Top 10 NHL players with most long-term hobby upside

[bison0094]

Who are you investing in now for the long game? IMO, junk wax era kills the likes of Jagr, Selanne, Modano, Hasek, Brodeur, Lidstrom, etc. for significant upside. I think its a mix of young and old. Balancing old, all-time greats who will always be who today's stars are being compared with current stars who are on their way to being all-time greats in order to appeal to the younger generation of collectors.

Here's my list:

Gordie Howe
Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux
Bobby Orr
Mark Messier
Patrick Roy
Alex Ovechkin
Sidney Crosby
Auston Matthews
Connor McDavid

[EdwardJ]

Originally Posted by bison0094

Who are you investing in now for the long game? IMO, junk wax era kills the likes of Jagr, Selanne, Modano, Hasek, Brodeur, Lidstrom, etc. for significant upside. I think its a mix of young and old. Balancing old, all-time greats who will always be who today's stars are being compared with current stars who are on their way to being all-time greats in order to appeal to the younger generation of collectors.

Here's my list:

Gordie Howe
Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux
Bobby Orr
Mark Messier
Patrick Roy
Alex Ovechkin
Sidney Crosby
Auston Matthews
Connor McDavid

I like Messier as an investment. He only has the OPC rookie where most around the time have a Topps and OPC version. Messier obviously one of the greatest of all time too and still relatively affordable.

I think Kane and Malkin are also good investments, both first ballot HOF'ers, 3 Stanley Cups, both have a Conn Smythe and Kane might be highest scoring American of all time when he retires.

Joe Thornton is also interesting. I love the player, he could creep in the top 10 scoring of all time. His rookie isn't uncommon is the only thing.

When he gets inducted into the HOF he'll get a bump in value and IF the Leafs went deep in the playoffs or won a cup, I think it also gives his value a good bump. His cards are pretty cheap, probably like $15-$30 for his Upper Deck Rookie. I don't think you'll lose money on him, not sure what how big the value increase long term is though

[Lemontree]

Originally Posted by EdwardJ

I like Messier as an investment. He only has the OPC rookie where most around the time have a Topps and OPC version. Messier obviously one of the greatest of all time too and still relatively affordable.

I think Kane and Malkin are also good investments, both first ballot HOF'ers, 3 Stanley Cups, both have a Conn Smythe and Kane might be highest scoring American of all time when he retires.

Joe Thornton is also interesting. I love the player, he could creep in the top 10 scoring of all time. His rookie isn't uncommon is the only thing.

When he gets inducted into the HOF he'll get a bump in value and IF the Leafs went deep in the playoffs or won a cup, I think it also gives his value a good bump. His cards are pretty cheap, probably like $15-$30 for his Upper Deck Rookie. I don't think you'll lose money on him, not sure what how big the value increase long term is though

Just a note on Thornton. He best RC is Black Diamond, which is hard to find and extremely condition sensitive for people interested in grading.

[LesExpos]

Originally Posted by bison0094

Who are you investing in now for the long game? IMO, junk wax era kills the likes of Jagr, Selanne, Modano, Hasek, Brodeur, Lidstrom, etc. for significant upside. I think its a mix of young and old. Balancing old, all-time greats who will always be who today's stars are being compared with current stars who are on their way to being all-time greats in order to appeal to the younger generation of collectors.

Here's my list:

Gordie Howe
Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux
Bobby Orr
Mark Messier
Patrick Roy
Alex Ovechkin
Sidney Crosby
Auston Matthews
Connor McDavid

That's a great list, I think the OPC Premier Jagr is a good enough card though to get him in there, he is after all 2nd All-time in scoring, he has to be represented.

Kane is interesting, because he is still piling up the points and can realisitcally score another 500+ points and put himself close to the top 10, plus the 3 cups, plus the MVP. I think his card has a lot of upside.

Don't sleep on Grant Fuhr or even Ken Dryden, you're right, the Hasek can still be found for $1 so don't discount these guys.

If Thornton wins a cup with the Leafs his cards will go nuts. Again, still lots of value there.

Don't sleep on Stevie Yzerman as well. Sort of the cheaps man's Gretzky (even though that was Bobby Smith's nickname).

Mike Bossy is the guy who I think, if he actually had a documentary made on him, has a lot of room to grow. This guy played half a career, who knows how many goals he would have scored if he'd even just played to 35. Big Dynasty team too!

Lastly, this one is a set, because not only is it Fuhr, but it's also Hawerchuk and Francis (who is 5th all-time in scoring). For years it's been so cheap, but it's not junk anymore. These guys are legit. I see a lot of growth here as well.

[slightlyrounded]

Originally Posted by bison0094

Who are you investing in now for the long game? IMO, junk wax era kills the likes of Jagr, Selanne, Modano, Hasek, Brodeur, Lidstrom, etc. for significant upside. I think its a mix of young and old. Balancing old, all-time greats who will always be who today's stars are being compared with current stars who are on their way to being all-time greats in order to appeal to the younger generation of collectors.

Here's my list:

Gordie Howe
Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux
Bobby Orr
Mark Messier
Patrick Roy
Alex Ovechkin
Sidney Crosby
Auston Matthews
Connor McDavid

All are greatest players above sure but in terms of future upside and pure ROI, I think this list is actually pretty questionable given current valuations. I would personally go with 10 names like:

- Svech
- Pastrnak
- Pettersson
- Kubalik
- Point
- Drai
- Debrincat
- Marner
- Stamkos
- Natty Mac

Popular sets, low-numbered, rookie autos where possible. Obviously not all will have outstanding careers, but on a relative risk basis I'd rather spread my money on the "established prospects", especially in that career sweet-spot (years 3-7) where values often dip.

Regardless of player, I also think YG Exclusives (and high gloss) are going to become an industry gold standard for rookie cards in the future. Print runs may vary year to year but /100 and /10 are set in stone.

[ncm7772]

Originally Posted by EdwardJ

I like Messier as an investment. He only has the OPC rookie where most around the time have a Topps and OPC version. Messier obviously one of the greatest of all time too and still relatively affordable.

I think Kane and Malkin are also good investments, both first ballot HOF'ers, 3 Stanley Cups, both have a Conn Smythe and Kane might be highest scoring American of all time when he retires.

Joe Thornton is also interesting. I love the player, he could creep in the top 10 scoring of all time. His rookie isn't uncommon is the only thing.

When he gets inducted into the HOF he'll get a bump in value and IF the Leafs went deep in the playoffs or won a cup, I think it also gives his value a good bump. His cards are pretty cheap, probably like $15-$30 for his Upper Deck Rookie. I don't think you'll lose money on him, not sure what how big the value increase long term is though

Agreed on Malkin especially. Not saying you're wrong about Kane, I just simply don't know enough about his hobby love. Malkin has seen a jump lately, but until recently I've been highly surprised at how low his cards sell for. I think when he's inducted, his cards will skyrocket.

[kellmuff]

Kubalik doesnt belong in that list with those guys.

[slightlyrounded]

Originally Posted by kellmuff

Kubalik doesnt belong in that list with those guys.

Yah, fair. My point was return-on-investment has as much to with the cost of investment going in as the price of investment when cashing out. Kubalik is pretty low relative to upside, but its very early for him, I agree.

[ejs23]

I don't even know what to think these days. I took a few year break from actively collecting, stumbling back in mid-last year, and it's all gone nuts. I would have said those all time greats had basically peaked, with not much room for a nice ROI.... but who knows now? These investors have driven prices up. I was foolish to think I'd grab some nice singles from The Cup this year. I'm sitting here looking at listings in the $2k-$5k range.

Depending on what you're looking at, Bobby Orr is sometimes priced low compared to his peers. Not his vintage cards, but modern autos.

I've been picking up a few 70s-80s-90s HOF rookies. Not investment grade, just whatever I can find at a decent price. I have most of them raw, so picking up graded copies... since I'd have to wait a year if I submitted my own.

Malkin has picked up a little recently but he still seems underpriced. Fleury was relatively cheap but his cards have really jumped... I guess he has 2 fan bases chasing his cards now.

Trottier doesn't seem to get much love (I recently picked up a low grade rookie)... guy has won 6 Cups, the Calder, Hart, Art Ross, Conn Smythe, Hall of Famer, made the 100 Greatest players list, 500 goal scorer, still top 20 in pts. I'm surprised that Islanders group (him, Bossy, etc) doesn't sell better.

[irv]

Originally Posted by LesExpos

That's a great list, I think the OPC Premier Jagr is a good enough card though to get him in there, he is after all 2nd All-time in scoring, he has to be represented.

Kane is interesting, because he is still piling up the points and can realisitcally score another 500+ points and put himself close to the top 10, plus the 3 cups, plus the MVP. I think his card has a lot of upside.

Don't sleep on Grant Fuhr or even Ken Dryden, you're right, the Hasek can still be found for $1 so don't discount these guys.

If Thornton wins a cup with the Leafs his cards will go nuts. Again, still lots of value there.

Don't sleep on Stevie Yzerman as well. Sort of the cheaps man's Gretzky (even though that was Bobby Smith's nickname).

Mike Bossy is the guy who I think, if he actually had a documentary made on him, has a lot of room to grow. This guy played half a career, who knows how many goals he would have scored if he'd even just played to 35. Big Dynasty team too!

Lastly, this one is a set, because not only is it Fuhr, but it's also Hawerchuk and Francis (who is 5th all-time in scoring). For years it's been so cheap, but it's not junk anymore. These guys are legit. I see a lot of growth here as well.

I agree. Mike Bossy, and so many others whose cards are peanuts compared to some modern guys who have basically won nothing nor proven nothing.
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1437402

I've been picking up some all time greats here and there when I can, and just won a Pat Lafontaine RC tonight but got beat out on a Denis Savard from the same seller.

Originally Posted by ejs23

I don't even know what to think these days. I took a few year break from actively collecting, stumbling back in mid-last year, and it's all gone nuts. I would have said those all time greats had basically peaked, with not much room for a nice ROI.... but who knows now? These investors have driven prices up. I was foolish to think I'd grab some nice singles from The Cup this year. I'm sitting here looking at listings in the $2k-$5k range.

Depending on what you're looking at, Bobby Orr is sometimes priced low compared to his peers. Not his vintage cards, but modern autos.

I've been picking up a few 70s-80s-90s HOF rookies. Not investment grade, just whatever I can find at a decent price. I have most of them raw, so picking up graded copies... since I'd have to wait a year if I submitted my own.

Malkin has picked up a little recently but he still seems underpriced. Fleury was relatively cheap but his cards have really jumped... I guess he has 2 fan bases chasing his cards now.

Trottier doesn't seem to get much love (I recently picked up a low grade rookie)... guy has won 6 Cups, the Calder, Hart, Art Ross, Conn Smythe, Hall of Famer, made the 100 Greatest players list, 500 goal scorer, still top 20 in pts. I'm surprised that Islanders group (him, Bossy, etc) doesn't sell better.

I've got my OPC Bossy, Gilles, Smith, Trottier and just recently won a Denis Potvin RC the other night. Definitely not near enough hobby love for these all time greats and HOF's but what I've seen lately, I think they are starting to catch on.
The OPC copies, for the most part, especially Bossy, imo, are super tough to find centered. Even this Potvin was fairly tough as most have very little to no left side white border.

[Lemontree]

As you mentioned, I think it is important to hit on the players who relevant to the younger generation who will be maturing and having disposable income in the next 10-15 years. Current active players like:

Established "Older Players" (Back 9 of their careers):
Sidney Crosby (All-Time Great)
Alex Ovechkin (All-Time Great)
Patrick Kane (Best American player of All-Time? Blackhawks connection)
Carey Price (Habs connection)

Established Newer Crop (In/Entering Prime):
Connor McDavid (Same as Crosby/Ovi - built as a generational talent that has lived up)
Auston Matthews (Elite goal scorer with potential to be 2nd best player to McDavid, Leafs connection)
Nathan MacKinnon (Elite offensive player that is worth the price of admission, potential of Colorado maturing into Cup contenders for the next 3-5 years)
Mitch Marner (Likely to be near top 5-10 in scoring race for years, Leafs connection)

[canuck]

Originally Posted by EdwardJ

Joe Thornton is also interesting. I love the player, he could creep in the top 10 scoring of all time. His rookie isn't uncommon is the only thing.

When he gets inducted into the HOF he'll get a bump in value and IF the Leafs went deep in the playoffs or won a cup, I think it also gives his value a good bump. His cards are pretty cheap, probably like $15-$30 for his Upper Deck Rookie. I don't think you'll lose money on him, not sure what how big the value increase long term is though

Originally Posted by Lemontree

Just a note on Thornton. He best RC is Black Diamond, which is hard to find and extremely condition sensitive for people interested in grading.

Originally Posted by LesExpos

If Thornton wins a cup with the Leafs his cards will go nuts. Again, still lots of value there.

Already three people mentioning Joe Thornton. He is definitely one whose cards is about to shoot up. He has a Black Diamond Triple rookie that is not only condition sensitive, its also tough to pull. On top of that, he has a Gold version that's only /50 that you rarely ever see on sale. His more common Upper Deck rookie PSA 10 just sold for $700ish so its just a matter of time before his Black Diamond Triple bumps up and I can't wait to see how high his /50 Gold rookie will sell for.

And he just joined the Leafs which will already bring more interest to his cards. Jumbo Joe has been a leader, one of the top points scorer in his era, and HOF. He doesn't even need to win a Cup with the Leafs but can you imagine what his cards will go for if he does?

[Hardcore]

Originally Posted by slightlyrounded

I would personally go with 10 names like:

- Svech
- Pastrnak
- Pettersson
- Kubalik
- Point
- Drai
- Debrincat
- Marner
- Stamkos
- Natty Mac

.

As far as younger players -- agree with this... but you gotta replace Kubalik with Barzal.
That said... the most recent pricing on products like 2019-20 The Cup and Clear Cut are so very laughable... players like Makar and either Hughes will soon plummet ... no defenceman recently has been a hobby stud(long term).. Makar, QHughes demand will fade... and Jack Hughes would need to be traded from NJ which is a player destroying franchise before having any hobby/playing success.

My opinion on Clear Cut is that Topps sells single auto products(Archives) for $60US /$90 CDN...
and for Hockey .. people are paying $120US/$160CDN for clearcut... for a one auto hit.. just so dumb.
If its not Upper Deck.. its the distributors who are inflating prices wanting to try to copy Basketball and Football type market hype...
sure the Cup has very nice cards BUT no where close to box price value in 97% of boxes.... just a very bad investment -- $6000 cases are lucky to touch one thousand in value.
Too many new players in the market are stupified by the big prices that rookie year McDavid Matthews Marner get.... but this aint the year to invest in the same way.
20-21 is looking like a much better year... but cant go by the products released so far.... UD1 is just way too overproduced for me.. I never touch Young Guns rookies - just too many produced.
Hoping to have a lot of luck when Black Diamond comes out in a couple of weeks.

[EdwardJ]

Originally Posted by Hardcore

As far as younger players -- agree with this... but you gotta replace Kubalik with Barzal.
That said... the most recent pricing on products like 2019-20 The Cup and Clear Cut are so very laughable... players like Makar and either Hughes will soon plummet ... no defenceman recently has been a hobby stud(long term).. Makar, QHughes demand will fade... and Jack Hughes would need to be traded from NJ which is a player destroying franchise before having any hobby/playing success.

My opinion on Clear Cut is that Topps sells single auto products(Archives) for $60US /$90 CDN...
and for Hockey .. people are paying $120US/$160CDN for clearcut... for a one auto hit.. just so dumb.
If its not Upper Deck.. its the distributors who are inflating prices wanting to try to copy Basketball and Football type market hype...
sure the Cup has very nice cards BUT no where close to box price value in 97% of boxes.... just a very bad investment -- $6000 cases are lucky to touch one thousand in value.
Too many new players in the market are stupified by the big prices that rookie year McDavid Matthews Marner get.... but this aint the year to invest in the same way.
20-21 is looking like a much better year... but cant go by the products released so far.... UD1 is just way too overproduced for me.. I never touch Young Guns rookies - just too many produced.
Hoping to have a lot of luck when Black Diamond comes out in a couple of weeks.

I couldn’t agree more on the Hughes/Makar statement. I posted in another thread defensemen get no love in the hobby. Hedman and Doughty are priced way lower than these guys and have already done it all.

[irv]

Originally Posted by EdwardJ

I couldn’t agree more on the Hughes/Makar statement. I posted in another thread defensemen get no love in the hobby. Hedman and Doughty are priced way lower than these guys and have already done it all.

I respectfully disagree with the Makar statement.
Imo, he is a special player even if he is a defensemen, and I think, if can maintain, or even improve on, what he has already done in such a short time, I think his hobby love will only grow. (Many other of his highlight vids are also available just to give you an idea how good he is)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3trjVGVP3k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo6Ym5LIkhE

[tyrith]

Originally Posted by irv

I respectfully disagree with the Makar statement.
Imo, he is a special player even if he is a defensemen, and I think, if can maintain, or even improve on, what he has already done in such a short time, I think his hobby love will only grow. (Many other of his highlight vids are also available just to give you an idea how good he is)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3trjVGVP3k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo6Ym5LIkhE

I've gone through the numbers in other places - but there's literally zero precedent for where Makar's prices are at right now. Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman FWAs are selling for 70-80, and they have a pretty nice combo of Norris/Smythe trophies between them. Makar's FWA is going for roughly 5x that.

You might say that Makar is accumulating more points and getting more ice time than Hedman/Karlsson did in their first couple of seasons. That's true, but Makar's first season was his age 21 season, and the other two guys came in at 19. It's the perfect situation to give him an immediate bump early on. I don't think that necessarily translates to Makar getting 90 assists in a season two years from now.

And that's the rub - Makar is being priced like he's a generational talent as a defenseman. He's not quite the Connor McDavid of D-men, but I don't have any other good comps. Makar's prices are completely out of scale to his comps. He is going to have to be the best defenseman of the last 20 years to hold at this level - an absolutely electric player that is in the top 3 of the Norris every year for most of a decade.

Do I think that's impossible? No. And overall market rise will likely cushion whatever fall comes. But I find the likelihood that Makar and Quinn Hughes can stay THIS FAR ahead of the overall defenseman market to be vanishingly low, and expect their cards to be some of the lowest ROI players if you were to buy and hold for 5 years.

[EdwardJ]

Originally Posted by irv

I respectfully disagree with the Makar statement.
Imo, he is a special player even if he is a defensemen, and I think, if can maintain, or even improve on, what he has already done in such a short time, I think his hobby love will only grow. (Many other of his highlight vids are also available just to give you an idea how good he is)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3trjVGVP3k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo6Ym5LIkhE

I hear ya! I know Makar is an absolute beast and comparing him to Heiskanen, Dahlin, Quinn and I'll even throw McAvoy in that mix, I like Makar the most. I just think his cards are overvalued looking at where defenseman are and have been in the past.

Erik Karlsson is maybe the best example for me. He was the best defenseman for almost a decade, exciting to watch and put up big offensive numbers, but even his card prices never really reached what high end forwards go for. I think EK65 only sits around $250-$300CDN for a PSA10

I could definitely be wrong and Makar could be the guy that helps push the Defensemen market really up there, but I think theres more hype around him right now and his value comes down to reality in a season or two, or until the new shiny defenseman comes in... and this 2021 draft class has a ton of them

[LesExpos]

Originally Posted by irv

I agree. Mike Bossy, and so many others whose cards are peanuts compared to some modern guys who have basically won nothing nor proven nothing.
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1437402

I've been picking up some all time greats here and there when I can, and just won a Pat Lafontaine RC tonight but got beat out on a Denis Savard from the same seller.




I've got my OPC Bossy, Gilles, Smith, Trottier and just recently won a Denis Potvin RC the other night. Definitely not near enough hobby love for these all time greats and HOF's but what I've seen lately, I think they are starting to catch on.
The OPC copies, for the most part, especially Bossy, imo, are super tough to find centered. Even this Potvin was fairly tough as most have very little to no left side white border.

That Potvin is a beauty! Yep, 100%, Bossy is seldom seen centered! I mean honestly, the OPC quality control was the worst ever, so many cards rarely centered, but Bossy was the big one that year! That Islanders team, man, they were so good, Trottier super under-rated as well and yes, Potvin was as good as any other D man in the league for 10 years. Stupidly cheap cards, won't last forever!

[irv]

Originally Posted by tyrith

I've gone through the numbers in other places - but there's literally zero precedent for where Makar's prices are at right now. Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman FWAs are selling for 70-80, and they have a pretty nice combo of Norris/Smythe trophies between them. Makar's FWA is going for roughly 5x that.

You might say that Makar is accumulating more points and getting more ice time than Hedman/Karlsson did in their first couple of seasons. That's true, but Makar's first season was his age 21 season, and the other two guys came in at 19. It's the perfect situation to give him an immediate bump early on. I don't think that necessarily translates to Makar getting 90 assists in a season two years from now.

And that's the rub - Makar is being priced like he's a generational talent as a defenseman. He's not quite the Connor McDavid of D-men, but I don't have any other good comps. Makar's prices are completely out of scale to his comps. He is going to have to be the best defenseman of the last 20 years to hold at this level - an absolutely electric player that is in the top 3 of the Norris every year for most of a decade.

Do I think that's impossible? No. And overall market rise will likely cushion whatever fall comes. But I find the likelihood that Makar and Quinn Hughes can stay THIS FAR ahead of the overall defenseman market to be vanishingly low, and expect their cards to be some of the lowest ROI players if you were to buy and hold for 5 years.

Originally Posted by EdwardJ

I hear ya! I know Makar is an absolute beast and comparing him to Heiskanen, Dahlin, Quinn and I'll even throw McAvoy in that mix, I like Makar the most. I just think his cards are overvalued looking at where defenseman are and have been in the past.

Erik Karlsson is maybe the best example for me. He was the best defenseman for almost a decade, exciting to watch and put up big offensive numbers, but even his card prices never really reached what high end forwards go for. I think EK65 only sits around $250-$300CDN for a PSA10

I could definitely be wrong and Makar could be the guy that helps push the Defensemen market really up there, but I think theres more hype around him right now and his value comes down to reality in a season or two, or until the new shiny defenseman comes in... and this 2021 draft class has a ton of them

I'm not necessarily saying his Young Guns aren't over priced right now because I personally think many are, all I am saying, but didn't say it right the first time, is I don't think his hobby love is going to wane where he just becomes another obscure everyday defenseman.
And for what it is worth, I don't currently own a Young Gun of his.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by irv

I respectfully disagree with the Makar statement.
Imo, he is a special player even if he is a defensemen, and I think, if can maintain, or even improve on, what he has already done in such a short time, I think his hobby love will only grow.

Here's the thing....how much hobby love does Nick Lindstrom get? How much does Ray Bourque get? How about Denis Potvin or Larry Robinson?

Makar is a great player, but McKinnon, as a center, will always get the majority of the credit for whatever the Avs achieve.

Unless Makar starts blowing away defensemen scoring records, he's just going to be another in a long line of excellent defensemen who get little long-term hobby love.

[irv]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Here's the thing....how much hobby love does Nick Lindstrom get? How much does Ray Bourque get? How about Denis Potvin or Larry Robinson?

Makar is a great player, but McKinnon, as a center, will always get the majority of the credit for whatever the Avs achieve.

Unless Makar starts blowing away defensemen scoring records, he's just going to be another in a long line of excellent defensemen who get little long-term hobby love.

I keep hearing this argument but many who have said it also forget just how recent hockey has became popular, or as popular it has become during this pandemic.
Think about how many OPC Premier Lidstrom's are out there comparatively, they're a dime a dozen, but also look at some recent sales. All those guys are becoming more popular by the day and I think that trend will continue once people realize, that many greats, top 100 players are way behind price wise.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1980-81-O-Pe...QAAOSwWf1gKE9p
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1980-81-Topp...wAAOSws09gPu5J
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1980-81-OPC-...0AAOSwdkpf37-B
Not many high grade Larry Robinson's out there.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1973-74-OPC-...0AAOSwZGBf~Mtf
Not many Denis Potvin's either.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1974-O-pee-c...cAAOSwSxBgBbhF

[k13]

He is high because market is high.

MacKinnon has no business to be were he is either.

[ZappBrannigan]

Henri Richard. 11 Stanley Cup wins. Grab a Parkhurst rookie if you can.

[k13]

There were like two teams back then....

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by irv

I keep hearing this argument but many who have said it also forget just how recent hockey has became popular, or as popular it has become during this pandemic.
Think about how many OPC Premier Lidstrom's are out there comparatively, they're a dime a dozen, but also look at some recent sales. All those guys are becoming more popular by the day and I think that trend will continue once people realize, that many greats, top 100 players are way behind price wise.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1980-81-O-Pe...QAAOSwWf1gKE9p
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1980-81-Topp...wAAOSws09gPu5J
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1980-81-OPC-...0AAOSwdkpf37-B
Not many high grade Larry Robinson's out there.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1973-74-OPC-...0AAOSwZGBf~Mtf
Not many Denis Potvin's either.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1974-O-pee-c...cAAOSwSxBgBbhF

But hockey isn't actually all that popular.

Just look at Blowout post counts....hockey is 5th behind baseball, basketball, football, and soccer.

And the hockey market is handicapped by the fact that it is played in a comparatively small number of countries (just like football is because it's a US-only sport).

I think what we're seeing is a brief blip of pandemic/stimulus-related investor interest in a few big hockey names that will fade away just as quickly as it arrived.