Archive for January, 2010
Brag Photo: Jordan Art
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’ve been with UpperDeckBlog.com from day one, you may remember our very first Brag Photo of the Week: it was a shot of the United Center floor before it got divided up and shipped out for our unique memorabilia pieces.
Well, with a select few pieces of that floor, we did something even more unique. Check it out:
This is a piece of the same floor, featuring unique art by Jolene Jessie, and autographed by MJ himself.
As you can tell by the numbering, quanitites are extremely limited, but we do have some left. Click here to check it out in the online store!
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Player Spotlight: Ilya Kovalchuk
Posted by: | CommentsAs NHL teams amp up for the Olympic break (playing three to four games a week), the Olympic roster freeze looms large. February 12th at midnight marks the start of the roster freeze, and Ilya Kovalchuk and his situation with the Atlanta Thrashers is making management and fans uneasy. Kovalchuk is set to become an unrestricted free agent at years’ end, and would certainly be the hottest commodity available. How Atlanta Thrasher management deals with this player will define them as a franchise. It will play a large role in Kovalchuk’s place in the hobby as well.
A quick look into the stats for Kovalchuk shows that he has 327 goals, much of which has been accomplished without a legitimate centre man. 219 of these goals have come since the lockout ended. He has won a Rocket Richard Trophy in 2003-04, played in three All-Star games, and is on pace to reach the 50 goal plateau for the third time in his career. He is seemingly the second most dynamic goal scorer in the game today behind only Alexander Ovechkin.
The Olympic roster freeze lasts until February 28, and then just a few days later on March 3, the NHL trade deadline comes. Ilya seems to be looking for big money, and a lot of years on the agreement. Does Atlanta have the $80-100 million that he is looking for, over the course of the next ten to twelve years? Not sure, but my guess is they don’t. In this case, the question becomes: “When is the right time to move him?”
Scenario One: Kovalchuk gets moved before the Olympic break.
I personally don’t see this happening at this stage, as prospective teams won’t want to pay him for a couple of weeks without them helping the team. Kovalchuk is one of the key components of a high-flying and dangerous Russian team at the Olympics in Vancouver; teams are not going to take the chance of acquiring a player that might very well get hurt in the games and not be able to help them down the stretch. The asking price will be quite high, and that is certainly not worth the risk.
Scenario Two: Kovalchuk gets moved before the Trade Deadline, but after the Olympic Break.
This seems to be the most logical decision if they cannot come to an agreement on a contract discussion. I personally can’t see a general manager leaving this to chance and potentially allowing a team to sign him without getting anything in return, but that scenario isn’t out of the question. The asking price will be high. Probably in the neighborhood of an NHL ready player, probably a young player with upside. Also on the want list will be blue chip prospects and a draft pick package that will have to include at least one first round pick. This seems to be a decent option if you can get exactly what you are looking for, but the main problem is this: none of these things are Ilya Kovalchuk.
Teams that seemingly are in the hunt for Kovalchuk’s services at this point appear to be the Los Angeles Kings (who have a long list of high level prospects and quality young players that might be necessary to swing a deal), and the Boston Bruins (who have assembled a good cast of draft picks, mostly from the Phil Kessel deal swung with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason). The Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers are also interested. Don’t be surprised if you end up seeing the New York Rangers become a player as well. Kovalchuk playing in any of these markets would most certainly be a boon for his collectability in a much more prominent hockey market.
Scenario Three: Atlanta holds onto Kovalchuk in hopes of a playoff run, trade his rights before he officially hits the market on July 1.
As of today, Atlanta is in the thick of the playoff race with 54 points in 52 games. They are but a single point out of the last playoff spot. But the problem is this: parity. While they are but a single point out of 6th place (in the playoffs) they are also a point away from being in 13th place as well. A lot of teams are in the same boat, many of which will seemingly be buyers at the deadline looking to acquire talent. Will hanging onto Kovalchuk be enough to get them into the playoffs when other teams around them are looking to improve? If I had the answer to this, I would probably be collecting a paycheck from an NHL team. It would certainly be a gamble that the Atlanta Thrasher brain trust will have to weigh options on. Chances are good that if you wait until the end of June to trade Kovy’s rights, you won’t get the same return as you would if you move him before the trade deadline.
Scenario Four: Thrashers are able to re-sign Kovalchuck before the trade deadline.
At this point, this seems to be the least possible scenario. Kovalchuk and his representatives have given the Thrasher management a number they are looking for, and Thrasher management has given Kovalchuk’s camp a number they are looking for. These are seemingly miles apart, or else they would have already come to an agreement. At this point, this scenario is but a pipe dream, especially for Thrasher fans (who currently rank 28th of 30 teams in average attendance).
Scenario Five: Thrashers let Kovalchuk go to free agency and are able to re-sign him at that point.
At this point this might be the best chance (although very slim) at the Thrashers keeping Kovalchuk long term. I say that because you have to think that someone will give Kovalchuk the big money he wants; if not for the years he wants, at least the opportunity to make big money for a good chunk of years. Atlanta has to hope they have a better feel on the market then that of Kovalchuk and his handlers. If they do, they might be able to say to him, “As we have said all along, our offer is the best one you are going to get, and why don’t we just get this done now. You had your fun looking, but this is where you belong.” It would certainly be a gamble, not one I am sure would go over well with fans, and would take stones of steel from management. It could happen, though it’s unlikely.
What happens with Ilya Kovalchuk will have a direct impact on his hobby appeal as well. As one of the legitimate superstars in the league today, his pulls are still very attractive. If he were to move to a big market like Los Angeles or New York, you would expect to see much more activity on the secondary market for his cards. The same applies if he were to go to an original six team like Boston or Chicago: the fans would start to pick up his items at an alarming rate.
Where he goes is certain to have an impact on his collectibility. The process he goes through will have an impact as well: will he just be a rental player, will the team that trades for him be able to sign him long term, or will he hit the open market? For these reasons, over the next few weeks through the Olympic break, no NHL player will attract more attention.
Christopher Carmichael has been hockey fan of over 20 years. He has been an active member on various hobby related sites, most notably www.hobbyinsider.net, and www.cloutsnchara.com. Christopher is also a long time collector, with a focus on a few select player collections, and the occasional set projects.
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Free Pack of Hockey Cards This Saturday in Canada!
Posted by: | CommentsAre you Canadian? Do you like hockey? Do I even need to ask that second question if the answer to the first one is “Yes”? Do you like free stuff?
Well, for our friends up north, we’ve got a great promotion going on this Saturday to celebrate your nation’s sport: National Hockey Card Day. Just show up to a local hobby shop or select mass retailer, and you’ll get a free pack of Upper Deck Hockey cards. That simple.
Click here to see more on this promotion, and check out the official website too!
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What’s Next for The Vikings and Favre?
Posted by: | CommentsThe epic run of Brett Favre started in August and ended in disappointment during Championship Weekend. Although Favre was brought in by the Vikings to get to and win the Super Bowl, the team only reached as far as they did thanks to his leadership. Whether it was the amazing finish to the week three match-up with San Fransisco, or the divisional round stomping of the hottest team in the NFL, Favre accomplished everything BUT reaching the actual Super Bowl. He may not have ended his last game on top, but he is going out with a bang like no 40-year old player ever has.
Now, the retirement dance begins again, as it has for the last three years. However, unlike previous years, coach Brad Childress is not worried. Favre may have said that his return is “highly unlikely,” but from him, that statement basically means maybe. It’s tough to think that he wouldn’t try at least one more time, given the success he had in Minnesota this year, especially with the Vikings not being shy about telling the press they are happy to have him back.
It’s also hard to believe that a competitor like Favre would want to end his career after one of the craziest games he has ever played. Fumbles galore, interceptions, and a horrible decision late in the game brought the Vikings’ season to an end, something many detractors had been predicting since the preseason. The blame may lie squarely on Favre’s shoulders for the last drive, but it wasn’t like Peterson, Harvin, and Berrian didn’t also contribute to the loss with their comedy of errors.
That game may have been the second overtime championship loss for the Vikings in the last 3 tries, but it was far different from the 1998 loss to the Falcons that crushed my dreams as kid. This time, the Purple were away at a stadium booming with noise and not favored to win, unlike the previous team that lost at home while being favored by a touchdown. The 2009 team fumbled their way to a loss that should have been a win if played mistake free; the 1998 team blew it on a missed kick by a perfect kicker.
Don’t get me wrong – the Vikings have the tools and the resources to get back to the NFC Championship next year, with or without Favre. Backup QB Tarvaris Jackson has shown in minimal time on the field that he has improved enough to be considered for the starting job should Favre not come back, and the draft is ripe with promising QBs to build on for the future. The Vikings are still without a franchise player in that respect, but they may not need one if Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, and Percy Harvin continue to play at an elite level.
I also don’t want to discount a Saints team who looked to be in Super Bowl form during the game. The defense played like vultures, circling the Vikings players looking for places to punch the ball out. Tracy Porter and company also did their job in the secondary, playing a great game against a Pro-Bowl level receiving corps. Drew Brees has grown into a player on the same level as Brett Favre in his prime, tearing up a Vikings secondary that wasn’t able to stop his huge plays.
Lastly, as a Vikings fan, it’s just another disappointment to add to the list of horrible breaks that never seem to go our way in the playoffs. I was on cloud nine for almost the entire season and look to be back there come 2010. With the salary cap lifted due to issues with the collective bargaining agreement, hopefully the Vikings can find a way to stack the deck even more in their favor. They have a few players that may not be joining them for the ride in Favre, Pat Williams, and Cedric Griffin, but those holes can be filled from their deep bench and a loaded 2010 draft.
Brett Favre may have only played one year for the Vikings, but it was one for the books, and I am satisfied with the whole result despite the individual let-downs. I will wait patiently to see what he decides and will be raring to go regardless of his decision. The Vikings will bounce back, and I will be there with horns on.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
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Changing of the Guard: More Young Leaders in Today’s Game Than Ever
Posted by: | CommentsThe NHL rulebook (Rule 6.1) states, “One captain shall be appointed by each team and he alone shall have the privilege of discussing with the Referee any questions relating to interpretation of rules which may arise during the progress of a game.” It then continues, “Only the Captain, when invited to do so by the Referee, shall have the privilege of discussing any point relating to the interpretation of rules.” There are some other items in the NHL rules that discuss the captain, but in reality, this is their designation. At the highest level though, being a captain is so much more. In the locker room, as well as off the ice, the team captain serves as the team leader.
With 25 year old Eric Staal being named captain of the Carolina Hurricanes on January 20, 2010, Eric is the newest team captain, and one of many young captains currently in the league. The NHL seems to be going through a bit of a paradigm shift with younger leaders being identified early, and given prominent roles of leadership.
Current Pittsburgh Penguins superstar and team captain Sidney Crosby was named the youngest permanent captain in league history (19 years, 9 months, and 24 days). This action seemed to spark a change, with many teams now employing a young superstar as the captain. All one has to do to notice the shift is to take a quick look at all the current team captains to see that the league is getting younger, and many times it is the team’s best young star that is the face of the franchise.
With teams trying to lock up their good young talent earlier and for longer and longer contracts, it seems to make sense for these talented young players to get the leadership role at a younger age. Chicago Blackhawks 21 year old star Jonathan Toews is currently the youngest serving captain in the league. Other youngsters who carry the “C” are Mike Richards in Philadelphia and Dustin Brown in Los Angeles, among others.
Sometimes, there is concern that these players are being handed leadership roles too early. Most of the players who get to the NHL were probably captains of many of their teams growing up, and are now arguably their professional team’s best player. These players are all highly skilled and have been in big games their whole life. The older players seem to understand this as well, and are all about the team winning, which in the end is ALWAYS the goal.
Click here for a quick look at all current captains in the league.
Currently there are two NHL teams with no serving captain, and oddly enough, they are arguably the two most storied franchises in the league. The Toronto Maple Leafs have not had a team captain since Mats Sundin left town, and the Montreal Canadiens chose not to name a new one when former captain Saku Koivu left for Anaheim in the off-season. The fact that these two teams were not ready to name a captain reveals the pressures captains have to deal with, both on and off ice. It also shows that these long time rivals and storied franchises don’t seem to have the people in place at this stage to feel comfortable giving that responsibility to anyone on their current squad. Not having a team captain on my favorite team (Montreal) is a bit weird for me, but if you look back on history and review past captains, you’ll note the intense pressure the team leader is subject to in that market. This being the case, it is probably for the best to wait until a solid leader emerges.
While the youth movement seems to be in full effect across the league, there are still many teams who have grizzled veterans as their leaders. The first two that come to mind for me are Niklas Lidstrom for the Detroit Red Wings and Scott Neidermayer of the Anaheim Ducks. Both players are former multiple-time Stanley Cup winners, and seem to have won just about everything. Lidstrom (aged 39), and Neidermayer (aged 36) are among the oldest team captains in the league, but 40 year old San Jose Shark Rob Blake is currently the oldest serving captain. These three vets provide a stable environment for youngsters to come up, and provide upper and middle management the assurances that come with a steady influence. The fact that any player in the league would love to have assembled a career that matches theirs is icing on the cake.
Captains have a huge role on the ice, but an even bigger role removed from playing the game itself. They must be able to handle the pressures of media both before and after games, as well as providing community support for their market. The “face of the franchise” is not at all a far off reach. Many have their own charities that they raise funds for, and they are also generally counted on by management to be the focal point of the teams’ charities (not to mention outreach events and ticket drives). In the off-season, the captain can be counted on to help out with recruiting, often giving a call to perspective free agents or welcoming new additions to the area. Small things like this do not go unnoticed, and you usually hear about it when the press conference happens for the big free agent signings each summer.
In the hobby, it almost always seems that the team captain will get significant hobby love, at least at the regional level. Because a team often has their most prominent player or superstar in this position, they will get a great amount of hobby action worldwide. Some of today’s biggest hobby superstars are captains. Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames), the previously mentioned Crosby and Toews, as well as Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets), Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers) are just some of the hobby heroes that act as team captain.
History has also shown that team captains do very well in the hobby. A laundry list of who’s who in the hobby and still get featured regularly all acted as team captains. Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier and Jean Beliveau are some of the most prominent hits that can come out of any product. These players were known for majority of their careers as team captains, and are also known as some of the greatest leaders of all time.
One of the more recent cardboard tributes to captains was in 2006/07, when Upper Deck released the Parkhurst brand. This had a “Salute to Captains” subset, as well as an autographed parallel to most of the greats. These gave the collectors new and old a bit of a history lesson in some of the game’s great past leaders. This set was done very well, and remains a highly collected: it’s one of my personal favorites releases of all time.
2009-10 also marks the return of long time Red Wings captain and hobby hero Steve Yzerman to Upper Deck products, and that should get collectors going crazy over the prospect of some amazing cards with heroes of today and yesteryear. One can only imagine the possibilities the Upper Deck creative staff will be able to come up with for him. Past Red Wings stars like Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Alex Delvecchio and current Red Wings captain Nick Lidstrom should provide some great combinations for multi player signatures in sets like SPA, Ultimate and The Cup to name a few. With many a rabid Detroit fans, as well as those who collect Hall of Famer autographs, Yzerman will be a welcome addition to the lineup. I for one am looking forward to it.
Christopher Carmichael has been hockey fan of over 20 years. He has been an active member on various hobby related sites, most notably www.hobbyinsider.net, and www.cloutsnchara.com. Christopher is also a long time collector, with a focus on a few select player collections, and the occasional set projects.
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