Archive for John Tavares
A Look Back at the First Half of the 2009-2010 NHL Season
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Now that we’re a little more then halfway through the season, we can note surprises we’ve seen for teams and individuals in the sport. As always, these have a bearing on the collectability of teams and players.
We all have our own collecting habits within the hobby. Some of us are player collectors, while others go after anything to do with their respective favorite team. Some of are old fashion set builders; but in looking back on the first half of the season, I won’t focus too much on that at this stage.
In order to find some of the surprises on the team level, all one has to quickly do is look at the standings where they are right now and then take a quick look back at the preseason predictions in your favorite magazine to see which teams are exceeding expectations (think Phoenix Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and the Buffalo Sabres). Of course, there are also teams that seem to be falling below expectations (see Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets).
One of the keys to almost all of these teams’ successes and/or failures starts in the net. Good goaltending keeps you in it. Just ask Colorado and Phoenix: without their number one goaltenders, they probably wouldn’t be in the positions they are in now.
Craig Anderson is turning out to be one of the best off-season signings in the league at this point. Anderson got off to a hot start, and has carried his play to be among the top ten in wins. This has helped Colorado into a playoff spot, and within only one point of the division lead. If you want to get in on the goods, you should be able to find many of his key rookie cards at relative bargains at this point. The journeyman has bounced around a bit, but seems to have found a home in the mountains of Denver.
Ilya Bryzgalov in Phoenix also led his team to a very surprising first half. Sitting at the top of the league in shutouts and in the top five in wins, Bryzgalov has his team currently sitting in a position to host in the first round of the playoffs. Putting it all together this season has been key for Ilya. His solid play led the team to many close game victories, and has made up for the lack of scoring overall among the players (Shane Doan leads the team with a mere 28 points in 45 games). Bryzgalov’s season has earned him a trip to Vancouver to be a part of the very strong Russian squad.
Ryan Miller is another goalie who seems to have figured out how to translate talent and potential into consistency at the highest level. He looks much more comfortable in the net, and seems to be able to put together a consistent effort each and every night. His abilities have never really been in question, but he has clearly taken his play to another level this year. He seems to be one of the consensus favorites at this point for the Vezina Trophy (top goalie), and has even entered into the discussion for the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Miller has also been a steadying influence on his team, and his play has allowed some of their forwards to battle through scoring droughts.
Another big reason for the Sabres success has been the fine play of rookie Tyler Myers. A man wall of a human standing 6-foot-7 (and only 19 years old), the 2008 first round pick (12th overall) is leading the team in ice time. His impact in the hobby is still growing, but people are not unhappy with pulling this young stud, who should only get bigger, nastier and stronger in the coming years. The comparisons to Zdeno Chara may not be that far off.
On the flip side, shaky goaltending has lead to some disappointment this year as well. One of the most notables is 2008-09 Rookie of the Year Steve Mason. Mason has struggled to this point in the season, but many believe his makeup will turn this into a learning experience, and he will bounce back. He’s still near the top of the rookie crop from last season and his items are still moving, just not quite at the levels they were at the end of last season and at the start of this season. His current goals against average of 3.31 ranks third last, and his save percentage is sitting at .890, second worst among qualified goaltenders. His play is only one part of Columbus’ struggles this year, but it certainly hasn’t provided the steadying influence he provided last year. I do look for him to bounce back, but I am not sure it will be while Ken Hitchcock is behind the bench.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were not expected to win the Stanley Cup this year by any stretch . . . but when your General Manager proclaims that the team will be in the playoffs, and then goes out and spends money on a rugged defense and brings in a sniper (Phil Kessel), expectations tend to get higher. I heard yesterday that in half of the games the team has played, they have been behind 2-0. That is simply not getting key saves.
Jonas Gustavsson has been just ok in the net, while Vesa Toskala has been nothing short of brutal. Gustavsson seems to have a high ceiling both in terms of play and within the hobby, and with a nickname “The Monster”, that is a good thing. The high profile Maple Leafs have a very dedicated collector base and they seem to be pinning a lot on the youngster at this point.
Rookies are always one of the most collected aspects within the hockey community. I have touched on a couple already in Tyler Myers as well as Jonas Gustavsson, but the king of the rookies this year is clearly John Tavares. He stands alone at the top of the rookie chain with his appearance coming out of a pack usually followed by a fist pump or a “Right On”. “JT” leads all rookies in goal scoring as well as in points, and seems primed for a big second half now with his feet wet and a half season under his belt. His cards should remain hot, especially with some of the first hard signed autographs to come out in the second half of the season. Look for a lot of movement once products like SPA, and Ultimate come out. SPx marks the first autographed rookie cards of this year’s season, so those should see a lot of action on the secondary market as well.
Second overall pick in 2007, James van Reimsdyk has not let his debut season go to waste either. “JVR”, is a big kid with big skills. With six points in his past three games, and only two points behind Tavares for the rookie lead, James also appears to be setting the tone for the second half of the season. Playing in Philadelphia should help his collectability: he has been on our radar for years, so it is great to see him making an impact, both on the ice and in the hobby.
Other rookies making an impact on their respect teams at this stage include Matt Duchene, Ryan O’Reilly and T.J. Galiardi in Colorado, Victor Hedman in Tampa Bay, as well as Evander Kane in Atlanta.
Offensive and hobby superstars Alexander Ovechkin (who has recently been named team captain in Washington), and Sidney Crosby (who recently won the Lou Marsh award as Canada’s top athlete), continue their solid play and retain their thrones as the hobby superstars. Never a bad pull and recognized by even the casual hockey fan and collector, they continue to lead the hobby along with the season’s top rookies.
A couple of nice surprises at this point in the season include Henrik Sedin currently leading the NHL in points. Some doubters previously thought he could only perform with his brother Daniel, but now his play has people wondering how far ahead he might be if Daniel wasn’t injured for a significant amount of time earlier in the season. His 61 points set him three clear of any other player at this point.
Marian Gaborik is also a nice surprise: the former Minnesota Wild third overall pick has stayed relatively healthy this year and is leading the league in goals scored. Good thing too, as the New York Rangers have really struggled putting the puck in the net, and without signing him, it’s safe to say they’d be much lower in the standings.
Other key offseason moves that have resulted in quality results have Dany Heatley paired with Joe Thronton and Patrick Marleau to form arguably the most potent line in the NHL right now, with all three being selected to Canada’s 2010 Olympic roster because of the chemistry they bring each night. Another key move was one that was actually not made, as the Chicago Blackhawks did not resign Nikolai Khabibulin (who signed with Edmonton and has battled injuries). Instead, Cristobal Huet be the number one goalie, and has combined with rookie Antti Niemi for seven shutouts to this point in the season. They are currently sitting number one overall in the league.
As the season gears up for the Olympic break, trade deadline, as well as the final playoff push, there is a lot to look forward to. I expect some big time player movement this year, as some teams are desperate to make the playoffs. While others look for that one last piece to make them a championship team, others will look to the future.
In the hobby, we as collectors can look forward to some of the higher end releases to come, which should keep us all busy as we track down the cards that we look to add to our collections. This time of year can be really fun both on the ice, and in the hobby shop!
Christopher Carmichael has been hockey fan of over 20 years. He has been an active member on various hobby related sites, most notably www.hobbyinsider.net, and www.cloutsnchara.com. Christopher is also a long time collector, with a focus on a few select player collections, and the occasional set projects.
Popularity: 38% [?]
2009 NHL Rookies: Calder Trophy Candidates
Posted by: | CommentsMy life has kind of been consumed by NHL rookies in the first six weeks of the season, so for my first blog entry of 2009-10, I figured that would be a good place to start. At Upper Deck, we try to get the newest rookie cards out the door and on the market as quickly as possible, and with 56 youngsters making their debut since the season began, you can imagine October is a busy month around here for the hockey folks.
Here’s a look at some of the newcomers this year — as well as some that debuted before this season, but are still eligible for the Calder Trophy after playing fewer than 25 games in a season.
• Michael Del Zotto (D, Rangers) — Let’s start at the top, with the first NHL Rookie of the Month. Del Zotto was a teammate of John Tavares with the Oshawa Generals in the OHL, and along with the top pick of last summer’s draft was traded to the London Knights midseason in 2008-09. He was also a former teammate of 2008 top pick Steven Stamkos with the Markham Waxers Junior ‘A’ team before that. Del Zotto got off to a red-hot start to his NHL career, scoring goals in his second and third games and bagging four goals and eight assists in October. He’s cooled off a little of late, recording only a single assist to go with a minus-4 mark in the Rangers’ past six games.
• John Tavares (C, Islanders) — Unlike his predecessor Stamkos, the Mississauga, Ontatio native has looked quite at home in the NHL from the word “Go.” He had a goal and an assist in his debut, and leads all rookies with 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) through Nov. 11. Tavares also pieced together a four-game point streak (2 goals, 2 assists to go with a plus-4 mark) that helped spark a four-game win streak for the Islanders.
• Matt Duchene (C, Avalanche) and Ryan O’Reilly (C, Avalanche) — If a team is going to start a rebuilding project like Colorado has, it definitely helps to hit a couple home runs in the draft like the Avs seemingly did last summer. There were six 2009 draft picks that were in their team’s respective lineups on opening night this season, and two of them were suiting up in Denver. Duchene was the No. 3 pick in June, and came in with more hype, but it has been the second-rounder O’Reilly — the only one of the six not selected in the first round — who has probably been the biggest surprise among this year’s crop of newcomers. He has 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) and leads all rookies with a plus-14 through 19 games. So much for rebuilding, as the Avalanche stand in second place in the entire NHL, with 27 points through Nov. 11.
• Victor Hedman (D, Lightning) — Hedman got his bell rung Nov. 5 at Ottawa, but was set to return to the lineup Thursday night against the Wild after missing the last game. That’s good news for Tampa Bay, because from the moment he first stepped on the ice in his NHL debut, the Lightning have leaned pretty heavily on the 6-foot-6 Swedish blueliner. Hedman played a team-high 26:27 in that game, a 6-3 loss at Atlanta, and only defensive partner and countryman Mattias Ohlund has averaged more ice time for the Lightning so far this season (by 25 seconds). Hedman is averaging 24 minutes a game, leading all rookies by a wide margin. The No. 2 pick from last summer’s draft has held his own in that time, chipping in four assists and netting a plus-1 mark through 14 games.
• Tyler Myers (D, Sabres) — Myers won the MVP award for his efforts during the WHL playoffs with the Kelowna Rockets last spring, when he scored five goals and set up 15 more in 22 postseason game for the Western League champs, who then went on to lose the Memorial Cup final to the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires. He attended the Rockets preseason training camp in August just in case, but there was only a small chance he’d be playing anywhere but Buffalo this season. The 6-foot-8 giant is the only other rookie regular aside from Hedman averaging 20 minutes a game or more in 15 contests through Nov. 11.
• Jamie Benn (LW, Stars) — Benn was part of the same Kelowna team along with Myers and Flames center Mikael Backlund that had so much postseason success last spring, and he’s made a nice transition to the pro game. Benn, along with several other factors (continued good play from sophomores James Neal and Fabian Brunnstrom; a return to form by goaltender Marty Turco; a return to health by Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards) has Dallas playing good hockey again in early 2009-10. Benn has played a lot of minutes with what would probably be considered the Stars’ top line — with Mike Ribeiro at center and Morrow on the other flank. He has three goals and 11 points through 17 games.
• Matt Gilroy (D, Rangers) — Gilroy’s success story is the stuff Hollywood makes movies about. He was a superstar in high school, leading his St. Mary’s High School team in Manhasset, N.Y. to state championships as a captain his junior and senior seasons, but drew zero interest from Division I NCAA programs, and decided to walk on at Boston University. All he did with the Terriers was earn himself three All-America nods, captain BU to a national championship last spring and be named the Hobey Baker Award winner as college hockey’s top player. After that, Gilroy had the attention of NHL teams like he never had when he was “cold calling” college coaches looking for a home. Gilroy has been solid in Gotham, bagging two goals and two assists in 18 games for the Rangers, but more importantly for a rookie defenseman, he is tied with Myers with a plus-6, the best mark among blueliners who have debuted in 2009-10, while averaging 18:55 a night.
• Jonas Gustavsson (G, Maple Leafs) — “The Monster” forced himself into the consciousness of NHL general managers and scouts last season by leading the Swedish Elite League with a 1.96 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in the regular season, before helping Farjestads win a playoff championship with mind-blowing 1.03 and .961 marks in the postseason. Much drooling and a bidding war erupted over the summer, and the Leafs won the sweepstakes. As a team Toronto has struggled mightily early in the season, though thanks to Gustavsson’s emergence and a healthy Phil Kessel, they’re showing signs of life). Gustavsson has already effectively wrestled the starting job away from Vesa Toskala, starting eight games to the Finn’s five through Nov. 11. He’s got a 3-3-3 mark and a respectable .910 save percentage in those games.
• James van Riemsdyk (LW, Flyers) — The former No. 2 overall pick in 2007 (after Patrick Kane) is tied with Tavares and O’Reilly with 14 points, and leads all newcomers with 11 assists through Nov. 11, despite missing several games after breaking the tip of his left pinky. JVR is now playing with stitches and a bandage on the injured digit, but has played most of his shifts his shifts on what would have to be considered Philly’s top line, with Jeff Carter and Daniel Briere before the injury, so he should continue to see plenty of chances to pile up points.
• Jason Demers (D, Sharks) — Demers was not a guy on a lot of people’s rookie radars coming into the season, but he is now after chipping in 10 assists through 19 games, and with Rob Blake out of the lineup, he has been logging the majority of the ice time alongside Dan Boyle with the Sharks’ potent top power-play unit. That’s a good place to be. Demers led all QMJHL defensemen with 55 assists and 64 points playing with the Victoriaville Tigres in 2007-08, so the high assists total isn’t totally out of the blue (though he’d never had more than 19 assists in a season before that), but it was only after that breakout campaign that San Jose drafted a 20-year old Demers in the seventh round, so he would have to be considered a late bloomer. Whatever, he’s playing great now.
• Nicklas Bergfors (RW, Devils) — The Devils have waited a long time for this former 23rd overall pick in 2005 to put it all together. Bergfors had a solid rookie year in the AHL in 2005-06 with the Albany River Rats (17 goals, 23 assists, 40 points), but had sagged to 32 and 27 points in the past two seasons, respectively, and had played just nine NHL games before starting this season in the NHL, with one goal to show for it. He’s finally responding, netting four goals and five assists through 16 games, playing mostly third- and fourth-line minutes.
• Nikita Filatov (LW, Blue Jackets) — The Russian winger played in only eight games in 2008-09, and showed flashes of his potential — including bagging a hat trick in a game against the Wild on Jan. 10. But he had only one other point beside that (a goal), and has averaged only a little more than 8 minutes a game through 12 games in ’09-10. The sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft probably won’t be winning the Calder Trophy this season, but I think there’s still a good chance he’ll get a shot to prove himself at some point this year, and he’ll deliver. So far, he’s getting support from his teammates and saying all the right things through some sparse playing time, and is keeping up a good attitude.
• Davis Drewiske (D, Kings) — It says a lot about how well Drewiske has played in the early part of 2009-10 that the Kings gave him a three-year, $600,000 contract extension last month. That may not be huge money, but keep in mind the Kings farm system is stocked deep with high draft picks at the defense position — Thomas Hickey, Colten Teubert and Viacheslav Voinov all rank among L.A.’s top six prospects according to Hockey’s Future. Drewiske played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, helping the Badgers win a national championship as a sophomore in 2005-06, and captaining the team as a senior. He leads all rookie defensemen with a plus-9 through 19 games, and also with 30 blocked shots.
• Semyon Varlamov (G, Capitals) — Varlamov was probably the most known NHL commodity among these rookies coming into the new season, courtesy of his solid play in helping Washington reach the Eastern Conference semifinals last spring. But he has found himself on the skinny end of a time share with hot-and-cold veteran Jose Theodore so far this season, posting a lukewarm 2.90 GAA and .905 save percentage in his eight games played, despite recording a 6-1-0 record in those opportunities. I think Varlamov will end up as the Caps’ starter eventually when he heats up following a predictable Theodore slump. It may have already happened: the Russian netminder sparked a big comeback win over the Islanders on Tuesday night in Washington, stopping 25 of 26 shots in relief after Theodore yielded three goals on New York’s first five shots of the game, before stoning the Isles through 10 rounds of an epic shootout after allowing Jeff Tambellini to score on the first attempt he faced.
The frontrunner for the Calder so far is probably Tavares, simply because he probably had the inside track as the much-hyped first overall pick and he has done nothing to disappoint in the least so far. If he continues to produce like he has, he’ll cruise to the rookie of the year award. That said, should Tavares stumble van Riemsdyk and O’Reilly have played their way into consideration early. Gustavsson could factor in if he keeps standing on his head in Toronto, and as well as some of the defensemen have played, it’s really hard for a D-man to build the kind of backing to win the Calder as is needed.
Popularity: 70% [?]
Top NHL Rookies Tackle Upper Deck’s Boot Camp
Posted by: | CommentsLast month, Upper Deck ran the first NHL Rookie Photo Shoot. The event was a huge success, and many major media outlets were there to let hockey fans know what it was all about (aboot?) Top NHL rookies got to meet the press, and more importantly, went through Upper Deck Boot Camp. With the help of Coach Cardman and “Coach Ron Cherry”, the rookies got an education on the critical lessons that need to be learned to make the transition to the NHL. If you thought the NFL Rookie Touchdown Celebration Video was entertaining, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
In this week’s video, Jared Cowen, Jonas Gustavsson, Victor Hedman, Matt Duchene, Cody Hodgson and John Tavares learn the importance of providing quality autographs.
We’ll have a new video each week, so keep coming back for more!
Popularity: unranked [?]
Here’s the Rookie Crop Hockey Fans Have Been Waiting For!
Posted by: | CommentsWith NHL training camps set to open on September 12, the buzz over John Tavares and company has already started in hobby circles. If everything shakes out right, the 2009-10 NHL rookie class has the potential to become the hobby’s best since 2005-06 (Crosby, Ovechkin, etc.)
Upper Deck is thrilled to be the exclusive trading card partner to the NHL and we’ll have some amazing cards in the market for collectors this season of the top draft picks. Enjoy this first-look at the top ten rookies who hockey fans are looking to invest most heavily in during the 2009-10 season.
#10 Tyler Bozak (Toronto Maple Leafs)
While it’s true that the Leafs’ roster will have something of a logjam at center when training camp opens later this month, one of the odds-on favorites to survive and win a regular-season roster spot is the 23-year-old Bozak.
The much-talked-about Saskatchewan native was pursued by no fewer than 20 NHL teams when he announced his intention to go pro last spring, but it was the Leafs – and their promise of immediate NHL ice time – who succeeded in inking the University of Denver star.
Bozak’s gritty, intelligent play should make him a key cog in Toronto’s rebuilding efforts and a fan favorite among Leafs Nation – a winning combination for collectors lucky enough to pull his rookie card from packs of 2009-10 Upper Deck products.
#9 Colin Wilson (Nashville Predators)
The latest in a long line of fantastic NHL prospects produced by Boston University, Wilson is considered one of the dark horses to challenge for the 2010 Calder Trophy.
The massively gifted, two-way center, chosen by the Predators with the seventh-overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, is expected to open the season in Nashville and push the team’s veteran centers for major ice time. Wilson’s size, speed, great hands and willingness to play in the defensive end should eventually translate into regular All-Star selections.
A solid start in 2009-10 will firmly position the 20-year-old phenom as a fixture in Nashville for years to come, and should place his rookie cards among the most desirable from this year’s class.
#8 Jonas Gustavsson (Toronto Maple Leafs)
When a backup goalie is considered to be one of the season’s top 10 collectible rookies, it usually doesn’t bode well for the hobby. However, when that player was touted as “the best goalie outside the NHL” just months earlier, and when collectors on two continents are waiting to gobble up his cards, convention gets thrown out the window.
Gustavsson, a.k.a. “The Monster,” lands in Toronto as a rookie free agent in 2009-10 after a record-breaking career in the Swedish Elite League. The big, agile netminder will open the season as Vesa Toskala’s backup, but don’t expect that situation to last if the eye-popping scouting reports on Gustavsson are anywhere near accurate.
Should the 24-year-old take over as the Leafs’ starting netminder early this season, and lead Toronto’s resurgence in the standings, look for his cards to leap to the top of the hobby’s rookie hotlist.
#7 Mikael Backlund (Calgary Flames)
The 24th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Backlund made his debut late last season and immediately established himself as the type of speedy, playmaking center that Calgary has sought for several seasons.
With the Flames poised to challenge Detroit for Western Conference supremacy in 2009-10, the 20-year-old Swede should get every opportunity to make an impact in big games. Success in the spotlight, and Calgary’s rabid following in the hobby, should translate into considerable love from collectors.
#6 Logan Couture (San Jose Sharks)
Trade rumors aside, the Sharks will likely look within their own organization for players who can get them to that elusive next level in 2009-10. Option 1A in the search will be Couture.
San Jose’s first pick (9th overall) in the 2007 NHL Draft, Couture complements his speed and good size with the type of fire, tenacity, and heart that can lead to a player wearing the “C” on his chest someday. If the former OHL standout can also approach the scoring totals he put up as a junior, the Sharks will have found themselves a future All-Star, and the hobby will have another impact rookie from the 2009-10 class.
#5 Cody Hodgson (Vancouver Canucks)
The 2008-09 Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year, Hodgson may someday become the face of the Vancouver franchise. Whether or not that day comes in 2009-10 will depend, to a great extent, on how well the hard-working, 19-year-old center performs in training camp this fall.
The 10th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft will have the opportunity to challenge for a regular spot with the offense-starved Canucks this season, but could just as easily wind up back with the Brampton Battalion of the WHL for one more year if things don’t pan out.
Whenever Hodgson cracks the Vancouver lineup, he’s sure to be an instant hit with collectors. Those of us in the hobby will just have to keep our fingers crossed that he arrives in 2009-10.
#4 James Van Riemsdyk (Philadelphia Flyers)
For Flyers’ fans, the last piece to the puzzle may have just arrived. The second-overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Van Riemsdyk finally signed with Philadelphia this past April after spending the previous two seasons dominating Hockey East at the University of New Hampshire.
The thought of the big, physical, high-scoring left winger playing alongside Mike Richards and Jeff Carter is an unsettling one for the Flyers’ rivals as the new “Broad Street Bullies” set their sights on unseating Pittsburgh atop the Eastern Conference in 2009-10.
Van Riemsdyk’s considerable offensive skills and nasty edge will make him an instant fan favorite in Philadelphia and, coupled with the young Flyers’ continued rise to prominence in the East, he stands to be hobby dynamite for years to come.
#3 Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche)
There were some in NHL circles who felt that Duchene – not John Tavares – was the best-overall forward available in the 2009 Draft. The speedy, two-way center possesses both a goal scorer’s hands and the grit of a checking-line power forward. Think of Steve Yzerman in his prime.
In a stroke of irony, the 18-year-old Joe Sakic collector and Avs fan was chosen by Colorado with the third-overall pick in this year’s draft and will now get the chance to play for the team he grew up following.
While it’s still unclear whether or not Duchene will actually play in the NHL in 2009-10 (he still has two years of eligibility remaining in the CHL), it is clear that he’ll be a hobby force as soon as he arrives. If he makes the Avs’ roster out of camp, he’ll team with Tavares and Hedman to form the core of the hobby’s best rookie crop since the legendary 2005-06 class.
#2 Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
A combination of size and speed the likes of which the NHL has never seen in a defenseman, the 6’ 6” Hedman is expected to start immediately and, quite possibly, challenge for the Calder Trophy with the Lightning in 2009-10.
As a teenager over the past two seasons, the second-overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft dominated against older, professional players in the Swedish Elite League and drew comparisons to countryman (and perennial Norris Trophy winner) Nicklas Lidstrom.
While it’s true that collectors usually don’t give much hobby love to defensemen, Hedman is the type of once-in-a-generation talent that could buck that trend. An Opening Night debut with Tampa Bay will guarantee that the big Swede’s first RCs appear in 2009-10 Upper Deck Series One.
#1 John Tavares (NY Islanders)
The first-overall pick in the 2009 Draft, Tavares enters the NHL this season as one of the most-hyped rookies in league history. The 18-year-old center is often compared by scouts to a young Phil Esposito because of his phenomenal hands and knack for creating scoring chances from the slot on almost every shift.
Tavares’ hobby impact may not match that of Sidney Crosby’s from 2005-06, but it should be the next best thing. Assuming that he plays with the Islanders on Opening Night (and there’s no reason to think he won’t), his first in-pack rookie cards will appear in 2009-10 Upper Deck Series One in November.
Popularity: unranked [?]
NHL Rookies Earn Their Stripes
Posted by: | CommentsOn Wednesday, August 26, the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario – normally a launching pad for up-and-coming skaters and Canadian Juniors from the local area – was transformed into the site of Upper Deck’s inaugural NHL Rookie Debut Photo Shoot. Much like previous Upper Deck rookie shoots with top talent entering either the NBA or NFL, this week’s hockey version sported the best of the best of the NHL’s finest youngsters prepping to make their on-ice debuts in the coming months as professional hockey players. As the NHL’s sole producer of hockey trading cards since 2005, this was a unique opportunity long overdue. John Tavares, the No. 1 overall selection by the New York Islanders from the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, was on hand as was the likes of Swedish Elite League Rookie of the Year Victor Hedman (No. 2 pick, Tampa Bay) and slick stick handler Matt Duchene (No. 3 pick, Colorado).
Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning greets the press.
This was Upper Deck’s first chance to capture the players (14 in all) sporting their new NHL team uniforms in a variety of poses and scenes, including some candid video footage that will make its way to YouTube in the coming days. The players were enthusiastic, accommodating and eager to please. They went through a total of four “stations” set up by the creative forces at Upper Deck including on-ice action; portraits; the memorabilia signing station; and the aforementioned video station where the players laughed hard and received their “rookie boot camp” initiation on everything from how to properly sign hockey trading cards to the correct way to lace up their skates and tape their sticks. The hockey coach/drill instructor employed by Upper Deck for the shoot was Andrew Long, a 28-year-old aspiring actor from southern California who went by the stage name of “Ron Cherry” for the taping.
On-Ice Station: All 14 of the participating rookies listen for instruction at Station No. 1.
As an added incentive, Upper Deck dangled an autographed LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers jersey (courtesy of Upper Deck Authenticated) as a top prize to be awarded to the player who showed the most enthusiasm during the video tapings. Although trick shots, celebratory skating and even on-ice hip-checks delivered to Upper Deck’s official mascot (“Coach Cardman”) were part of the mix, the player having the most fun throughout the day would walk home with the away jersey signed by the NBA’s reigning MVP who just happens to double as an exclusive autograph signer for Upper Deck.
Coach Cardman hits the ice at the Hershey Centre.
Following a good night’s sleep at the Westin Harbour Castle, Upper Deck shuttled the players to the Hershey Centre where they quickly donned their new teams’ jerseys for a 60-minute media “scrum” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. where more than 25 members of the Canadian press (TV, radio, online and print) put the rookies through a gauntlet of questions and interviews regarding their on-ice careers as well as the day’s fast-approaching photo shoot for their first-ever Upper Deck trading cards. Excitement defined the mood as Canada’s sports leader TSN (The Sports Network) covered the event, along with reporters, photographers and Bloggers from the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, Reuters, Rogers Sportsnet, and The Hockey News.
After the media interviews, the players retreated into the locker room to get into pads and equipment for the day’s photo shoot. At 11 a.m., the event was underway. Group No. 1 included Tavares, Hedman, Duchene and Cody Hodgson. While they attacked the on-ice photo station, Group No. 2 (Mikael Backlund, Tyler Bozak, Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson and Jared Cowen) got up-close and personal with Coach Cherry at the video station. (As an ironic side note, hockey Hall of Famer Don Cherry was actually in attendance for a short while at the Hershey Centre, where he chatted it up with many of the rookies. Efforts to recruit the hockey icon as part of our video scheme, however, came up empty.) Group No. 3 consisted of James Van Riemsdyk, Colin Wilson and Bobby Sanguinetti, who posed for their portrait shots. The fourth group was P.K. Subban, Eric Tangradi and Logan Couture, who got their first dose of an orchestrated autograph session as they signed hundreds of signatures for the hockey card leader.
Jared Cowen and Jonas Gustavsson show their acting chops during the video portion.
Each station lasted approximately 60 minutes long, so the players simply moved on to the next station once their session was complete. With a sit-down lunch sandwiched between the second and third stations, the players were primed and ready to attack the remaining day’s duties.
As part of the video portion of the day’s activities, the players were asked to demonstrate a skating celebration they might employ after scoring a lamp-lighter in the NHL. Backlund, who will now be skating for the Calgary Flames, showed a unique “moon-skate” dance (think Michael Jackson), while Cowen – drafted by the Ottawa Senators – showed a nice Vegas-style crap roll after putting the puck in the net.
Each of the players showed plenty of zest for their newfound hockey opportunity, but no one was more animated throughout the day than Subban, a defenseman taken by the Montreal Canadiens. His laughter, energy and enthusiasm were infectious and as the event came to a close, the Upper Deck crew picked their winner: Subban!
PK Subban accepts the LeBron James signed UDA jersey from Coach Cardman and Coach Ron Cherry.
“It’s my brother’s birthday next week and he’s a huge LeBron James fan, so the timing couldn’t be better,” said Subban. “I just want to say thanks to Upper Deck for putting this event on today and for letting me walk away with this jersey.”
Josh Zusman, Upper Deck’s Hockey brand manager, summed up the day’s event this way: “The inaugural NHL Rookie Photo Shoot was asmashing success. With 14 of the top rookies, 25 media outlets and some great momentum, we have created hype that will carry us into the season and beyond!”
Upper Deck staffers pose with the NHL Rookies following the day’s events.
Coming soon: the debut of the Upper Deck 2009 NHL Rookie Video!
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