It’s the fourth period, and just when hockey enthusiasts thought they knew the lineup of players in the collectibles world, an old favorite is lacing up for a new faceoff. Topps, an enduring name that once was a staple in hockey trading cards, is resurfacing on the rink in a rather unexpected play. After taking a two-decade-long power nap from producing NHL-licensed trading cards, Topps is subtly slipping back into the game, but with a twist. This isn’t your uncle’s Topps, or even your older cousin’s—it’s Topps with a twenty-first century remix.
Since 2003-04, Upper Deck has had the keys to the castle of NHL trading cards, and Topps had slipped quietly to the sidelines, like a player who’s done his time but never quite said goodbye. The hockey card community had accepted to some extent that Topps might stay on the bench forever, a legend living in past glossy card archives, mentioned fondly but invisibly. But April 3 marked a shift in this narrative, heralding the potential beginning of a fresh era; or better yet, a middle-aged one.
Courtesy of Fanatics, the burgeoning kingpin of sports memorabilia which now owns Topps, we welcome something new: Topps Under Wraps: Emanate 2024-25. No sticker shock here—well, almost none—it’s not trading cards we’re talking about. Instead, picture an autograph hunter’s wildest dream—each offering is a splendid 8×10 photo that walks, skips, and even twirls like an oversized trading card thanks to its meticulously curated front and back artwork, similar to the beauties in wax packs of yesteryears.
But let’s not confuse these with ordinary prints. Imagine if a photo from your favorite game could practically sing “The Good Old Hockey Game” by Stompin’ Tom Connors—in three-part harmony, of course. That’s Topps’ new allure. Even the meticulous collector and dealer, Sal Barry, couldn’t help but highlight in his newsletter how the back of the Emanate photos, with its fully fleshed-out info and imagery, echoes the craftsmanship of classic cards.
Oh, and if you’re expecting your print to arrive as a DIY mystery, you’d be skating in the wrong direction. These photos are individually hand-signed—yep, doff your hats to those steady hands—and adorned with serial numbers and holograms ensuring authenticity. The presentation isn’t just sleek; it’s a veritable museum piece, wrapped in a magnetic-ready-to-display folio. That’s Topps going the extra mile up the ice for presentation, transforming walls into hallowed Halls of Fame.
For those who’ve savored the thrill of the chase, Emanate hits a sweet spot with its array of six color variants. Like finding golden tickets, one might swoon upon snagging a Gold (#/50) or a royal Blue (#/10). True ice warriors covet the ultra-rare Iridescent (1/1) that twinkles under arena lights. The selection wraps up more than 70 players sprawled across the league’s 32 teams, with stars as luminous as Connor Bedard, Auston Matthews, Alexander Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon keeping the lineups hot and the blood pumping. It’s a roll call crossing eras, a familial reunion as familiar as the ice puns that nestle each winter.
Gather round for some multi-signed magic! One particularly jaw-dropping piece bears a triad of legends—Ovechkin, Bedard, Matthews—in a symphonic 1/1 triple-signed and inscribed print. It’s the kind of collectible that teams could only dream of showcasing—and collectors wake up in a cold sweat pining for.
At $130 a box, acquiring one of these treasures isn’t exactly cracking open peanuts at a game, but hey, they’re also limited batch snippets of glory, bridges to the game’s intoxicating past and future.
So, is Topps making a full-on varsity comeback in the card world domination league? Not quite—their play at Emanate isn’t the card-hungry frenzy of base-parallel-fueled dreams, but they’re not exactly frozen out either. This is a skate on different ice, a gentle glide into the spotlight under Fanatics’ colossal umbrella. One can easily suspect this is merely a warmup lap, with more craft and dexterity to unfold in the lush panorama of sports fandom.
For now, fans can ponder over these Emanate offerings, celebrating a hybrid creation that isn’t just collectible flair but a touchstone of nostalgia, blended with the harmonious endeavor of reinvention. As snowflakes fall gently on the rink, so might the newfound popularity of Topps in this fresh yet familiar pursuit.
