Skating to the Topps

Topps is back in the hockey card business - but only in digital form.

- Stephen Laroche

Topps has been out of the hockey card marketplace since the end of the 2003-04 season, but it is back in digital form as the Topps NHL Skate 2017: Hockey Card Trader app was released in early October.

Coinciding with the opening night of the 2016-17 NHL season, it is the latest in a series of card trading apps produced by Topps.

“We’re continuing to grow our digital business and have now added four new apps to our arsenal of digital properties all within the last eight months. That’s eight total apps since 2012,” said Chris Vaccaro, Editor-in-Chief/ Director of App Production for Topps. “For us, adding a hockey card app was a natural extension of existing and successful mobile platforms. While Topps has not made physical hockey cards in more than a decade, our relationship with the NHL dates back to the 1950's and we’re very happy to be back in the hockey card business.”

Available for both iOS and Android devices, Topps NHL Skate is free to download and players are able to sign up to receive an initial assortment of packs. With 300 players to collect, there are different levels of scarcity that are indicated by a color change on the front along with a multiplier that gives users an advantage while participating in daily contests. The cards will have their stats on the backs updated quickly as well.