The 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 2 cards hit store shelves March 6, and this edition features some of the biggest young names out there. Here are some of the Young Guns to look out for.
The 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 2 cards hit store shelves March 6, and this edition features some of the biggest young names out there. Here are some of the Young Guns to look out for.
The 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 2 cards hit store shelves March 6, and this edition features some of the biggest young names out there. Keep an eye out for the series’ Young Guns cards, which include special Outburst Gold 1-of-1 versions. You can find boxes of Upper Deck Series 2 at your local hobby shop, or purchase online at UpperDeckStore.com.
Here are some of the Young Guns to look out for:
Connor Bedard, C, Chicago Blackhawks
Had it not been for a broken jaw that truncated his first half, Bedard would have been running away with the rookie scoring race in the NHL. As it is, Bedard was still at the top of the leaderboard in mid-February, with his return soon to come. Simply put, the kid has lived up to expectations.
Right from the start, Bedard has been the difference-maker the Chicago Blackhawks hoped for when they drafted the Regina Pats phenom first overall in 2023. Was it the lacrosse-style ‘Michigan’ goal he pulled off against the St. Louis Blues? Was it the fact he was leading the Hawks in scoring before, during and after his injury? Any way you slice it, Bedard has shown he was indeed ready for prime time.
Not only has Bedard been a sensation on the ice, but it is clear his impact will continue to be outsized in the league as he becomes more ingrained in the NHL. It is certainly no coincidence Chicago was recently awarded another outdoor game for next season. The league knows a mass TV audience wants to see Bedard in a showcase game. And so, the Hawks will host the Blues at the legendary Wrigley Field for the 2025 Winter Classic. And to think, this is just the beginning.
Connor Zary, C, Calgary Flames
OK, so he's not the most popular Connor in the league - but the way Zary has started his NHL career, he’s undoubtedly the favorite of Calgary fans. As the Flames reach a tipping point in their organization, we may see several veterans exit through either trades or free agency. Zary will be one of the youngsters who can replenish the ranks, and he’s already proven to be a valuable forward in his rookie campaign. Smart, hardworking and fully capable of ripping the puck, Zary definitely has a scoring touch. No team is ever going to turn that down.
Zary was patient this fall, spending some time in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers and tearing it up in the minors to the tune of 10 points in six games. That motivation to prove his worth to the Flames’ brass has translated into steady production since he got called up, and his secondary scoring has been a boon for Calgary.
The youngster’s two-way ability has ingratiated him with veteran teammates, and that maturity on the ice serves him well, as Zary has already shown excellent poise with the puck. Must be something about the name ‘Connor’ in the NHL these days...
Matthew Poitras, C, Boston Bruins
Even though the Boston Bruins set an NHL record for points last season, there was trepidation coming into the 2023-24 campaign due to some major attrition to the middle of the lineup. Franchise icon Patrice Bergeron finally hung up his skates, and so did another solid center in David Krejci. How would the Bruins compete in the Atlantic without them? Turns out, pretty well. Charlie Coyle stepped up in a big way, but rookie Poitras was an incredible addition before an injury ended his freshman campaign early.
The Bruins took Poitras in the second round of the 2022 draft, so it was more than impressive when he earned his spot out of training camp. The teenager played well with grinders, and he played well with skill guys like David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. Sometimes, a guy forces his way into a lineup, and Poitras did just that with his smart, skilled game.
With 15 points in 33 games, Poitras did his part to push Boston to the top of the standings, giving them that depth down the middle they needed coming into the season. He also took a bit of a development break over the holidays, joining Canada’s world junior team in Sweden.
Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim Ducks
In the NBA, they might call it “load management,” but in Anaheim, it’s just been a smart development plan. Because while Carlsson could probably play every night in the NHL for the Ducks, GM Pat Verbeek and his staff had a specific plan in place for the Swedish teenager. And so far, it’s worked out just swimmingly – discounting an injury that kept Carlsson out of the lineup for nearly a month as the calendar turned over.
Giving Carlsson some games off early on allowed the youngster to learn and observe the league, and for a teen who had never played in North America (save for a star turn with Sweden at the 2023 World Junior Championship in Halifax), the move made sense.
When Carlsson did play, he was quite effective and put up 20 points in his first 32 games with the Ducks. With Anaheim in a rebuild and many young players in the lineup, that was both needed offense and a good sign for the future. With his size, skill and reach, Carlsson could very well become an Anze Kopitar-type center in the NHL someday. And while the Kings and Ducks are heated rivals, Anaheim fans certainly won’t complain if Carlsson eventually hits the heights of L.A.’s captain.
2023-24 Upper Deck Series 2 cards hit store shelves March 6 and this edition features some of the biggest young names out there. Keep an eye out for the series’ Young Guns cards, which include special Outburst Gold 1-of-1 versions. You can find Upper Deck Series 2 at your local hobby shop, or purchase online at UpperDeckStore.com.