Upper Deck Pairs NHL Stars With Collectors in Two-Card Set
Upper Deck is introducing a 100-player NHL card program in which each design has two copies, one for a player and one for collectors. Collector packs are scheduled to include the cards in the 2026-27 O-Pee-Chee release, expected around the 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend.
Upper Deck’s “2 of a Kind” program will link NHL players with collectors through paired trading cards. Each featured player will receive one copy, while the matching card will be available in packs for collectors to find. Only two copies of each design will be made.
The first checklist is set to include 100 players, with all 32 NHL teams represented. Announced names include Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin, Matthew Tkachuk and top picks from recent drafts: Macklin Celebrini, Matthew Schaefer and Gavin McKenna. The complete list has not yet been released.
Collectors can find their copies in hobbyist and retail packages of 2026-27 O-Pee-Chee. The cards are expected to be inserted directly into packs rather than issued as redemption slips. The release is currently planned for around the NHL All-Star Weekend on February 5-6, 2027.
Collectors who pull a matching card will be able to submit it for a chance to meet the player holding the companion copy. Upper Deck has not yet provided the pack odds or full details of the meet-up opportunities.
The company says the annual program may bring in different groups of veterans, emerging stars and rookies in future seasons. The set’s silver, metallic-style fronts and rose-gold backs give the cards a distinctive finish.