10 Tips to Invest in Hockey Cards
Collecting hockey cards was once seen as the purview of the superfan as a way to get even closer to their favorite player and team. However, as is revealed in discussions over at runrex.com, this view has since changed as people have started to realize that there is a lot of value to be had in investing in hockey cards. We have all heard of stories of people making a bucket load of money just by investing in and selling sports cards, including hockey cards as is covered in detail over at guttulus.com. If you have been thinking of investing in hockey cards, then you are in the right place as this article will look to highlight 10 tips that should give you an edge as you begin your new venture.
- Focus on offense
According to discussions on the same over at mtglion.com, when it comes to hockey cards, the offense is the boss. This is why the most valuable hockey cards are usually those of players with the most points. This means that you should consider investing in cards featuring offensive-minded players as opposed to those of defensive specialists or even two-way players. As always, this rule isn’t set in stone and there are some exceptions to it, but on the main investing in offensive-minded players is the way to go when looking to invest in hockey cards.
- Consider power play
Given that, as pointed out above, offense and points rule the roost when it comes to hockey cards, you should also focus on players who get a lot of power-play time, particularly in the first unit as they are likely to have higher points and goal totals, which means that their cards are likely to be more valuable and should increase in value over time as captured over at runrex.com.
- Invest in rookie cards
Another tip that will never steer you wrong when it comes to investing in hockey cards is investing in rookie cards according to the subject matter experts over at guttulus.com. This is the first card that will ever be printed of a player and is sure to explode in value when the player becomes a star and people are looking to buy his first-ever card. No matter what happens, the rookie card will always remain the rookie card which is why such cards are so valuable.
- Invest in vintage cards
Investing in hockey pioneers such as Jacques Plante, Willie O’Ree, among others is also something you should consider doing. This is because, as explained over at mtglion.com, these players will always be pioneers and the first to do something, no matter what happens in the game, which means that as their legend grows, their cards will get more and more valuable. If you get the chance to invest in a vintage hockey card, you should not pass it up.
- Know the order in which to invest in hockey cards as far as positions are concerned
According to the gurus over at runrex.com, you should invest in centers, followed by wingers, the d-men, and finally goalies. This is because the point and goal threat decreases as you go down that list, and while there are certain times when a goalie will get a lot of attention and their card price will shoot up, this is an exception rather than the rule which is why your priority should be on forwards and offensive-defensive players. If you have to invest in goalies, it should be a short-term investment when a particular goalie is hot, taking care to shift the card before the price tanks.
- Consider where the player is based
Considering where the player is based is important as it will impact the market size and consequently the card value. For example, as is covered in detail over at guttulus.com, a player based in Toronto is likely to be more valuable than one playing in Tampa as Toronto has a large market of hockey enthusiast which means that cards of players based there are likely to garner a lot of attention, increasing their value.
- Popularity
While, as already mentioned earlier, points rule when it comes to hockey cards, there are cases where a player may be more valuable compared to rivals even if they are outscoring and outperforming him. This usually has to do with the player’s popularity, with the folks over at mtglion.com pointing out that personality sells when it comes to hockey cards. If a player is particularly popular and is a cult hero, then it may be worth investing in their cards as they are likely to remain of high value regardless of the player’s performances on the rink.
- Have a long-term view
You should also always think long-term when investing in hockey cards, which means avoiding players inconsistent players whose up and down form means you can’t rely on the value of their cards. As is discussed over at runrex.com, you should invest in players who have shown an upward trend and are moving upwards as you can be sure the value of their cards will also be trending upwards, particularly if they can maintain their form.
- Be careful with minor leagues
While some like to invest in prospects when they are still in the minor leagues just in case they get their big break and hit it big in the NHL, the gurus over at guttulus.com preach caution. This is because minor league cards will be worth a fraction of NHL rookie cards, and if the player doesn’t hit it big, that investment will surely go to waste. If you must invest in minor leagues, you should ensure that you are investing in big prospects, otherwise, you might want to stick to the NHL.
- Invest in graded cards
According to discussions over at mtglion.com, investing in graded hockey cards over “raw” hockey cards is the way to go. This is because such cards have been graded for quality and will therefore come with a high value. It is recommended that you invest in PSA graded cards, which are the most respected and highly valued in the market, with the best cards to invest in being PSA 10 rated cards.
This article only just scratches the surface as far as this topic is concerned and you can uncover more insights by checking out the excellent runrex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.