Connor McDavid’s electrifying speed and goal-scoring ability have made him one of the NHL’s most dynamic players since he entered the league in 2015. The Edmonton Oilers superstar has accumulated a long list of individual accolades, having led the league in points in five of his 10 seasons. His reputation as the NHL’s best makes his rookie cards highly sought after by collectors. Advertisement During the Oilers’ 2025 Stanley Cup playoff run, his one-of-a-kind Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Rookie Patch Autograph card, which includes the NHL shield from his jersey, sold for $305,000 at Heritage Auctions, becoming the most expensive McDavid card ever sold. But if that’s a little above your budget, where’s the best place to start a McDavid card collection? We’ve got you covered. Top pick (full recommendations below) 2015 Upper Deck Young Guns #201 rookie card The 2015 Upper Deck Young Guns #201 rookie card is my top pick because of its popularity. Upper Deck Young Guns are widely regarded as the gold standard for modern NHL rookie cards, thanks to their high-quality photography and limited printed run compared to highly collected rookie cards from the other major sports. In modern card collecting, there are so many options that it can be tough to know where to begin, but with hockey cards it’s much clearer: Young Guns.

const eBayApiUrl="https://api.theathletic.com"; Things to know before buying The value of sports cards can fluctuate for various reasons such as condition, print runs, or graded population. Other factors that can cause prices to go up or down include player performance, market trends, and health of the wider economy. The secondary sales market for individual cards of a given sport generally hits its lowest point during the offseason (in other words, you can usually find better prices in the offseason than during the season). My recommendations are not an attempt to promote specific investment behavior or trading advice, but to guide and inform readers about popular and unique cards that are celebrated by the sports card community. Ultimately, the best cards to collect are always the ones you will enjoy regardless of whether they go up or down in value. The recommendations below should serve as a starting point for cards to consider, but a big part of the fun in collecting is the hunt for the cards you like the most. "Raw" cards vs. Graded cards Cards can come out of the pack (their "raw" state) with a wide variety of imperfections that can impact their value. Card grading is a process in which an expert assesses the condition of a card and assigns it a grade, typically on a scale of 1 to 10. This grading can significantly impact a card’s value. Getting a card graded by a reputable grading company like PSA or BGS can increase its value. Around 70% of cards are graded, with only 12 Gem Mint PSA 10s in existence. Upper Deck produced Full Force sets for only one year in 2015, but luckily, it was released during McDavid’s rookie season. Raw versions sell for about $50, and PSA 9’s are fetching around $75.

Getting the best price Prices for a certain trading card can vary wildly and fluctuate quickly, making it important to check recent sales of a given card to make sure you’re buying at a fair value. You can check recent sales of an item on eBay by selecting the “sold items” filter on search results. You can also run a search on 130point.com , which is a free site that provides sales data from a number of online marketplaces. There are also several apps that provide more in-depth sales data, often charging subscription fees for full access. To account for outliers, it’s important to take multiple previous sales into account, not just the single most recent. It’s also important to note the recency of those sales and any real-world factors that could affect changes in value. Why you should trust us As a second-generation collector, Tyler Holzhammer started collecting cards and attending the National Sports Collectors Convention at 10 years old. He’s continued his passion as a collector into a career, providing sports card content and market analysis for companies like Sports Card Investor and Goldin Auctions. Tyler’s sports card collection is centered around players from his favorite teams, the Los Angeles Rams and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (Top photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images; all card images: eBay)