COMING ATTRACTIONS
2022 23 SP GAME USED
WHAT IS IT?: Just when you think you’ve seen every possible type of relic card, SP Game Used comes along and says, “But have you seen this?” Each box offers six cards, highlighted by an autograph or a premium memorabilia card, with three additional relics or premium inserts. And if you’re lucky, I mean really lucky, you’ll pull a base card.
THE BASICS: Collecting SPGU’s 230-card base set might pose the hobby’s biggest challenge. e print run for each player is based on their jersey number. is means no more than 97 copies for any card, and typically many fewer … possibly some in the single digits.
e parallel situation is a bit of a scramble. Look for Red (/200 + the player’s age), Gold (/100 + the player’s dra year), Purple (5/5), and Green (1/1). Rookies alone will have new Crystal versions 25/25.
In addition, select cards get signature and/ or memorabilia upgrades, including premium pieces like patches and tags. e final copy of some base cards (ie 5/5, 29/29) will feature an autograph.
CHASE HIGHLIGHTS: SPGU has created a unique niche for itself by featuring relics from NHL special events including All-Star festivities and various outdoor games. 2022 NHL All-Star Jersey cards, for example, drop 1:3 packs. Parallels include Patches (/49) and Tags (/2). 2022 NHL All-Star Jersey Duals are 1:20 packs with Patch (/35) and Tag (1/1) parallels. Tough Trio and Quad versions are also available. Other familiar memorabilia cards from 2022 All-Star events include Jumbo Fight Strap (/3) and Logo Patch (1/1), while Jersey Banner (1:10), Locker Nameplates, All-Star Accuracy (/25), and Mascot Dodgeball (/25) are among the original concepts.
2022 NHL Stadium Series Jersey cards (1:15) have Patches (/35), Tags (/2), and Logo (1/1) versions. Net Cords cards (/35) come from the 2022 All-Star Game, Heritage Classic, Stadium Series, Winter Classic, and Stanley Cup Finals. All of these have Gold parallels numbered to 5. Puck pieces are available from each of these events as well. Board glass taken from the Stanley Cup Finals has also been embedded into cards.
Banner Year returns with base cards from the All-Star Game (1:5), Stanley Cup Final
(1:11), Heritage Classic (1:20), Winter Classic (1:20), and Stadium Series (1:22). Some Banner Year cards also have autographs.
Other relic themes include Authentic Fabrics (1:10), Rookie Sweaters (1:10), Frameworks (1:20), Back-to-Back All-Stars (1:240), Rookie Blends (/150), A Piece of History (/99), STI-XL (/25), Supreme Materials (/15), and Supreme Patches (/15). Dra Day Marks return with manufactured letter patches and autographs, with each letter of the player’s name limited to 35 copies. Mascot Marks debuts with a similar approach.
Vintage designs include 2001 SPGU Retro Rookies Crossover and 2001-02 SPGU Retro Rookies (/99). Both have Gold parallels (/25).
New concepts include Rookie Outbursts (1:15, Autographs 1:20), and Rally Time, which feature a swatch of team-issued rally towel (/50).
WHAT DO YOU THINK?: In a sea of sometimes indistinguishable releases, SPGU has created a unique and readily identifiable approach for itself that makes for a fun break and a challenging secondary market shelf life. Seems like a pretty good formula.