Fanatics Collectibles has the exclusive license to produce official NHL trading cards beginning with the 2025–26 season. Its cards are released under the Topps brand. Upper Deck held the NHL’s exclusive trading card license through the 2024–25 season, so Upper Deck NHL cards remain important and legitimate collectibles—but they are not the new licensed releases under the current agreement.
The short answer to “who has the nhl sports card license” depends on which season you mean. The changeover is the key: Upper Deck was the licensed producer through 2024–25, and Fanatics Collectibles took over the exclusive trading card partnership for 2025–26. Here’s what that means for collectors, players’ rights, and older cards.
Who has the NHL sports card license now?
Fanatics Collectibles holds the NHL’s exclusive trading card license starting with the 2025–26 season. The company announced its partnership with both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA). Under the arrangement, Fanatics produces NHL trading cards under the Topps brand.
That means collectors looking for newly issued, officially licensed NHL trading cards should expect to see Topps products from the Fanatics Collectibles partnership. Fanatics is the company behind the agreement and product program; Topps is the familiar card brand used on the releases.
The word “exclusive” matters. It refers to the rights covered by the agreement for official NHL trading cards during its term. It does not mean that cards from earlier licensed manufacturers disappear, become invalid, or can no longer be sold.
When did the NHL card license change from Upper Deck?
Upper Deck’s exclusive NHL trading card agreement ran through the 2024–25 season. Fanatics Collectibles’ agreement begins with the 2025–26 season. That makes the 2024–25 season the dividing line when comparing the two companies’ licensed NHL card releases.
For collectors, the transition affects which company produces new licensed NHL cards for a given season. It doesn’t change the licensing status of products that Upper Deck released while its agreement was active. Upper Deck cards from those years remain officially licensed products from their original release period.
When checking a specific card, look at the season, release date, manufacturer, and product markings rather than assuming every Upper Deck NHL card is unlicensed or that every Topps-branded hockey card is part of the new program. Licensing questions are best answered product by product, especially around a changeover.
What does an NHL trading card license cover?
A trading card license is permission to use certain league and player-related rights on products. For NHL cards, the league agreement and the players’ agreement are both relevant. The NHL and the NHLPA represent different interests, so a partnership announcement involving both organizations is significant for products featuring NHL teams and active NHL players.
Depending on the specific rights granted, licensed cards may include league or team marks, player names and likenesses, and other approved elements. The exact scope comes from the agreements, and not every product necessarily uses every type of licensed material. A card’s appearance alone may not tell you the full details of its licensing.
A license also doesn’t guarantee that every player, team, design, or card type will appear in every release. Check the product details and the manufacturer’s announcements for information about a particular set.
Is Upper Deck still making NHL cards?
Upper Deck’s exclusive NHL card license ended after the 2024–25 season, with Fanatics Collectibles’ agreement beginning in 2025–26. For that reason, Upper Deck is associated with officially licensed NHL trading cards from its licensed years, while Fanatics Collectibles and Topps are associated with the new licensed program.
This distinction is about the period and rights involved—not whether Upper Deck cards are “real.” An Upper Deck NHL card produced under the company’s agreement remains a legitimate licensed collectible from that release. The end of an agreement doesn’t retroactively cancel products made while the license was in effect.
You may still see Upper Deck NHL cards in hobby shops, online marketplaces, card shows, and personal collections. Those are generally older releases being sold on the secondary market, not evidence that Upper Deck holds the new exclusive license. For a recent or future product, confirm its season and licensing details with the manufacturer or an official product announcement.
Does Fanatics own the NHL card license, or does Topps?
Fanatics Collectibles is the company that announced and holds the exclusive trading card partnership. Topps is the brand under which the NHL trading cards are being produced. In everyday conversation, people may say “Topps has the NHL license,” but the more precise explanation is that Fanatics Collectibles has the agreement and is using the Topps brand for its NHL card products.
This distinction is useful when searching for information. Look for announcements from Fanatics Collectibles or Topps about product releases, while recognizing that the agreement involves the NHL and NHLPA. A brand name on a box identifies the product line, but it doesn’t always identify the corporate entity that negotiated the rights.
How can you tell whether an NHL card is licensed?
If you are buying a card and want to confirm its licensing, consider these checks:
- Identify the season and release. Compare the product year with the license period. Upper Deck’s licensed NHL releases belong to its agreement period through 2024–25; the Fanatics Collectibles partnership starts in 2025–26.
- Check the manufacturer and brand. Look for the company and brand named on the packaging, checklist, or official product information.
- Review the card and packaging. League, team, and player identifiers can provide clues, but visual design alone is not conclusive proof of licensing.
- Consult an official product announcement. Manufacturer product pages and announcements from the NHL, NHLPA, Fanatics Collectibles, or Topps are more dependable than an informal marketplace listing.
- Ask the seller specific questions. Request the card’s set name, year, and a clear image of the front and back. Be cautious if the listing makes broad licensing claims without identifying the product.
Licensed status and authenticity are separate issues. A card may have been produced under an official license, but that alone doesn’t verify that a particular copy is genuine or in the condition described. For high-value purchases, use reputable sellers and consider appropriate authentication or grading services.
What the license change means for collectors
The transition gives collectors two different eras to follow: Upper Deck’s licensed NHL products through 2024–25 and Fanatics Collectibles’ Topps-branded program beginning in 2025–26. Each era may appeal to different collectors based on favorite designs, sets, players, or collecting goals.
If you collect by player, you may want to compare checklists across releases to see which products include the athletes you follow. If you collect by team, look for team-focused cards and verify that the particular release includes the players or marks you want. Product checklists and manufacturer announcements are the best places to confirm what a set contains.
The new agreement doesn’t automatically determine the future market value of cards from either company. Collectible prices can depend on factors such as player demand, rarity, condition, set popularity, and broader hobby interest. A licensing change can attract attention, but it should not be treated as a guarantee that a card will rise in value.
Collectors should also distinguish newly released cards from older cards being resold. A seller can offer an Upper Deck card after the license change because the card is an existing collectible. The relevant question is whether it was issued as an official product during the applicable license period—not whether its manufacturer currently holds the license.
Frequently asked questions
Who has the NHL sports card license for 2025–26?
Fanatics Collectibles has the exclusive NHL trading card partnership beginning with the 2025–26 season. Its NHL cards are produced under the Topps brand.
Did Upper Deck lose the NHL card license?
Upper Deck’s exclusive NHL trading card agreement ran through the 2024–25 season. Fanatics Collectibles’ agreement starts in 2025–26. Upper Deck cards released during its licensed period remain legitimate collectibles.
Are Topps NHL cards officially licensed?
The Fanatics Collectibles partnership beginning in 2025–26 covers official NHL trading cards produced under the Topps brand. Check the product’s specific season and official product information when verifying an individual release.
Can I still buy Upper Deck NHL cards?
Yes. Older Upper Deck NHL cards continue to be sold through hobby stores, card shows, and secondary marketplaces. Their availability doesn’t mean Upper Deck holds the new exclusive license.
Does the NHL license include player rights?
The new partnership was announced with both the NHL and NHLPA. Those organizations represent distinct rights, and the exact rights available for a specific product depend on the agreements and product details.
Does the license change make older cards worthless?
No. A licensing change does not erase an older card’s status as a product released under a previous agreement. Its market value depends on collector demand and the card’s individual characteristics, not licensing status alone.
Bottom line
Fanatics Collectibles has the exclusive NHL trading card license beginning with the 2025–26 season, and its products are released under the Topps brand. Upper Deck held the license through 2024–25, so its cards from that period remain valid licensed collectibles. When evaluating a specific NHL card, check its season, product details, and official release information.