Upper Deck 2 of a Kind: 100 NHL Players Keep One Card, and Collectors Chase the Other

Upper Deck announced 2 of a Kind on November 3, 2026, a 100-player NHL insert where each card is made in exactly two copies: the 1 of 2 goes to the player, and the 2 of 2 goes into packs of 2026-27 O-Pee-Chee, per Upper Deck. There are no redemptions, the cards pull straight from hobby and retail packs, and collectors who pull one will be able to submit it for a chance to meet the player who owns the twin. Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin and the last three No. 1 picks are on the first checklist, per SI.

How 2 of a Kind Works

Every card on the checklist exists twice, and only one copy goes into packs:

• 1 of 2: gifted to the player on the card
• 2 of 2: inserted in 2026-27 O-Pee-Chee hobby and retail packs, with no redemption step
• Design: a metallic foilboard front with a rose gold back
• Checklist: 100 NHL players, renewed every year as a continuous set
• The bonus: collectors who pull a 2 of 2 can submit it for a chance to meet the player with the matching copy. Upper Deck says certain limitations apply and has not published the details yet.

Jason Masherah, President of Upper Deck, put it this way in the November 3 announcement: "The feeling of pulling a rare card of your favorite player is unique, and it's hard to recreate."

Who Is on the First Checklist

Upper Deck has not released the full checklist. Six names are confirmed so far, per SI:

• Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
• Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), the NHL's all-time goals leader
• Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders) and Gavin McKenna (Toronto Maple Leafs), the last three No. 1 overall picks. SI notes Schaefer is the reigning Calder Trophy winner.
• Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers)

SI reports that all 32 teams will be represented.

When You Can Pull One

2 of a Kind debuts in 2026-27 O-Pee-Chee, which Upper Deck says is scheduled to release around the 2027 NHL All-Star Weekend (February 5 to 6, 2027, per the NHL). Upper Deck has not given an exact date, a box price or pack odds, and SI says the full checklist, pack odds and meet-the-player details are still to come.

What It Means for Collectors

A 2 of 2 is a different animal from a 1/1. The print run is two, but the player keeps one, so only one copy of each card ever reaches a pack. And unlike the usual short prints, the other copy has a known owner, which is the whole point of the meet-the-player angle.

Three things to know before you chase it:

• It lives in a base product. O-Pee-Chee is Upper Deck's mainstream set, and the 2 of 2s are spread across hobby and retail. Odds are unannounced, so treat any single box as a long shot.
• Know the look, but don't lean on it. Upper Deck describes a metallic foilboard front and a rose gold back, and its promo art is marked as subject to change. With one pack copy per player, any listing should show both sides.
• The 1 of 2 is not sold by Upper Deck. It is gifted to the player, and the announcement says nothing about what players may do with it, so the pack copy is the only one you can chase.

Our take: the scarcity is not the new part, the twin is. A 2 of 2 McDavid has a matching card in McDavid's own collection and a shot at meeting him, which no ordinary short print comes with. For the top of the hockey market, see our most expensive hockey cards list, and our 2026-27 Upper Deck Series 1 story covers this season's other big Upper Deck release.

Where to Go From Here

The full checklist, odds and the meet-the-player rules are the next details to watch before O-Pee-Chee lands. If you want to collect real cards now, the Polkastarter marketplace gives you a free mystery pack at signup, and every Lootbox lists its contents, values, and chances before you open.

Details checked November 4, 2026. Product details are as announced by Upper Deck and reported by SI on the dates given and can change. Nothing here is financial advice. Polkastarter is not affiliated with Upper Deck, the NHL, the NHLPA or the other companies named.

Sources

• Upper Deck: Upper Deck's new 2 of a Kind program connects fans with their favorite NHL players, published November 3, 2026, accessed November 4, 2026
• SI: How Upper Deck's 2 of a Kind Program Connects NHL Players and Collectors, published November 3, 2026, accessed November 4, 2026
• NHL: NHL unveils new format for 2027 All-Star Weekend, published June 2, 2026, accessed November 4, 2026
• Sports Collectors Digest: Collectors can share cards with NHL players with Upper Deck's new 2 of a Kind set, published November 3, 2026, accessed November 4, 2026