Upper Deck Series 2 has long been a staple in the hockey card collecting world, bridging the gap between the initial Series 1 release and the excitement of the upcoming season.
The 2024-25 edition continues the legacy of providing collectors with a comprehensive look at the NHL’s rising stars and established legends.
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Upper Deck burst onto the sports card scene with a landmark 1989 baseball release that revolutionized the hobby. The company made its hockey debut for the 1990/91 season, and it was nothing short of transformative.
At a time when hockey cards were often released sporadically or with lower-quality designs, Upper Deck approached the market with unprecedented seriousness. Where Topps and O-Pee-Chee cards had been relatively unremarkable, Upper Deck’s set was lovely from the start.
The initial Upper Deck Hockey set consisted of 550 cards, but its distribution was unique. Unlike the Series 1 and Series 2 format we know today, the company initially released a Low Series of 400 cards and a High Series of 150 cards.
This somewhat awkward division was soon refined into the more balanced, equal-sized Series 1 and Series 2 format that has become a yearly tradition.
The late 1990s marked a pivotal moment with the introduction of the Young Guns cards in their modern design. These rookie cards quickly became the most coveted element of the release, achieving a status that rookie cards in other flagship sets couldn’t match.
The Young Guns subset has become the hobby’s most anticipated and collected rookie card series.
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Throughout its history, Upper Deck has maintained an impressive standard of quality. While there have been occasional exceptions, the company has largely stayed true to its original commitment to exceptional card design, photography, and collectibility.
Upper Deck Hockey has consistently set the benchmark for sports card collecting from the intricate details of player photography to the card stock quality.
The Series 2 release specifically evolved to become more than just a continuation of Series 1. It became a crucial mid-season checkpoint for collectors, offering:
Upper Deck created a narrative approach to hockey card collecting by dividing the annual release into two series. Series 1 captures the excitement of the season’s start, while Series 2 provides a complete picture of the year’s emerging talents and established stars.
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The 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey drops on March 5, 2025, perfectly positioned within the NHL season’s final stretch. Scheduled less than two months before the regular season’s conclusion, this release captures the year’s most dynamic player performances and late-season rookie call-ups.
After years of frustratingly late releases – including a notorious June drop in 2022 and an April release in 2023 – Upper Deck has found its sweet spot.
The March 5 launch represents a return to collector-friendly timing, offering fans a comprehensive mid-season snapshot that balances emerging talent, established stars, and the season’s evolving narrative.
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Upper Deck continues its tried-and-true approach with multiple product tiers:
The release maintains Upper Deck’s tradition of providing multiple collecting formats with varied chase opportunities, catering to different collector preferences and budgets.
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Comprehensive Rookie Card Selection: Collectors are buzzing about the potential rookie lineup.
One Blowout Forums user noted, “Some good news is that UD is pretty much going to be forced to put both Celebrini and Michkov in Series 2,” highlighting the excitement around emerging NHL talents. Reddit discussions show collectors are particularly keen on tracking which rookies will cut.
Substantial Autograph Checklist: The Series 2 release has been a collector favorite. Just about every hockey collector has a long history with Young Guns. Most hockey collectors have a long history with Young Guns rookie cards.
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The 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey cards promise an evolution of the brand’s signature aesthetic. Sources indicate the release will feature “eye-popping cards” with a new 2024-25 season design, continuing Upper Deck’s reputation for visually striking card designs.
Consistent with previous releases, the base cards are anticipated to maintain Upper Deck’s high-quality photography and clean, professional layout. The design will likely balance dynamic action shots with crisp, readable typography, ensuring each card tells a compelling visual story of the player and the moment.
Potential Overproduction Concerns: The number of rookie debuts has been declining, which could impact the series’ collectibility. One collector noted that “There were only 120 debuts last year. And exactly 120 debuts the year before. And this year’s trend is worse than last year.”
Quality Control Issues: There have been historical concerns about card quality and manufacturing. One forum post highlighted that “Upper Deck has outright acknowledged the product they manufactured and sold was highly defective, but has refused to honor the quality and responsibilities.”
Pricing and Accessibility: While specific details for the 2024-25 release are not yet confirmed, previous releases have been criticized for their pricing and accessibility for collectors.
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The 2024-25 checklist demonstrates Upper Deck’s commitment to comprehensive representation. With approximately 250 base cards and an extended rookie card subset, the set offers a panoramic view of the NHL landscape.
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The 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey rookie class promises to be one of the most anticipated in recent years. Macklin Celebrini, the consensus No. 1 draft pick selected by the San Jose Sharks, headlines the rookie crop.
Beyond Celebrini, the rookie class features several compelling prospects:
The 2024 group offers a more balanced talent pool than recent draft classes. While not overtly strong as the 2023 draft, it provides significant depth and potential. NHL.com’s fantasy rankings place Celebrini as the top rookie, with an early favorite status for the Calder Trophy.
He received 72 voting points, including 10 first-place votes from a 16-person panel. While he hasn’t had the same buzz as Connor Bedard, his chances of being the next big thing are very high.
Series 1 Young Guns
Series 2 Young Guns
Autograph content is a particular weakness in this release. The advertisements for it do not include any signed cards, and the early versions of the checklist only include one kind of auto, the Base Snow Spray Autographs. Sure, autographs have never been a major part of this release, but come on.
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The 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey offers an engaging array of insert sets extending beyond the base card collection.
A continuation from Series 1, these cards feature a unique twist with backgrounds created by Luke the Cardist. Collectors can find:
Expanding on previous releases, this subset includes:
A Series 2 staple with base versions featuring a red backdrop (1:36 hobby packs). Parallel versions include:
Dazzlers, Population Count, and UD Portraits return with new card selections, providing continuity from Series 1.
The 2024-25 Series 2 represents solid mid-season value. While not usually as explosive as Series 1, it offers collectors a more nuanced experience. However, this release includes Celebrini, arguably the cream of the crop here. Therefore, these boxes could have exceptional value.
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What can we expect from the wax and singles market for this release? Usually, they are solid but unspectacular. That should be what we see now as well.
| 2018-19 Upper Deck Hockey Series 2 Hobby Box | $136 |
| 2019-20 Upper Deck Hockey Series 2 Hobby Box | $259.95 |
| 2020-21 Upper Deck Hockey Series 2 Hobby Box | $89.95 |
| 2021-22 Upper Deck Hockey Series 2 Hobby Box | $49.95 |
| 2022-23 Upper Deck Hockey Series 2 Hobby Box | $89.99 |
| 2023-24 Upper Deck Hockey Series 2 Hobby Box | $219.95 |
A new box is selling for $140. Only two of these boxes are worth more than that. Both significantly more. That isn’t super promising. But with a Celebrini rookie in here, there is a decent chance you will make some money off this box.
It isn’t the best investment ever. But I bet it will end up closer to $200 than $100 in a few years. $300 wouldn’t shock me either.
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We all love Young Guns and UD Canvas cards. But how much are they worth? What are the best cards you can pull from this release? Here are the best card sales from the last couple of years in the previous three months.
| 2005 UPPER DECK SERIES 2 ALEXANDER OVECHKIN YOUNG GUNS ROOKIE RC #443 PSA 10 | $5,307 |
| CONNOR BEDARD SIGNED 2023 UPPER DECK YOUNG GUNS ROOKIE CARD #451 PSA AUTO 10 | $3,999 |
| 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 2 – #328 Josh Mahura Gold Outburst 1/1 (TAG 10) | $800 |
| 2023 UPPER DECK SERIES 2 #283 MARTIN NECAS 1/1 GOLD OUTBURST | $560 |
Going over the sales, it was really striking that aside from Connor Bedard cards and Alex Ovechkin rookies, few cards from this release have any real value. Therefore, there are concerns that few singles will be worth anything, even if a couple of players here do pan out.
Macklin Celebrini’s presence gives this release a significant boost. Unlike some years when the rookie class feels underwhelming, the 2024 draft provides genuine excitement. Celebrini isn’t just another prospect; he’s a potential generational talent who could elevate the entire set’s long-term value.
Financially, the 2024-25 Series 2 is in an interesting space. It’s not a guaranteed investment home run, but it’s far from a bust. Collectors should approach it with measured expectations: the potential for moderate appreciation, with Celebrini’s cards serving as the primary value driver.
For hardcore collectors, this is a must-have. For investors, it’s a calculated risk with a promising upside. Upper Deck hasn’t reinvented the wheel, but they’ve refined it—again.
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