Whether you are new to collecting hockey cards or not, knowing the best Young Guns rookie cards worth buying right now can make a good sports card collection great!
17 Best Young Guns Rookie Cards Under $50
The NHL is already the coolest game on the planet, and it is on fire right now! Collecting the best Young Guns rookie cards is a great way to improve your sports card collection!
Did you catch the fever watching the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament recently? Are you glued to your television when the Washington Capitals play to see when Alex Ovechkin will pass Wayne Gretzky as the all-time goal scorer? Now is a great time to buy some undervalued hockey cards – specifically, the best Young Guns rookie cards selling for under $50.
17 Best Young Guns Rookie Cards Under $50
This list of Upper Deck hockey rookie cards of players 23 years old or younger is something you should bookmark. To be eligible for my list, each player needs at least two seasons of high-level play, and their PSA 9 Young Guns rookie card has to currently sell for under $50. While we mention their PSA 9 prices, our eBay links are to their rookie cards in general, with all grades included.
Most of the sports card links on this page will take you to eBay. That means I will get a commission on the sales from this page. If you end up buying from these links, I personally thank you for supporting my website! Even if you don’t buy anything, thank you for reading my article! Enjoy!
All card images come courtesy of BuySportsCards.com.
1. Tim Stutzle, C, Ottawa Senators (23 years old)
This is his fifth season in the NHL. The German youngster has eclipsed over 50 points in each of the last two seasons, and he’s on pace to exceed 50 points for a third season.
The Athletic’s Corey Pronman ranked Stutzle second among all NHL players under 23 years old, just behind Connor Bedard, and ahead of Macklin Celebrini.
“[Stutzle] has all the indications of a potential superstar and a player who can make regular appearances among the league’s top scorers.” – Corey Pronman, The Athletic
2. Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim Ducks (20)
Carlsson just missed 30 points last season, and he has a shot at 40 this year, his third season, with a strong finish. (And you thought Connor Bedard was the only great pull from 2023-24 Series 2!)
3. Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils (21)
Hughes just missed hitting 50 points last season, his second full season in the NHL, and he will finish this year with only 29 points due to injury.
4. Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators (22)
Sanderson averaged close to 35 points in his first two seasons, and he should eclipse 50 points this year.
5. Lucas Raymond, LW, Detroit Red Wings (22)
After posting 70 points last year, his third season, Raymond proved his two 50-point seasons weren’t flukes to start his career. He’s on paced to post over 70 points again in 2024-25.
6. Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets (20)
As a rookie, Fantilli just missed hitting 30 points last year, and he should come close to 50 this year.
“He has game-breaking puck skills and will be able to beat NHL opponents regularly with his puckhandling, especially given his speed and wingspan,” said The Athletic’s Pronman. His playmaking isn’t the main thing that gets you excited about his game, but Fantilli can make difficult passes and has strong enough sense to create chances in the NHL.”
7. Dylan Guenther, RW, Utah Hockey Club (21)
The Canadian youngster posted 35 points in just 45 games last season, his third, and he’s on pace to exceed 50 points this year.
8. Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars (21)
Johnston has a shot at 65-70 points this season, after notching 60 points in his second season last year. Those numbers are reason enough to consider his RCs among the best Young Guns rookie cards to pick up right now.
9. Logan Cooley, C, Utah Hockey Club (20)
Cooley posted 44 points last season and he’s on pace to exceed 50 points in his sophomore effort this year with the relocated Arizona Coyotes team.
10. Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, Montreal Canadiens (20)
Slafkovsky was the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, and the highest drafted Slovak player in the NHL is about to turn 21 years old in his third NHL season. He posted 50 points last year, and he could post 40-45 points with a strong finish this year.
11. Marco Rossi, C, Minnesota Wild (23)
While this is Rossi’s fourth season in the NHL, it’s really only his second full season (he played a total of 21 games between 2021-22 and 2022-23. He hit 40 points last year, but he does have a realistic shot to get 60 this year.
12. Matt Boldy, LW, Minnesota Wild (23)
The 12th overall draft pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Boldy averaged over 65 points in his second and third seasons, and he should eclipse 60 points this year, his fourth in the NHL.
13. Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs (22)
After finishing last year with 35 points, the Phoenix-born Knies has a chance to eclipse 45 points in this, his second season.
- 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 1 Matthew Knies Young Guns #222 PSA 9 $35
14. Quinton Byfield, RW, Los Angeles Kings (22)
This is Byfield’s fourth NHL season, and while he finished last year with 55 points, he should tally closer to 45 points this season.
15. J.J. Peterka, RW, Buffalo Sabres (23)
In his third NHL season, Peterka is about to score over 50 points in back-to-back seasons.
16. Matty Beniers, C, Seattle Kraken (22)
The second overall draft pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Beniers was the first ever player drafted by the Kraken. He’s averaging 45 points per season over these past three years.
17. Kent Johnson, C, Columbus Blue Jackets (22)
After scoring 40 points in his rookie season, Johnson missed 40 in his second season only due to injury. He is expected to hit 50 points this year, though.
Whether you pick up just one, a few or all the best Young Guns rookie cards on this list, your hockey card collection will thank you!
Also, check out all the best hockey rookie cards dating back to the middle of the 20th century, including cards from Topps, O-Phee-Chee and Parkhurst!
Remember that PSA 9s are nice, but PSA 10s are even better, since there are no cards in better condition. But collectors on limited budgets should think twice about spending too much money on PSA 10s of young players.
David Gonos
David Gonos spent 5 years as a CBSSports.com Senior Fantasy Writer and three more years writing with SI.com. Over the past 17 years, his work has been published on NFL.com, MLB.com, FanDuel, FoxSports.com and USA Today. Since 2001, he has been tracking down the Top 50-plus Free Fantasy Football Draft Tools online. You can contact David Gonos here.
