We’ve got this really bizarre obsession with revisiting all things old in our world, many times things that should’ve been left to the positive memories we had of them! Need proof? Try playing any video game, watch any cartoon, or pull out any piece of clothing you wore when you were a kid. In my case, Hang On/Safari Hunt now suck, Voltron is so horrible I don’t know how I watched it and Chip & Pepper tie-dies had no staying power beyond the 1987-1990 stretch.


Many people, myself included, might make the argument that this supports the notion of things being best left in the past. But then again, I have run across plenty of things that I can’t imagine leaving in the past! “Mike Tyson’s Punch Out” remains the most playable videogame ever for me despite coming out in 1987. I love heavy metal but am still a sucker for Ratt, Tesla, Cinderella and many other glam bands from back in the day. As for clothing: retro jerseys? Need I say more?


It’s with both sides of this coin in mind that I take a peek at the latest in the line of Panini hockey releases for this year: 2010 Donruss. If you haven’t figured it out already, the crux of Panini’s approach to the hockey market for this season lays in the revival of brands familiar to avid collectors, such as Score, Certified, Zenith & Crown Royale. Donruss, for those of us who were around back in the day, first appeared on the hockey scene in 1993-94 before bowing out just five years later in 1997-98. Despite a short stay in the hockey scene, Donruss was a familiar brand in the non-sports arena since the 1950’s prior to entering the baseball market in 1980 under its namesake in the US, and under the Leaf moniker for Canada in 1985.


Base Card



Making its return under the Panini banner, Donruss is proving that you can go home again, building off familiarity with a new spin! Specifically, back will be Donruss hockey staples such as:


Rated Rookies: Fifty 2010-11 rookies including Kadri, Subban, Hamill & more

Press Proof Parallels

Les Gardiens: Featuring the greatest goalies from the 1990s


Elite


Ice Kings: A hockey version of Donruss’ legendary Diamond Kings baseball subset


Fans of the Game: Autographs from famous hockey fans, including Pam Anderson, Michael Ontkean and Stompin’ Tom Connors


This product will also be introducing new inserts such as:

Tough Times: featuring enforcers from the 1980s; hard-signed parallels inserted at 1 per case)


Line of the Times: 3x memorabilia cards featuring swatches from top lines in the game today.



Each box is slated to include (on average of course):

Two memorabilia/autograph cards including possible pulls of Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, Ryan Miller, Joe Thornton, Marian Gaborik, Henrik Sedin and Drew Doughty

6 Rated Rookies

3 Boys of Winter

2 Ultimate Draft

1 Press Proof

1 Les Gardiens

1 Tough Times

1 Fans of the Game.


Die-Cut Gems parallels (#’d to 25) can also be pulled at a rate of approximately 2 per case, while Die-Cut Gems autograph (#’d to 10) are inserted at an average of 1 per case.


This product is expected to drop mid November although the structure is a bit up in the air. Specifically , although originally slated to release at five cards per pack, 24 packs per box, 12 boxes per case with a $4 pack SRP, there were some rumblings that it would be changed to 10 cards per pack with a $3 pack SRP following complaints from distributors. While the former seems to be more accurate at present, word of the latter does raise the possibility that we may possibly be seeing a more values-laden product barring any alteration of the insert ratios.


What can you say really? This looks like a mid level product put together to compete against Upper Deck Series 1 / 2 in terms of rookies while also dressing up a different variety of inserts and themes for the average collector. Should the timing work out, I may just pick a box up at the Toronto Expo next month...


Shawn Gates
[email protected]
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
BBM: 311A4F7D

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Previous Product Previews & Reviews

2010-11 Panini Score Hockey
2010-11 Panini Certified Hockey
2010-11 ITG Ultimate Memorabilia, 10th Edition


Previous “Display Case” Articles

#1: The “Frankenstick!”
#2: Your desk has the right to remain collectable!
#3: Have Pads, Will Travel
#4: Pick a Pekka (Rinne) Autographed Mask


Previous "Devil's In The Details" Articles

#1: Beware the "Factory Sealed Box"!

#2: The Price Guide"

#3: What IS A Rookie Card?

#4: Beware the Money Order!


Ultimate Set Build

INDEX



Previous “Who Am I?” Articles

#1, #2, #3, #4, #5


Previous “WHAT IF…?” Articles

#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?

#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?

#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?

#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE

#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?

#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?

#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?

#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?

#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?

#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??

#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?

#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?

#12 What If The NHL Returned To Quebec City?

#13 What if Toronto and Edmonton Had Traded Teams in 1981?

#14 What if You Could Create Your Own Hockey Dream Team?

#15 What if An Active Player in the NHL “Came Out” as Gay?

#16 You Could Assemble Your Own Fantasy Pick-up Hockey Team?

#17 Hockey Had A Champions League Tournament?

#18 Team "X" Did NOT Make Trade "Y" At The Deadline?

#19 Gretzky Had Been Called For he High Stick?

#20 Star Players Hadn't Had Their Careers Cut Short?


Previous “Devil's Advocate” Articles

Gary Bettman and the Phoenix Coyotes


Previous “According to Twitter” Articles

Olympic Gold Medal Game

Olympic Hockey

Kovalchuk Trade


Previous “Humpday Hockey Videos”

January 20, 2010: Pain for Pleasure

January 27, 2010: National Anthems

February 3, 2010: Dion Phaneuf

February 10, 2010: Hockey Fans



Previous “Who Knew?” Articles
#1: Gordie Howe

#2: The Zamboni

#3: Maurice “The Rocket” Richard

#4: Ron Hextall

#5: Stanley Cup Abuse, Neglect and Versatility

#6: The Puck

#7: Don Cherry

#8: Cam Neely

#9: The Early Years of Les Canadiens

#10: Hockey Superstitions!

#11: Olympic Hockey Pt1



Previous “Town Without A Team” Articles

Booger Hollow, Arkansas

Hell, Michigan



Previous “Hockey Psychology” Articles

State Dependent Learning

Arousal and Performance

Depression