charnick
Banned User
I guess my POV is a little different from most, and especially that of other Eichel collectors on here, probably because although I'm not a hockey collector on a year-by-year basis. What I mean by that is I always picked up NY Rangers cards as I saw fit, getting ones that grabbed my eye, regardless of what year or what set it was from.
I have patch & auto cards ranging from a lowly Brian Mullen Parkhurst auto, up to a Genuine Letters "S" patch from a Phil Esposito Rangers jersey. Don't care much for who made it, UD or Panini, rookie card or not, I get what I dig. But then I started PC'ing Jack Eichel, and it was the first time I had to pay close attention to the products that were being released, and I saw first hand how rabid hockey collectors can be. And man, I am amazed at the how addicted (in a good way, mostly) a lot of them are. I personally was disappointed that I couldn't get a FWA or RPA of Eichel, but you know what, my wallet was most certainly thanking me for it.
And while I don't like non-licensed stuff, Leaf did release the only auto card of Eichel in a BU uniform, and it's still one of the nicest cards of his that I own. They also just released an auto of his (sticker, sadly) of him in a Team USA uniform, and I'll definitely pick one of those up as well, as there is no airbrushing going on there. UD will almost certainly NEVER release a Team USA card for him.
And while I'm sorry that Patrick/Hischier fans won't be able to get a UD auto of his, for those that are set collectors, I don't get the hate... it's not like you're not getting a card that exists to finish your set (FWA, Cup RPA's what have you), or an unfulfilled redemption. These cards simply won't exist, so I don't understand the angst at having gaps in one's collection. I don't get it, but I do understand it has meaning to lots of you.
Either way, neither of these companies have shown much of a propensity of caring for their customers (although Leaf at least responds on other boards directly to their customer base), and lord knows every company out there does stuff that collector's hate, so why should this be any different. Here's a company that actually WANTS to try to give collectors an option, and because they have no license, they're somehow this evil entity screwing people, while UD (and Panini & Topps in other sports) get a pass just because the logos aren't airbrushed? I dunno, just seems like the more Leaf does stuff like this, the more UD is thankful for taking the heat off them for all the other ridiculous stuff they pull.
I'll also add that, after a year of throwing good money at Eichel patch cards from UD that have the 8th layer of jerseys he wore at a measly photo shoot (insert Mark Ingram pic here), I'd much rather spend $30 on a Team USA sticker auto (or even a patch auto from a USA jersey, which Leaf has also done). I'm so over photo shoot "player-worn" crap at this point.
(pardon the cut n paste from BO)
I have patch & auto cards ranging from a lowly Brian Mullen Parkhurst auto, up to a Genuine Letters "S" patch from a Phil Esposito Rangers jersey. Don't care much for who made it, UD or Panini, rookie card or not, I get what I dig. But then I started PC'ing Jack Eichel, and it was the first time I had to pay close attention to the products that were being released, and I saw first hand how rabid hockey collectors can be. And man, I am amazed at the how addicted (in a good way, mostly) a lot of them are. I personally was disappointed that I couldn't get a FWA or RPA of Eichel, but you know what, my wallet was most certainly thanking me for it.
And while I don't like non-licensed stuff, Leaf did release the only auto card of Eichel in a BU uniform, and it's still one of the nicest cards of his that I own. They also just released an auto of his (sticker, sadly) of him in a Team USA uniform, and I'll definitely pick one of those up as well, as there is no airbrushing going on there. UD will almost certainly NEVER release a Team USA card for him.
And while I'm sorry that Patrick/Hischier fans won't be able to get a UD auto of his, for those that are set collectors, I don't get the hate... it's not like you're not getting a card that exists to finish your set (FWA, Cup RPA's what have you), or an unfulfilled redemption. These cards simply won't exist, so I don't understand the angst at having gaps in one's collection. I don't get it, but I do understand it has meaning to lots of you.
Either way, neither of these companies have shown much of a propensity of caring for their customers (although Leaf at least responds on other boards directly to their customer base), and lord knows every company out there does stuff that collector's hate, so why should this be any different. Here's a company that actually WANTS to try to give collectors an option, and because they have no license, they're somehow this evil entity screwing people, while UD (and Panini & Topps in other sports) get a pass just because the logos aren't airbrushed? I dunno, just seems like the more Leaf does stuff like this, the more UD is thankful for taking the heat off them for all the other ridiculous stuff they pull.
I'll also add that, after a year of throwing good money at Eichel patch cards from UD that have the 8th layer of jerseys he wore at a measly photo shoot (insert Mark Ingram pic here), I'd much rather spend $30 on a Team USA sticker auto (or even a patch auto from a USA jersey, which Leaf has also done). I'm so over photo shoot "player-worn" crap at this point.
(pardon the cut n paste from BO)
Hope Leaf can change the landscape with these signings. At the worst, hope it makes ud put out a better product. I'm all for the signing! Great job leaf!!!
