A Time to Sell or a Time to Buy?

Let’s spend a few moments here today and talk about something that is oft-ignored in the hobby — hockey.

It’s been a while since I’ve graced this digital space with anything about one of the greatest games in the world, as well as one of the most amazing spaces within the hobby.

But, this time, instead of singing the praises of the hobby I love — I’ve got a few bones to pick with it.

Namely, with the issue of tunnel vision that has swept over the hobby over the past year or so, give or take.

I’m referring, of course, to the Connor Bedard frenzy that has consumed every corner of the hobby and, much to my disappointment, turned the hockey hobby into every other facet of the industry.

For so long, the lone purpose of collectors, investors, flippers… whatever the term-of-the-month is within hobby circles, have had their gaze set on one players — Bedard.

It’s driven process of new wax up to football-like levels.

It’s made some the game’s other great players, younger ones in particular, into also-rans, and it’s soiled a once-pure and rich hobby forever.

And the real kick-in-the pants here is that Bedard has not only not lived up to the hype on the ice, which admittedly was a tall order for anyone, but he’s been meh among players in the entire league.

The kid has 37 points at what is pretty much the halfway point of the season. That total puts him in the top 50 point scorers in the NHL this season, along with players such as Marco Rossi and Adrian Kempe (nice players, but anything but generational).

Worse yet, he’s a -16, which is not good, and any hockey fan can tell you that real quick. In fact, it’s there worst number among the entire top 50 point producers in the NHL in 2024-25.

And, the hobby has taken note of this as well.

Bedard’s 2023 Upper Deck Young Gun base PSA 10 has fallen more than 33% since the start of the season, from around $900 to flirting with $600 currently.

And, of course, the wax is still ridiculously high, almost out of reach for the average collector, and you can tell this because most of the biggest hockey breakers out there avoid 23-24 product, knowing the value just is not there.

So, now what?

Well, we, as hockey hobby lovers have a choice.

We can gobble up all the Bedard rookies we can, believing this is the floor for his stuff, and that he’ll find a way to soar to the next level on the ice.

We can also just dump everything we got now, cutting losses and moving on to other young prospects such as Lucas Raymond, Kiril lMarchenko, and Jesper Bratt, among others — players who still are a decent value in the hobby.

Basketball hobby lovers have been here before, namely with Zion Williamson, and many of these folks took a bath as a result.

I’m personally rooting for Bedard, and rooting the organization does a better job of developing a player, I believe, they didn’t feel they had to do much developing with him.

Do I have a ton of Bedard stuff?

Nope.

Very little in fact, and that was by design. I learned my lesson from the aforementioned Zion, and didn’t toss all the chips in the middle before the hand was even dealt.

But I am feeling a little tug from within to build my Bedard collection at the current price point, holding firm to the belief that the scouts, the pundits and everyone else who really knows the game well can’t be wrong.

Am I the only one thinking this?