, albeit slightly perplexed. Is the venerable Topps brand ready to reclaim its throne in the realm of hockey trading cards? Well, sort of. It all begins with an unexpected product launch that might just catch you off-guard unless you’re familiar with the brand’s tendency to keep fans guessing.
For the devoted followers of puck and pageantry, the last appearance of NHL-licensed hockey trading cards by Topps dates back to the 2003-2004 season. Since then, Topps was unceremoniously benched as Upper Deck took the exclusive rights to the NHL’s trading card license and played on without competition. But just when the hockey card game seemed frozen solid, a glimmer of change appeared on the horizon, like the first bloom after a long winter.
The mysterious hand behind Topps’ skates-on-the-ice comeback is none other than Fanatics, the enthusiastic purveyor of all things sports, which now controls Topps. On April 3rd, Topps Under Wraps: Emanate 2024-25 will make its debut, redefining the way collectors engage with hockey memorabilia. Defying the traditional norms of trading cards, this product offers something akin yet wildly different – an autographed 8×10 photo artfully designed to capture the essence of an oversized trading card replete with mesmerizing front and back artwork.
Longtime collector and expert of the intricacies of the hobby, Sal Barry, candidly remarked in his PuckJunk.com newsletter, “These even have photos and information on the back,” making them seem more like a tangible love letter to the cherished traditions of trading cards. In a market oversaturated with superficial mini packs, Topps has chosen to elevate the experience with genuine craftsmanship, ensuring each photo is individually hand-signed and outlined with serial numbers and holograms to assert authenticity.
As if this premium approach wasn’t enough to quicken pulse rates, Topps also brings an irresistible layer of chase to the table. Collectors can dive into the colorful possibilities of six different color variants: Gold (numbered to 50), Orange (to 25), Blue (to 10), Red (to 5), and Iridescent, a spectacular one-of-a-kind edition.
The checklist is awash with more than 70 iconic names from the NHL’s repertoire, spanning all 32 teams. Old-school legends mix effortlessly with today’s superstars. Imagine the exhilaration of owning a piece featuring the signatures of Connor Bedard, Auston Matthews, Alexander Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon, or Igor Shesterkin. Dream even bigger with multi-generation connections like Macklin Celebrini or Hall of Famer Mark Messier making their mark in this limited series collection.
Hold your breath as Topps furthers the excitement with an extraordinarily rare, triple-signed, and meticulously inscribed masterpiece marking the 1/1 ultimate find featuring show-stoppers Ovechkin, Bedard, and Matthews. Fans seeking to rip packs to unveil rookies or stack base-parallel-variants will be in for a surprise—but not disappointment.
Retailing at $130, each box is a curated dive into the elegance of hockey history, packaged thoughtfully in a magnetic, ready-to-display folio case. With Fanatics at the helm, Topps has teased the imagination, posing the question of what other boundaries they will cross next. The ice has been broken, but will floods of innovative memorabilia follow?
As Topps wades back into the water of hockey collecting, it’s clear they are not simply testing the ice but refining it into a new mirror that reflects a love for the game and its admirers. These autographed photographs dressed like trading cards suggest a looming era where collectibles aren’t merely items of nostalgia but vivid manifestations of a beloved sport’s spirit.
Though Topps doesn’t appear in its former garb, it makes waves strong enough to hint at broader expansions in the sport’s memorabilia market. Perhaps one day, it will return to the full spectrum of hockey card collecting, but until then, Emanate has laid down a promising first step on the ice. What heights will Topps reach next as history and innovation dance hand-in-hand under Fanatics’ watchful gaze? Only time and perhaps another surprising product launch will tell.
