The echo of skates slicing across a fresh rink, the roar of a dedicated crowd, and the evolution of a future legend—it’s all encapsulated in the realm of hockey memorabilia with the release of Macklin Celebrini Young Guns cards. Recently, the 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey has hit the shelves, and with it, a rush comparable only to the anticipation of a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition among teens of yesteryear. Only this time, the buzz is more about cold-hard collectibles rather than glossy centerfolds.
Enter Macklin Celebrini, who seems to have taken both the ice and the collectors’ market by storm. The No. 1 overall pick by the San Jose Sharks, Celebrini has been displaying all the polished grit of a seasoned vet despite just kicking off his rookie season. For a team in reconstruction mode, he’s been more than just a beacon of hope; he’s the beacon lighting the team’s path to potential stardom with every swiftly maneuvered puck and crisply executed play.
Dubbed “The Cheetah” (an arguably fitting moniker for his lightning-fast skates), Celebrini is not just living up to the hype but proving why he was lauded as an elite prospect akin to the likes of Connor Bedard and Auston Matthews. His quick play and keen hockey instincts coupled with an almost prophetic grasp on strategy have kept fans glued to his every move and critics nodding in approval.
But let’s turn our attention to where Celebrini has become a veritable rookie card rockstar—Upper Deck’s Series 2. This series has unleashed a trio of Celebrini’s Young Guns cards that have collectors bouncing in auction rooms faster than you can say “Stanley Cup.”
There’s the base Young Guns rookie card, which hit the secondary market spotlight like it was carved from ice itself. Currently fetching around a cool $200 on platforms like eBay, it’s the buzzword among crypto-currency of the collector’s realm. Equally intriguing are the Teammates card, showcasing Celebrini alongside fellow Sharks rookie Will Smith (no, not the slap-happy actor), which has dwelled modestly around the $20 mark. Finally, there’s the Young Guns checklist card, a sought-after fusion of Celebrini’s star wattage side by side with Philadelphia Flyers’ rookie sensation Matvei Michkov, casting collectors into a frenzy at $25 a pop.
Upper Deck, always quick on the draw when it comes to banking on budding luminaries, snagged an exclusive autograph deal with Celebrini in July 2024. This strategic coup for Upper Deck ensures that the allure of an earthbound signature from “The Cheetah” himself is reserved exclusively for their products. Such autographed treasures have the not-so-subtle propensity to convert curious collectors into eager investors—every bit as shrewd and calculated as any GM making a last-minute trade before the deadline.
If history is any prelude, Celebrini’s early cards could blaze the trail followed by the greats—Crosby, McDavid—where prized rookie cards undergo a metamorphosis from anticipated novelties into coveted heirlooms, revered by collectors and lucrative for investors.
Not one to be carried away by the crashing waves of media deluge, Celebrini remains remarkably grounded. He has always seemed more interested in charting his path than in chasing the footsteps of others, graciously acknowledging the hype while keeping his vision firmly on personal growth and day-to-day improvement. In a refreshingly candid chat with Puck Junk, Celebrini admitted, “I have my expectations for myself. I’m not really comparing myself to other guys [like Bedard]. I know what I can do…”
His steady focus on the journey rather than the destination should stand as comforting assurance for fans and strong nodding approval from sports psychologists worldwide, but beyond that, it fuels further intrigue and desire for his memorabilia.
As these hockey cards go on to weave the narratives of this season and time-directed value begins to echo through auction rooms and online markets, the sound accompanying Macklin Celebrini’s name carries the promise of a burgeoning legacy. Every Young Guns card locked in a collector’s vault is a testimony to the Canadian wunderkind’s journey—a tangible piece of sporting history that just might turn out to be priceless in nostalgia and value. This fervor is far from being just a passing fanaticism, it’s a look at the roots of a flourishing future spectacle. Collectors and enthusiasts alike, make ice cold grabs before these treasures slip away.
