First Look: 2014-15 Upper Deck Series 2
By Stephen Laroche | Beckett Hockey Editor
Even though the first series has barely hit store shelves, plans for 2014-15 Upper Deck Series 2 have just been released and hockey collectors can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that a Young Guns card of Tampa Bay Lightning rookie Jonathan Drouin is on the way.
Hitting the hobby in February, this release will also be bolstered by the presence of several other top freshmen which should include Andre Burakovsky of the Washington Capitals and recent debut Bo Horvat of the Vancouver Canucks. The popular Rookie Materials cards are set to return as well along with O-Pee-Chee Update Rookies that will help finish off that well-loved set.
There is much more than just rookie content expected in packs, however. Find out more after the jump.
As expected, there will be a large 200-card basic set which features the photography collectors have come to expect from Upper Deck over the past 25 seasons. UD Canvas will continue in packs as well and several Young Guns are in it as well plus shortprinted cards of NHL greats and Program of Excellence graduates. In addition to the O-Pee-Chee Rookies mentioned above, there will be base set cards along with Retro and Red Border parallels.
Upper Deck has also added some more value to packs with all-new UD Portraits cards. This “set within a set” is expected to be popular with collectors as there will be rare rookie and legend content.
The Hockey Heroes insert collection appears to draw to a close as well with the current decade being covered. A staple in the brand in recent years, there is always great interest in the autographed versions which fall at traditionally long odds. There will also be the final group of cards for the incredibly scarce Day With The Cup set that features members of the Los Angeles Kings. Naturally, hobbyists will also be able to find UD Game Jersey cards, which have been a staple in the product for well over a decade.
Stephen Laroche is the editor of Beckett Hockey and Beckett Basketball magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at SLaroche@beckett.com.
Follow him on Twitter @Stephen_Laroche.
Again, Upper Deck do what they do the best by forcing people to by differante brand to complete one set.