Puck Junk

Free giveaways have been a staple of sporting events – including NHL games – for decades. Over time, they have evolved from mere promotional items into sought-after collectibles.

While giveaways go back decades, the real interest in collecting them took off during the hobby boom in the 1990s, coinciding with the NHL’s growing emphasis on branding and fan engagement at a time when the league was expanding. Teams began releasing limited-edition items — especially bobblehead figures — that celebrated star players. Other items included t-shirts, tote bags, mugs and anything else you could slap a logo on.  

The giveaways created a sense of excitement when trying to decide which games to attend, driving up attendance on promotional nights and giving those items increased value on the secondary market. Over time, teams have gotten more creative when it comes to what they planned to hand out. That, too, helped grow value.

The collectability of giveaways stems from several factors – although limited availability remains a major factor. You just had to be at the game to get the item. These days, gameday giveaways are more than a marketing tool: they have become true artifacts of fandom.

Here are six notable giveaways NHL teams will he handing out during the 2025-26 season:

Continue reading “Clemente’s Corner: 6 Great NHL Giveaways for the 2025-26 Season”