It is not every day that a sports franchise turns 100, and even less often does anything collectible manage to encapsulate such a monumental milestone in a way that pays proper homage to its storied history. As the Detroit Red Wings prepare to celebrate a century of glory, grit, and greatness on the ice, the folks at Upper Deck have crafted a fitting tribute for the ages. The 2025-26 Upper Deck Detroit Red Wings Centennial Box Set is a magnificent ode to one of the NHL’s most iconic and enduring teams, capturing the magic and milestones that have made them a pillar of professional hockey.

The Red Wings’ saga began on September 26, 1926, when they first took to the ice known as the Detroit Cougars. It was not until 1932 that they adopted the winged wheel and the name by which all hockey fans recognize them today. Over the years, they have become synonymous with excellence, amassing an impressive 11 Stanley Cup victories. Names like Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, and Nicklas Lidström have become legends under the Red Wings banner, and their exploits on the ice are as much a part of NHL folklore as they are memory lanes for countless fans.

The Centennial Box Set from Upper Deck is a curated marvel that every fan—from the fervent to the fledgling—can appreciate. With each set, collectors will discover 100 base cards that detail the rich expanse of Red Wings history. It is a treasure trove spotlighting pivotal players, epoch-defining moments, and the team’s evolution through each significant era.

But the delights do not stop at the century-spanning base set. There lies within each box a chance to unearth still more rarities, with three Gold Parallels adding a touch of glittering elegance to the collection. Furthermore, the coup de grâce for those determined enough is the limited 100th Anniversary Parallel, a token of exclusivity that mirrors the Wings’ prestige.

Yet what would a reflection on such a prosperous franchise be without tipping its hat to the squads that broke the championship drought? Enter the Back to Greatness insert, offering a nostalgia-laden look back at the clinching campaign of the 1996-97 season—the season that rekindled Detroit’s championship flame and reignited their dynasty.

For autograph hunters and seekers of the extraordinary, the Centennial Box Set holds further allure. Some cards are bestowed with autograph parallels, transforming them into veritable parchment dreams on ice. With approximately two signed beauties per sealed case, these treasured items are peppered into the set, offering buyers a scintillating opportunity to obtain a cherished slice of Red Wings history, inked by the very heroes whose skates have graced Detroit arenas over the decades.

Not to rest on this remarkable release, Upper Deck has future plans to stoke the passions of hobbyist and amateur collector alike. They have announced an expanded hobby edition set to roll out in February 2026. While specifics remain under wraps, there is ample reason to anticipate more enthralling parallels, inserts, and autograph content with this edition, likely aimed at those whose collecting zest is matched only by the devotion of Detroit’s diehard fan base.

Moving on to the logistics that make a collector’s heart sing: each box contains a single pack, but it is a pack brimming with a centennial’s worth of wonders, amalgamated into 105 carefully crafted cards. With 20 boxes making up a case, the rarity and value become as much a draw as the contents themselves. The planned launch date for this unique endeavor is November 5, 2025, and while that date remains flexible, the excitement bubbling ahead of this key release is anything but.

In an age where instant gratification often reigns, the Centennial Box Set stands out by urging fans to pause, remember, and revel in a century of Red Wings hockey. It is a promising keepsake of a chapter that is still being written. Whether you are a veteran collector, a Red Wings devotee, or simply a lover of the game, the 2025-26 Upper Deck Detroit Red Wings Centennial Box Set is an invitation to embark on a journey through a celebrated past that promises to inspire for another hundred years.

2025-26 Upper Deck Detroit Red Wings