Should I Buy NHL Cards as Singles or in Boxes?

If you’re getting into NHL trading cards, you’ll quickly hit the big question:

Is it smarter to buy hockey cards as singles, or rip sealed boxes?

Both options are legit—and both are a lot of fun. Boxes give you that pack-ripping rush, while singles let you laser-focus on the exact players and cards you want. But when it comes to value and strategy, they work very differently.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

• What “singles” and “boxes” actually are

• Why buying singles can be the better move

• When it still makes sense to buy boxes

• How to choose the approach that suits your collecting style

And whenever you’re ready to start or level up your collection, you can browse Cherry’s full NHL range here:
👉 NHL Trading Cards

What Are Singles and Boxes?

When you’re building an NHL collection, most of your cards will come from one of two places: singles or sealed boxes.

Singles

“Singles” are individual cards sold one by one.

They might be:

• A star rookie

• A numbered parallel or short print

• An autograph or patch

• A specific insert you’re chasing for a set

Singles are sold already pulled from packs—often in toploaders or graded—by collectors, shops, or breakers. Instead of rolling the dice on what’s inside a pack, you’re paying specifically for that card.

Boxes

Boxes are sealed products that contain multiple packs of random cards.

Depending on the product, a box might guarantee hits like:

• Autographs

• Memorabilia cards

• Numbered parallels

• Case hits or SSPs

But at the end of the day, it’s still a lucky dip. You might pull something incredible… or you might end up with a stack of base and a couple of low-end inserts. That unpredictability is part of the thrill.

Why Buying Singles Can Be Better

If your main goal is to maximise value and build a strong collection as efficiently as possible, buying singles usually makes more sense than chasing hits in sealed boxes.

You Know What You’re Getting

With singles, there’s no mystery.

You’re buying:

• A specific player

• A specific parallel, auto, or patch

• In a specific condition

There’s no chance the box you open is “cold” or full of players you don’t care about. If you’ve decided you want a particular rookie Young Guns, numbered McDavid, or a certain insert, buying it as a single means you definitely end up with that card in your collection.

Cost Effective

Sealed boxes can be a blast, but they’re not always friendly to your wallet if you’re chasing particular cards.

Often it’s:

• Cheaper to buy the few big cards you want
  than to crack box after box hoping to hit them

• More efficient because you’re not paying for a pile of base and commons you didn’t really want

Singles let you focus your budget on quality over quantity.

Saves You Time

Some collectors love the process of breaking wax for hours. Others would rather skip straight to owning the card.

When you buy singles:

• Someone else has already done the ripping and sorting

• You don’t have to manage bulk, sort sets, or store piles of extras

• Your time goes into hunting, negotiating, and enjoying the exact cards you want

If you’ve got limited hobby time—or you’re more into building a sharp PC than tearing through packs—singles are a much more efficient way to collect.

Why You Would Still Want to Buy Boxes

All that said, it’s not like boxes are “wrong.” They still have some real advantages and are a big part of why the hobby is fun.

Lower Upfront Cost (Per Card Experience)

Some singles—especially star rookies, low-numbered patches, or top autos—can be very expensive on their own.

A sealed box, on the other hand:

• Has a set price, regardless of what’s inside

• Often feels more approachable as a one-off purchase than multiple high-end singles

• Gives you a big stack of cards to enjoy, not just one

If you’re not chasing one particular mega-card, a box can be a good way to get a feel for a product and build a foundation for your collection.

Excitement

Let’s be honest:

Ripping packs is fun.

The sound of the wrapper, the suspense of each card, that moment when you see a different foil pattern or numbering… it’s hard to beat.

Boxes are perfect if you:

• Love the thrill of the hunt

• Enjoy opening cards with friends or family

• Want to experience a new NHL release in its full form—base, inserts, parallels and all

The entertainment value alone can make boxes “worth it,” even if the financial return doesn’t always stack up.

Potential to Find Cards Worth a Lot

Most boxes won’t explode in value—but some hits really can.

From massive rookie patches to low-numbered parallels and case hits, boxes give you a shot at cards that would otherwise cost a lot more if you bought them as singles.

Important reality check though:

• Those big hits are rare by design

• You should treat them as a bonus, not a guarantee

If you go in seeing boxes as paid entertainment plus a small chance of something huge, you’ll have a much healthier experience than if you expect every box to “pay for itself.”

What Should You Choose?

So, should you focus on singles or boxes? It really comes down to your goals and personality as a collector.

Choose singles if:

• You want to maximise ROI and long-term value

• You have specific players, teams, or sets you’re building

• You’re happy to hunt, negotiate, and curate

• You prefer knowing exactly where your money is going

Singles are the smarter choice if you’re serious about building a strong collection efficiently.

Choose boxes if:

• You love the rush of opening packs
  

• You see the purchase as entertainment first, value second

• You enjoy sorting, trading, and discovering cards you didn’t know you wanted

Boxes give you an experience—ripping, reacting, and sharing the fun with friends or stream chats.

Of course, many collectors do a mix of both: buying singles for key cards they must own, and grabbing boxes when a new release drops or they feel like having some pack-ripping fun.

Start Your NHL Trading Card Hunt with Cherry Collectables

Whether you’re a singles sniper or a box-breaker (or a bit of both), we’ve got you covered.

At Cherry Collectables, you can:

• Target specific cards in our NHL singles range
  👉 Shop NHL Singles

• Dive into sealed product and enjoy the full ripping experience
  👉 Shop NHL Boxes & Packs

However you choose to collect, we’re here to help you chase rookies, build sets, and find the next card worthy of a spot in your PC—or on display at home.