Clemente’s Corner: Will These Gretzky Records Fall? Get These Cards Now!
Last month, Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for most career NHL goals during the regular season – a record that The Great One held for over 30 years. Ovechkin breaking the record was celebrated across the league and highlighted the close of the regular season.
As we get closer to the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, many collectors are working on their want lists. Looking ahead, some of Gretzky’s other records could potentially be broken. So now is a great chance to buy rookie cards of players that very few are paying attention to. Staying ahead of these trends by buying the right cards now could pay off in the end; not just financially, but in the thrill of being a part of hockey history in the making.
Here are three of Gretzky’s records that could be broken in the next few years, and the hockey cards you should buy now.
Most 100-Point Seasons (15)
Gretzky’s record of 15 seasons of scoring 100 or more points is safe for now, but Connor McDavid, who is 29, is at eight. He secured another 100-point season this year. For context, Mario Lemieux had 10 in his career and Peter Stastny had seven.
We know McDavid is guaranteed a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but breaking this record will only solidify his place. What he’s failed to do on a team level (in terms of winning the Stanley Cup), McDavid has more than made up for on an individual level. As a result, his rookie year cards – and above all his 2015-16 Young Guns RC – have been out of reach for most collectors for some time.
McDavid’s O-Pee-Chee Marquee Rookies card is a less-expensive alternative to his Young Guns RC.
Nonetheless, it would be a great investment to snatch up that card now. If that’s not something you can afford, there are several other first-year McDavid cards – like his O-Pee-Chee Marquee Rookies card – that can be an affordable option.
Most 50-Goal Seasons (9)
The players with the most 50-goal seasons in the NHL are the hallmark of elite goal-scoring prowess, achieved by a select few players throughout the league’s history. Gretzky’s record of nine 50-goal seasons – tied with Mike Bossy and Alex Ovechkin – seems safe for now. However, Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers currently has four. At age 29, he still has the time to break this record.
The 1980s and early 1990s were the most prolific eras for 50-goal seasons, while tighter defenses and improved goaltending have made the milestone rarer today. Still, it remains a defining achievement for the NHL’s best scorers. This is where Draisaitl comes in.
Draisaitl’s Young Guns rookie card is relatively affordable compared to the Young Guns of other NHL superstars.
It should be noted that I never understood why Draisaitl gets no hobby love. As a result, he’s an affordable option right now. He’s also a player whose Young Guns card from Upper Deck’s 2014-15 flagship remains easily attainable.
Most 60-Goal Seasons (5)
Gretzky holds the record for most 60-goal seasons with five, but Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs currently has two. There have only been five 60-goal scorers over the last two decades. Ovechkin has only done it once. Draisaitl, by comparison, has never achieved such a feat.
Auston Matthews’ Young Guns RC can only go up from here.
This would be a great time to buy Matthews’ rookie cards, although the Leafs playoff run has led to some increases. Nonetheless, his 2016-17 Young Guns card has fluctuated in price over the years. I suspect it will only go up in price in the future as he continues to pile on goals and make the case for being in the Hall of Fame.
As records continue to fall and today’s stars inch closer to milestones once thought untouchable, this mix of NHL history and the hobby market has never been more exciting.
I’m not saying these players are cheap to collect. They are not. What I am saying is that the time is now to gobble up these cards now before they get further out of reach. In fact, whether it’s McDavid, Draisaitl or Matthews, these established stars represent prime opportunities for collectors.
Clemente Lisi is a lifelong Rangers fan who first started collecting cards in 1986. He collects both vintage and modern with a focus on rookie cards. Follow him on X/Twitter @ClementeLisi.
Clemente Lisi is a lifelong Rangers fan who first started collecting cards in 1986. He collects both vintage and modern with a focus on rookie cards. Follow him on Twitter @ClementeLisi.
View all posts by Clemente Lisi
3 thoughts on “Clemente’s Corner: Will These Gretzky Records Fall? Get These Cards Now!”
It will depend on the League rules and style of Play – there was more scoring in the 1980s – of course Gretzky was a part of that.
It will depend on the League rules and style of Play – there was more scoring in the 1980s – of course Gretzky was a part of that.
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