Configuration
Packs per box: 32
Cards per pack: 8
Boxes per case: 12
Set size: 660 cards
Box break
16 high numbers
16 OPC Retro parallels
8 Rainbow Foil parallels
3 OPC Playing cards
2 OPC V-Series C
It may be hard for some collectors to believe, but a decade has passed since Upper Deck took over the O-Pee-Chee name and over the years, the company has done its best to preserve some of the things that make it a hobby favorite in addition to adding some elements of its own creation which continue to make it a must-have for fans of all ages.
Headed to both card stores and mass-market retail in early September, 2016-17 O-Pee-Chee Hockey will be stronger than usual with an excellent rookie class that consists of players that debuted after the early January deadline. Once again, hobby boxes will contain 32 packs, but there should be other ways to build a set such as rack packs and blasters.
Base Set
No other hockey card set coming out next season is likely to match 2016-17 O-Pee-Chee Hockey in terms of comprehension. There will be 660 cards, which is larger than last year’s 600-card effort, and it will be split up into 550 regular player cards along with 110 high number cards (1:2 packs) which are made up of subsets like Season Highlights, League Leaders, Team Checklists, and the ever-popular Marquee Rookies. The talented players that are eligible to get their rookie cards here include names like William Nylander, Josh Morrissey, and Pavel Zacha.
O-Pee-Chee has established a rather consistent program when it comes to parallels of its base set. O-Pee-Chee Retro (1:2) has an early 70s feel and if traditions are upheld, should have some scarce cards that do not appear in the base set and blank back versions that are very tough to pull. Rainbow Foils (1:4) are back again with a tougher Black Rainbow Foil (/100) providing a challenge for player collectors.
Inserts
OPC Patches return with some new twists and there will be a base version (1:156) in addition to some Marquee Rookies and Legends that combine to fall once in every 835 packs. A new addition to the patch collection comes in the form of All-Star Logos which naturally depicts the 2016 NHL All-Star Game that was held in Nashville (1:1,043) plus vintage All-Star Logos that come in both regular (1:626) and rare (1:4,176) levels of scarcity. An even bigger draw for some, though, are the Mascots (1:3,912 or 31,296) which truly deserve more of a regular treatment in Upper Deck’s releases.
The third installment of the V-Series tribute to the O-Pee-Chee sets from the 1930s can be found twice per box on average, but the real chase may be on for the debuting OPC Playing Cards. Collectors will essentially be able to build their own deck of cards to play with at home and those that are twos through kings are found at a 1:9 rate. The aces, of course, will be the ones to chase and are somewhat tougher to get (1:200).
Autographs
Finally, 2016-17 O-Pee-Chee Hockey is going to have a modest autograph program which will provide added value for those busting in large quantities. OPC Signatures (1:192) often have a mix of younger players and a handful of stars. Team Canada Signatures return as well, but are twice as tough to pull (1:384).






