Panini's first low-end set of the year was released recently and a quick trip to my LCS and 40 bucks got me a box of this year's Score product. Personally, I loved last years Score (for the most part). It could have been because I hit two case hits within the three boxes I bought last year (
Steve Downie and
Bobby Butler HR). Or because I hit a nice SSP Hot Rookies card of
Tyler Seguin, but nonetheless I loved the 20th Anniversary tribute design and even considered buying a fourth box.
So here we are again Score. We've been such a good match this past year, please don't disappoint!
Also before I start please correct me if I'm incorrect about any information of this product. I tried my best to find accurate checklist etc.
Season Highlight (Cards 1-39)
BREAKDOWN:
Total Cards: 39 Cards
Cards Pulled: 15 Cards (3 Glossy Parallels)
Canucks Pulled: 1 Card (within the 15 cards)
Percentage Complete: 38%
I found this card the most interesting out of the Season Highlight cards. This is a subset included in the 560 card base. The idea for this subset is good and the placement (as the first 39 cards) is smart. Their not scattered throughout nor are they put last etc. The actual card design is nice and simple (as you would expect from a low-end product. The purpose of the card is to highlight key components to the season and then recognize the player. It's appropriate then, that they used a smaller font for the name.
Score also inserts a glossy parallel base card at a rate of 1:1. I personally find these parallel's useless unless you're planning to complete the glossy set and sell it, otherwise not exciting. But I did appreciate a simple help they gave on the back of cards. It's extremely difficult to tell whether a regular base card has gloss or not, so, Score put the word "Glossy" above and below the card number. Smart and helpful - thank you.
Regular Base (Cards 40-485)
BREAKDOWN:
Total Cards: 445 Cards
Cards Pulled: 196 Cards (29 Glossy and 2 Doubles)
Canucks Cards Pulled: 8 Cards (within the 196 cards)
Percentage Complete: 44%
The Score base card design changed considerably last year. Compared to last year the quality of the front of the cards has gone down. I really like the red horizontal lines that were a tribute to 1990-91 Score cards but I guess you can't have a tribute every year. I have to say, when I saw these cards on the Panini blog I was a bit disappointed, but in person they look much better.
The negatives of the front are probably the placement of the team logo (I'd like to see it on the bottom left and a bit bigger), and the annoying continuation of the lines within the team name. I'm not sure if you can notice from the scan but within the gaps of the letters of the team name (on the left hand side) there are little colours randomly placed. This is because they decided to try and continue the line throughout the name. I don't know why this bothers me, but it does.
The three cards above are my favourites from the base set. Hey! My first Winnipeg Jets card from 2011-12!
The backs of the base cards are the same as the Subban card I showed you from before and they are MUCH better than last years. It kinda bothered me how badly the lay out of the backs of Score was last year but they definitely improved it in 2011-12. You have all your essential from a write-up and basic info all the way to career stats.
Another type of base card inserted into the mix are the All Rookie Team player cards. I pulled a couple including the Corey Crawford. Other well known ART cards are Skinner and Eberle. Good idea and well executed.
Another nice touch they added to the back of all Bruins cards (even though it would look even better if this were on Canucks cards) is the table of Round 4.
I do have one HUGE negative about this product though. In more than a couple packs I received either more or less than the given amount of cards per pack. I received one pack with 8 cards but the front card was brutally damaged (and thrown away). I also received a couple packs that cut me off by a card or two. In all, there were a couple cards that came damaged (severely). I was NOT impressed by that.
Play-Off Highlights (Cards 486-500)
BREAKDOWN:
Total Cards: 15 Cards
Cards Pulled: 5 Cards (1 Glossy)
Percentage Complete: 33%
The Stanley Cup Play-Offs Highlight cards are similar to the Season Highlight cards except for the fact that well, they happened during the Play-Offs.
Base Parallels
BREAKDOWN:
Gold Rush (1 per box)
Black Ice (1 per case)
The lone "rare" base parallel I pulled was this Gold Rush card of Paul Gaustad. This would be a very hard set to complete (to say the least). Unfortunately, I failed to pull the case hit of a Black Ice parallel that fall one in every 20 boxes (case). But I'm not to mad about it and you'll see why...
Hot Rookies (Cards 501-545)
BREAKDOWN:
Total Cards: 45 Cards
Cards Pulled: 18 Cards
Canucks Cards Pulled: 1 Card (within the 18 cards)
Percentage Complete: 40%
The Hot Rookie cards are, well, not so impressive. Borderline ugly. I think the picture as well as the name, team and logo placements are fine. On the other hand the mixed font on top as well as the interchangeably horrendous coloured background is quite disgusting. But the card could be saved if the back looks good.
Considered yourself saved Hot Rookies; the back design is excellent! DIFFERENT PICTURES that's a huge help! Secondly the vertical bar is nice and clean and well placed. The logo is in it's appropriate spot and the write ups are informative and also well placed. I originally thought that stats would be helpful, but for myself, a rookie card doesn't NEED stats.
Of course your welcome to disagree, but remember, the right player makes a card even better...
YES! Cody Hodgson! If their was one card I was looking for in this box, it's this card right here! I believe CoHo will one day be a leader for the Canucks organization and he's a player I've always enjoyed following. That's why I started a Cody Hodgson player collection. This is my second card to be added to it, and my first (official) RC.
On another note, from the second party checklists of this product I've noticed that CoHo has two Hot Rookie cards (one being a SSP). I'm not sure if this is true, but if you know if it indeed is, please confirm it for me with a comment below! Cody also is involved in an insert set called "First Goals". My ultimate goal would be to collect all three cards (HR, SSP HR, and First Goals) plus a Hot Rookie Auto. If you have any that you're willing to trade, let me know!
But I assure you, this box get's better...
SSP Hot Rookies (Cards 546-560)
BREAKDOWN:
Total Cards: 15 Cards
Cards Pulled: 1 Cards
Percentage Complete: 7%
HOLY EFF! This is why I love you Score, you're the gift that keeps on giving! In 4 boxes in the past two years I've received 2 auto's and 2 SSP Hot Rookie cards! Plus I pulled the best out of this years class - The Nuge! Ryan was born in the same city as myself and it's great to see a hometown guy do great in his first dozen or so games this season.
I'm still in awe I pulled this card. I went on eBay and checked out what they were selling for and was extremely pleasantly surprised to see these starting at 45$ and going all the way to 65$! Very happy with this pull!
INSERTS - Play-Off Heroes
Another nice and simple design for these inserts, player selection is something you need to be successful in this themed insert set. From only seeing two cards I can't quite judge that yet.
The back ties in well with the front, I like it.
INSERTS - Making An Entrance
This set is a dud for me. The only one I kinda like is Big Joe and that's only because of the Shark jaw behind him. Not a fan of this newly inducted insert - blah.
The back design isn't that bad excluding the obvious fact that they used the same picture twice.
INSERTS - Net Cams
My favourite insert set from last year came back! Although not quite as strong as last year. The outer design is a downgrade personally and the pictures (excluding the Quick splits) aren't as exciting.
The backs could have saved this otherwise nice insert set, but unfortunately, that's not the case. They re-used the same freaking picture! Grrrr...
INSERTS - First Goal
Now this is a new insert set that is a good idea (not that it's the first time to be done). P.K Subban isn't a shabby card to pick up, but a CoHo would have been better.
INSERTS - Sudden Death
This is more of a busier design. The theme for this insert set is GWG's in OT or Shootout. I pulled two Ducks cards and the dates on them are only two days apart.
I really think this back design is neat, the puck is a great touch.
INSERTS - The Franchise
The cards are a HUGE upgrade from last season, and they also come in retro styles. The retros include stars from the past (Steve Yzerman, Wayne Gretzky etc.).
Probably my favourite back card design out of them all. It highlights the team before the player which goes well with the theme. As well I'm a big fan of cards that say "No. 10" instead of just a "10" or "#10".
INSERTS - NHL Die-Cut
Another new insert and the second to be Die-Cut is the NHL Logo insert. No real point, but still kinda cool.
Simple. Effective.
INSERTS NOT PULLED
Score B
SnoGlobe
Supreme Team
The Franchise Retro
OTHER SP's
Stanley Cup Champs
Santa Claus SP's (whatever that is)
Recollection Hard-Signed Buy Backs (those are a dream pull)
FINAL BREAKDOWN
Cards Pulled: 248 Cards (2 Doubles)
- 33 Glossy Parallels
- 10 Canucks (2 Glossy)
- 13 Inserts
- 1 Gold Rush
- 4 Cards discarded due to condition (therefore total went from 252 to 248)
I really enjoyed this box break of my favourite low-end product (yes it beats Victory). A couple closing notes: will/have you bought a box? What do you think of this product? As always, if you have any CoHo's your willing to part with, contact me for a trade!
Cody Hodgson Count
Cards: 2
Rookies: 1
GO NUCKS GO!
