Before They’re Signed: A Panini America Pre-Ink Peek at 2010-11 Dominion Hockey
Say what you will, but being an office busy body has its advantages. Take, for example, the drool-inducing gallery that follows.
I was up late last week playing the role of office butterfly, making my rounds through production, design, product development and acquisitions just to see what was going on. As always, there was tons going on.
What really caught my eye last Friday, however, were the drop-dead gorgeous gems that a white-gloved Alex Carbajal was carefully preparing for transit. Carbajal, the Panini America NHL acquisitions point man, doggedly secures autographs for all of our hockey products — but perhaps none will be more scrutinized this season than the ones from 2010-11 Dominion Hockey slated to receive on-card signatures.
Dominion, the high-end heavyweight due out in late July, absolutely is one of the most anticipated releases of the season across all sports. One look at the images below — including the Brass Bonanza tribute to the Hartford Whalers — and you’ll understand why.
Just minutes after these cards were scanned under Carbajal’s watchful eye, they were confiscated for expeditious shipment to their respective signing destinations. Stay tuned for the “after” pics in the near future.
The Knight's Lance 
What subset are the Sharp and Lundqvist cards from? Are they base card auto variations? Also is the blue foil for Western teams and the red foil for Eastern teams?
Those Whaler cards are sharp as heck as well.
All gorgeous, thanks for sharing T!
Here’s some info, Barrie:
Signature Ruby — Numbered to 50
Signature Sapphire — Numbered to 10
Signature Black — 1/1
I suspect that the Byfuglien autos are going to be mighty popular in a certain central Canadian province. 🙂
Love the foil variations, I think “shiny” makes everything better.
The red and blue holographic foil looks delicious.
I am sure they will be even more appetizing when you serve them up with a big heaping side of bold, blue ink that will “POP” off that white signing area.
Thanks for the mucho pronto feedback amigo, you’re da man T.
Love the design of the Whalers set… too bad a few players on the set that I wouldn’t have added to it (Coffey and Shanny) but love the others including Patty V, Hull, Ronnie Franchise
Love the cards, add in some premium patches and I might just have to dig deep and get some.
Also, for the ‘notable nicknames’ series, is he going to sign that ‘Big Buff’? That would be something.
I agree.
I am hoping for those Notable Nickname cards there isn’t the total failure another card company made by putting the nickname on the card without the player actually signing said nickname? That seems to defeat the purpose to me?
Make sure they inscribe as such, especially considering there are only 10 guys in the set, it could end up being on of the best subsets of the year. I’m actually disappointed it’s not bigger with more variety of players or I might have considered making that my high end insert set to try and complete this year.
LOVE the old-school Whalers cards.
Does this open the door for 11/12 Dominion to feature the Nordiques?
Just imagine the possibilities: Sakic, Nolan, Stastny(s), Sundin, Twist…!