[Baseball Nut]

There is one set of hockey trading cards time and timeagain, Pinnacle. This year is noexception. Noted for itsoutstanding photography, Pinnacle always delivers interesting cards that are apleasure to peruse. 2011 – 12 Pinnacle Hockey NHL Trading Cards will flash youback to the 90’s but still feel very contemporary.


We classify Pinnacle Hockey as trading cards. Hobby Boxescome with 24 – 8 card packs with two autograph or memorabilia cards per box.


Here is a look at some of the cards we pulled from our box. First from the base cards.

Base Set

Joe Thornton, front and back

Here are some examples of the amazing photography from this set.

Mike Smith, Chris Neil


Matt Duchene, Linus Omark


Ondrej Pavelec, Dan Boyle


Dion Phaneuf, Michael Grabner


Micahl Neuvirth, Miln Lucic


Henrik Zetterberg, Tim Thomas


NUFEX parallels

Martin Havlat


Ice Breakers Rookie Cards

Matt Frattin, Justin Faulk


Zac Rinaldo, Erik Gudbranson

Inserts

Breakthrough

Corey Crawford, David Krejci, Jamie Benn


Pinnacle Captains - Andrew Ladd, Tough Times - Gino Odjick


Team Pinnacle Card #6 - Sidney Crosby front, Jonathan Toews back

The Hits

Derek Stepan Threads Relic (Not Numbered), Dustin Byfuglien Game Night Prime Patch #/30


Drew Doughty Private Signings On-Card Autograph (Not Numbered)


Overall Look

Last year’s Pinnacle was a mix of horizontal and verticalcard fronts and horizontal backs. This year all of the fronts are on the horizontal and the backs arevertical. Some of you willremember from other card reviews done here, my preference is for consistency soI would have preferred if the backs were on the horizontal too. It makes for better displays in 9cardholders. It is a minor pointthat vanishes because of the exceptional photography and really nice layout. Inserts work well and a big plus for the way the Winnipeg Jets cards were handled. No sign of the Atlanta Thrashers short of the material used for the Byfuglien card, but that was game used so it makes sense.

Quality and Variety of Players and Subsets.

250 veteran players is a nice number, 50 more than lastyear. Normally the Ice Breakerrookies are a difficult chase. This year it has been made even more difficult as the top 10 of the 40rookies only appear on SP auto version. The checklists for the autographs and memorabiliacards are expansive.

Do the hits hold up?

Most definitely. Autographs and memorabilia cards are all desirable. Thrown into the mix are Pinnacle Blackcards with 14 outstanding players that are case hits and Eric LindrosRecollection Collection Autograph Cards. Autographs fall roughly every 3 out of4 boxes.

Will you want to collect them all?

In short, yes! This is a great set to have with cool inserts and a great rookie chase.

Rating

4 1/2 out of 5

2011 – 12 Panini Pinnacle Hockey NHL Trading Cards providesa fun base set to collect with a chance at some super premium incentive.



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