Edmonton Oilers Oil and News: NHLPA Rookie Showcase
First off: happy first day of September! For you school types out there, School has already started: be it University or just outside of Edmonton. Weather is getting a big colder, nights are coming a bit sooner and the Oilers kick off their rookie tournament in 10 days, NHL 16 comes out in 13 days.
Finally some Hockey.
While it’s still a slow news, there was an event these last two days: The NHLPA Rookie Showcase!
McDavid
This was the first time we got to see 97 in the Blue and Orange gear. Let me tell you, that is a sight that is going to sit well with a lot of fans out there. I still can’t believe he’s an Edmonton Oiler.
Oilers.nhl.com has some McDavid videos up from the Rookie Showcase. Sure, McDavid is not the most thrilling interview but hey: it’s some McDavidmania footage and at this point, I’ll watch whatever new stuff I can find. The Three McDavid videos featured include a Raw Media Scrum (there’s also a Jack Eichel Raw as well), A behind the scenes look of the Rookie Showcase and a one on one interview with Tom Gazzola.
Personally, I love behind the scenes features. It shows a light hearted side to players and these are a bunch of rookies getting ready for their transition into their careers. It’s also neat to see these kids wearing the colors of teams they will probably/hopefully be playing for a very long time. It’s a talent heavy class.
Day One had the players off the ice, visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame, busting some hockey cards open. McDavid even managed to pull a Team Canada McDavid.
Day Two had the players on the ice and more excitingly, suited up in their teams colors. Interesting to note: Toronto’s Mitch Marner was the only player wearing a “blank” number jersey. He had 36 on his helmet and would usually wear 93. However, Marner explained why he did not enter the showcase wearing a number he was not given yet.
Hockey Cards
The NHLPA Rookie Showcase is interesting because they work with Upper Deck. Upper Deck, as of last year, owns the exclusive rights for producing Hockey Cards. I’m still relatively new to the hobby, just started collecting this year and obviously with an Edmonton Oilers focus.
The Showcase is the first “action shots” where they will use for making Rookie Cards for the upcoming sets. Of course, McDavid will definitely be a focus for collectors out there.
The Globe and Mail had an article about McDavid and Upper Deck and the estimation of the value for McDavid’s rookie card….which could be around 200-300 dollars. The article also mentions how the buzz for the McDavid rookie card, exceeds Crosby. At my local hobby shop, a Graded Crosby Young Gun goes for 425 dollars.
Of course, there will be multiple sets with a McDavid Rookie card: notable will the Upper Deck Series One which is supposed to release in November, which will contain his Young Gun. Heck, a Graded 9.5 Johnny Gaudreau Young Gun was going for 150 dollars.
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Today O Pee Chee released their set. Personally I’m a fan of the set because it contains a large set to collect, one of the cheaper sets and has a promotion of collecting 9 puzzle cards. Once collected, you are quick to mail it in for a copy of a McDavid rookie card that will be limited to only 97 copies.
Meanwhile, Jack Eichel signed an exclusive autograph agreement with Leaf/ In the Game (which does have player rights, but not NHL rights so logos are not shown on the card.) Kind of a rough deal there for Eichel fans hoping to get some autographs via Upper Deck.
That’s it Oil Country for today’s news. It will pick up once the season starts up. Especially with that Rookie Tournament!
Next: Edmonton Oilers: McDavid Ready to Go