The crisp sound of skates carving into ice and the roar from stands echoing with every stick play—this is the world Macklin Celebrini knows well. Drafted first overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, Celebrini is already making waves in the hockey world as an exceptional talent, akin to the likes of Connor Bedard and Auston Matthews. Now, his prowess on the rink is mirrored in the frenzy he’s sparked in another arena: the collector’s market.
With the recent release of the 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey, Celebrini’s Young Guns cards have become the new gold standard, sending collectors on a feverish chase. The fervor for these cards is not just a testament to his undeniable skill and potential but is also indicative of the hockey card world’s insatiable appetite for a bona fide superstar in the making.
Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of a rebuilding Sharks team, Macklin Celebrini, dubbed “The Cheetah” for his blistering speed and uncanny instincts, is lighting up scoreboards and collectors’ imaginations alike. This teenager’s on-ice spectacle has reignited excitement not only in San Jose but among NHL enthusiasts globally. As the Calder Trophy race is shaping up to be a tight competition with formidable contender Lane Hutson, Celebrini remains steadfast, focused, and unbothered by the accolades being laid at his skates.
Central to this cardboard frenzy is the Upper Deck Series 2 announcement, a beacon for collectors who keenly watch for its yearly rollout. And what a rollout it was—a trio of Young Guns cards featuring Celebrini is poised to dominate the market. The base Young Guns rookie card alone, within hours of hitting virtual storefronts, commanded bids north of $200 on platforms such as eBay. Meanwhile, the “Teammates” card, sharing its spotlight with fellow Sharks rookie Will Smith, captures another essence of Celebrini’s rising popularity, finding its place at $20. Not to be overlooked, the Young Guns checklist card links Celebrini with another promising rookie, Matvei Michkov of the Flyers, enticing purchasers at around $25.
This sensational rookie haul not only audiably amplifies the buzz around Upper Deck’s offerings but also becomes a tangible reflection of Celebrini’s burgeoning stature. His impact—already being etched in hockey lore—is now being pressed onto glossy cardboard stock, taking on a life of its own in collector circuits.
Upper Deck, never one to miss a shrewd opportunity, quickly secured an exclusive autograph deal with the prodigiously talented forward. This strategic move, finalized in July 2024, ensures that his pen-stroke graces only their products, intensifying allure and upping the ante for collectors who understand the potential of landing such a coveted keepsake.
From his rookie season, Celebrini’s trajectory looks eerily similar to those of legendary rookies like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. For collectors, this transforms each card into not just a cherished memorabilia but a strategic investment. The alignment of Celebrini’s on-ice production with the collectible market’s momentum is something only seen once a generation.
But despite the gale-force winds of fame and expectation swirling around him, Celebrini is focused, steering his own path. Candid yet humble in a Puck Junk interview, he brushes aside comparisons and chooses to work on being the best version of himself. “I have my expectations for myself. I’m not really comparing myself to other guys [like Bedard],” he shared, adding a dose of realism that mirrors his grounded approach to the sport he loves.
With skill, charisma, and a good dash of humility, Celebrini is not just navigating the pressure but redefining it. Every game he plays is a story told, not only in goals and assists but also in the cardboard chronicles of the hockey card enthusiast.
Each card, with its picture-perfect capture of “The Cheetah” in motion, boosts the expectations of collectors who know that what they currently hold could appreciate far beyond their initial investment. As the Young Guns chase heats up, investors and fans alike keep their eyes peeled for the next drop, knowing well that in Macklin Celebrini, they hold not just a player but a luminous future.