10 NHL Breakout Stars to Watch — and Their Young Guns Rookie Cards
These rising NHL stars made noise in 2023-24 — and their Young Guns rookie cards are heating up with collectors
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Looking to stay ahead of the hockey card market? Targeting Upper Deck Young Guns rookie cards of emerging NHL talent is one of the best strategies in the hobby.
This list highlights ten NHL players whose Young Guns rookie cards have strong breakout potential — and in some cases, already made big moves.
We’ve seen what happens when players like Matthew Tkachuk, Tage Thompson, and Rasmus Dahlin elevate their game — their Young Guns cards reach all-time highs.
That’s why PSA 10 graded examples of rising stars are always worth keeping on your radar.
Let’s dive into ten NHL players with Young Guns rookie cards that could be heating up.
#1 – Juraj Slafkovsky – 2022-23 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #451
Juraj Slafkovsky was the number one overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, selected by the Montreal Canadiens.
Slafkovsky struggled with injuries in his first professional NHL season, playing 39 games and scoring only 10 points. However, he bounced back last year with a solid 51 points in 79 games.
He will turn 22 in March 2026, so he still has time to develop.
His Upper Deck Young Guns rookie card in a PSA 10 example sell for around $180-$200.
A total of only 247 Gem-Mint PSA 10 graded copies exist.
Slafkovsky requires some patience, but he has tremendous potential to be a star in the long term.
#2 – Lukas Reichel – 2022-23 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #235
Lukas Reichel is a raw talent who has barely played in the NHL in two years but has dominated the AHL level.
Reichel is only 22 years old, and this season, he seems poised to get consistent playing time with generational rookie superstar Connor Bedard playing along the same line as him.
Reichel’s PSA 10 Upper Deck Young Guns rookie sells for around $120 to $130.
A total of only 244 perfect Gem-Mint PSA 10 examples exist.
Reichel is poised for a breakout season with the Chicago Blackhawks and should draw a lot of attention playing with Bedard.
Bedard’s Young Guns rookie card is a part of the upcoming 2024 Upper Deck Series 2 set.
#3 – Lucas Raymond 2021-22 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #464
Lucas Raymond excelled as a rookie in 2021-22 but had a sophomore slump with a slight drop-off in production the following year.
Raymond should be at his best thus far early in his career. He is projected to be on the starting line for the Detroit Red Wings and will play with his new teammate, Alex DeBrincat.
Raymond turned 23 in March 2025, and his Upper Deck Young Guns rookie in a PSA 10 example is a great buy now before the season begins.
PSA 10 copies sell for around $60 to $75 at eBay auctions.
In his rookie season, this same card was $125+, which could quickly happen again.
Raymond is a safe bet to get back on track.
#4 – Alex Newhook – 2021-22 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #461
Alex Newhook was traded last off-season to the Montreal Canadiens.
He previously won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche during the 2021-22 season.
Many NHL experts say that the Canadiens paid a premium price when acquiring Newhook, which means they have high hopes for him.
His overall scoring numbers should improve with the Canadiens, especially when playing with Cole Caufield.
Newhook has some sneaky upside to improve his overall numbers and seems like a low-risk buy.
#5 – Quinton Byfield 2021-22 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #488
Quinton Byfield recently turned 22 and will already be playing parts of his fifth NHL professional season.
Byfield scored 23 points in 53 games in 2024 but bounced back playing 80 games and netting 54 points. Many Los Angeles Kings fans have been waiting for him to break out, and this year could be the year.
At 6’5″ tall, he is tremendously large, and his advanced metrics show he is poised for a big jump in his overall scoring numbers.
His PSA 10 Upper Deck Young Guns rookie card is valued at around $70.
Byfield has too much potential to be selling for this amount, as this card could quickly double in value this season.
#6 – Kent Johnson – 2022-23 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #209
Kent Johnson scored 40 points as a rookie in 79 games and scored 57 points last year.
His Upper Deck Young Guns rookie card was a key chase rookie hockey card last season.
Johnson turns 23 years old this October and still has a chance to be one of the faces of the franchise for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Johnson should play more this season, and his overall number should gradually improve.
PSA 10 graded copies have sold at around $65 to $80 at recent eBay auctions.
Only 237 of these have been graded a PSA 10.
Johnson still has a ton more upside and could build on a rookie season from last year.
#7 – Jack Quinn – 2022-23 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #204
Jack Quinn turns 24 this year and is one of the up-and-coming players on the Buffalo Sabres.
Quinn scored 37 points in 75 games played last year. Dylan Cozens had the best season of his career with the Sabres the previous year.
Look for Quinn to have a more significant impact this season than last.
His Upper Deck Young Guns rookie card is featured in the 2022 Upper Deck hockey set, and only 221 have been graded a PSA 10.
PSA 10 copies have been selling in the $75 to $80 range at recent eBay auctions.
One thing to monitor with him is that he is due back from an injury in December or January, or he would be rated much higher on this list.
Quinn is a low-risk buy with good short-term and long-term upside.
#8 – William Eklund – 2021-22 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #475
William Eklund should be able to play a lot of time with the San Jose Sharks moving forward.
He turns just 21 years old this October. He’s only had two brief stints in the NHL thus far in his first two years, but this year should be his first full season.
This will also require time and patience, but he has tremendous upside.
His PSA 10 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie can be found for about $70 on eBay.
Only 333 of these have been graded a PSA 10. Eklund is a great potential breakout sleeper candidate and seems like a low-risk buy.
#9 – Bowen Byram – 2020-21 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #205
Bowen Byram is projected to play on the second line of defense with the Colorado Avalanche this season.
He is only 22 years old and has already won a Stanley Cup in his career.
Byram doesn’t put up eye-popping numbers for a defenseman but could improve his point totals this season.
His Upper Deck Young Guns PSA 10 rookie is already approaching the $100 value this off-season.
Byram’s rookie card is a low-risk buy of a player playing on a stacked team!
#10 – Shane Pinto – 2021-22 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie #246
Shane Pinto turns 23 years old this November, and last season was his first full season in the NHL. He scored 35 points in 82 games.
The Ottawa Senators traded Alex DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings this off-season, which should open up more playing time for Pinto this season.
Look for Pinto to build on a solid season from last year and improve his numbers more this year.
Last season, this same card was closer to $100.
Pinto is a great buy low with a sneaky good upside.
