The Wayne Gretzky Benchmark

The 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card (#18) is the most significant hockey card. O-Pee-Chee was the Canadian licensee that produced cards before Topps began its hockey program; the OPC version typically trades at a premium to the Topps version of the same year because it is the earlier, more collected issue. PSA 9 and PSA 10 OPC Gretzky rookies have documented auction results above $500,000.

Gretzky's unmatched statistical record (2,857 career points, more than any other NHL player) provides a compelling legacy argument for his card's long-term collector relevance.

Modern Hockey Card Market

Modern hockey card investing focuses on Connor McDavid (2015-16 Upper Deck Young Guns RC, considered the benchmark modern hockey RC), Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, and current top NHL picks. Upper Deck holds the exclusive NHL license and is the primary modern card producer.

The Young Guns RC is Upper Deck's flagship rookie card format. Numbered variants (Exclusives, Black) and autographed cards command premiums. O-Pee-Chee Platinum is a parallel chrome-technology product within the O-Pee-Chee system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most valuable hockey card?

The 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky PSA 10 rookie card is among the most valuable hockey cards, with documented auction results above $1.2 million. PSA 9 examples have also sold in the six-figure range. These represent the extreme upper end of the hockey card market.

What is the difference between O-Pee-Chee and Topps hockey cards?

O-Pee-Chee (OPC) was the Canadian licensee for hockey cards, producing cards under license alongside or instead of Topps for the Canadian market. OPC cards are slightly larger than Topps cards in early years and have French-English bilingual text. For vintage hockey (1970s-1980s), OPC cards are considered more prestigious in the collector market than Topps, particularly for Canadian players.

Are hockey cards a good investment compared to other sports cards?

Hockey cards have a passionate but smaller collector base than baseball or basketball. The market is deeper in Canada than the U.S. The Wayne Gretzky vintage market is very strong; modern hockey has active collectors. The smaller market means less liquidity for most cards, which is both a risk (harder to sell) and potentially an opportunity (less competition for undervalued cards if you have expertise).

References

Last reviewed: September 2026. Market data and platform fees subject to change.