Panini America Offers Detailed First Look at 2013-14 Contenders Hockey (Gallery)

If the late-March release of 2013-14 Contenders Hockey does indeed represent the final Contenders Hockey release ever made, the product is going out with a definitive bang. Returning to the proud Rookie Ticket roots that long ago made the Contenders brand a trading card icon, 2013-14 Contenders Hockey will deliver a checklist that includes up 125 Rookie Ticket signers honoring the #PaniniDoubleRookieClass, complete with scarce photo variations.

Panini America 2013-14 Contenders Hockey Ovechkin

If the late-March release of 2013-14 Contenders Hockey does indeed represent the final Contenders Hockey release ever made, the product is going out with a definitive bang. Returning to the proud Rookie Ticket roots that long ago made the Contenders brand a trading card icon, 2013-14 Contenders Hockey will deliver a checklist that includes up 125 Rookie Ticket signers honoring the #PaniniDoubleRookieClass, complete with scarce photo variations.

And in a bit of nostalgia-nodding genius, 2013-14 Contenders Hockey will honor the 15th anniversary of the landmark 1998 Contenders Football release with Rookie Ticket Recall, a star-filled autograph insert that places some of the NHL’s biggest superstars — including Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, Eric Lindros and more) on the now-famous 1998 Contenders Football design.

Each hobby box of 2013-14 Contenders Hockey (18 packs per box, five cards per pack) will deliver at least four autographs. The highlights of the product are considerable and include . . .

  • The return of Rookie Ticket Signature Patches numbered to 100 or less and autographed in silver or gold paint pen.
  • The return of Trophy Contenders autographed patch cards honoring top candidates for the Hart, Vezina, Norris and more NHL Trophies; numbered to 100 or less.
  • Booklets are also back, this year featuring cards packed with up to eight autographs on the 4 vs. 4 Booklets insert.
  • 2013-14 Contenders Hockey also features unique autograph exclusives: Global Contenders Autographs will be a Canadian exclusive; in addition, the Winter Classic Contenders Autographs will feature Detroit Red Wings players as U.S. exclusives while the Toronto Maple Leafs in the set will be exclusive to Canada.

We’ll have plenty more coverage of 2013-14 Contenders Hockey here on The Knight’s Lance in the coming weeks. But for now, enjoy this first extended sneak peek:

All information is accurate at the time of posting. Content is subject to change. Card images are solely for the purpose of design display.

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15 Replies to “Panini America Offers Detailed First Look at 2013-14 Contenders Hockey (Gallery)”

  1. Oh my, that looks awesome! It really is the pits you guys are losing the license as you make the sharpest and most innovative cards out there.

    Rich

  2. Much like any other NHL release from Panini this year, Contenders looks incredible. I have only one question. Is Olli Maatta going to be included in the set?

  3. I. WANT. THIS! So sad that we wont se it in the next few years, seems like I’ll have to go back and collect every single card from the last few years instead.. But after that is completed, I hope Panini is having the NHL license once again.

  4. Great stuff! You gotta love Contenders no matter the sport. It always brings the boom for rookie auto collectors like me

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