Upper Deck's 2021 Extended Series Ultimate Victory captured hockey's peak pandemic era, when the hobby experienced unprecedented collector interest. The set balanced nostalgic design elements with modern production, offering accessible premium cards for a surging fanbase rediscovering the sport during lockdowns. Ultimate Victory became emblematic of that moment—when vintage aesthetics met contemporary collecting enthusiasm. Connor McDavid appears here as the Edmonton Oilers' franchise centerpiece, representing one of the game's brightest talents entering his prime. Collectors pursued McDavid cards from this era as foundational pieces, drawn to both his on-ice brilliance and the card's clean presentation of one of hockey's most exciting players.