A Guide To Connor Bedard Rookie Cards

Connor Bedard is probably the most touted hockey prospect we have seen in a while. Collectors are just waiting to get at his rookie cards.

That is why we were all very disappointed to see that his card was not included among the Young Guns in the 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey release. But have no fear.

There are already a few Connor Bedard cards out there, including a very cool one from the Series 1 release. And, of course, he will be among the Young Guns in the 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 2 release coming next year.

So, to scratch that itch in the meantime, he is our guide to Connor Bedard’s rookie cards.

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Who is Connor Bedard?

Bedard hails from North Vancouver, in British Columbia, Canada. He has been a marquee prospect for quite some time. In n 2018, The Hockey News named him “The Future of Hockey.”

He was then granted a special exemption to enter the major junior-level Canadian Hockey League a year before he was officially eligible. Later in the same year, Bedard was selected first overall in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft by the Regina Pats.

He dominated the league, becoming the youngest player to score 50 goals a season. Meanwhile, he attracted record crowds, selling out arena after arena for Pats games, though they were not contenders.

But where the player really made his name was at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Though an afterthought in the initial selection, Connor soon made the top six.

His four goals against Austria tied the record for Bedard scored four goals in an 11–2 victory over Austria, breaking Wayne Gretzky‘s record for the most goals a Canadian ever scored in a World Junior game.

His performances there were so overwhelmingly good that every NHL team put him at the top of their list.

It was no surprise when Connor was the 1st overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Though only 18, the prospect was immediately thrown into the NHL action on October 10, 2023.

The hype around him is so overwhelming that the broadcasts of his first game netted 1.43 million total viewers. That made it easily the most-watched NHL regular season game ever. The previous record was 917,000.

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Is the hype surrounding Connor Bedard justified?

In a word, yes. With players this young, we are usually talking about their potential and ceiling. But with Bedard, we are dealing with proven results.

As DraftKings says: “To put it simply, Bedard has accomplished pretty much everything you can accomplish up to this point in a young hockey player’s career.”

Last Word On Sports went further: “Every decade or so, the hockey world is blessed with a generational prospect. It’s a lofty comparison, but the line of Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, and Connor McDavid has found the next one.  His name is Connor Bedard, and he is the crown jewel of the 2023 NHL Draft. 

Former director of NHL Central Scouting, David Marr, said ” “Connor Bedard holds the title as the best draft-eligible prospect I have scouted, as were other unique, elite talents before him such as Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.

It seems that each one of these ‘generational’ talents helps set the platform for the next talent to surpass them and achieve success. [Bedard] has been in the spotlight for over three years and, during that time, has risen to impact and impress at every occasion while often being the youngest member on his teams, and he has done so with a humbleness and approach that all around him respect and those younger than him should use as a measuring stick.”

I have never seen raves like this about a prospect in my lifetime. And from what I have seen of Connor, I agree with every word.

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Guide to Connor Bedard rookie cards

So, we have made clear that Bedard is one hell of a prospect. No young player is a sure thing to be a star. But Connor is as close as it gets.

Therefore, you will want to start investing in his cards. But with no Young Guns out there, what should you look at? No worries. We’ve got you covered.

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2020-21 Regina Pats Team Set Connor Bedard

Here, we have the earliest-ever card featuring the player. You can find it in a 26-card set featuring the players of the Regina Pats that year.

These will be somewhat hard to find, no doubt. But with all the buzz surrounding Connor, you know there will be some pristine copies of this to be found. The card is also surprisingly attractive for a peripheral team set from a regional Canadian league.

And the value? A PSA 10 just sold for almost $1,600. Because of the limited population, my guess is that values will keep going up.

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2021-22 Upper Deck CHL Connor Bedard Stars #302 SP / 2021-22 Star Rookie #401 SP

CHL cards aren’t usually a significant investment, but when we are talking about Connor Bedard, it’s a whole different story. The cards are pretty popular with collectors.

But the two that Bedard features are remarkably ugly ones. The 2020-21 Star Rookie #401 SP, in particular, has our hero looking like he just stubbed his toe. The set also has autos for both cards. But unfortunately, they feature the same unfortunate photos.

Shop for 2021-22 Star Rookie Connor Bedard cards on eBay
Shop for 2021-22 Upper Deck CHL Connor Bedard cards on eBay

2021 Upper Deck Team Canada Juniors Connor Bedard Program of Excellence Cards

This release overdid it. They included 4 Bedard base cards, namely #32, #41, #76, and #117. That will lower the value of each of them.

But they are early cards, and the incredible performance the player put in for Canada at the tournament may make them an essential keepsake for fans.

But by far, the best card from this release is the Premium Auto Patches (#/125 or #/25). Unfortunately, they are marred by pretty hideous stickers. But at current prices of under $1,000 for a raw card, it seems like a pretty good investment.

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2023-24 Upper Deck Tim Hortons Top Draft Pick Redemption Connor Bedard

The two most Canadian things on earth are Tim Horton’s coffee and hockey. Mainly, since a hockey legend founded the company, they have always been intertwined.

Upper Deck offers redemption for the top draft pick in this coffee-inspired product, and for 2023-24, it was a no-brainer that the guy in question would be Connor Bedard.

Therefore, a glut of donuts and Timbit (yes, I used to live in Canada) fueled hysteria to get this card. And the good news is that you can still redeem this baby until September 30, 2024.

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2023-24 Upper Deck Series 1 NHL Draft Connor Bedard SP-1

The biggest and best-known Connor Bedard card so far. At least until the Young Guns come out in 2024, the 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 1 NHL Draft Connor Bedard SP-1 has become the main selling point for the Series 1 release, which some people feel has a disappointing crop of Young Guns.

However, I should note that I’m afraid I have to disagree, and there are some fine players here, as I argued elsewhere. Either way, the Bedard card is a beautiful one.

It features a cocky-looking Connor holding up a finger to signal “#1” with his freshly received Blackhawks jersey. You can get one for under $500 right now.

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Final word on the best Connor Bedard rookie cards

We are just starting what should be a fabulous career for Connor Bedard on the ice and in card collections. As we have seen, even though the Young Guns for the No. 1 draft pick aren’t available yet, there are some acceptable cards to pick from.

We recommend the 2020-21 Regina Pats Team Set Connor Bedard and the 2023-24 Upper Deck Tim Hortons Top Draft Pick Redemption Connor Bedard as great places to start.

You might also want to look at any of the autos currently available (ugly stickers and all) because the prices are not too bad. Either way, with Connor on the ice, this is a fascinating time to be a hockey card collector.

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