Why 2025/26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey Is Collectable But Not A Good Investment

The first hockey release for the 2025-26 season is here. It isn’t necessarily anyone’s favorite release on the calendar.

But it is a solid and fun way to move towards the following season, which starts on October 10, 2025. Upper Deck MVP Hockey has always been an early glimpse into what’s to come — a chance to see the fresh rookies, recent trades, and early buzz around the league.

While it may not have the flashiest designs or the biggest hits, it holds a steady place in the hobby as a dependable, all-foil set that collectors appreciate.

So, is this year’s edition worth adding to your collection? Stick around for our full 2025-26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey review.

History of Upper Deck MVP Hockey

Upper Deck MVP Hockey first launched in the 1998-99 season as a value-oriented, all-foil set designed to offer many base cards at an affordable price, appealing mainly to younger collectors and set builders.

Though it didn’t stick around initially and was dropped after one year, MVP returned in 2011-12 as an insert before returning as a standalone release.

Its signature foil design is subtle and classy, avoiding flashy rainbows but standing out.

Upper Deck has held the NHL license since 1990 and has carefully curated its hockey card lineup. MVP became a steady early-season release, only missing the 2004-05 lockout year during its first run through 2009-10.

Early sets included fun promotions like a “draw your own card” contest and occasional autograph hits, adding to the set’s appeal.

When MVP was relaunched in 2011-12, it shifted focus to insert-heavy content while remaining friendly to set collectors.

Silver script parallels were once the main attraction, but lost some shine as more low-numbered parallels and autographs appeared. Despite that, MVP remains a dependable and well-liked product, known for its unique foil style and role as a gateway to the new NHL season.

2025/26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey release date

The date for this release has yet to be announced. However, it has traditionally dropped in August or September.

That means we can expect these cards at least a month before the season starts. October 10, 2025. Upper Deck has done a fantastic job of getting these out promptly, more so than with other products, probably because it is a signpost of the new coming season and a way to get off on the right foot.

2025/26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey release formats

The release is very retail-heavy and is built around blasters and such in the retail stores. But the hobby box is a good source for the bigger hits.

Hobby Box

• 8 cards per pack
• 20 packs per box
• Each box typically contains 10 Base Set SP’s & Rookies Cards, 5 Base Set – Silver Script Parallel Cards, 4 Mascot and/or Hello My Name Is Sticker Cards, 10 Coming to Your Rink, Rising to the Occasion, Net Presence, and/or Mascot Battle Cards, and 1 Rare Card per box on average.
• A box sells for around $59.95
• A case (20 boxes) retails around $1,129.95

Retail Box

• 7 cards per pack
• 36 packs per box
• 20 boxes per case
• The prices are not yet known

Blaster Box

• 6 cards per pack.
• 10 regular packs + 1 bonus pack per box.
• Look for Blaster Exclusive Gold Script parallels.
• 20 boxes per case
• Blaster boxes retail around $19.95
• A case retails around $374.95

2025/26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey pros

The most significant selling points of the 2025-26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey are clear from the jump. First, it’s affordable—hobby boxes hover around the $60 mark, which is rare nowadays for a product that still delivers a solid card count and engaging content.

Plus, it drops well before the NHL season, making it a perfect way to get excited about hockey without breaking the bank.

Design-wise, MVP Hockey sticks to its roots with that classic all-foil look. While it’s not reinventing the wheel, the cards look sharp and well-crafted, showing Upper Deck still cares about the visual appeal even at this price point.

Fair warning, though: if you’re not a fan of pink accents, these cards lean into that color a bit heavily this year, which might not be everyone’s jam.

MVP has always been about volume and value. You won’t find the crazy bargain boxes of the late ’90s anymore, but around 160 cards per box still offers plenty to dig through.

The real hook, though, is in the inserts. MVP consistently delivers imaginative and attractive inserts that keep collectors coming back. This balance of affordable base cards plus eye-catching inserts makes the set approachable for younger collectors and a fun, low-pressure chase for set builders.

The buzz around the 2025-26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey design is generally positive among collectors who appreciate its classic foil style.

While the design isn’t revolutionary, many fans like that it sticks to the tasteful, clean foil look MVP is known for, rather than going overboard with flashy effects. Its design feels familiar enough to longtime MVP fans while offering fresh elements to keep things interesting.

2025/26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey cons

There’s a trade-off for getting these cards so early in the season. Because the 2024-25 NHL season ends right before the MVP’s release, the 2025-26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey cards don’t include updated stats from the previous season.

For most collectors, that’s not a big deal since stats on the back aren’t the main draw anymore, but if you care about that, it’s worth noting.

One common gripe is that MVP Hockey has taken a hit regarding quality and content, especially regarding autographs and rare hits. A few years back, pulling multiple Colors and Contours cards in a box was normal; now, you’re typically guaranteed just one.

Signed cards are scarce, too—Upper Deck has kept the autograph checklist minimal, which feels like a missed opportunity for a product that prides itself on affordability.

It seems like a clear business move: keep the price low but limit the real chase cards. That might make sense on paper, but comparing it to Upper Deck Series 1 and Series 2, which offer a richer experience and more hits, raises the question of why spend on MVP when you could wait a bit longer for those flagship releases.

MVP generates buzz at release as a sign the hockey season is near, but its cards lose value fast once Series 1 drops and fade into obscurity by Series 2. So, don’t expect long-term value here—unless you get fortunate with a rare hit, the odds aren’t in your favor.

But the worst problem here is the rookies. The only rookies available in packs are latecomers from the 2023-24 season. That is the price for releasing so early.

However, divisional Rookie Redemptions (1:400 packs) allow you to hit the rookies that will arrive later. Not an idea, but what are you gonna do? Aside from buying something else, that is.

2025/26 Upper Deck MVP Hockey checklist

The checklist will be familiar to collectors of this set. The base set contains 250 cards. The first 200 make up the standard shell set. The final 50 have the rookies and are somewhat shorter, printed.

There are very few parallels in this set. This year, even fewer than usual.

• Silver Script – 1:5 packs, SP – 1:20 packs
• Super Script – /25
• Black Super Script – 1/1
• Printing Plates – 1/1 (SP only)

Inserts

This release is unknown for its amazing inserts, but let’s see what Upper Deck has up its sleeve now.

2014-15 Upper Deck MVP Hockey

While they are never worth all that much, these nostalgia inserts can be a good deal of fun. Unfortunately, the design in question was not particularly memorable or attractive. Still, you can get them in Gold Script (1:30 packs) and Super Script (/25) variations.

Above The Crease

These inserts highlight goalies. They focus on these unsung heroes, making spectacular saves and looking fantastic. There is a good chance these inserts will be around for a while.

They come in 1:13 packs; you can also find Gold (1:400 packs) and Black (1/1) variations.

Colors and Contours

These are more beloved inserts. They showcase star players and rookies with bold, colorful backgrounds and a sleek, modern look contrasting with the base set’s more traditional foil design. They come in different levels: Gold (/250), Green (/20), and Purple (/3).

Mascot Talent

Mascot cards are not everyone’s cup of tea, but they are good examples of the genre and represent a new installment in the release. They feature the mascots in dynamic poses or humorous antics, often with bright, colorful designs that stand out against the more serious foil-heavy base and insert cards. This appeals to younger collectors.

2025/26 Upper Deck Hockey MVP value

As we know, this release isn’t very valuable. Still, let’s see what wax and singles sell for to get an idea of the return on our modest investment.

Wax

No one is expecting to make their rent by stashing MVP Hockey boxes. But do they hold their value over the years?

The prices here are possibly the lowest I have ever seen for a hobby box.

Even a rookie as electrifying as Connor Bedard, the 2024-25 NHL Rookie of the Year, hasn’t pushed MVP prices anywhere close to the levels of flagship products like Series 1 or Trilogy on a bad year.

Singles

There are some rarities and chases in MVP Hockey. But how much do they actually go for?

Hardly any of the recent cards win you back the price of the box. While older, iconic rookies and autographs like Ovechkin and Gretzky command high prices, most current MVP singles— even those featuring top young stars like Connor Bedard—trade for modest sums.

This reflects MVP’s role more as a volume and set-building product rather than a high-end chase set. Collectors looking for big returns usually turn to flagship releases or limited-edition inserts instead.

Final word on the Upper Deck MVP Hockey 2025/26 review

Upper Deck MVP Hockey is still a fun, affordable product to open before the hockey season kicks off. The designs stick to the classic MVP foil look and remain a cheap way to get fresh cards in your hands.

But with Series 1 coming not long after and offering far more value and bigger hits, there’s little reason to prioritize MVP over the flagship releases.

The boxes tend to lose value pretty quickly, and even the best cards don’t hold much market weight.

Upper Deck has tried to improve MVP by adding more autos, inserts, and low-numbered parallels, which has made it more enjoyable to open compared to years past. That effort has kept the brand alive for more than two decades.