After what seems like forever, we are pumped to start ripping the newest flagship addition for Upper Deck, Series One!
Here is a short preview of some of my favorite Young Guns in this set for the 2021/22 NHL hockey season.
Written by: Emil Cienik
Trevor Zegras, Ducks
There’s not much else that needs to be said about Zegras. This kid is absolutely electric. His hands are magic and I’m pretty sure he uses an illegal kind of wax to keep the puck on his stick so well. You’ve probably seen him on Sportscenter Top 10 a few times hitting the Michigan or flipping the puck over the back of the net for an insane assist. Zegras has “face of the league” written all over him and is already heavily influencing the next generations of hockey players.
Cole Caufield, Canadians
As a Gopher hockey fan, I hate the fact that I like Caufield so much. (And it doesn’t have anything to do with him being the same height as me, lol) He lit up the NCAA during his time at Wisconsin, and immediately gave a spark to a streaking Habs team during the playoffs last year. Shockingly, he struggled heavily to start the year along with the rest of his team, but the Canadians and Caufield have seen a resurgence under their new coaching staff. (Thank you, Marty St. Louis!) Look for Caufield to be a huge part of the Habs’ future.
Jeremy Swayman, Bruins
Bruins fans might be more upset with UD’s delay of this product than anyone since they wanted to keep Swayman a secret before this product released…. unfortunately, the cat is out of the bag for the February NHL Rookie of the Month. Swayman’s had some struggles and adversity to overcome this year, but once Tuuka Rask retired and paved the way for Swayman to take over, he ran with the opportunity.
Spencer Knight, Panthers
The sky is the limit for the former 13th overall pick. Knight was the backstop of the 2021 USA World Juniors team – going 6-1 including a 2-0 shutout win over Canada to win the gold. (You guys didn’t think I was going to forget to bring this up, did you? ) Swayman has bounced back and forth from the AHL this year, continuing to develop his game as a young 20-year-old. He should have a long, successful career as the future of the Panthers.
Jamie Drysdale, Ducks
Alright, alright… I’ll add one Canadian-born player to my list! Drysdale is an easy top choice and is by far the best defenseman out of this Young Gun class. He’s an extremely smart two-way defenseman that sees the ice very well. He’s been playing consistent minutes as a foundational part of the Ducks D-Core and will be for a long time.
Honorable Mentions:
Tanner Jeannot, Predators
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonnen, Sabres
Sleepers:
Cam York, Flyers
Shane Pinto, Senators
That’s our latest 2021/22 NHL rookie preview of the hottest rookies in hockey. Check below for available related products! 👇🏻
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