Archive for Matt Duchene
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!
Popularity: unranked [?]
The 2009 NHL Draft: Upper Deck Will Be There!
Posted by: | CommentsIn comparison to the other major professional sports leagues, the NHL is about as close to year-around as it gets. Case in point, we’re less than two weeks removed from the Stanley Cup Finals, but this Friday already marks the official beginning of the 2009-10 NHL season. That’s right: the 2009 NHL Entry Draft is upon us.
So, as I pack my bags tonight for my early-morning flight from San Diego to Montreal, I thought I’d share a few thoughts on the event from the perspective of a fan who will also be working at the event.
First off, a little bit about who I am and what I’ll be doing in Montreal. I’ve worked in product development at Upper Deck for almost 10 years and am currently responsible for defining and managing the content (checklists, athlete signatures, game-used memorabilia, etc.) that goes into Upper Deck’s hockey trading card products.
Now, as every collector knows, the single most important element in the majority of card sets is rookies. So, with this in mind, I’m sure you can imagine what an absolutely massive event the NHL Draft is for those of us who spend our lives obsessing over who the next hot rookie will be. Added into the mix this year is the fact that the 2009 Draft is no ordinary draft – it’s the TAVARES draft!
In case you haven’t heard of him, John Tavares is the most-hyped rookie to enter the NHL since, well, Upper Deck spokesman and 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Sidney Crosby. He’s described by scouts as the kind of “elite level scorer” that comes around maybe once in a generation, and is all but certain to be the No.1-overall pick of the Islanders on Friday evening. From a trading card standpoint, Tavares is the Holy Grail of rookies – the type of player who can single-handedly turn a good year for the hobby into a great year.
The 2009 NHL Draft is far from a one man show, however. Swedish defenseman-extraordinaire Victor Hedman, Canadian juniors star Matt Duchene and a handful of other high-ceiling prospects make this one of the deepest drafts in recent years – so much so that there have been murmurs in recent weeks that the Isles are considering taking either Hedman or Duchene instead of Tavares with the first overall pick. Personally, I can’t see that happening, if for no other reason than the fact that Tavares would sell thousands of additional season tickets and provide a badly-needed marquee name on Long Island.
With all that said, my job at the Bell Centre this weekend will be to witness first-ever Upper Deck signings by all of the first-round picks, assist with photo shoots of each player, look for new Draft-themed content ideas for 2009-10 Upper Deck products, and take as many cool pictures and videos as can fit on my memory stick. Oh yeah, and I’ll also be blogging from the Bell Centre with behind-the-scenes stories, player interviews and some of the aforementioned photos from Friday’s first-round festivities.
Until then, I bid you a fond adieu…
Popularity: unranked [?]
