7 Best 2025 Upper Deck NHL Rookie Cards Hockey Series 1

Normally, when someone’s looking for the top hockey Young Guns cards, you’d be reading something by Patrick Imhoff, our resident puck nut! This time, though, I decided to do my own research to lock in the seven best 2025 Upper Deck NHL rookie cards you could pull from 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 1!

We love rookie cards on this website, and we’re constantly on the lookout for the best rookie cards from every flagship series. As a matter of fact, we posted our top 2024 Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie Cards here, and an ever-expanding article on the Best Hockey Rookie Cards from each NHL season. This article is an extension of that!

• Best Hockey Rookie Cards Ever!
• Best Baseball Rookie Cards Ever!
• Best Football Rookie Cards Ever!
• Best Basketball Rookie Cards Ever!

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!

7 Best 2025 Upper Deck NHL Rookie Cards From Series 1

While there might be an excellent defenseman coming up through the ranks, just remember that most sports card collectors look for scorers. This set of rankings is based on their base Young Guns rookie cards, but obviously, an autographed card or a numbered card would be more valuable.

1. Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens (19 Years Old)

• Card No. 205 – View on eBay!

This 19-year-old Russian winger takes care of business on both sides of the ice. His youth, his puck skills and ability to make smart plays makes him a solid choice at the top of our list of great 2025 Hockey rookie cards.

“Demi-God,” as Habs fans refer to him, is over 6-feet tall, and he already works on Montreal’s second scoring line. Between Demidov and last year’s top rookie Lane Hutson, Montreal is becoming a nice collector zone.

Hutson was the top rookie to pull from last year’s Series 1, and Demidov is the top Young Guns card in 2025 Series 1. He is the heavy early favorite to take home the 2025-26 Calder Trophy, making Montreal back-to-back winners.

2. Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis Blues (21)

• Card No. 207 – View on eBay!

Another young right winger with upside, Snuggerud already ranks as one of the top rookie point-getters in the first quarter of the 2025-26 NHL season. He has a cannon of a shot, which is expected to make up for some below-average skating ability. While he’s not expected to be an All-Star early in his career, the former first-round pick has great potential, and he’s already working on the Blues’ second line.

3. Dalibor Dvorsky, C, St. Louis Blues (20)

• Card No. 226 – View on eBay!

Another kid with two-way ability, this Slovakian center started the season in the AHL, but he has played 14 total games in the NHL, including 12 this season. He centers the second line in St. Louis for now.

4. Ryan Leonard, RW, Washington Capitals (20)

• Card No. 238 – View on eBay!

Leonard isn’t working with the Caps’ top two lines just yet, but as the former captain of Team USA’s U20 team at the World Juniors last year, he has plenty of potential. His ability to chase the puck, throw his body around and lead his teammates makes him a nice player for Washington to build around post-Ovechkin… whenever that is!

This Boston College collegiate star is a nice Young Guns card to pick up now, with fan favorite upside.

5. Gabe Perreault, RW, N.Y. Rangers (20)

• Card No. 202 – View on eBay!

While Perreault measures 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, fans might wonder if he can compete at a high level in the NHL. But if he can fill out and handle himself on the ice, then his stick-handling and creativity should set him apart from a fan’s standpoint. Match that with a Rangers jersey, and you have a player who could become a major media market monster.

6. Zayne Parekh, D, St. Louis Blues (19)

• Card No. 236 – View on eBay!

This 19-year-old blue-liner hasn’t done much offensively this year, after scoring in his NHL debut last year. He posted 87 goals and 240 points in 177 games at the junior level in the OHL. The report on Parekh is that he’s a defenseman with offense on the mind, which helps collectors feel better about pulling a Young Guns defenseman. The fact he hasn’t scored yet in 2025 might be an indicator he’s working on his defense first, which could garner him more playing time – and future scoring chances.

7. Artyom Levshunov, D, Chicago Blackhawks (20)

• Card No. 201 – View on eBay!

Just a shade over 19 years old, this Belarussian was the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, just after San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini. In 38 career games so far, he has yet to score a goal, but his 11 assists this season rank him second only to Demidov among rookies!

BONUS: Sam Rinzel, D, Chicago Blackhawks (21)

• Card No. 248 – View on eBay!

Drafted a couple years before Levshunov, Rinzel joined the Blackhawks organization as a first-round draft pick in 2022. Some already believe Rinzel, who played two years with the University of Minnesota, has the better offensive talent compared to his D-mate. He plays on Chicago’s top power-play unit, which means he should get more goal chances than Levshunov. Which happy hobby horse are your riding?… Both? Things are finally looking up for the roster around Connor Bedard.

• Best Hockey Rookie Cards Ever!
• Best Baseball Rookie Cards Ever!
• Best Football Rookie Cards Ever!
• Best Basketball Rookie Cards Ever!

Let us know in the comments which of the Best 2025 Upper Deck NHL Rookie Cards you are hunting from Series 1!