Product Details

The universe continues to expand in some weird and wild ways. 2023-24 SkyBox Metal Universe Hockey sticks with the brand’s signature nostalgia, but it also introduces some gnarly new novelties for added freshness.

2023-24 SkyBox Metal Universe Hockey Checklist Overview

The base set has 200 total cards. The first half is standard player cards. Following them are 50 stars and 50 rookies, both of which are modest short prints with one of each per hobby pack. Heading into space is nothing new for Metal Universe. In fact, it’s one of the hallmarks as to why the sets from the ’90s are so well remembered. This set goes in a bit of a different direction. Rather than planets, the backdrop in most fantastical frontiers that one might find in a sci-fi novel or Blade Runner movie. Precious Metal Gems make up the main part of the parallels. Colors include:

Red – /100
Green – /10
Gold – 1/1

Printing Plates are also available. Select cards have autographs, which can be found in four levels:

Silver – 1:120 hobby packs, Stars 1:600 hobby packs, Rookies /399 or /199
Blue – /50 (Rookies only)
Green – /10
Gold – 1/1

Metal Rarities

When it comes to inserts, the 2023-24 SkyBox Metal Universe checklist has some of the most variety you’ll find in a hockey card set this season. Several of these have roots in Skybox’s past, although Upper Deck continues with its trend of updating many of the designs. The result is still out-there but tickles the nostalgia in a slightly different way. Among the big guns is Jambalaya. These continue to use a die-cut shape and carry ridiculously long odds (1:960 hobby packs). However, the look is new with a colorful, pixelated background. It’s the same odds for Noyz Boyz, a classic theme most closely connected with basketball but it did appear in 2012-13 Fleer Retro Hockey.

Soul of the Game is another 1990s name. Best known for its 1998-99 SkyBox Premium Basketball release, this is the first time it has appeared as a hockey card set. Standard versions are 1:43 hobby packs while Gold parallels have 99 copies. Autographs are limited to 35. Several other rarities line the 2023-24 SkyBox Metal Universe Hockey checklist. Metal-X is back, landing 1:480 hobby packs. Equally tough is the debut of The Business. Goose Eggs (1:400) is also new. The goalie-only set uses a die-cut design and lots of fonts that will take you back to early ’90s computer-generated graphics. Golden Goose Eggs are numbered to 25. Palladium (1:400), Vivacity (1:300), Quick Strike (1:300) and Net-Rageous (1:343) are among the other scarce chases. Palladium and Quick Strike also have Spectrum parallels that have 25 copies each. Martensite (1:160) takes from the steel crystalline form of carbon. Whether you recognize the pattern or not, it’s flashy.

Additional Inserts

Neither 9.461e KM (1:60) or Premium Player (1:38) are extremely rare, but they’re not the easiest sets to find, either. Gold parallels for each have 99 copies. Constellations (1:10), Meltdown (1:12), Energetic Explosions (1:14), and T Tauri Star (1:15) are among the inserts that should appear in every hobby box. These have Spectrum (/199) and Gold (/99) parallels as well. Z-Force is another line making its first puck drop. Base versions are 1:15 packs with Rave (/399), Super Rave (/50) and Universe Rave (1/1) versions joining them. A new batch of SkyBox Premium Prospects (1:5) are also available. Star Rubies (/50), Star Emeralds (/10) and Star Diamonds (1/1) are the parallels.

For those chasing signatures, select cards in Constellations (1:1,500), Energetic Explosions (1:1,200), Meltdown (1:1,000), T Tauri Star (1:1,000), Soul of the Game (/35), Premium Player (/25) and SkyBox Premium Prospects (/25) have autographs.

Going Retro in 2023-24 SkyBox Metal Universe Hockey

A few “retro” sets borrow more directly from SkyBox’s past. 2008-09 Metal Universe Retros (1:5) and 2013 Metal Universe Retros (1:240) both add to the product’s Precious Metal Gems count. These, along with PMG-only 1997-98 Metal Universe Retros have the following colors:

Red – /100 (90 copies each 011/100 to 100/100)
Green – /100 (10 copies each 001/100 to 010/100)
Gold – 1/1

2013 Metal Universe Retros also have Blue Precious Metal Gems that have 50 copies. Purple Spectrum FX parallels (/199) can be found for 2008-09 Metal Universe Retros. Finally, there’s 1990 SkyBox Retro Metal (1:240). These put a new spin on the landmark 1990-91 SkyBox Basketball design that launched the brand.

2023-24 Upper Deck Skybox Metal Universe Hockey cards Breakdown:

Cards per pack: Hobby – 7
Packs per box: Hobby – 15
Boxes per case: Hobby – 16
Set size: 200 cards
Release date: 2024-10-09

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