It’s an exciting time to be a hockey fan. After 12 years, we finally get true best-on-best hockey at the Olympics. We got a glimpse of how heated national rivalries can get during last year’s 4 Nations tournament. If that was the appetizer, this tournament should be the main course.
For collectors, this is more than just hockey. A big Olympic performance can send a player’s Young Guns Rookie Card (RC) moving fast.
Below are the Top 10 highest SLAM Scores for Upper Deck Young Guns Base PSA 10 cards of men’s hockey players heading into the Olympics.
What Is a SLAM Score?
The SLAM Score (Secondary Liquidity & Momentum) is Mantel’s quantitative measure of how easily a trading card can be bought or sold on the secondary market.
The philosophy is simple:
How close is this card to straight, cold, hard cash?
SLAM evaluates market signals (sales velocity, momentum, scarcity, price stability, etc.), weights them, and normalizes the output on a 0–100 scale. The closer the score is to 100, the more liquid the card.
What Is Upper Deck’s Young Guns?
Upper Deck’s Young Guns is a staple in NHL collecting. They are widely considered the flagship rookie card for modern NHL players and are released annually in Upper Deck Series 1 and Series 2.
They are:
- The most liquid
- The most graded
- The most recognizable hockey rookie card in the hobby
When people think “modern hockey RC,” they think Young Guns.
Rankings
#10 Quinn Hughes
2019 Upper Deck #249 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 64
Team: USA
The eldest Hughes brother and the top defenseman for Team USA. Quinn made headlines this season with the trade request from Vancouver and now finds himself on a strong Minnesota team. He’s a major piece on the U.S. back end and was missed during 4 Nations.
Defensemen historically don’t carry the same hobby weight as elite forwards. That’s just reality in hockey collecting. A SLAM of 64 reflects that. Still, Quinn has been a top-three defenseman in the league for years. His Young Guns remains a strong long-term hold.
#9 Jack Hughes
2019 Upper Deck #201 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 65
Team: USA
The second Hughes brother on this list. Injuries slowed him down this year, but the talent is undeniable. Former first overall pick and one of the most dynamic offensive players in the tournament.
A SLAM of 65 still signals a strong card. It will sell – but it may require patience or pricing flexibility. If he has a big Olympic performance, expect that number to move.
#8 Cale Makar
2019 Upper Deck #493 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 73
Team: Canada
The best defenseman in the tournament and assistant captain for a stacked Canadian roster. Some are calling him the most important player on the team – and that might not be an exaggeration.
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A SLAM of 73 is strong for a defenseman. His card has consistent demand, stable pricing, and moves well. For a blue-liner, that’s impressive.
#7 Nathan MacKinnon
2013 Upper Deck #238 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 74
Team: Canada
MacKinnon is a workhorse. He entered the break second in league scoring (91 points) and leads the NHL in goals (40). A potential 60-goal pace is absurd in today’s game.
A 74 SLAM feels right. The price point is high, population isn’t tiny, but demand remains strong. Still one of the safest Young Guns in the hobby.
#6 Auston Matthews
2016 Upper Deck #201 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 76
Team: USA
Captain of Team USA and one of the most lethal goal scorers in the game. He started the season slow but has been on fire since New Year’s.
He recently passed Mats Sundin for most goals in Maple Leafs history – no small feat given Toronto’s history.
Large market. Elite scorer. Face of American hockey. A SLAM of 76 makes sense.
#5 Macklin Celebrini
2024 Upper Deck #451 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 78
Team: Canada
The next generation is here. Celebrini is already in MVP conversations in just his sophomore season and sits fourth in NHL scoring (81 points).
High-profile first overall pick. Massive expectations. Even Steve Kerr, Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors talked about him the other day.
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A 78 SLAM reflects strong early liquidity and long-term upside. If he performs on this stage, the hobby narrative could accelerate fast.
#4 Brad Marchand
2009 Upper Deck #452 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 85
Team: Canada
The pest. You hate playing against him. You love having him on your team.
As an Oilers fan, I’ve seen enough. He gets under your skin and still puts the puck in the net.
His SLAM of 85 is driven largely by scarcity. He has one of the lowest PSA 10 populations on this list. Pair that with strong pricing and steady sales, and it’s clear why this card ranks high.
#3 Sidney Crosby
2005 Upper Deck #201 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 85
Team: Canada
The most decorated player in the tournament and captain of Team Canada. Two gold medals. Three Stanley Cups. Endless awards.
His Young Guns PSA 10 is the highest-priced card on this list (average $3,268.65). It’s a cornerstone hockey card.
An 85 SLAM reflects legacy, demand, and pricing strength. One of the hobby’s blue-chip assets.
#2 Connor McDavid
2015 Upper Deck #201 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 89
Team: Canada
The best player in the world. Possibly the best of this generation.
He entered the Olympic break leading all players with 96 points. And if you read his Players’ Tribune piece, you know how badly he wants to win.
An 89 SLAM is no surprise. His Young Guns is mandatory for serious hockey collectors.
#1 Leon Draisaitl
2014 Upper Deck #223 Young Guns RC PSA 10
SLAM Score: 99
Team: Germany
The only European on this list – and sitting at #1.
Draisaitl became the first German to reach 1,000 NHL points and continues to dominate. He’s the face of German hockey.
I’ll admit, I was surprised to see a near-perfect 99. Hockey cards traditionally have smaller liquidity pools compared to other sports. But when you look at the data – lower PSA 10 population, strong pricing, steady sales – it makes sense.
This card is about as close to cash as it gets.
