For true hockey aficionados and card collectors, the arrival of the 2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series is nothing short of a holiday. This remarkable card set completes the trifecta of annual releases, slotting in brilliantly alongside Series 1 and Series 2 to culminate in a masterful lineup for the year. The Extended Series not only expands this season’s collection to an impressive total of 750 cards, but also introduces fresh faces, updated imagery, and plenty of hidden treasures that make uncovering each card a small yet thrilling adventure.

At the heart of this collection is a robust set of 250 cards. Of these, the first 200 showcase veterans who are either donning new teams’ jerseys or have been updated with the latest images, adding an air of novelty and excitement. However, the pièce de résistance for many collectors lies in the final 50 cards dedicated to the revered Young Guns and 1st Round Rookies subsets. These cards, each a short-printed gem, have the potential to make or break a collector’s season and, with some luck, provide a glimpse into the future stars of hockey.

The Extended Series is also seasoned with a sumptuous selection of parallel cards that come with varying degrees of rarity. These parallels—each a bit like finding a golden ticket—range in scarcity from being found once every several packs to the almost mythological status of the Outburst Gold, a unique 1/1 card that collectors dream of pulling.

Here’s the lowdown on them:

– Outburst Parallel is featured once every 30 hobby packs and even more elusive in blaster packs.

– Clear Cut cards make an appearance once in every 96 packs.

– Deluxe cards offer a more numerated rarity, limited to just 250.

– Exclusives crank up the heat, numbered to a cool 100.

– Outburst Red slim down further, numbered just to 25.

– High Gloss cards up the ante with only 10 in existence, adding that extra rarity chase.

– Finally, the Outburst Gold, the unicorn of the collection—a single card, unique in all its glittery grandeur.

In what feels like a grand family reunion of inserts, several fan favorites return with a bang. The beloved UD Canvas cards are back, vibrant as ever, making up a color-rich visual feast and appearing with laudable frequency in each hobby box. These include subsets like the Young Guns, a collective cheer for NHL All-Stars and longtime legends.

Another treat for card connoisseurs is the stunning Dazzlers series, where Blue, and the more elusive Pink, versions gleam with joy, occasionally finding themselves pressed onto Printing Plates. Exclusive to Blaster boxes are the Green Dazzlers, enticing collectors with their vibrant deviation.

Stepping onto the ice for the first time are the Oracles—two parts hockey, one part whimsical mysticism. These tarot card-inspired inserts add a sprinkle of the unknown with their SP and SSP rarities, titillating the imagination and creating a delightful layer of collectibility.

Nostalgia buffs will also rejoice at the return of classical inserts from Upper Deck’s illustrious history. Pros and Prospects, Beehive, Upper Deck Encore, and UD3 none go unnoticed. Complement these with the Trilogy Rookie Premiere, and you’ve got a recapture of the nostalgia harnessed perfectly for the present-day collector.

Upper Deck hasn’t merely satisfied the modern collector’s checklist—they’ve structured Hobby and Blaster boxes to test even the most seasoned enthusiast. Each box promises a party of cards, adding dimension and value to the collecting experience. There’s a well-organized abundance awaiting within, from Beehive and Upper Deck Encore cards to the dramatic splendor of Blue Dazzlers and Oracles collections.

Common configurations include:

– Cards Per Pack: Hobby and Blaster both make a neat dozen.

– Packs Per Box: Hobby tops at 12, Blaster delivers at 4.

– Cases Conceal: Hobby holds its journey with 12 boxes, Blaster steps it up to 20.

– Set Your Sights: A complete 250-card set, earmarked for May 29, 2025.

A typical hobby box might yield an eight-pack feast of Pros and Prospects or Upper Deck Encore, laced with two Oracles and underscored by a duo of Triple Dimensions Reflections. UD Canvas becomes a loyal companion across four slots, while the distinctive Young Guns or 1st Round Rookies tease the senses in their occasional presence.

There are also special finds like Clear Cut, Black and White UD Canvas, or the elusive SSP Oracles to keep collectors on their toes, ensuring that even the most packed box can hold marvels waiting to be unearthed.

Overall, this iteration of the Upper Deck Extended Series weaves a narrative that is as unpredictable as it is engaging. Whether the cards unlock a treasure trove of rookie talent, rekindle a passion with nostalgic inserts, or redefine rarity itself with borders of gold and gloss, 2024-25 promises a riveting chapter in collecting history. In the end, perhaps the beauty of this collection is more than the cards themselves—it’s the stories they create, connect, and inspire.

2024-25 Upper Deck Extended Series Hockey