Panini Peek: 2011-12 Certified Hockey

[blowoutcards]

Panini Peek: 2011-12 Certified Hockey

August 10, 2011 at 7:26 PM



This time last year, Panini America officials were still making preparations for their ballyhooed foray into the NHL trading card market and readying 2010-11 Certified Hockey to lead that charge.

There’s no denying that the celebrated launch of Certified last fall kickstarted a banner rookie season for Panini America that will officially end with next month’s release of 2010-11 Dominion Hockey. And judging by the company’s early lineup for 2011-12, there seems to be no chance of a sophomore slump.


Panini America will follow the October release 2011-12 Score Hockey with the October release of a new and improved Certified that will include more in-pack Rookie Cards and no Rookie Card TBDs.

“We knew we needed to make a strong first impression with 2010-11 Certified, and the product delivered in a big way,” says Panini America NHL Brand Manager Al Muir. “So many elements came together to make it a hit — the hot boxes, the Mirror parallels, the variety and quality of the insert programs. Obviously, though, we really dazzled collectors with the auto/mem RCs of guys like Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Tyler Seguin mere days after they made their NHL debuts. That really set a new standard for the hockey category, and it’s something we’re very proud of.

“Collectors can expect to see a similar element in this year’s release. We’ll have live RCs of a couple of prominent holdover rookies, such as Toronto’s Joe Colborne and Vancouver’s Cody Hodgson, along with the cream of the 2011-12 freshmen crop. The checklist will be dependent, of course, on which players debut prior to packout, but we expect some compelling young prospects to fill out the checklist.”

The product highlights for 2011-12 Certified Hockey are many and include:

The return of Fabric of the Game Die-Cuts with fresh new patterns, including Positions and Nationals (highlighting the home country of all the NHL’s hottest stars)
The return of Hot Boxes that fall one per eight-count inner case and that are filled with Totally Certified parallels and bonus hits
A new lineup of inserts that includes Certified Gold Team, Stars of the NHL Die-Cuts and Soft Hands, a memorabilia chase set that features game-worn glove swatches
The addition of on-card Private Signings autographs, featuring Alex Ovechkin, Don Cherry, Ryan Miller, Felix Potvin and more
Freshman Signatures on-card autographs (falling one per box), Freshman Signatures SPs and Freshman Fabrics Signatures (the latter group numbered to just 499)

“Collectors really responded to the hobby callbacks we made last season, so we’re throwing a few more into Certified,” Muir notes. “The Gold Team cards look great — a real advancement on what they looked like in the old days, plus there is an autographed parallel to the set that should be a huge draw. We also have Stars of the NHL die-cuts, featuring a great effort from our design department, and Soft Hands, an insert set that features swatches from game-worn gloves. And then there are the Big Pulls.”

Enjoy the following sneak peek gallery and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for additional updates.


Panini Peek: 2011-12 Certified Hockey The Official Panini America Blog

[cj52racers]

So, it has Totally Certified Autos, Gridiron Gear Autos, 1998 Pinnacle Artist Proofs, and it is a "new" product. Maybe come up with some new designs.

[cruiserdaddy7]

Originally Posted by blowoutcards

Panini Peek: 2011-12 Certified Hockey

August 10, 2011 at 7:26 PM



This time last year, Panini America officials were still making preparations for their ballyhooed foray into the NHL trading card market and readying 2010-11 Certified Hockey to lead that charge.

There’s no denying that the celebrated launch of Certified last fall kickstarted a banner rookie season for Panini America that will officially end with next month’s release of 2010-11 Dominion Hockey. And judging by the company’s early lineup for 2011-12, there seems to be no chance of a sophomore slump.


Panini America will follow the October release 2011-12 Score Hockey with the October release of a new and improved Certified that will include more in-pack Rookie Cards and no Rookie Card TBDs.

“We knew we needed to make a strong first impression with 2010-11 Certified, and the product delivered in a big way,” says Panini America NHL Brand Manager Al Muir. “So many elements came together to make it a hit — the hot boxes, the Mirror parallels, the variety and quality of the insert programs. Obviously, though, we really dazzled collectors with the auto/mem RCs of guys like Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Tyler Seguin mere days after they made their NHL debuts. That really set a new standard for the hockey category, and it’s something we’re very proud of.

“Collectors can expect to see a similar element in this year’s release. We’ll have live RCs of a couple of prominent holdover rookies, such as Toronto’s Joe Colborne and Vancouver’s Cody Hodgson, along with the cream of the 2011-12 freshmen crop. The checklist will be dependent, of course, on which players debut prior to packout, but we expect some compelling young prospects to fill out the checklist.”

The product highlights for 2011-12 Certified Hockey are many and include:

The return of Fabric of the Game Die-Cuts with fresh new patterns, including Positions and Nationals (highlighting the home country of all the NHL’s hottest stars)
The return of Hot Boxes that fall one per eight-count inner case and that are filled with Totally Certified parallels and bonus hits
A new lineup of inserts that includes Certified Gold Team, Stars of the NHL Die-Cuts and Soft Hands, a memorabilia chase set that features game-worn glove swatches
The addition of on-card Private Signings autographs, featuring Alex Ovechkin, Don Cherry, Ryan Miller, Felix Potvin and more
Freshman Signatures on-card autographs (falling one per box), Freshman Signatures SPs and Freshman Fabrics Signatures (the latter group numbered to just 499)

“Collectors really responded to the hobby callbacks we made last season, so we’re throwing a few more into Certified,” Muir notes. “The Gold Team cards look great — a real advancement on what they looked like in the old days, plus there is an autographed parallel to the set that should be a huge draw. We also have Stars of the NHL die-cuts, featuring a great effort from our design department, and Soft Hands, an insert set that features swatches from game-worn gloves. And then there are the Big Pulls.”

Enjoy the following sneak peek gallery and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for additional updates.


Panini Peek: 2011-12 Certified Hockey The Official Panini America Blog

Does banner include the now $35 a box Pinnacle and worthless way below cost Contenders? How about the fact you have absolutely no base brand to compare to UD Series 1 and 2. Your hockey products stink nearly as bad as your basketball.

[cj52racers]

Originally Posted by cruiserdaddy7

Does banner include the now $35 a box Pinnacle and worthless way below cost Contenders? How about the fact you have absolutely no base brand to compare to UD Series 1 and 2.

I have rarely seen a product dive as bad as Pinnacle did. It started at $70 right? So it cut in half in a couple months.

Also, that is entirely true about the base brands. Especially since, I can break a couple of boxes of base UD and pull some great cards that aren't autos/gu (YG). Inserts in Panini product are an afterthought and rarely hold any value.

[evillittlejawa]

I have my problems with UD believe me, but losing the licensing to NFL and MLB may have been the best thing to happen to them for a while. THey can concentrate on certain other products, i.e. HOCKEY. I was SO pumped for Panini to start doing hockey, and they have totally nosedived IMO. Theres nothing original about anything they're doing anymore. Its all either borrowed from old sets, other sets from other sports, or looks like an afterthought. I'm sure I'll end up buying Certified again, but come on Panini...dedicate ONE department to hockey, ONE to football, etc and make something that doesn't look rushed or stolen.

[IndySportsCards]

I still don't have my redemptions filled from LAST YEARS Certified. NFW I'll buy this crud.

[evillittlejawa]

Originally Posted by IndySportsCards

I still don't have my redemptions filled from LAST YEARS Certified..

Same here.

[gonzagacubs]

Looks alright to me.

I will add myself to the list of people who still have outstanding redemptions from this past season's certified. Also, they need to hire more people in their customer service department, in my opinion.

[evillittlejawa]

I'm truly torn about asking for a replacement, as I'm SUPPOSED to be getting a cam fowler mirror red/auto/jersey. Though it's still listed as TBD. Wtf...

[cj52racers]

Originally Posted by evillittlejawa

I'm truly torn about asking for a replacement, as I'm SUPPOSED to be getting a cam fowler mirror red/auto/jersey. Though it's still listed as TBD. Wtf...

That is a tough call. I would have to wait it out on that one I think.

[IndySportsCards]

I'd wait for that one if it were mine.

[solt0131]

Here is my opinion about 2011-12 Panini Hockey Products:

1) With a weak rookie class, their card values will suffer again. Last year strong rookies seemed to promote people to open their products.
2) With said weak rookie class, their products better be strong veteran/retired loaded of which they are not. They are missing autos of Crosby, Yzerman, Ovechkin and all the UD Exclusives. Even in a weak rookie class year, you can have strong selling products but that's not going to happen if they continue to use guys like Krys Barch, Steve Ott, and a bunch of 3rd and 4th liners.
3) I opened a little of each Panini hockey product in it's first year on release date. I have no desire to open any Panini hockey product in 2011-12 unless I see some major improvements in quality of checklist.

Dear Panini - the rookie autos this year will come cheap so open up the wallett and get a bunch of big boys on your autograph checklist and make them somewhat attainable.

[cruiserdaddy7]

Originally Posted by solt0131

Here is my opinion about 2011-12 Panini Hockey Products:

1) With a weak rookie class, their card values will suffer again. Last year strong rookies seemed to promote people to open their products.
2) With said weak rookie class, their products better be strong veteran/retired loaded of which they are not. They are missing autos of Crosby, Yzerman, Ovechkin and all the UD Exclusives. Even in a weak rookie class year, you can have strong selling products but that's not going to happen if they continue to use guys like Krys Barch, Steve Ott, and a bunch of 3rd and 4th liners.
3) I opened a little of each Panini hockey product in it's first year on release date. I have no desire to open any Panini hockey product in 2011-12 unless I see some major improvements in quality of checklist.

Dear Panini - the rookie autos this year will come cheap so open up the wallett and get a bunch of big boys on your autograph checklist and make them somewhat attainable.

Funny stuff. Panini didnt think of it with the weak basketball class and since their model is major profit they wont do it again. Prepare for slaughter

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by cruiserdaddy7

Funny stuff. Panini didnt think of it with the weak basketball class and since their model is major profit they wont do it again. Prepare for slaughter

Exactly. That's why many need to adhere to my point #3 and stick by their guns.

[cruiserdaddy7]

Originally Posted by solt0131

Exactly. That's why many need to adhere to my point #3 and stick by their guns.

They would be wise to buy UD 1 and Spx and go from there. Both VERY good products last year. I actually didnt mind Certified but went WAY downhill from there.