A future NHL star’s autographed hockey cards will only be found in one place in future years thanks to a new deal announced on Friday.
It’s Nico Hischier and he’ll only be signing for Leaf Trading Cards.
“Working with Nico, along with Allain and Jordan from RSG Hockey, has been an exciting and rewarding process,” said Leaf CEO Brian Gray. “To see an agency thinking outside the box and aggressively marketing their athletes is refreshing in a traditional sport like hockey. Nico is now part of that movement in the hockey world.”
Hischier and Nolan Patrick — also a Leaf exclusive — are the consensus top prospects contending to be the No. 1 overall pick in June’s NHL Draft where the New Jersey Devils hold the top spot. Hischier topped all Quebec League rookies with 38 goals and 48 assists in 57 games this past season en route to QMJHL Rookie of the Year honors.
“We are excited that we could reward Nico’s once-in-a-generation talent with this near record-setting deal,” Gray said. “This deal will allow the company to exclusively market signatures of the future star for the foreseeable future. This deal gives Leaf the top two players entering the NHL Draft.”
As part of the deal, Hischier will be a focal point of Leaf’s forthcoming 2016-17 hockey products with appearances on the product packaging as well as autographs and memorabilia cards inside. He made his hockey card debut with appearances in 2016-17 Leaf Metal where he appears on just 39 different cards. All of the autographed cards, except for one, was numbered and limited to no more than 25 copies, while most are rarer than 10 copies made.
“This is easily one of the most-lucrative autograph trading card deals for any rookie in the history of the sport,” Gray said. “He joins Jack Eichel, Joe Veleno and Nolan Patrick in Leaf Trading Cards’ stable of exclusive athletes.”
Hischier will headline upcoming 2016-17 Heroes & Prospects, Invictus and Superlative releases from Leaf, and he’s set to be a star at the next level according to those who have seen him up close.
“You’re getting a star and you’re getting a star for a long time,” said Cam Russell, the GM of the Halifax Mooseheads, Hischier’s team. “You’re not getting a second-line center. You’re getting a first-line center that’s going to lead your team and play lots of minutes and bring you lots of fans in your building because he’s just going to be a treat to watch — he’s going to be exciting.”
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