Leaf putting out Best of Hockey in March

Posted Jan 16, 2013 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Mar 27, 2013 at 09:36 PM

It’s good to read about news from hockey camps with players rounding into shape, rather than plowing through articles about stalled negotiations and lockouts.

Yes, hockey is back. The Lightning open their season Saturday night against Washington.

Card companies are gearing up, too. Upper Deck released its SP Game Used Hockey set on Tuesday, and execs there must be thrilled with the timing of their product release.

Leaf is getting into the act, too, announcing a March release of its 2013 Best of Hockey set. A box of “Best of” will contain only two cards — one graded card (or a redemption card) and a sketch card.

The redemption card possibilities are varied. For example, Leaf notes on its sell sheet that redemptions could be for sealed boxes of Upper Deck Cup from 2005-06 and beyond; sealed vintage packs from the 1979-80 season to the present; graded rookie cards; autograph, relic or autograph/relic cards; and graded vintage cards, including those of Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr.

The sketch cards will be “hand-drawn or painted” 1/1 cards of a hockey legend, superstar or highly rated rookie. Leaf is also promising randomly inserted 1/1 autograph sketch cards of Howe.

There will be two cards to a box, and three boxes to a case.

Not sure of the pricing yet for hockey, but here’s an idea of what Leaf’s other “Best of” cards are going for: football was selling in the $200 range, baseball in the $250, and basketball was going for $389.