As the doughnut and coffee chain, Tim Hortons, was founded by one of the most renowned hockey players of all time, its connection to Canada's favourite sport has always remained strong.
Prior to the 2015-16 NHL season, it was announced that Tim Hortons had partnered with Upper Deck to start selling hockey cards at their restaurants - and the excitement in the card-collecting world was palpable.
Since then, the cards have become increasingly popular, with the rarest ones now valuable collectors' items.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at the most expensive Upper Deck Tim Hortons hockey cards you can buy to get you up to speed.
Or if you want to discover more of the most expensive things in the world, take a look at the Ask Genie blog.
Tim Horton: A Canadian Hero
Before we take a look at the most expensive Upper Deck Tim Hortons hockey cards, let's take some time to learn about Tim Horton himself. His name is well known across Canada, and the fast food chain he started, Tim Hortons, is beloved throughout the land.
Horton was born in Cochrane, Ontario, on January 12, 1930, and showed huge promise from the moment he picked up a hockey stick. He was named best defenseman in 1949 while playing as a junior in the Ontario Hockey Association - the first in a series of accolades spanning his time as a professional.
Tim Horton went on to have a greatly successful career in the NHL, playing 1,446 games in 24 seasons, mainly for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had an impressive record of 518 points, 403 assists, and 115 goals during his career and was nicknamed 'Superman' due to his amazing strength.
Alongside his incredible hockey career, in 1964, he founded Tim Horton Donuts, which later became known simply as Tim Hortons.
Hockey card enthusiasts can now pick up their packs of Upper Deck Tim Hortons hockey cards (alongside coffee and doughnuts) from these eateries, further cementing the name of Tim Horton into the Canadian vernacular.
The cards feature a mix of legends and current players such as Sidney Crosby, Carey Price, Auston Matthews, Patrick Kane, and Wayne Gretzky, as well as rare collectables like NHL Jersey Relics.
So, let's glide into our list of the ten most expensive Upper Deck Tim Hortons hockey cards.
Top 10 Most Expensive Upper Deck Tim Hortons Hockey Cards
1) Auston Matthews 2016 Rookie Card
Topping our list is the Auston Matthews Rookie Card which was released as part of the 2016 collection. It's currently valued at $5,000 and is considered one of the rarest Tim Hortons cards.
The card's rarity is due to the fact that there is only one for every 18,000 packs of Upper Deck Tim Hortons hockey cards - making it a tough find.
Auston Matthews was the first overall draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2016 NHL draft.
He has since gone on to become one of the best players in the NHL, and in the 2021-22 season, he was awarded the Hart Trophy for Most Valuable Player and the Ted Lindsay Award for Most Outstanding Player.
2) Autograph Jersey Relics Complete Set 2016-17
Next up is the complete set of the NHL Jersey Relics cards from the 2016-17 season.
Finding just one or two of these cards is already rare, but to snag a whole set is another thing altogether, with the odds being 1:62,501.
This set is valued at $1,175 and features all six cards from that season's Relics line.
The six players featured on the cards are Alex Galchenyuk of the Montreal Canadiens, Ryan Miller of the Vancouver Canucks, Mike Hoffman of the Ottawa Senators, Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks, Sean Monahan of the Calgary Flames, and Rick Nash of the New York Rangers.
3) Autograph Jersey Relics Complete Set 2017-18
The 3rd spot on our list goes to another complete set: NHL Jersey Relics cards, this time from the 2017-18 season.
The two complete sets are actually tied when it comes to valuation - this set is also worth $1,175. The rarity of this collection means the odds of finding it are 1:69,434.
The six players in this set are Mike Hoffman of the Ottawa Senators, Mats Zuccarello of the New York Rangers, Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets, Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens, Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Bo Hovart of the Vancouver Canucks.
4) Wayne Gretzky Tribute Card 2021-22
Next up is a rare tribute card featuring a true hockey legend: Wayne Gretzky. This card was released as part of the 2021-22 Upper Deck Tim Hortons collection and is currently valued at $425.
Wayne Gretzky is considered by many to be the best hockey player of all time, hence his nickname 'The Great One.' In the history of the NHL, no player has ever scored more goals, provided more assists, or scored more points than Gretzky during his long career.
5) Nick Suzuki Signature Card 2021-22
Bang in the middle of our list is another card from the 2021-22 Upper Deck Tim Hortons collection. The Nick Suzuki signature card is currently worth $350 when sold separately online.
Nick Suzuki currently plays as a centre for the Montreal Canadiens after being drafted in the 2019-20 season. He has now become arguably their most important player and, in October 2021, was rewarded with a new eight-year contract worth $63 million.
6) Quinton Byfield Signature Card 2021-22
As you can see from our list, the 2021-22 Upper Deck Tim Hortons hockey cards feature several of the current most valuable cards, and this offering - the Quinton Byfield Signature card - is worth $250.
Before being drafted into the NHL, Quinton Byfield won both the OHL Rookie Of The Year and the CHL Rookie Of The Year in 2018. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 NHL entry draft.
7) Mitch Marner Relic Card 2020-21
The Mitch Marner NHL Jersey Relics card from the 2020-21 collection is also currently valued at $250 - another tie for 6th and 7th place. Relic cards tend to be valuable due to their rarity and collectibility, and this one is no different.
Mitch Marner is currently a right-winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs and has long been considered one of the brightest prospects in the NHL. In the 2021-22 season, he registered 62 assists and 35 goals, which helped his team to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
8) Sidney Crosby Timbits To Team Canada 1993
The 8th card on our list is from the Timbits To Team Canada line and features none other than the legend that is Sidney Crosby. The year 1993 refers to the year that Sidney Crosby participated in Timbits hockey, and this card is valued at $200.
Sidney Crosby is considered one of the best hockey players of all time and was the youngest NHL captain to ever win the Stanley Cup in 2009. Amongst many other accolades, he also won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver while representing Team Canada.
9) Nathan Mackinnon Timbits To Team Canada 2000
Another inclusion from the Timbits To Team Canada collection is the Nathan Mackinnon card, valued at $150.
Nathan Mackinnon is nicknamed 'Nate The Great' and is considered one of the best current hockey players in the world. He won the Stanley Cup with Colorado Avalanche in 2022 and was the leading scorer in the playoffs.
10) Brendan Gallagher Timbits To Team Canada 1998
Rounding off our list is the Brendan Gallagher Timbits To Team Canada 1998 card which is worth $125. This card is also a part of the 2021-22 Upper Deck Tim Hortons collection.
Brendan Gallagher is the all-time leading goal and points scorer for the Vancouver Giants and currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens on the right wing. He is one of the most important players for the Canadiens, and in 2020, he signed a six-year contract extension worth $39 million.
Invest in a Tim Horton Collectible With Help From Spin Genie
Tim Hortons hockey cards have become a staple in the card-collecting community. As you can see from our list of cards you can currently buy, it hasn't taken long for some of the rarest cards in these collections to shoot up in value. And as the years go by, the prices will only continue to rise.
Investing in a rare Tim Hortons hockey card will certainly turn a future profit. Or, you could buy a pack next time you grab a coffee from Tim Hortons and hope that something rare turns up.
Or if you’re a hockey fan, you might want to take a look at our other blog - What is the Most Expensive Hockey Card You Can Collect and Buy?
