Usually there are a couple of standout rookies in an annual class, but it seems like the 2016-17 NHL® Rookie Class has depth the likes of which we haven’t seen in any sport recently. William Nylander (pronounced Knee-Land-Err) of the Toronto Maple Leafs is an incredible prospect who is making a name for himself in the biggest of all hockey markets with his stellar play this season. Nylander was called up too late in the season to have a 2015-16 rookie card, but because he played last year, he has been in every Upper Deck NHL® release this season. Therefore, collectors have plenty of options with regard to collecting this impressive young talent with the Leafs.
Here are some of the reasons you’ll want to pay attention to collectibles from William Nylander this year:
- Hockey is in the genes for his family as his father Michael Nylander played with a bevy of NHL® teams during his career and his brother Alex Nylander was recently drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL® Draft.
Michael Nylander (center) stands proud in front of this two young NHL prospect sons; Alex (back left) and William (back right).
- Despite being born in Canada, Nylander was allowed to play for Team Sweden. Nylander was brilliant at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge; he scored a tournament high eight assists and was instrumental in leading his team to a gold medal win.
- In 2014, he continued to show his prowess for finding the net by winning the scoring race in the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships and logging a sweet hat-trick here.
- Nylander went 8th overall in the 2014 NHL® Draft and was seen as a key piece to the Leaf’s rebuilding efforts.
- The fan and collector base for the Toronto Maple Leafs are very loyal, and they have been waiting for a rookie class like this for decades. Although there are a variety of Leafs rookies to collect this year, Nylander has shown he can not only play at this level, but be an elite player. Every Nylander rookie card that is pulled this season has a group of Toronto Maple Leafs fans who would love to own it.
- Despite stiff competition from other rookies, it was Nylander who was named the NHL® Rookie of the Month for October to start the season.
- On February 4, 2017, Nylander recorded his first hat-trick in the NHL® against a savvy veteran goalie in Tuukka Rask.
- Upper Deck Authenticated did a deal with Nylander and we have a variety of signed collectibles from this “Young Gun” outside of trading cards. Check out the William Nylander Collection!
- In terms of cards, Nylander has a variety of rookie cards out there for a variety of budgets. However, most fans are chasing his “Young Guns” rookie card and other parallel versions, which are available now at hobby and retail locations as well as Upper Deck e-Pack in 2016-17 NHL® Upper Deck Series One.
William Nylander’s Young Guns rookie card out of 2016-17 NHL Upper Deck Series One is the “must have” rookie card for him this season.
There is a Young Guns checklist card in that product as well that features Nylander with Auston Matthews.
Rare versions of his Young Guns rookie card include this UD Exclusives card limited to just 100 copies.
This printing plate version of Nylander’s rookie cards is a one-of-one, but there are four different colors to potentially collect. This color is cyan.
Again, there are plenty of options to collecting William Nylander this season, so take a look at these available in the market now.
2016-17 NHL MVP was the first product of the year to have live William Nylander rookie content inside. There are a variety of parallels to collect of his rookie card like this one.
The next product to feature Nylander rookies on the season was O-Pee-Chee. This black bordered version of his Marquee Rookie card looks great.
Nylander’s Retro Rookie in O-Pee-Chee is a tough pull.
This patch rookie card in O-Pee-Chee is a very difficult find as well.
2016-17 NHL Artifacts has a fully array of Nylander rookie content available including memorabilia card rookies like this one.
Upper Deck Series One included Portraits cards of Nylander like this one with different rarity levels.
These trio cards were available in a retail version of Upper Deck Series One.
Upper Deck Black Diamond had a super-premium rookie card of Nylander with three diamonds embedded in the card.
This signed patch card in Black Diamond looks awesome!
This Black Diamond autograph cards has a black background so the signature can really pop.
This Black Diamond card of Nylander actually opens like a book and includes memorabilia swatches from his jersey and an autograph!
Exquisite bonus packs can also be found in Exquisite and Nylander’s cards are dazzling out of that set.
This Exquisite quad patch card would find a place of honor in a Maple Leaf fan’s collection.
2016-17 NHL Parkhurst is a retail product that had a good variety of Nylander rookie content inside.
Parkhust even includes some signed Nylander content like this card!
Compendium is a set available only through www.UpperDeckePack.com where you can collect digital AND physical versions of the cards.
Trilogy is a premium set that has a variety unique Nylander rookie cards.
These Signature Puck cards have become a favorite with fans!
This Ice Scripts card is signed on a glass-like trading card.
Some of his autograph rookie cards include inscriptions like this one!
2016-17 NHL SP Game-Used is another premium product with a variety of sweet Nylander rookie cards.
Some fans will chase down all these letter cards to spell out N-Y-L-A-N-D-E-R.
The banner year cards are a new memorabilia card for this season that have portions of event-used media banners built into the card.
Here are some cards that are not available in packs you can purchase, but as part of promotional sets used at different events. These can be a little tougher to find, but online auction sites like eBay or COMC can be helpful in tracking them down.
Overtime packs from Upper Deck are available as a gift with purchase through some hobby shops in North America.
This card was available at the Fall Expo in Toronto where you had to purchase three boxes of UD product to get one of these cards.
These Victory Black Rookie cards were available in wrapper redemption packs from Upper Deck at the Fall Expo in Toronto.
Also included in those Expo packs were autograph Priority Signings cards of players like Nylander.
This UD Winter card was available to retailers on Small Business Saturday in November of 2016.
Special Centennial sets were created for the outdoor game that were exclusive to the Toronto market.
Upper Deck held a special conference for all the company’s dealers in January, 2017 where they received a special black pack. The packs contained a Goodwin Champions preview autograph cards and Nylander was included in that set.
