Nonsense on Ice

The NHL trade deadline is over, and Doug Plagens breaks down the biggest winners, the moves that matter most for contenders, and what it all means for the hockey card market.

In this episode of Nonsense on Ice presented by Upper Deck, Doug dives into the hobby impact of the deadline, the early buzz around Upper Deck Series 2, and why Matthew Schaefer Young Guns are already making serious noise. He also looks at key names discussed in the episode, including major deadline movers, hobby standouts, and value plays collectors should keep an eye on.

Plus, Doug rips into a 25-26 Upper Deck SP Hockey blaster, talks through the rookies and blue parallels, and gives his thoughts on what collectors can expect from the product.

In this episode:- NHL trade deadline recap- Which teams helped themselves most- Matthew Schaefer Young Guns and early Series 2 reaction- Hobby Three Stars and Traded Hobby Three Stars- Card market takeaways and value picks- 25-26 Upper Deck SP Hockey blaster rip

If you’re into hockey cards, Young Guns, Upper Deck Series 2, NHL trade deadline analysis, and hockey hobby trends, this one’s for you! Subscribe for more hockey card content, market talk, pack rips, and NHL hobby coverage.
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Tomorrow marks the official release of Upper Deck Series 2, and we're breaking down everything you need to know before you start ripping. In this edition of Nonsense on Ice presented by Upper Deck host Doug Plagens welcomes Troy Licastro from Dave and Adam's Card World to provide a comprehensive roadmap of the Series 2 checklist. While 18-year-old defensive phenom Matthew Schaefer is the undisputed headliner, we discuss why this might be the deepest Young Guns class in years, featuring must-collect names like Michael Misa, Sam Dickinson, and Ben Kindle.

The hobby isn't just buzzing about new releases—it's still reeling from a historic international performance. We react to Team USA’s dramatic gold medal victory over Canada and analyze the immediate "Hobby Bump" for stars like Jack Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck, and Matt Boldy. Doug examines the surging market data from CardLadder and explains why that "Golden Goal" has fundamentally changed the value floor for Jack Hughes cards forever.

Plus, we look ahead to the looming #nhl Trade Deadline and how shifting rosters—including Artemi Panarin’s move to the Los Angeles Kings—will impact the hobby. From vintage Olympic history to live O-Pee-Chee pack rips, this episode is your ultimate guide to a massive week in hockey.

Programming note: Nonsense on Ice now has its own YouTube channel! Please consider subscribing and joining us on YouTube!
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Doug Plagens celebrates a historic moment for Team USA as the women’s hockey squad captures gold in a thrilling overtime victory against Canada. He also breaks down the immediate hobby impact of the Men's Ice Hockey Olympic games prior to the medal games, highlighting the surging market for Macklin Celebrini and several NHL stars who have shined on the Olympic stage.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: This episode was filmed prior to the men's Olympic medal games. Next Tuesday's Nonsense on Ice will recap all the hobby action and impact from the men's ice hockey Olympic games.

The episode also features an in-depth conversation with Daniel Machado, Director of Direct-to-Consumer Platforms at Upper Deck. Daniel shares his unique career journey from starting as an unpaid talent relations intern to overseeing major digital initiatives—and provides an essential guide for collectors on how to navigate e-Pack. He shares how the platform bridges the gap between digital convenience and physical card ownership, explaining the process of trading, storage, and requesting physical shipments of your hits.

Doug also provides a "buy low" perspective on stars like Connor Bedard and New Jersey’s Timo Meyer. To close out the show, Doug rips 24-25 PWHL hockey cards, hunting for the superstars who just made history on the ice in the women's hockey Gold Medal game.
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This week on Nonsense on Ice, Doug Plagens is joined by the television voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Steve Mears. They discuss the Blue Jackets' recent surge, Zach Werenski's Norris Trophy potential, and the development of young stars like Adam Fantilli.

Steve also opens up about his personal collection, including his cherished 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. and a vintage 1963 Parkhurst Jean Béliveau. Plus, he shares the incredible story behind the 1994 Pinnacle Sylvain Turgeon card that features a young Patrick Kane frozen in time watching from the crowd.

We also break down the Hobby 3 Stars (Olympic Edition), analyzing the market movement for Juraj Slafkovsky following his hot start at the Olympics, along with cards for Dalibor Dvorsky and Rasmus Dahlin. And, do an AHL Hobby 3 Stars, looking at the prospects to watch ahead of Series 2, including Matvei Gridin, Dmitriy Simashev, and Isaac Howard.

For this week's Vintage Value Pick, doug takes a look at Teemu Selanne's 1992-93 Fleer Ultra.

And to end the episode, he rips into the new 2025-26 O-Pee-Chee, chasing Marquee Rookies and parallels.
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The NHL has hit the Olympic break, but the hobby isn’t slowing down. On this edition of Nonsense on Ice, Doug reacts to the massive news of Artemi Panarin being traded to the Los Angeles Kings and breaks down what the move means for his card market. We also dive into the NHL Awards frontrunners, including a bold prediction that Matthew Schaefer's upcoming Young Guns release could be the "hockey card of the decade."

Plus, we analyze the Hobby 3 Stars with two distinct lists: players heading to the Olympics like Karel Vejmelka and Jake Guentzel , and "sleeper" players staying home like Lane Hutson and Brandon Bussi whose markets you shouldn't ignore.

The episode wraps up with a look at Macklin Celebrini’s legitimate Hart Trophy case and a rip of the Blackhawks Centennial collection where we hunt for autographs and relics.
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