Upper Deck Young Guns is the most important rookie card subset in hockey, featuring every major NHL rookie since 1990-91, with star rookies like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid's Young Guns cards selling for $30,000-$80,000+ in PSA 10. Since Upper Deck holds the exclusive NHL license, Young Guns is effectively the rookie card in hockey. Values run from a couple of dollars for commons to five figures for star rookies in high grade, with Canvas, Exclusives, and High Gloss parallels and autos adding another layer. This guide provides Canadian collectors with everything they need to know about Young Guns, from the history of the subset to the 2025-26 rookie class and how to buy Young Guns cards in Canada.
The History of Upper Deck Young Guns
Young Guns has been part of Upper Deck's flagship hockey set since 1990-91, making it the longest-running rookie card subset in hockey card history and the most recognized rookie card brand in the sport. The distinctive Young Guns design marks a player's rookie card, and for the NHL's stars, these are the cards everyone chases. Every generational hockey player, from Sidney Crosby to Connor McDavid to Connor Bedard, has a Young Guns card that anchors their rookie card market.
The subset's 30+ year tradition creates deep buyer recognition. Unlike the NBA or NFL, where rookie cards fragment across multiple flagship sets, hockey has one main rookie card type: Young Guns. This single iconic RC card type is a structural advantage for hockey collectors, as it concentrates demand on one card rather than dispersing it across multiple products.
Key Historical Young Guns Sets
Several Young Guns sets have become legendary in the hobby:
- 1990-91 Upper Deck Hockey: The original Young Guns set, featuring rookies like Jaromir Jagr, Sergei Fedorov, Ed Belfour, and Mike Modano. Raw copies of top rookies are usually affordable (under $20), but PSA 10s can push into the low-to-mid hundreds.
- 2005-06 Upper Deck Hockey: The marquee year, featuring both Sidney Crosby (#201) and Alexander Ovechkin (#443) Young Guns. This set defined NHL collecting for a generation.
- 2015-16 Upper Deck Hockey: The defining modern Young Guns set, featuring Connor McDavid (#201). McDavid's combination of production and longevity has made his RC a permanent NHL collecting anchor.
- 2023-24 Upper Deck Hockey: The Connor Bedard class, the most recent generational Young Guns. Strong premium with long career runway.
The Most Valuable Young Guns Cards of All Time
The most valuable Young Guns cards are driven by player stardom, card condition, and historical significance, with Crosby and McDavid leading the market by a wide margin. Here is the all-time value leaderboard:
| Player | Year | Card # | High-Grade Value Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Crosby | 2005-06 | #201 (RC) | $200 - $90,000 |
| Connor McDavid | 2015-16 | #201 (RC) | $200 - $60,000 |
| Alexander Ovechkin | 2005-06 | #443 (RC) | $150 - $40,000 |
| Auston Matthews | 2016-17 | #201 (RC) | $50 - $10,000 |
| Cale Makar | 2019-20 | #201 (RC) | $50 - $6,000 |
| Connor Bedard | 2023-24 | #451 (RC) | $200 - $3,500+ |
| Macklin Celebrini | 2024-25 | YG RC | $300 - $4,000+ |
These are ballpark ranges for high-grade examples. Prices move with the market, player performance, and condition. The 2005-06 set (Crosby/Ovechkin) and 2015-16 (McDavid) are the marquee years that have appreciated significantly in sealed form.
Young Guns Parallels and Variations
Beyond the base Young Guns card, Upper Deck produces several parallel and variation types that add collectibility and value, from affordable Canvas versions to ultra-rare 1-of-1 printing plates.
Base Young Guns
The standard rookie card. Star rookies carry significant value; commons are inexpensive. This is the foundational card for any NHL player's collection and the starting point for most collectors.
Canvas Young Guns
The matte parallel of the Young Guns card. A modest step up from the base, Canvas cards are collected as a separate intra-series set with a dedicated collector base. Canvas parallels of star rookies carry meaningful premiums.
Exclusives /100 and High Gloss /10
Numbered parallels that climb sharply in price. Exclusives are limited to 100 copies and High Gloss to just 10 copies. For star rookies, these parallels can be worth several times the base card value, especially in high grade.
Young Guns Autographs
Signed versions of the Young Guns card, far scarcer than the base version. Young Guns autographs are a separate, higher market from the base card, with star rookie autos commanding significant premiums.
Clear Cut and Printing Plates 1/1
The rarest finishes and one-of-ones at the top of the Young Guns hierarchy. Clear Cut parallels have a distinct finish, while printing plates are 1-of-1 cards made from the actual printing plates used in production.
Outburst Parallels
Outburst is a parallel layer that includes Silver (approximately 1 per box), Deluxe (/250), Red (/25), and Gold (1/1). The Outburst Gold 1/1 of Connor Bedard had a $1 million bounty offered by Dave and Adam's, illustrating the extreme rarity and value of these parallels.
The 2025-26 Young Guns Class
The 2025-26 Upper Deck Series 1 and Series 2 Young Guns classes feature exciting rookies, with Matthew Schaefer headlining Series 2 as the top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Schaefer's flagship Young Guns will be one of the hockey hobby's key cards in 2026, and based on his on-ice performance, his card #451 in Series Two could be one of the key hockey cards of the current decade.
Series 1 Young Guns to Watch
The 2025-26 Series 1 Young Guns class includes several promising rookies across multiple teams. Key names to monitor include players from strong hockey markets and those with immediate NHL impact.
Series 2 Young Guns Headliners
Beyond Schaefer, the Series 2 Young Guns checklist includes:
- Alexander Nikishin (D, Carolina): Nicknamed "Boom" in the KHL, the do-it-all defenseman is entering his prime quickly. Carolina is a perennial contender.
- Axel Sandin-Pellikka (D, Detroit): The 17th overall pick in 2023 has been a regular in Detroit's lineup. Detroit will be a great case break team in Series Two.
- Brady Martin (C, Nashville): The fifth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Martin is a key chase in the product.
- Ben Kindel (F, Pittsburgh): Pittsburgh's first round pick (11th overall) in 2025, made the team out of camp and has been with the Penguins all season.
2024-25 Top Young Guns (Current Market)
The 2024-25 Upper Deck Young Guns class was headlined by Macklin Celebrini, with the top 12 ranked as follows:
- Macklin Celebrini (C, San Jose Sharks)
- Matvei Michkov (RW, Philadelphia Flyers)
- Lane Hutson (D, Montreal Canadiens)
- Will Smith (C, San Jose Sharks)
- Logan Stankoven (C, Carolina Hurricanes)
- Cutter Gauthier (LW, Anaheim Ducks)
- Frank Nazar (C, Chicago Blackhawks)
- Jackson Blake (RW, Carolina Hurricanes)
- Zachary Bolduc (RW, Montreal Canadiens)
- Connor Geekie (C, Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Denton Mateychuk (D, Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Rutger McGroarty (RW, Pittsburgh Penguins)
For budget-conscious collectors, two alternatives to Young Guns offer cheaper entry points: O-Pee-Chee Platinum Marquee Rookie cards (with Retro version and Rainbow parallels) and SP Authentic Future Watch numbered cards (the cheaper version of the coveted Future Watch Auto).
How to Tell if Your Young Guns Card Is Valuable
A Young Guns card's value is determined by the player's star level, the card's condition, whether it has parallels or autographs, and the PSA population report for that specific card.
Key value indicators:
- Star rookies: Young Guns of first-overall picks, Calder Trophy winners, and established stars carry the most value.
- Numbered parallels: Exclusives /100, High Gloss /10, and Outburst parallels add significant value.
- Young Guns autographs and Clear Cut 1/1s: The rarest and most valuable versions.
- High grades: Young Guns centering can be off, so PSA 10 is a premium. A PSA 10 of a star Young Gun can be worth several times a PSA 9.
- Marquee years: The 2005-06 set (Crosby/Ovechkin) and 2015-16 (McDavid) are the most valuable years.
Condition Issues Common in Young Guns
Young Guns are prone to specific condition issues that affect grading:
- Off-centering: Young Guns centering can be off, making well-centered copies scarce and valuable.
- Edge whitening: Dark borders show edge whitening easily, which can prevent a PSA 10 grade.
- Print lines: The foil surface can have print lines that affect the grade.
- Gloss scuffing: The chrome-like finish can show scuffing that affects surface grade.
Because of these condition issues, high grades are scarcer than the print run suggests. A PSA 10 of a star Young Gun can be worth several times a 9. Always scan and check raw value before sending one in for grading.
Grading Young Guns: PSA, BGS, SGC, or KSA?
PSA dominates US and international resale for Young Guns, BGS has historical strength in hockey but has lost share, SGC is increasingly respected for vintage and junk-wax-to-modern crossovers, and KSA is Canadian-domestic.
Grading recommendations by card type:
- Modern Young Guns (2015+): PSA is the most liquid. If your pre-screen says PSA 10 shot, send it. If it's a fringe PSA 9, consider comps before committing.
- Vintage Young Guns (1990-91): SGC 9.5s and 10s have good traction. BGS 9.5 with strong subgrades is also compelling for 90s hockey.
- Canadian convenience: KSA is based in Canada and can be more convenient for Canadian collectors, but PSA slabs are more liquid for international resale.
- Minimum targets: Aim for PSA 9/SGC 9.5/BGS 9.5 on top rookies if you're ROI-focused. If your pre-screen lands at PSA 8 or SGC 8.5, you're often better off selling raw.
How to Buy Young Guns Cards in Canada
The best way to buy Young Guns cards in Canada is from Card Source Canada (cardsource.ca), which offers single Young Guns cards with CAD pricing, domestic shipping starting at $1.50, and free shipping on 5+ card orders. Card Source Canada has 400+ hockey cards in inventory, including Young Guns from multiple years and products.
Advantages of buying Young Guns from Card Source Canada:
- Single-card focus: Buy exactly the Young Guns you want without gambling on a $200+ hobby box.
- CAD pricing: No exchange rate surprises or foreign transaction fees.
- Lowest shipping in Canada: $1.50 first card, $0.50 each additional, free at 5+.
- Best-offer capability: Many listings accept best offers, allowing price negotiation.
- Wide selection: Young Guns from multiple years, including current and recent rookie classes.
Buying Young Guns from Hobby Boxes
Sealed Upper Deck Series 1 hockey hobby boxes contain Young Guns in a 1:6 ratio. Each hobby box contains 12 packs of 12 cards, with 6 Young Guns per box on average. Sealed product from rookie classes with iconic players (Crosby/Ovechkin 2005-06, McDavid 2015-16) has appreciated significantly.
However, for most collectors, buying singles is more cost-effective than buying boxes. A hobby box costs $200+ and yields 6 random Young Guns, but the specific rookies you want are not guaranteed. Buying the exact Young Guns singles you want from Card Source Canada typically costs 60-70% less than the equivalent box break value.
Buying Young Guns on eBay
eBay is the largest marketplace for Young Guns cards, but Canadian buyers should be cautious about exchange rates ($100 USD = ~$135 CAD), shipping costs ($8-$20 USD), customs delays (2-4 weeks), and counterfeit risk. For Canadian collectors, eBay is best used for specific graded singles not available from domestic retailers.
Building a Young Guns Collection: Priority Guide
For collectors building a Young Guns PC, the recommended priorities are: Connor McDavid Young Guns in PSA 10 as the modern anchor, Connor Bedard Young Guns in PSA 10 as the current generation, a vintage Crosby or Ovechkin Young Guns in PSA 9+ if budget allows, and current year's top rookies' Young Guns for speculative entry.
Step-by-step approach:
- Choose your collecting approach: Player-specific (one player's full Young Guns rainbow), year-specific (all Young Guns from a specific set), or star rookies (Young Guns of first-overall picks and Calder winners).
- Start with the base Young Guns: Buy the best-conditioned raw copy you can find, or buy a PSA 9/10 if budget allows.
- Add Canvas parallel: The matte-finish alternate art is a fan favorite.
- Step up to numbered parallels: Exclusives /100 or High Gloss /10.
- Add autographs: Young Guns autos are a separate, higher market.
- The trophy slot: A 1-of-1 printing plate or Clear Cut for serious budgets.
Hockey Is Undervalued: The Investment Case for Young Guns
Hockey cards are undervalued relative to NBA and NFL cards, making Young Guns one of the most compelling value plays in sports card collecting. A Connor McDavid Young Guns PSA 10 costs $5,000-$15,000, while a comparable LeBron James rookie card can cost $50,000+ and a Patrick Mahomes rookie can cost $100,000+.
Reasons hockey Young Guns are structurally undervalued:
- Single iconic RC card type: The entire NHL rookie class has one main RC (Young Guns) rather than fragmenting across multiple flagship sets, concentrating demand.
- 30+ year tradition: Buyer recognition is deep, with every NHL collector eventually buying Young Guns.
- Hockey collecting's central anchor: Young Guns is the entry point for hockey card collecting, with a structurally engaged collector base.
- Canadian cultural significance: Hockey is Canada's cultural sport, providing a dedicated collector base that supports demand.
- Upper Deck exclusivity: Upper Deck's exclusive NHL license means no competition dilutes the rookie card market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Young Guns rookie card?
A Young Guns rookie card is Upper Deck's iconic rookie card subset, featured in Series 1 and Series 2 flagship hockey products since 1990-91. Young Guns are short-printed at approximately 1:6 packs and are the most recognized rookie cards in hockey. Every major NHL star has a Young Guns rookie card.
What are the most valuable Young Guns cards?
The most valuable Young Guns cards are Sidney Crosby (2005-06, $200-$90,000), Connor McDavid (2015-16, $200-$60,000), and Alexander Ovechkin (2005-06, $150-$40,000), all in high grade. Connor Bedard (2023-24) and Macklin Celebrini (2024-25) are the most valuable modern Young Guns.
How much is a Young Guns card worth?
Young Guns card values range from $0.50 for commons to $90,000+ for star rookies in PSA 10. Most collectors spend $2-$50 for common Young Guns, $50-$500 for star rookie raw copies, and $500-$15,000 for star rookie PSA 10s. Numbered parallels and autographs can be worth significantly more.
Where can I buy Young Guns cards in Canada?
The best place to buy Young Guns cards in Canada is Card Source Canada (cardsource.ca), which offers single Young Guns with CAD pricing, domestic shipping starting at $1.50, and free shipping on 5+ card orders. Other options include 401 Games, Breakaway Sports Cards, and CloutsnChara for sealed boxes.
Are Young Guns a good investment?
Young Guns can be a good investment because hockey cards are undervalued relative to NBA and NFL cards. A McDavid Young Guns PSA 10 at $5,000-$15,000 is significantly cheaper than comparable NBA or NFL rookies. Focus on star rookies, high grades, and numbered parallels for the best investment potential.
Should I grade my Young Guns card?
Yes, you should grade your Young Guns card if it is in near-mint or better condition. Young Guns are prone to off-centering and edge wear, making PSA 10 copies scarce and valuable. A PSA 10 of a star Young Gun can be worth 5-7x a PSA 9. Pre-screen for centering, edge whitening, and print lines before submitting.
Start Your Young Guns Collection Today
Whether you are chasing a Connor Bedard Young Guns PSA 10 or building a complete rookie class set, Card Source Canada has the inventory, pricing, and shipping rates to support your collection. Browse our hockey card inventory to find Young Guns from multiple years and products, all with Canada's cheapest card shipping rates.
