This is the fourth season of Upper Deck adding on the Extended “Don’t Call It Series 3” Series to their flagship release, but it is the first Extended Series to include a strong selection of Young Guns. The top four cards on my list hold more promise than any previous Extended Series Young Guns (with the possible exception of Seth Jarvis).
While Connor Bedard’s base Young Guns is in Series 2, his Canvas YG can be found in Extended. In fact, including parallels, there are more than FORTY Bedard cards on the Extended checklist, with more Easter eggs sure to be found.
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- Adam Fantilli • C • Columbus Blue Jackets
- Logan Cooley • C • Arizona Coyotes
Adam Fantilli and Logan Cooley have quite a bit in common. They are only five months apart in age, were both #3 draft picks, and are expected to be serious drivers of offense for many years to come. Both debuted at age 19 in the 2023-24 NHL season. Cooley put up 20 goals and 24 assists in 82 games and Fantilli was on pace for 20 goals and 25 assists over a full season. (Injury shortened Fantilli’s season to 49 games.) Fantilli’s size (6’2″, 194) and puck skills give him a slight edge over Cooley (5’10”, 174), though Cooley’s skating is rated higher than Fantilli’s. - Simon Nemec • D • New Jersey Devils
Despite being a #2 pick in the 2022 draft, Simon Nemec has flown under my radar a bit (perhaps because fellow New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes is an even better prospect), but Nemec looks like a lock to be an effective NHL player for a long time. According to Logan Horn at The Hockey Writers, “His mature two-way game is head and shoulders above most defensive prospects of the same age.” His point production will most likely be above average for a defenseman but is unlikely to reach the elite levels needed for a defenseman to be a major force in the world of card collectors. - Matthew Savoie • C • Buffalo Sabres
Matthew Savoie’s NHL career currently consists of less than four minutes of ice time, but his stock rose considerably in the 2023-24 season. After an injury-related setback early in the year, Savoie (sav-WAH) racked up 67 points in 33 WHL games. Savoie told NHL.com, “Not giving the puck up easily, being able to shake defenders off and win those 1-on-1 corner battles I think has really elevated my game this year. And in talking to the staff in Buffalo and Rochester on things they want me to work on, just continuing to play fast and using my speed to challenge guys 1-on-1 and attacking the net.” - Jiri Kulich • C • Buffalo Sabres
Prospect expert Corey Pronman is not overly enthusiastic about Jiri Kulich’s overall game, but he does love Kulich’s shot. Pronman writes, “(Kulich) can pick corners from a long way out, and his one-timer is a legit NHL weapon.” - Adam Fantilli / Logan Cooley checklist
- Dennis Hildeby • G • Toronto Maple Leafs
- Ivan Miroshnichenko • LW • Washington Capitals
- Isak Rosen • RW • Buffalo Sabres
- Ryker Evans • D • Seattle Kraken
- Calle Clang • G • Anaheim Ducks
- Ryan Winterton • C • Seattle Kraken
- Roby Jarventie • LW • Ottawa Senators
- Jayden Struble • D • Montreal Canadiens
- Martin Pospisil • C • Calgary Flames
- Ryan Johnson • D • Buffalo Sabres
- Emil Heineman • LW • Montreal Canadiens
- Dylan Garand • G • New York Rangers
- Magnus Chrona • G • San Jose Sharks
- Yaniv Perets • G • Carolina Hurricanes
- Sam Malinski • D • Colorado Avalanche
- Louis Crevier • D • Chicago Blackhawks
- Linus Karlsson • C • Vancouver Canucks
- Adam Edstrom • C • New York Rangers
- Georgii Merkulov • F • Boston Bruins
- Ondrej Pavel • F • Colorado Avalanche
- Angus Crookshank • LW • Ottawa Senators
- Marc Johnstone • F • Pittsburgh Penguins
- Samuel Laberge • F • New Jersey Devils
- Jiri Smejkal • F • Ottawa Senators
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