Get ready for 2020-21 Upper Deck Extended Series with my below ranking of the desirability of all 30 Young Guns cards on the checklist. It is not exactly a star-studded lineup. Arthur Kaliyev has a real shot at developing into a star, but after him, it looks to be slim pickings. However, there’s always a chance one or more of the other guys blows past expectations and turns into a stud.
- Arthur Kaliyev • W • Los Angeles Kings
Kaliyev is the one you want. As a 19 year old, Kaliyev put up 14 goals and 17 assists in 40 AHL games this season, in addition to notching his first NHL goal in his one game in the show. Prior to this season, Kaliyev put up a whopping 200 points in 124 games during his last two years in juniors. - Jack Rathbone • D • Vancouver Canucks
The offensively-minded defenseman and recent Harvard grad briefly dipped his toe into the pro game this year, including eight games in the AHL and eight games in the NHL, during which he left “an excellent first impression” both with and without the puck according to The Athletic. - Aleksi Heponiemi • C • Florida Panhers
Matthew Zator at The Hockey Writers says, “Offence tends to run through (Heponiemi) when he’s on the ice. His hockey IQ is through the roof, (and) he’s creative.” Heponiemi’s skating speed and diminutive size are potential limiting factors. Hockey Prospecting projects him as likely belonging in the NHL but gives him only an outside chance at being a star. - Nolan Foote • W • New Jersey Devils
Foote possesses a hard, heavy shot that is “out of this world” according to Zator. Hockey Prospecting projects him to have a good chance to stick around in the big league but little chance at becoming a star. - Sasha Chmelevski • C • San Jose Sharks
In 2021, Chmelevski chipped in 20 points in 27 AHL games, two points in five NHL games, and four points in eight World Championship games for team USA. - Logan Stanley • D • Winnipeg Jets
Stanley is a beast, listed at 6’7″ and 231 pounds. He is defensive-minded, which can limit interest in the hobby. Still, his defensive play gained the trust of the Winnipeg coaching staff as the season went on. When the playoffs rolled around, Stanley skated nearly 15 and a half minutes per game and contributed 22 blocked shots, 21 hits, and even two goals in eight games. - Michael Bunting • W • Arizona Coyotes
Bunting is already 25 and has only seen 26 games in the NHL, but he did manage to pot 10 goals in 21 games in 2021. - Artem Zub • D • Ottawa Senators
Zub seemingly came out of nowhere to be a bright spot for the Senators in 2021. The 25 year-old came over from the KHL and ended up eating over 18 minutes a game in 47 contests. He seems to have become a bit of a Sens fan-favorite. - Joel Hofer • G • St. Louis Blues
Hofer, just 20 years old, is yet to make his NHL debut, but “could be the No. 3 goalie in the Blues’ organization next season” according to Jim Thomas at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. - Jacob Ingham • G • Los Angeles Kings
Ingham is just 21 and has only one game played at the AHL level so far, so there isn’t a ton to go on yet. But I like hanging on to goalie Young Guns because you never know when one of them might put everything together and rocket to the bigs. - Cole Hults • D • Los Angeles Kings
2020 Big Ten player of the year with Penn State. - Kevin Bahl • D • New Jersey Devils
According to Corey Masisak at The Athletic, “(Bahl) is huge, can skate well and is young, so there is time for him to grow (figuratively) into something more than a No. 4, 5 or 6 type.” - Cameron Hillis • C • Montreal Canadiens
- Alex D’Orio • G • Pittsburgh Penguins
- Checklist • Kaliyev & Heponiemi
- Patrick Khodorenko • C • New York Rangers
- Reese Johnson • F • Chicago Blackhawks
- Drew O’Connor • W • Pittsburgh Penguins
- Mikhail Maltsev • W • New Jersey Devils
- Callum Booth • G • Boston Bruins
- Josef Korenar • G • San Jose Sharks
- Glenn Gawdin • F • Calgary Flames
- Austin Strand • D • Los Angeles Kings
- Hayden Verbeek • F • Detroit Red Wings
- Connor Mackey • D • Calgary Flames
- Cam Johnson • G • Columbus Blue Jackets
- Jake Bischoff • D • Vegas Golden Knights
- Mikko Lehtonen • D • Columbus Blue Jackets
- Fredrik Handemark • C • San Jose Sharks
- Kodie Curran • D • Anaheim Ducks
These rankings are based primarily on data and articles from Hockey Prospecting, The Hockey Writers, The Athletic, and various other media sites, as well as player age (the younger the better) and draft position.
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