Top rookie cards of NHL superstar Connor McDavid

In February, in the midst of another historic season, NHL superstar Connor McDavid made sports card history.

McDavid’s 2015-16 Upper Deck The Cup Exquisite Collection rookie patch auto card sold for a record $144,000 at PWCC Marketplace. Numbered to 97 to match his jersey number, the card set a record for modern hockey cards, eclipsing such greats as Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

Owens: How a traditional southern sports fan became a card-collecting hockey fan 

Five months later, just after McDavid led his Edmonton Oilers to the Western Conference Finals, a PSA 10 version of the card set another record, selling for $228,000 at Heritage Auctions. On Aug. 10, another PSA 10 example sold for $200,099 on 81 bids on eBay, making it one of the most expensive hockey cards ever sold on the marketplace.

McDavid, 25, is coming off the greatest season of his seven-year career, scoring a career-high 44 goals and 123 points. He now has five 100-point performances in his past six seasons and is challenging Crosby and Ovechkin as the greatest player of the past two decades. The NHL's biggest star opened the 2022-23 season in typical fashion, scoring a hat trick in the Oilers' season opener. 

While his The Cup rookie card is his most valuable, we take a look at some of McDavid’s other top rookie cards.

2015-16 UD Black Diamond RC #BDRR-CM /99

A quartet of diamonds and a print run of just 99 gives this card sustained value.

2015-16 SP Game-Used RC #197 /97

Numbered to just 97 copies to match his jersey number, this is one of McDavid’s most rare rookie cards.

Also See: The top hockey cards to collect during 2022-23 season

2015-16 Ultimate Collection RC #109 Autograph /99

Another short-print run plus an autograph on the base card makes it another one of McDavid’s most popular cards.

2015-16 Upper Deck Black RC #85 Auto /199

A black background and silver autograph on one of Upper Deck’s top brands makes this a great find.

2015-16 SP Authentic RC #226 Auto /999

One of his most beautiful cards comes from a popular brand among collectors. The on-card auto and Future Watch designation adds value.

Also See: NHL season opens with valuable Gretzky, McDavid cards up for bid

2015-16 Upper Deck Series 1 Young Guns RC #201

From Upper Deck’s flagship product, McDavid’s Young Guns card may not be the most valuable, but it is certainly his most collected.

2015-16 O-Pee-Chee Platinum RC Auto #190

Wayne Gretzky’s 1979 O-Pee-Chee rookie card is the most valuable hockey card of all time ($3.75 million). McDavid’s O-Pee-Chee card, which comes with a splash of chromium, an on-card autograph and in a variety of parallels, could also set records one day.