
Some of the best hockey card sets are easy to complete, while others take years. Which sets are actually worth spending your money on? Our top pick is Upper Deck Series 1 and 2. It has so many options.
With these boxes, you can keep collecting throughout the season without stressing over rare cards. That's what we like about these releases: having several options. We also picked another card set for those who love rookie cards. When you're ready to buy one, look at the full checklist, not just the card on the packaging.
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Here are some of our favorite hockey card sets. Each has something different to offer. Some focus on rookie cards. Others have large checklists or rare parallels.
| Hockey card set | Best for | Notable card inserts |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Deck Series 1 and 2 | Collecting NHL rookie cards | Young Guns, Exclusives, High Gloss and Clear Cut parallels |
| O-Pee-Chee Platinum | Parallel and autograph collectors | 300-card base set, numbered parallels and rookie autographs |
| Upper Deck MVP | Beginners and set builders | 250-card base set, Silver Script, Super Script and themed inserts |
There's hardly a list of hockey card sets that doesn't include Upper Deck Series 1 & 2. They are the most collected base set in hockey, and it's not hard to see why. A lot of it has to do with the Young Guns cards. Over the years, these sets have produced some excellent rookies. The 2025-26 Series 1 checklist has 49 Young Guns cards.
On average, you'll pull about one Young Guns card for every two hobby packs. That’s not too bad, but your shot at getting the rookie you want is slim. Check the checklist for each series to find out which players are included.
If you enjoy collecting cards in different colors, O-Pee-Chee Platinum may have just what you’re looking for. The 2025-26 lineup contains 300 base cards with 100 Marquee Rookies. You'll find parallels like Rainbow, Sunset, Pink Magma, Arctic Freeze /99, and Seismic Gold /50. There is also a Golden Treasures 1/1. You can expect an autograph on average from hobby boxes, but it is not a sure thing.
We feel there are too many parallels to collect O-Pee-Chee Platinum. Completing all the parallels of every player would probably take us forever. We would rather collect a couple of colors of our favorite players.
If you don’t plan on spending hundreds of dollars on a box of hockey cards, Upper Deck MVP would be worth your time. Even though it’s more affordable, you'll still end up with plenty of cards to sort through.
There are 250 cards in the 2025-26 Upper Deck MVP set. Among these cards, 200 are base singles, and the other 50 are short print and rookie cards. As you’d expect from a budget base set like this, it has no high-end autographs. The Silver Scripts don’t have real autographs either, just printed ones.
These quick tips will help you avoid buying too many cards or paying too much for the ones you really want:
It's best to always know what is in a full set before you purchase. Your favorite player might not be in a set even if it includes other NHL players you like. Use the checklists that come with the set to track your favorite players. Make sure you know the card number in the set and what kinds of cards are available for that player. Your player might only show up in the base set, or they could have a rookie insert, autograph, or parallel.
The same rule applies if you're collecting baseball card sets. For Upper Deck hockey, though, you want to know if your rookie is going to be in series 1 or 2 or the extended. If you buy into the wrong release, you may waste money on packs that won't contain the card you're trying to collect.
Just because someone lists a card at $500 doesn't mean it's actually worth that much. People can list their card for whatever price they feel like. If you want to find out the true worth of the card you want, scroll through sold listings and see what other people have paid for it.
As you look for a great price, consider the condition of the cards too. Higher grade cards will always sell for more than a card that has been in bad condition. Also, don't use one sale as your final source to know what that card is worth. Find several that sold close to that price to know its value. We use this strategy when collecting football card sets.
Hockey card sets often include plenty of parallels for a single card. You'll find some with rainbow finishes, gold designs, serial numbering, or even autographs. Sure, chasing every single one might feel like fun at first, but sooner or later, you will burn out. When you pull a card numbered to 5 or start chasing a 1 of 1, you'll realize that you simply can't keep up.
We recommend going after a few parallels you love the most and letting the others go. For example, you could just focus on cards numbered to 99. That way, you can build a nice collection and not worry about completing it with rare cards.
There’s nothing quite as disappointing as getting a card set that turns out to be in bad shape. Nobody wants cards with defective corners or scratches. So, check both sides of the card for these defects, even if you’re collecting Pokémon sets.
You have to pay even closer attention when dealing with older cards. These cards may have more flaws because of how long they've been around. However, we wouldn't turn away from every low-grade card. If the price is right, they can still be great additions to your collection.
At some point, you will have too many cards that you can't remember everything you own. That’s when you'll see the need to keep track of the cards you have. Spreadsheets offer an easy way to do this. But you can also use a collector or inventory app. List the number in the set and who the player is.
If you collect trading card games like Magic: The Gathering sets, keep them on a separate sheet. For hockey cards, you can organize by season, series, player, or number. An inventory makes it easier to remember what you have and what you’re still looking for.
Each of our chosen hockey card sets has its strengths, but there are a few drawbacks:
You don't need to have hundreds of cards to put together a good collection. Just know why you like certain cards and want them in your collection.
We recommend that after you find a set worth collecting, you plan for the kind of collection you'd like to have in the next few years. It's not a must to pick up every release, and even a common card can still mean something to your collection.
Start with Upper Deck Series 1 and 2, collect the players you like, and buy singles if packs are too pricey. This way, your collection ends up with more of the cards you actually care about.
Upper Deck MVP is a great set to start with. The base checklist isn't too long, and you get rookies plus some inserts. For those who are into Young Guns rookies, Upper Deck Series 1 and 2 are also worth picking up.
Yes. There are many Young Guns cards that can sell for good money. If it's a current star like Connor McDavid or Sid Crosby, then yes, their price can be quite high. But not all Young Guns cards will sell for a lot.
Check whether the card has been authenticated by PSA, BGS, or CGC. You can do this by typing in the card’s certification number on the website. Make sure the card looks right and hasn't been tampered with. It will also save you a lot of headache if you just buy from trusted sellers. Remember, a matching certification number alone doesn’t prove that your card is authentic.
When grading a hockey card, experts consider many factors. This includes centering, corners, edges, and surface. With PSA grading, your card gets a score between 1 and 10, with 10 being Gem Mint. After grading, they place your card in a holder and attach a label showing its grade.