The first hockey cards were included in cigarette packages from 1910 to 1913, manufactured by Imperial Tobacco Canada for the inaugural NHA season.

Oil brand Esso briefly issued stamp-sized hockey cards on soft paper in the early 1970s in return for gas purchases.

They signed current and retired NHL players to individual contracts, allowing the use of their likenesses and autographs.

In The Game also signed licensing deals with the CHL, the AHL and Hockey Canada to use players and logos from these organizations in their products.

Following the 2013–14 NHL season, Upper Deck gained exclusive rights, and Panini lost its license.

[5] As of 2022, Upper Deck are commercializing NHL and NHLPA trading cards after the company signed an extension of the agreement license, which it holds since the 2014–15 season.