Nasty Rumor

[Fred Bear]

So I was browsing the rest of the web and came across this from a certain 'hobby leader' website...

– Rumor has it … that the NHL license has been a done deal and that there may or may not be an exclusive licensee for hockey cards next season. Which company is the leading candidate in the fold? Nobody’s talking on the record, but one thing’s for certain —it’s Wednesday and we’re headed to Pizza Hut for 50-cent wings after work. (We like Italian.)

I really hope, for the sake of the hobby, that this is not true...

-Fred Bear...

 

[bigben913]

I dont get it? All it says is that its done deal, and there may or may not be an exclusive?

 

[Kharlamov17]

Interesting times ahead in the hobby, no doubt about it.

 

[Fred Bear]

I think it's the 'out of place' Italian reference which seems to be implying a certain card manufacturer may be in the mix.

 

[bigben913]

I think it's the 'out of place' Italian reference which seems to be implying a certain card manufacturer may be in the mix.

Ah, sorry, Im a little slow. Ugh

 

[11neudles]

I think it's the 'out of place' Italian reference which seems to be implying a certain card manufacturer may be in the mix.

*COUGH Panini COUGH*

I for one hope it's a shared license between Topps and ITG WIth Panini and UD alowed to have 3 products per year!

 

[DXFlyers]

If the exclusive is Panini, its not going to be good judging based on what they have done with Basketball.

 

[Kharlamov17]

Where has Panini gotten their money? It sure as hell ain't from the Stickers that they've been selling for the last 20-30 years.

 

[DXFlyers]

Where has Panini gotten their money? It sure as hell ain't from the Stickers that they've been selling for the last 20-30 years.

Harry Potter

 

[canucksfan77]

I cannot release my source(I realize this sounds like a 12 year old starting a rumor)But a fellow canadian collector in the "know" has told me the deal with Panini is done. The source could not or would not comment on whether it was an exclusive or multi company deal but he assured me Panini was in the mix for next year 100%

If he is right, and i fully 100% believe him at his word, we are in for a real interesting time next year.


Patiently waiting for an announcement,


JZ

 

[SkyFire47]

do you guys rate Panini as worse than UD? lol, that'd be funny. people complain to nudge UD out but get another company that's worse AND Panini won't have all the big guns UD has locked up exclusively.

 

[lumm0x]

I don't mind Panini being in the mix.....exclusive and things just went from a one way street into a brick wall.

 

[Kharlamov17]

There is good in the bad if Panini is granted a license (which doesn't seem so illogical considering it's influence with the other sports) IF Upper Deck and/or another company is given it as well. Just as long we get rid of the monopoly, I am a happy camper.

 

[cassijon]

if there is an exclusive with panini, i will strictly be buying from itg. no ifs ands or buts. panini will run the hockey product so far into the ground, there will finally be a tunnel from north america to china.

 

[Ducks3087]

I really really really am not a fan of UD. If they do go I will miss YG's. Its one of the best RC cards in all of sports in my opinion.

 

[FrozenInferno]

IF this is true, my collecting future rests on the shoulders of Dr. Price and ITG and whether or not they decide to continue making cards. Giving a company with absolutely no experience in the hockey card market (stickers don't count) an exclusive license is an extremely bad idea, and one that is obviously fueled by the almighty dollar instead of what collectors actually want.

 

[gomaz]

If UD and Panini are the only licensed companies next year, Panini and UD will get zero of my dollars.

ITG will get all my hobby money.

 

[FrozenInferno]

If UD and Panini are the only licensed companies next year, Panini and UD will get zero of my dollars.

ITG will get all my hobby money.

I agree, but the question is can ITG continue on like they have if they don't get the opportunity to play on a level field? The impressions I've been getting from Dr. Price's recent comments don't seem very optimistic, I'm hope I'm wrong.

 

[jetsman]

I love how everyone is so dismissive of Panini. Really guys.

let's keep a few things in mind:

-- Panini USA is really Donruss/Playoff.
-- Panini has a HUGE stable of hockey brands under its belt, including all of the Score/Pinnacle, Leaf/Donruss and Pacific brands.
-- Panini/D/P has a good number of established brands of its own that have been fantastic in football (and previously in baseball) such as Contenders, Absolute Memorabilia and others.

Now I'm not one that's been wowed by their hoops stuff, but for people to dismiss a company without them even creating a card set is unbelievably short-sighted and does harm that is completely unnecessary. Give a company a couple releases before you start lighting torches and loading your shotguns.

 

[bidds55]

If UD is out of hockey, I know I for one will miss them. Their customer service is crap, their redemption program is a mess, and they are run by a greedy, uncaring SOB or two, but they have designed some of my favourite cards ever made, and with them out of the picture, products like UD1 & 2, and the Cup will really be missed.

Here's a thought....maybe, if Panini does have the exclusive on lockdown, could they buy out Upper Deck? With UD having lost it's MLB license, NBA license, and assuming they lose out on the NHL as well (not sure what the deal is with NFL), and based on rumours (unconfirmed, but certainly widespread) that they are not overly profitable due to lawsuit losses, and the poor economy, the company probably wouldn't be that expensive.