Product Details
Even in today’s hobby of big hits and huge price tags, 2018-19 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey maintains a massive following. The NHL’s flagship release marks the unofficial start of the season for many collectors. A large part of that demand stems from the iconic Young Guns cards, which again come six per box.

2018-19 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Base / Young Guns

The 2018-19 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey checklist begins with a 200-card base set but most collectors are after the 50-card Young Guns rookie card subset. Adding yet another design to the legendary Young Guns lineup, the cards average 1:4 packs. The standard parallel lineup consists of Exclusives (#/100) and High Gloss (#/10). The main set also has the acetate Clear Cut parallels to chase at 1:72 packs.

And we can’t forget the popular UD Canvas insert which is more like an extension to the base set. These average 1:6 packs overall, with base UD Canvas at 1:7 packs and Young Guns UD Canvas falling 1:48 packs.

2018-19 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Inserts

Beyond the normal expectations, the 2018-19 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey inserts provide much of the new options in the release. 25 Under 25 (1:12 packs) counts down some of the very best young stars, while the 50-card Stonewalled set highlights the top goalies at a rate of 1:6 packs.

Split across the various Hobby and Retail formats, Shooting Stars identifies 10 standouts at each position. Averaging one per box, Hobby offers Centers (1:64 packs), Goalies (1:192 packs) and Left Wingers (1:96 packs). Defencemen and Right Winger (1:48 packs) cards are found in tins. Each positional subset has an even more limited Black parallel. Jagr Years (1:12 packs), of course, pays homage to the extensive career put forth by Jaromír Jágr. There is one card for every year he has played in the NHL.

As for the familiar, Series 1 includes UD Portraits (1:6 packs) in limited Gold (Rookies – #/99; Base – #/25) and Platinum Blue (Rookies – #/25; Base – #/5) versions.

Bringing in more acetate, the Clear Cut insert line offers Clear Cut Foundation (1:654 packs) and Clear Cut Leaders (1:8,104 packs), as well as the Clear Cut Honoured Members Update set (#/100).

2018-19 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey also has several insert choices that boast extremely difficult odds. There’s Ceremonial Puck Drop (1:2,000 packs), Cup Components (1:708 packs), and Day with the Cup (1:2,000 packs). Pushing that to the extreme is the 2018 NHL Draft SP card, at 1:12,000 packs, which also has a variation (1:72,000 packs).

2018-19 Upper Deck Series 1 Autographs / Relics

While the yearly trend paints 2018-19 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey as a product not especially geared to hit collectors, there are still several elusive autograph and relic sets. The autographed assortment includes UD Canvas Signatures (jersey #’d), Signature Sensations (1:288 packs), and the Ceremonial Puck Drop Autograph parallel (1:16,000 packs).

The flagship relic staple, UD Game Jersey has another go with a base version (1:41 packs) and Patch (#/15) parallel. The 25 Under 25 and Jagr Years inserts add numbered Jersey (#/250 or #/68) and Patch/Premium (#/10) parallels, as well.