Last week we asked hockey fans on our official Upper Deck Facebook page for questions they would like to ask members of the 2010-11 NHL Rookie Class. We collected more than 100 different queries from fans around the world. This week, as we spent time with these future stars in Toronto at the 2010 NHLPA Rookie Showcase, we got to ask them everything you wanted to know. You asked, they answered. Here’s some of what we heard from the new class of NHL Young Guns.

Nazem Kadri has Toronto Maple Leaf fans believing that this may be the year.

Nazem Kadri – Toronto Maple Leafs

Q. What kind of extra training did you do to put on the extra 15 pounds compared to last season?

A. “You know, not really that much. I’ve been doing a lot of the same thing. I eat five or six balanced meals a day and did a lot of training.”

Q. How will you handle the intense media pressure and scrutiny that comes from playing in Toronto?

A. “I’ve faced all that before so I’m not really worried about it. I just try to surround myself with my family to help keep me grounded so those types of things that are out of my control really don’t affect me.”

Q. Who is your favorite Leaf teammate?

A. “I really like Kaberle. He’s a good guy and a great player.”

Q. When the Toronto Maple Leafs picked you, what was going through your mind?

A. “I have to be honest; I really didn’t know what to think. I was just so excited. It was an unbelievable feeling and I’m ready to help contribute to the team.”

Kyle Beach was a lot of fun to have at the event, look for him to bring great energy to the locker room of the Stanley Cup Champs.

Kyle Beach – Chicago Blackhawks

Q. Who was your role model in the hockey world growing up?

A. “I loved Jarome Iginla, and still really admire his game.”

Q. When were you first introduced to the sport?

A. “I remember my uncle had a sports shop and I was skating at the age of four. It was just a part of growing up.”

Q. What’s the first special Chicago food you are going to try when you start playing (in the NHL) – a Chicago-style hotdog, a deep-dish pizza or something else?

A. “Well I’ve spent a lot of time there this summer and there is a lot of great stuff to eat. Not really a fan of the pizza. I like the brats, but the best is a jalapeno cheese dog. Man is that good!”

Q. How does it feel to know you will be playing with the Stanley Cup Champions next season?

A. “It is very cool and exciting. There’s some pressure, but I like that. The fans are really great and I want to try to help to keep them as happy as they are right now. I just want to play and contribute.”

Q. What advice would you give the little guys who dream of being where you are one day?

A. “Just keep working at it if it’s something you really want. At the same time, it’s important to enjoy what you are doing. I like to have fun while I play, so I’d encourage the young kids playing to do the same. And lastly, you have to believe in yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, believe in yourself.”

Zach Hamill – Boston Bruins

Q. Do you think it will be hard to get used to the media attention and scrutiny?

A. “You know, it’s part of the game and something that you’ll all get used to with experience. I’m okay with it because, in the end, if they are talking about the sport, it helps promote it.”

Q. Do you follow any other sports? If so, what are your favorites?

A. “I follow football and baseball. My favorite team in the NFL is the Green Bay Packers, and in the MLB I like the Toronto Blue Jays.”

Q. How does it feel to play for such a storied franchise and think that one day your jersey may hang from the rafters?

A. “Well it is pretty cool. I mean, playing for an Original Six team is very special. I can’t think about my jersey hanging in the rafters right now, but it is great to be playing with the Bruins.”

Tyler Seguin – Boston Bruins

Q. As a rookie in this league, which would you rather have, a Stanley Cup or an Olympic Gold medal?

A. “How about both? [smiles] I’d like to win the Stanley Cup first though.”

Q. How do you feel the expectations are for you in Boston and how do you deal with the hype?

A. “I’m not sure about the expectations for me, but I know there are a lot of expectations for the team and I want to do whatever I can to contribute and help them win. In terms of any hype, I just try to stay focused. I know what I have to do and when I get on the ice, I’ve got a good feel for what that is.”

Q. With all the hype of the draft gone where Taylor went #1 and you went #2, has the pressure of your first meeting with the Oilers been a topic of discussion and has it been marked on your personal calendar?

A. “No, I don’t really think about that. I didn’t mark it on my calendar, but my mom did. I said to her, ‘What are you doing?’ Anyway, I know she’s excited about it.”

Q. How important will it be for you to score your first goal early in the season to take some of the pressure off?

A. “Well you want to score quickly and you want to score often, but really, I can’t think about that now. I’ve just got to focus on working with the team and see how I can fit in to help them win.”

Joe Colborne – Boston Bruins

Q. At what age did you decide that you really wanted to pursue a professional hockey career?

A. “For me it has been a dream as long as I can remember. I was about 15 when I really started to go after it and knew it might be possible.”

Q. As a rookie in this league, which would you rather have, a Stanley Cup or an Olympic Gold medal?

A. “I’d have to say the Stanley Cup would probably be more special. You work with your team through a long season that has ups and downs, then you have the grind of two months in the playoffs, so much happens to bond you closer to your teammates during that time, to win the Cup would just be unbelievable.”

Gudbranson and teammate Jacob Markstrom (in goal) had some fun going head to head against each other during the event.

Erik Gudbranson – Florida Panthers

Q. Who do you think will win the Calder Trophy this year?

A. “You know, I think there’s going to be a lot of competition for it this year. Just seeing all the talented guys here, I can tell we’re all looking to give it our all. I don’t know who will win it, but it certainly won’t be a unanimous decision that someone runs away with.”

Q. What was your first “wow” moment since being drafted?

A. “For me it was the draft. It was unbelievable to hear my name called, and just unreal to walk on that stage. I’ll never forget it.”

Q. Who would you say had the greatest influence on your style of play?

A. “I really try to model my game after Shea Weber. I think he’s a great all-around player.”

Q. What was the best piece of advice given to you by Coach Gilmour?

A. “Probably to work hard so you can enjoy seeing that hard work pay off when you are playing.”

Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi – Edmonton Oilers

Q. Did you learn to skate on a frozen pond or inside at a rink?

A. “I learned inside.”

Q. How easy do you think it will be to transition from European ice to North American ice?

A. “I don’t think it will be too hard. Playing in the World Juniors helped.”

Q. Do you wish that more games were played outside like the Winter Classic?

A. “Absolutely. The fans like them and they would be a lot of fun to play in.”

The youth movement for the Edmonton Oilers has provided their fans with a ray of hope.

Jordan Eberle – Edmonton Oilers

Q. How does it feel being known as a Canadian hero, and at some point in your career do you think you’ll play for Team Canada in the Olympics?

A. “I don’t know about that, I don’t think people think of me as a hero. It is amazing to play for your country at any level. To get the chance to play for Team Canada someday would be great and obviously very special.”

Q. The Oilers have faced a lot of challenges in recent years. How will you help lead the team back to its former glory?

A. “You know I haven’t really thought about that. I just want to get to camp, work hard and make the team. I know it sounds like a cliché, but I’ve got to take it one step at a time.”

Q. You scored some huge goals for Canada at the WJHC. Do you think that helped your confidence to have success in the NHL?

A. “Everything has helped me get ready for this opportunity. I think the extra year I had really helped me to get a better feel of what it is like to be a part of a team and what you need to do to help your team win.”

Taylor Hall – Edmonton Oilers

Q. Are you nervous about the high expectations you’re going to have in Edmonton considering you were the first player picked in the draft?

A. “No. I’ve dealt with pressure all my life. And it’s really special to have these guys [Svensson-Paajarvi & Eberle] to go through the whole experience with.”

Q. You’ve done some training in Calgary recently. What was that experience like and did any of the Flames fans give you any grief considering you are now playing for their arch-rival?

A. “I always go back to Calgary to train, mostly because of the altitude. It’s a great place for training. I don’t think any of the Flames fans really recognized me so there wasn’t any problem there. The small segment of Oilers fans there did and they were all really supportive.”

Q. With your father as your trainer, do you feel you have a little more motivation to work harder and more desire to succeed?

A. “No, not really. I’ve always been a really motivated person and player. I just have a lot of passion and love for the game so I get my motivation from that.”

Q. What kind of transition are you going to have to make from playing with the Windsor Spitfires to the Edmonton Oilers?

A. “A lot. The guys are a lot bigger, stronger and faster. It’s going to take a lot of practice and even a little time to transition.”

Q. Would you be open to moving to the other wing and possibly forming an all-rookie line with you, Eberle and Svensson-Paajarvi?

A. “You know, I’ll play any position the coach asks me to play, but that would be pretty cool. I’m really excited to be playing with these two in particular.”

Q. What was the best moment of your hockey career?

A. “Winning two Memorial Cups. Doing it once was great, but doing it twice helps you believe more not only in yourself, but in your teammates.”

Q. Who have been the biggest influences in your hockey career?

A. My parents by far. They have done so much and sacrificed so much for me. I just cannot thank them enough.

Q. What was your favorite NHL team growing up?

A. The Calgary Flames.

Scott Glennie – Dallas Stars

Q. Who was your role model in the hockey world growing up?

A. “I looked up to Mario Lemieux as a kid.”

Q. What’s your favorite video game to play?

A. “EA NHL ‘11 or Call of Duty.”

Q. When were you first introduced to the sport?

A. “I think I put on my first skates when I was 3 and I learned to skate at a rink in our backyard. I fell in love with it.”

Q. Playing in a city that’s known more for the stars on football helmets than the Stars on ice, what would you say sets you apart from the athletes on the gridiron? And how do you get casual hockey fans to take notice of what you are doing?

A. “Well hockey is played on the ice so it’s a faster game which makes it exciting to play and exciting to watch. Hockey’s the best. Hopefully I can help the Stars and the sport itself get the attention it deserves down there.”

Chet Pickard – Nashville Predators

Q. What was your reaction to be selected by the Nashville Predators and do you like country music?

A. “I was very excited. It was a really amazing moment when I was drafted. I actually do like country music. I’m a fan of George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban. I really like a lot of them.”

Q. Why did you decide to become a goalie?

A. “Well I watched Felix Potvin a lot growing up in New Brunswick. We used to switch off going in goal when I was younger, playing in my early teens. I really liked it, so I just kept it up.

Q. What was the highlight of your CHL career?

A. “Raising the banner in the Tri-Cities. Winning the first title there in a great tournament was just the best.”

Now one question fans wanted to ask all the rookies was if they collected cards growing up and unfortunately, very few did. However, after exposing them to a lot of different Upper Deck products during the event and seeing the fun they had opening packs, it is safe to say that many will be collecting from now on. We gave them all several different packs during the last night’s dinner and it was awesome to see how much fun they had opening packs, many even going table to table snagging cards.

Later in the evening, about eight of the rookies gathered with me outside, so I could show them some of the higher-end Ultimate Collection and O-Pee-Chee Premier cards. They were pretty interested in starting their collections with those particular cards – especially Kyle Beach – but ultimately they decided we should give them away to our fans. Watch our Facebook page to find out how you can win some of the cards they opened at this week’s event.