Many collectors wonder, what are the best hockey card sets? Not surprisingly, there is no singular answer for everyone, as we all have different reasons for jumping into the hobby. And that’s what we’re going to explore in this article.
Below you’ll find our top sets, along with a sample of the best cards in each set. You’ll find out how we chose these sets and what makes them special to collectors. Take note that our selections may change over time as the collecting landscape shifts, but we’ll update this page so it remains a great resource.
Different people jump into collecting hockey cards for different reasons, whether it’s a natural extension of their love of hockey, or they’re looking to build a valuable collection. This means that different collectors are going to have various ideas about what the best sets are in the hobby. Even so, most collectors agree that there are certain sets that stand out, and our experts have put together a list of their top five favorites, along with some of the top players in each set, and what makes these sets so special.
This hockey card set is iconic mainly for one reason: it contains Wayne Gretzky’s rookie card, which is the most valuable hockey card, and what most consider the holy grail of hockey card collecting. In addition, this set was printed on fairly flimsy cardstock, so today it’s rare to find them in pristine condition, which keeps the collectors chasing the mint cards.
| Card | Number | Highest Sale | Significance in the set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Gretzky | #18 | $3.75 million | This is the holy grail of hockey cards, as it’s Gretzky’s rookie card. |
| Gordie Howe | #175 | $4514 | A card featuring “Mr. Hockey” in his final professional season. |
| Bobby Hull | #185 | $3050 | The last mainstream card of this famous player during his playing era. |
This set is valued because it represented a shift in collecting, as card sets moved away from the “junk wax” era of cheap finishing, and into premium cards. Since they were produced in large numbers, it’s an affordable entry point for beginners. In addition, this is the set that introduced the “Young Guns” brand.
| Card | Number | Highest Sale | Significance in the set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pavel Bure (Rookie) | #526 | $800 | The rookie card for the “Russian Rocket,” who won Rookie of the Year the next season. |
| Wayne Gretzky | #54 | ~ $2000 | The card highlights a career milestone (his 2000th point). |
| Sergei Fedorov (Rookie) | #525 | ~ $1500 | This is the premiere rookie card in the set, featuring a Russian superstar. |
This set represented another shift, as the cards printed here were significantly different from anything that came before. The cards featured creative designs, futuristic art, bold colors, and more. You may not find the most valuable hockey trading cards in this set, but you’ll definitely find fan favorites and some stunning artwork.
| Card | Number | Highest Sale | Significance in the set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Lemieux (Ice Carving) | #10 | $660 | One of hockey’s greatest icons. |
| Jaromir Jagr (Ice Carving) | #6 | $215 | Well-known star featured during his prime years in Pittsburgh. |
| Wayne Gretzky | #6 (Lethal Weapon insert) | $400 | The sport’s top star appears in an insert in his first year as a Ranger. |
This deck celebrated the return of hockey after the famous 2004-05 NHL lockout, and it featured two year’s worth of elite and rookie talent in one set. This set includes the Young Guns subset, with Sidney Crosby’s rookie card. Some consider this the best hockey card set of the modern era.
| Card | Number | Highest Sale | Significance in the set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Crosby | #1 | $125,000 | Crosby’s definitive rookie card, and the anchor in this set. |
| Henrik Lundquist | #216 | $3500 | The famous goaltender’s rookie card. |
| Ryan Getzlaf | #203 | $1200 | The rookie card for a future Stanley Cup champion and longtime team captain. |
This set is popular because it features prodigy Connor McDavid’s rookie card, alongside other rookie talent. McDavid’s popularity created a surge of interest in hockey card sets, and this set serves as a nice jumping off point for those who are interested in collecting modern cards, with many of the players still on the ice today.
| Card | Number | Highest Sale | Significance in the set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connor McDavid | #201 | $145,000 | The most significant rookie card of the modern era. |
| Artemi Panarin | #221 | $1500 | The rookie card for this Calder Trophy winner and all around all-star. |
| Dylan Larkin | #228 | $1200 | The rookie card for the future Red Wings captain. |
The key takeaway here is that we don’t just look at one factor when we create these sorts of lists. For example, if we were just looking at the most valuable sets and cards, our list would look much different, as not every set or card mentioned above is particularly valuable. Here’s what we look at:
Historical significance. Sometimes the players inside the set make it significant (such as rookie cards), and in other cases the set is significant because it represents a shift in the way the cards were designed, what types of inserts were included, etc.
Scarcity. Some sets are scarce because they weren’t printed in large numbers (e.g., before the junk wax era). In other cases, the scarcity is driven by the condition. For example, the OPC cards were flimsy, so finding mint cards is difficult.
Design and layout. Some of the sets stand out because of their bold designs and creative artwork. An example here are the Metal Universe sets.
Fan base. Some cards are hugely popular because the player is a fan favorite. Think Connor McDavid in the modern era, or the rookies in the OPC set.
Value/pricing. Another factor we consider is the price. Sometimes we look at highly valuable and expensive sets which are highly desirable. In other cases, we look at lower-priced sets that offer a good value, especially for beginners who are looking for an entry point.
There is no right or wrong way to collect hockey cards, as the way you go about it is going to depend on your personal preferences. For example:
This is not an exhaustive list. Think about why you want to collect and what you want to collect, and then consider which set is a good starting point for you. Once you know that, you can seek out NHL cards online through any of the card breaking sites featured here on this page.
Hockey card collectors know that no matter which sets and cards you collect, this hobby is a whole lot of fun, and there really is no wrong way to get started. If you’re looking for a jumping off point, the sets we listed above are good entry points, depending on what you want. For example, those who grew up in the 1990s collecting during the junk wax era may be drawn to the 1990s cards, and beginners may start with those same sets since they’re often affordable.
Meanwhile, collectors who prefer something more valuable may be drawn towards the earlier sets, such as the 1979-80 OPC set with the holy grail of cards: the Wayne Gretzky rookie card. Meanwhile, collectors chasing something a little different may want to check out the Metal Universe set, and fans of the modern era will want to check out the sets from the 2000s.
No matter where your interests lie, a good place to start building your collection card breaking sites. To learn more about these sites, and to uncover the best sites for hockey card breaks, you’ll want to reference the banners on this page.
A card ripping (or card breaking) site is one where you buy packs of cards and then rip them (open them) digitally online, or watch a breaker on a livestream open them for you. You can then decide whether to keep the card, have it shipped to you, sell it back to the site instantly, or list it in the marketplace. Check the banners on this page for more information and to discover the best card rip sites.
You can buy them from card ripping sites, directly from collectors, and more. The key here is that you purchase them from reputable sources, such as those that will authenticate the sets and cards as being the real deal. For example, our curated list of card break sites mentioned on this page have passed our due diligence test as being fair and reputable.
Some of the most valuable cards are on our hockey card sets list, like Gretzky’s rookie card. However, we consider multiple factors when creating our list, from historical significance to value to nostalgia and beyond.
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