For hockey fans and collectors, the absence of Topps from the rink’s memorabilia since the 2003-04 NHL season has felt akin to watching a game without a slap shot—something vital has been missing. But fear not, nostalgic puck enthusiasts, for Topps is finally making a return to the beloved ice sport’s collectible arena. However, this reappearance comes with a twist that melds old-school charm with a contemporary spin. Topps Under Wraps: Emanate 2024-25 is here, and it promises a unique addition to your memorabilia collection.
The year was 2004, and in a move that left collectors with their heads spinning, Upper Deck swooped in and netted the exclusive rights to produce NHL-licensed trading cards. The result? Topps, synonymous with trading cards, rapidly began to slide into the shadows of the hockey card world. Despite its absence, fans have always held on to a glimmer of hope that a reunion would see old friends reunited: glossy cards, thrilling rookie hunts, and parallel variants—all hallmarks of Topps’ past offerings. Much like a Zamboni’s return to the rink, that time has come—kind of.
Enter Fanatics, the overlords of sports merchandising and the current owner of Topps. They have concocted a presentation that’s a bit like what happens when you shake hands with your idol: unexpected yet pleasantly surprising. On April 3, fans will witness the dawn of a new era with the launch of Emanate 2024-25, marking Topps’ first foray back into the hockey memorabilia scene in 20 years—not with trading cards per se, but with something that flirts conspicuously close to their familiar rectangular realm.
Picture this: an 8×10 autographed photo, designed to evoke the nostalgia of an oversized trading card, complete with front and back artworks that pay homage to the Topps design you’ve grown to love. Each of these glossy prints is not just a random dab of color thrown together; they are hand-signed (emphasis on the “hand”), serial-numbered, and hologrammed. Think of it as the magical lovechild between a trading card and a top-tier hockey poster. Bringing forth an element of precious gem allure, collectors can luxuriate in the chase of six color variants, each more dazzling than the last—gold (#/50), orange (#/25), blue (#/10), red (#/5), and the showstopper: iridescent (1/1).
The selection reads like a who’s who of the hockey elite, spanning legends and future Hall-of-Famers alike. The checklist welcomes players from all 32 NHL teams, featuring the likes of Alexander Ovechkin, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, and the up-and-coming talent, Connor Bedard. It’s a kaleidoscope of talent, an array that Sal Barry, a devoted collector, commented on with enthusiasm: “These even have photos and information on the back,” providing that authentic card-collecting feel with a new twist.
What makes this endeavor particularly intriguing is its presentation: each photo comes encased in a magnetic-ready-to-display folio, ensuring that from the moment of unveiling, that prized piece shines brighter than the Stanley Cup under arena lights.
For the thrill-seekers of rarity, the stakes elevate further with multi-signed editions featuring an incredible 1/1 triple-signed piece by Ovechkin, Bedard, and Matthews—waiting to make someone the envy of fellow aficionados.
With each box retailing at $130, collectors and fans find themselves on the precipice of nostalgia and innovation, contemplating whether to open, display, or perhaps hoard for posterity, much like that mothballed set of cards from yesteryear.
While Topps hasn’t dived back into the familiar waters of pack-ripping frenzy, what Emanate offers is the excitement of owning a piece that resonates with both traditional charm and modern flair—like spotting a unicorn on a frozen pond. It’s not a wholesale return to the hockey trading cards of old, but a hybrid approach, merging collectible dignity with executive allure.
As Fanatics currently holds many of the licensable cards across sports memorabilia, can we expect more innovative wheeling and dealing from Topps? Perhaps, but for now, Emanate 2024-25 is a sign that Topps, much like a sneaky forward, is skating back toward camp before making its next move. It’s an exciting time for collectors as they await what might come next—a renewed promise of Topps and hockey, back in tandem, filling shelves and hearts with memories fresh and warm.
