2020-2021 Rookie Class

[cwpucks]

So with the NHL targeting December 2020 for the start of the 2020-2021 season and Upper Deck stating they are not changing the release dates of their products. What does everyone think of the rookie class for the products that will be released in 2020?

We we know Timothy Liljegren should be a carry over rookie. But does anyone think if Kirill Kaprizov, Nate Robinson, Illya Sorokin &..... play in the playoffs will they make it into the early sets?

I say :
Upper Deck 1 releasing Nov 5, 2020 Yes if they play in a game
MVP August 26, 2020 Probably not
OPC September 2, 2020 Probably Not
Artifacts September 30, 2020 Redemption's

Just thought i would see what everyone thinks

[miscs75]

you're also forgetting Alexander Romanov who Montreal just signed

[Blueshirts30]

Any players who were just signed can't play in the play in rounds/playoffs. Players can participate in practices as of right now but can't travel to Toronto

[cwpucks]

Oh ok so that means everything released before and just after the start will either be redemption or will be basically base with only Timothy Liljegren Maybe Nate Robertson and a few others as the big early rookies. unless the NHL changes their mind and lets Upper Deck use signed players that have not played in a game yet. I dont see the NHL doing that. They are not going back to 1997 with the WJC in upper deck sets. Being young guns and Rookies are what sell the lower priced products I hope upper deck is going to do some hidden unannounced Gems for OPC and Upper Deck 1 to help other wise it will be week set.

[Blueshirts30]

Anything 20-21 will have all of the top rookies after dacember and most stuff will be an automatic push back at most 1-2 months. Series 2 will have all of the top rookies series 1 will be like 12-13 s1

Oh ok so that means everything released before and just after the start will either be redemption or will be basically base with only Timothy Liljegren Maybe Nate Robertson and a few others as the big early rookies. unless the NHL changes their mind and lets Upper Deck use signed players that have not played in a game yet. I dont see the NHL doing that. They are not going back to 1997 with the WJC in upper deck sets. Being young guns and Rookies are what sell the lower priced products I hope upper deck is going to do some hidden unannounced Gems for OPC and Upper Deck 1 to help other wise it will be week set.

[30ranfordfan]

I read a rumor elsewhere, that Upper Deck is going to get a special exception to the rule, and they'll be allowed to include top draft picks into Series 1 (in November). I'm assuming they'd use draft photos, if that's the case.

If that happens, then Series 1 should be about as good as normal.

If it doesn't? You're right. There's 30-some hold over rookies (guys that made their debuts in 19-20, but didn't get cards) and there will be a few more in the playoffs, I'm sure (Robinson, for example).

If they try and come up with a checklist of 49 Rookie Cards, using only players from the 19-20 season, and the playoffs... it'll bomb. Worst YG checklist of all time. IMO, they'd be better off picking 10-15 of those guys (so there are still some rookie cards) and filling out the rest of the checklist with Vets.... either active players (stars) that didn't get YGs, or retired greats.

[41butch]

I read a rumor elsewhere, that Upper Deck is going to get a special exception to the rule, and they'll be allowed to include top draft picks into Series 1 (in November). I'm assuming they'd use draft photos, if that's the case.

If that happens, then Series 1 should be about as good as normal.

If it doesn't? You're right. There's 30-some hold over rookies (guys that made their debuts in 19-20, but didn't get cards) and there will be a few more in the playoffs, I'm sure (Robinson, for example).

If they try and come up with a checklist of 49 Rookie Cards, using only players from the 19-20 season, and the playoffs... it'll bomb. Worst YG checklist of all time. IMO, they'd be better off picking 10-15 of those guys (so there are still some rookie cards) and filling out the rest of the checklist with Vets.... either active players (stars) that didn't get YGs, or retired greats.

The rumor I have heard, is there will be an exception, but it be the top 3 picks only. But I would guess that would be enough to sell series 1.

[cwpucks]

That would be nice if they did that for all sets like OPC and not just Upper Deck 1 but being the Draft is not until Oct 9th that will not happen. I had heard that upper deck was not going to push back or change their release dates. So If they do not get an exception for the top 3 picks in the draft, series 1 will be bad and series 2 will sell out before it even hits the shelves. Kinda like 2015.

[RGM81]

As of today it looks like it could be a real mess for the early season releases. Who knows what will happen at the end of the day, though, and until we hear something from Upper Deck directly it's all speculation.

I think the best thing they could do is to delay Series 1 (and certainly other releases) until after the start of the next season. It ensures getting Lafreniere into the product which will be huge to drive sales for the B&M shops. They'll need the help, for sure. The other stuff like Artifacts isn't too big a deal since the major rookies for that product are the redemption rookies anyways.

[30ranfordfan]

That would be nice if they did that for all sets like OPC and not just Upper Deck 1 but being the Draft is not until Oct 9th that will not happen. I had heard that upper deck was not going to push back or change their release dates. So If they do not get an exception for the top 3 picks in the draft, series 1 will be bad and series 2 will sell out before it even hits the shelves. Kinda like 2015.

I'm assuming the NHLPA is only going to give them an exception for the single set.

The other three sets you mentioned (OPC, Artifacts, MVP) won't be affected. They were never going to have Lafreniere (for example) cards live in the packs.

Artifacts will have Rookie Redemptions, like they do every year. MVP does the same. For OPC, they normally do an update set later in the season... that's when the OPC Rookies get made.

As of today it looks like it could be a real mess for the early season releases. Who knows what will happen at the end of the day, though, and until we hear something from Upper Deck directly it's all speculation.

I think the best thing they could do is to delay Series 1 (and certainly other releases) until after the start of the next season. It ensures getting Lafreniere into the product which will be huge to drive sales for the B&M shops. They'll need the help, for sure. The other stuff like Artifacts isn't too big a deal since the major rookies for that product are the redemption rookies anyways.

Yup. Their first three releases shouldn't be affected. It's Series 1 & onward where the problems start.

They always seem to want to do a release, per month. They'd be smart to schedule a set like Masterpeices or Chronology for early December. Something that won't have rookies.

If They get to make YGs of the top three picks, and fill the set out with hold overs (including anyone who makes their debut in the playoffs) then I think Series 1 will be fine.


The bigger issue for them will be.... what happens to the post-Series 1 releases, that should have RCs, if the NHL season doesn't start in December as planned. For the record: I'd be happy to make a small wager that says it will not start in December.