Upper Deck holds the exclusive NHL trading card license and has since 1990, making the NHL the last major North American sports league not consolidated under Fanatics.

Which Upper Deck product has Young Guns?

Young Guns rookies are inserted into Upper Deck's flagship set (Series 1 and Series 2), which is why the flagship is the heart of modern hockey collecting.

What is Upper Deck The Cup?

The Cup is Upper Deck's premium, ultra-high-end hockey product, home to low-numbered rookie patch autographs and some of the most valuable modern hockey cards.

NHLcards

NHL Card Sets & Brands

By The Sport Cave TeamMay 9, 20261 min read

Hockey's card landscape is the most stable in the hobby, because one company has defined it for over three decades. Understanding Upper Deck's product lineup is the key to collecting NHL cards. This guide supports our full NHL trading cards guide.

The licensing picture

Upper Deck has held the exclusive NHL trading card license since 1990, and as of 2026 it remains hockey's exclusive card maker — making the NHL the last major North American sports league not consolidated under Fanatics. That long, unbroken stewardship gives hockey a consistent, recognizable product landscape that collectors have come to know intimately.

The core Upper Deck products

Upper Deck Series 1 & 2 (Flagship)

The flagship set, released in two series each year, is the heart of hockey collecting — because it's home to the Young Guns rookie subset. Affordable, comprehensive, and anchored by the sport's signature rookie format, flagship is where most collectors focus.

The Cup

Upper Deck's premium, ultra-high-end product. The Cup is home to low-numbered rookie patch autographs and some of the most valuable modern hockey cards. Boxes carry very high price points and correspondingly high chase potential.

SP Authentic

Known for its "Future Watch" autographed rookie cards, a prized rookie format second only to Young Guns in collector attention, plus a mix of veteran and legend content.

O-Pee-Chee

The affordable, high-count set with deep checklists and a nostalgic connection to hockey's vintage O-Pee-Chee heritage — a budget-friendly entry point with its own retro-style parallels.

Premium and specialty lines

Upper Deck rounds out its lineup with additional products spanning price points and styles, from mid-range chromium-style releases to specialty and legends-focused sets. But the through-line is clear: flagship for Young Guns, The Cup and SP Authentic for premium rookies.

How to choose a product

New collectors and Young Guns chasers: Upper Deck flagship (Series 1 & 2).
Premium rookie autos: The Cup and SP Authentic Future Watch.
Budget-friendly: O-Pee-Chee.

These products produce the chase covered in our rookie cards guide, and the biggest hits become the most valuable cards.

Frequently asked questions

Who makes NHL cards?: Upper Deck holds the exclusive NHL trading card license and has since 1990, making the NHL the last major North American sports league not consolidated under Fanatics.
Which Upper Deck product has Young Guns?: Young Guns rookies are inserted into Upper Deck's flagship set (Series 1 and Series 2), which is why the flagship is the heart of modern hockey collecting.
What is Upper Deck The Cup?: The Cup is Upper Deck's premium, ultra-high-end hockey product, home to low-numbered rookie patch autographs and some of the most valuable modern hockey cards.