Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the world which makes collecting the cards even more exciting. Although the sport doesn’t get as much coverage in the mainstream media as other sports, it is still popular enough to warrant collecting them. If you’re looking for a relatively cheap and easy way to buy cards, then this article is for you as it investigates the most popular cards from the past ten years with an eye on value.
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The Best From The Past Decade
The first decade of the 21st century was a prolific one for hockey cards, with many great cards being produced. It is impossible to list every good card from this period, so this article will focus on the top ten cards from the last ten years with the most value based on current prices and scarcity. Remember, the value of a card can change as easily as the price of a cup of coffee, so always check the current value on eBay before making a purchase.
The first card on this list is none other than the legendary Wayne Gretzky’s 2000-01 Olympic Gold medal. This is the ultimate hockey card and any fan of the sport wouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of Canadian history. As it is a current-use item, the price has increased significantly since its original list price of $160 making it worth over $400 currently. The second card is Joe Sakic’s 2001-02 Fleur de Lys Cup Champions medal. Like the Gretzky card, this is also a highly coveted piece of hockey memorabilia, likely because it represents the Colorado Avalanche’s last dynasty. Like Gretzky, Sakic is also Canadian, which may have had something to do with the recent explosion of interest in his team.
Moving on to the next two cards, the first is Sergei Zubov’s 1993-94 Fleur de Lys Cup Champions medal. Zubov is one of the greatest Russian defensemen of all time and this would be a great addition to any collection. However, like the previous two cards, this too is a current-use item increasing in value thanks to its rarity. The second is Teemu Selänne’s 1999-00 Vezina Trophy, which serves as the official award for the best goaltender in the league. Like the previous two cards, this is also a highly coveted piece of hockey memorabilia. In fact, it is often considered the most prestigious award in the sport. With its unique gold-trimming, you would certainly stand out in a crowd with this prestigious piece.
The Next Five
The following five cards are all great additions to any collection. While they are not exactly rare, they are certainly valuable and each has increased in price significantly since the start of this year. Let’s take a quick look at each one.
Tony Cherepanov’s 2001-02 Russian Cup medal.
This is the next best thing to owning a piece of Russian history. Tony Cherepanov is a Russian-born hockey player who won three Stanley Cups with the New York Rangers in the 90s. He is responsible for many great moments in NHL history, most notably his hat trick in game six of the 1998 Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators.
Even if you’re not a fan of the sport, you have to admit that seeing a hat trick is pretty cool. This is one of the most recognizable and valuable hockey cards ever produced and it wouldn’t be a bad investment for any sports or non-sports fan. Its list price is currently $150 making it a very affordable addition to any collection. For fans of the game, this is the ultimate collector’s item.
Martin Brodeur’s 2003-04 Vezina Trophy.
This is the next best thing to owning a piece of hockey history. Martin Brodeur is the starting goaltender for the New Jersey Devils and has won the Vezina Trophy six times, which is more than any other goaltender has won the award. He has a remarkably efficient.927 save percentage over the course of his career and did not allow a single goal in the final minute of any game in which he played.
The price of this card has jumped up by about $100 making it the most expensive of the top five cards listed here, which is quite the rise considering it was only $70 a year ago. The increased demand is likely because this is the final season of Brodeur’s contract with the Devils. There aren’t many chances for fans to get their hands on this card before it increases in value even more.
Mark Messier’s 2003-04 Stanley Cup championship ring.
This is the third piece of sports memorabilia on this list, which is a nice change of pace after focusing on single medals and trophies. Mark Messier is one of the greatest hockey players ever and was the captain of the New York Rangers when he won his second straight Stanley Cup in 1994. This championship ring is the ultimate collector’s item and is an excellent opportunity for any hockey fan to add a piece of their favorite player’s legacy to their collection.
Like the previous three cards, this too is a current-use item increasing in value as we near the end of the year. If you’ve ever seen a Mark Messier card before, then you know exactly what this one is. He always wears the captain’s “C” in hockey and in many other sports as well, making this one of the most identifiable and popular hockey cards of all time. This year is the twentieth anniversary of Messier’s second championship ring, which makes it even more special. He’ll be the first to admit that he didn’t play his best in the finals that year, which may have contributed to his team’s loss, but he finished the season strongly and is looking forward to getting another shot at Lord Stanley. This card will be worth plenty in the coming years as more and more fans want to add this valuable piece of hardware to their collection.
Paul Coffey’s 2004-05 Stanley Cup championship ring.
This is the last piece of sports memorabilia on this list and it couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. Coffey was an all-time great hockey player who spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He won the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1995, which makes him one of the most accomplished hockey players of all time. This is the second year that Paul Coffey has won the Stanley Cup, which is quite the feat considering he played his final season in 2004/05. While we’ll never know what might have happened if Coffey had stayed healthy, this year will mark the twentieth anniversary of his final season and it’s very possible that he’ll be back for more in a few years. This is the final season of Coffey’s career and it will likely be his last hurrah. This is one of the most exciting moments of any hockey fan’s life and this piece of hardware will be worth plenty in the coming years as the legend’s final season is marked.
The Last Card
This year saw the greatest amount of increase in price among the cards on this list. Not only are the Russian and Colorado Avalanche cards going up in value as we mentioned before, but so is Teemu Selänne’s 1999-00 Vezina Trophy as well. While there were a number of great cards produced this year, the general increase in value can be attributed to the scarcity in available examples as well as their popularity. We’ll quickly take a look at each one and why it’s value has risen so much.
Tony Cherepanov’s 2005-06 Russian Cup medal.
As we’ve established, Tony Cherepanov is responsible for many iconic moments in NHL history. Perhaps the most memorable one came just this past season when he scored the overtime goal that knocked off the Montreal Canadiens and advanced the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final. This is the third piece of hardware on our list and it has increased in value by about $70 since the start of the year. That’s quite the price rise considering its only value is in the form of cold hard cash. This is the final season of Cherepanov’s contract with the Rangers, so it wouldn’t be a bad time to make a move. Having already won three Stanley Cups with the team, Cherepanov isn’t looking for a quiet summer.
This past season was also the twentieth anniversary of Tony Cherepanov’s first ever NHL season with the New York Rangers. He scored only six goals that year, but two of those goals were in game winners, which is something to celebrate. It seems that the demand for this card is increasing as the number of years that have passed since its original issuance makes it increasingly rare. While we’ll never truly know how much this card is worth, it’s been documented that it was worth around $100 when it was first issued in 2006.