The Panini America Quality Control Gallery: 2011-12 Titanium Hockey (51 Sweet Images)

After seven long seasons away, the venerable Titanium brand will return to the ice with Panini America’s early-June release of 2011-12 Titanium Hockey, a re-imagined tribute to the trendsetting original that will deliver one autograph or memorabilia card in every pack and trademark Rookie Cards numbered to the featured player’s jersey number.
Earlier today, Panini America NHL gurus Chris Barr, Joe Reyes and Tim Trout tag-teamed the quality-control bust of one case of the product to make sure everything was falling as it should. But before they could rush the cards back to the production line, I snapped as many pics as I could for the following first-look gallery.

The product is rife with nostalgic nods to Titaniums of seasons past, including the instantly recognizable red “ROOKIE” diamond on the front-numbered RCs and familiar-feeling design elements. But the product also includes some welcome new twists such as die-cut Home, Road and Third Sweaters, Titanium Reserve Autographs and the continuation of Panini America’s popular Private Signings cross-brand autograph insert.
“Each pack of Titanium Hockey will provide collectors with either a memorabilia or autograph card from some of the biggest rookies and stars in the league,” Barr said. “The return of NHL Rookie Cards serial numbered to each player’s jersey number could provide some of the most exciting pulls of the hockey card season thus far.”
Stay tuned for more information in the coming days as the release date draws closer. Until then, feast your eyes on this eye candy: