The hockey card world is weird. Honestly, it’s a bit obsessive. Every year, collectors wait for that one specific drop that defines the season, and for the current cycle, 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1 is basically the sun everything else orbits around. If you’ve been into the hobby for a while, you know the drill. Young Guns. Short prints. The smell of fresh gloss. But this year feels different because the hobby is still recovering from the absolute insanity of the Connor Bedard chase in 2023-24.
People expected a massive "hangover" effect. They thought without a generational, once-in-a-decade talent on the box, the market would just... deflate. That hasn't happened. Instead, 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1 has arrived with a depth that actually makes it more "fun" to rip than the top-heavy products of the recent past. You aren't just hunting one guy; you're hunting a whole class of talent that could actually stick in the league.
The Young Guns Checklist: It’s Not Just About One Name
Let's get into the meat of it. The Young Guns are the flagship rookie cards. They’ve been the gold standard since the 90s. In 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1, the checklist is surprisingly robust. While it lacks the "Bedard hype," it makes up for it with guys like Logan Stankoven and Lane Hutson.
Stankoven is a stud. He proved it during the Stars' playoff run. Having his Young Gun (card #201) at the top of the set gives the product immediate legitimacy. Then you’ve got Hutson in Montreal. The Habs market is a monster; it doesn't matter if a guy is a superstar or a solid defenseman, if he wears the "CH," his cards will carry a premium.
Other names you’re seeing pop up in breaks include Mavrik Bourque and Dustin Wolf. Wolf is a particularly interesting case. Goalies are notoriously hard to value in the hobby—they’re basically "voodoo"—but Wolf has the pedigree that makes people want to gamble on him. If he becomes the next Hellebuyck, that Young Gun is going to look like a steal at current prices.
It’s a deep crop. Maybe not a legendary one yet, but deep.
What’s Actually Inside the Box?
Upper Deck changed the configuration a bit recently, and they’ve stuck with it for 2024-25. You’re looking at 12 packs per box, 12 cards per pack. Basically, they trimmed the fat. You get more "hits" per pack than the old days of 24 packs with mostly base cards.
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The inserts are where things get kinda polarizing.
- A-Go-Go: These are... bright. Very 90s. Very loud. Some people hate the "busy" design, but they stand out in a display case.
- Gaming: They’ve continued the gaming-themed inserts which look like something out of an old-school RPG or Overwatch. It appeals to the younger crowd.
- Population Count: These remain some of the most sought-after non-auto inserts. They’re printed on acetate (clear plastic) and have specific print runs—1000, 500, 100, etc. Finding a "Population Count 10" is like hitting a mini-jackpot.
The "Dazzlers" are back too. Blue, Pink, whatever. They’re basically shiny filler, but collectors love completing the rainbow. Honestly, if you aren't trying to set-build, Dazzlers are mostly trade bait at your local card shop.
The "Easter Egg" Problem
Upper Deck loves their secrets. For 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1, they haven't explicitly listed every single parallel or short print. This creates a bit of a frenzy on social media during the first week of release. Suddenly, someone posts a card with a weird finish or a missing logo, and the forums go nuts trying to figure out if it's a "super rare" variation or a printing error.
Usually, it's a "clear cut" parallel. These are tough pulls. They fall maybe one per case (if you're lucky). They look incredible because the card is transparent where the ice should be. If you pull a Lane Hutson Clear Cut Young Gun, you’ve essentially paid for your entire case and then some.
But there’s also the "Exclusives" (numbered to 100) and "High Gloss" (numbered to 10). These are the true "whale" cards. The odds of pulling a High Gloss Young Gun are astronomical. It’s the kind of thing that makes grown men scream in their basements while filming for YouTube.
Why This Set Matters for the Market
The hobby needed a "reset" year. For the last 24 months, prices were driven by pure speculation on one or two players. It made boxes expensive—too expensive for the average kid or casual fan. 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1 is priced a bit more sanely. It’s accessible. You can walk into a store, buy a tin or a blaster, and actually feel like you have a chance to get something cool without mortgaging your house.
There’s a nuance here that people miss: the secondary market for base cards is dead. Don't buy this thinking the 200 base cards will be worth anything in three weeks. They won't. They’re essentially recycling. You’re buying this for the Young Guns and the specific parallels.
What Most People Get Wrong
New collectors often think that "Series 1" contains all the rookies. It doesn't. This is just the first batch. If a player made their debut late in the previous season or at the very start of this one, they’re here. If they debut in November, you won't see them until Series 2 or Extended Series. This is why the "Hold" strategy is so popular. People buy Series 1, pull the top guys, and then wait to see who gets hot in the actual NHL.
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If Stankoven wins the Calder, his Series 1 card triples. If he hits a sophomore slump? It drops 60%. That’s the gamble.
How to Approach Collecting This Year
If you're looking to get into 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1, don't just buy the first thing you see. Retail vs. Hobby is a huge distinction.
Hobby boxes are for the "hits." You get the Clear Cuts, the Exclusives, and the best odds at the rare inserts. Retail (the stuff you find at big-box stores) is better for just getting the Young Guns. You won't find the high-end numbered stuff in a retail blaster most of the time, but if you just want to find a Stankoven to put on your shelf, retail is a cheaper path.
Also, look at the "Outburst" parallels. These were introduced last year and they are stunning. The "Silver Outburst" is unnumbered but looks like a shimmering explosion on the card. There are also Red (#/25) and Gold (1/1) versions. Pulling a Gold Outburst Young Gun is basically the peak of the mountain for this product.
The Long-Term Play
Is this a "junk wax" era? Some people say yes because the print runs feel high. But the demand is also higher than it was in 1991. The 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1 cards are manufactured with much better tech and more scarcity-driven parallels.
If you want to be smart:
- Grade the stars early. If you pull a clean Hutson or Stankoven, get it to PSA or SGC immediately. A PSA 10 will always outsell a raw card, especially during the mid-season hype.
- Watch the goalies. Dustin Wolf has "it." If the Flames defy expectations, he's the guy people will chase.
- Don't ignore the Silver Skates. It’s a classic insert that usually holds a little bit of value for player collectors.
Your Next Steps
Stop scrolling eBay and check your local hobby shop (LCS) first. Prices online fluctuate hourly based on which rookie scored a goal last night, but a local shop usually has a more stable "per box" price.
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If you're on a budget, look for the "Tins." They usually come with an exclusive O-Pee-Chee Glossy pack that you can't get in Hobby boxes. It’s a fun "extra" that can sometimes hide a decent rookie.
Identify three rookies you actually believe in. Don't just follow the "top 10" lists on hobby blogs. Watch some highlights. If you think a guy like Will Smith (San Jose) or Matvei Michkov (wait, he’s Series 2!) is the real deal, plan your buys around that. (Actually, double-check those checklists—the transition between Series 1 and Series 2 is where most people lose money by hunting players who aren't even in the box yet).
Go check the official Upper Deck checklist. Cross-reference the card numbers. Make sure the guy you want is actually a card #201-#250. Once you've got your targets, decide if you're ripping for fun or buying singles for "investment." Buying singles is always cheaper, but it’s nowhere near as satisfying as pulling a Young Gun from a $5 pack.