Forever Young! Complete Guide to Upper Deck Young Guns Rookie Cards
The Upper Deck Young Guns hockey series has taken many shapes, forms and detours on its way to becoming one of the hobby's most popular rookie cards. In a period defined by new technology, low-numbered autographs and parallels, the Young Guns line represents one of the last pure aspects of the modern collecting world. However, it took a few attempts before the concept earned its place in NHL collecting.
Young Guns first appeared in 1990-91 Upper Deck Hockey. While the subset featured rookie cards for Sergei Fedorov and Pavel Bure, Young Guns didn't immediately take hold with collectors. After the 1992-93 hockey card season, Young Guns disappeared for several years only to resurface following the 1994-95 NHL lockout in Upper Deck's budget brand, 1995-96 Collector's Choice. After two largely forgettable seasons in Collector's Choice, the Young Guns series vanished again.
Several years later, the much-maligned subset was given another chance in 1999-00 Upper Deck Hockey, and the rest is history. Since then, the Young Guns set has evolved into one of the hobby's best non-autographed rookie cards. Their values have increased due to greater rarity and parallels have been added to the mix. Today, the cards are all short prints, but fall often enough that it's possible to build a set without a ton of work. The Upper Deck Young Guns cards are among the most iconic rookies in the history of the hobby, and one of the few base rookie cards to carry substantial weight.
See also:Â Ultimate Young Guns Checklist and Team Set Lists.
The complete visual guide to Upper Deck Young Guns can be seen below. Follow the transformation from year to year with a card from each edition. You can also view the set details and a full checklist from most of the releases in our Upper Deck Hockey product profiles.
Do you have a favorite design from the popular rookie line? Let us know in the comments.Â
Upper Deck Young Guns Hockey Visual Guide and Gallery
1990-91 Upper Deck Young Guns
1991-92 Upper Deck Young Guns
1992-93 Upper Deck Young Guns
1995-96 Collector's Choice Young Guns
1996-97 Collector's Choice Young Guns
1999-00 Upper Deck Young Guns
2000-01 Upper Deck Young Guns
2001-02 Upper Deck Young Guns
2002-03 Upper Deck Young Guns
2003-04 Upper Deck Young Guns
2004-05 Upper Deck Young Guns
2005-06 Upper Deck Young Guns
2006-07 Upper Deck Young Guns
2007-08 Upper Deck Young Guns
2008-09 Upper Deck Young Guns
2009-10 Upper Deck Young Guns
2010-11 Upper Deck Young Guns
2011-12 Upper Deck Young Guns
2012-13 Upper Deck Young Guns
2013-14 Upper Deck Young Guns
- Full '13-14 UD Series 1 set guide and checklist
- Full '13-14 UD Series 2 set guide and checklist
- 2013-14 Young Guns Gallery
2014-15 Upper Deck Young Guns
- Full '14-15 UD Series 1 set guide and checklist
- Full '14-15 UD Series 2 set guide and checklist
- 2014-15 Young Guns Gallery
2015-16 Upper Deck Young Guns
- Full '15-16 UD Series 1 set guide and checklist
- Full '15-16 UD Series 2 set guide and checklist
- 2015-16 Young Guns Gallery
2016-17 Upper Deck Young Guns
- Full '16-17 UD Series 1 set guide and checklist
- Full '16-17 UD Series 2 set guide and checklist
- 2016-17 Young Guns Gallery
2017-18 Upper Deck Young Guns
- Full '17-18 UD Series 1 set guide and checklist
- Full '17-18 UD Series 2 set guide and checklist
- 2017-18 Young Guns Gallery
2018-19 Upper Deck Young Guns
2019-20 Upper Deck Young Guns
2020-21 Upper Deck Young Guns
- Full '20-21 UD Series 1 set guide
- Full '20-21 UD Series 2 set guide
- Full '20-21 UD Extended Series set guide
- 2020-21 Young Guns Guide
2021-22 Upper Deck Young Guns
- Full '21-22 UD Series 1 set guide
- Full '21-22 UD Series 2 set guide
- Full '21-22 UD Extended Series set guide
- 2021-22 Young Guns Guide
2022-23 Upper Deck Young Guns
- Full '22-23 UD Series 1 set guide
- Full '22-23 UD Series 2 set guide
- Full '22-23 UD Extended Series set guide
- 2022-23 Young Guns Guide
2023-24 Upper Deck Young Guns
- Full '23-24 UD Series 1 set guide
Other Upper Deck Young Guns guides:
- Ultimate Upper Deck Young Guns Checklist
- 2020-21 Upper Deck Hockey Young Guns Guide
- 2019-20 Upper Deck Hockey Young Guns Guide
- 2018-19 Upper Deck Hockey Young Guns Guide
- 2017-18 Upper Deck Hockey Young Guns Guide
- 2016-17 Upper Deck Hockey Young Guns Guide
- 2015-16 Upper Deck Hockey Young Guns Guide
- 2014-15 Upper Deck Hockey Young Guns Guide
- 2013-14 Upper Deck Hockey Young Guns Guide
- 10 Best 2012-13 Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey Young Guns Rookie Cards
- Top 10 Upper Deck Hockey Young Guns Rookie Cards
Also, find our complete guide to Upper Deck Hockey cards.
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Please note that multiple writers contributed to this article.
Mike F
That Brennan Evans card is amazing. Maybe one day…