Connor Bedard Rookie Card Guide

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The Connor Bedard rookie card chase is arguably the biggest that hockey has seen since another Connor — McDavid — broke into the NHL in 2015-16. The first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Bedard brings with him electric scoring skills and the potential to make highlight reel plays every time he steps on the ice.

By the time he suited up for the first time as an NHLer, collectors were already aware of Connor Bedard cards. Upper Deck highlighted him in CHL and Team Canada Juniors products in the years leading up to being taken by the Chicago Blackhawks. Even those early cards were among the hottest commodities in hockey, particularly his autographs.

Now Connor Bedard rookie cards have helped bring the sport back to hobby prominence after something of a lull for several years.

Upper Deck holds the NHL exclusive so that’s who’s making all of Bedards rookies. Knowing how important he is, they also signed Bedard to an exclusive autograph deal so his signature won’t pop up elsewhere.

Collectors have a large variety of Connor Bedard rookie cards to choose from. In addition to his main base cards, there are lots of inserts, autographs, memorabilia cards and parallels. It’s many of these that rank as the most valuable Connor Bedard cards from his rookie year.

Connor Bedard Rookie Card Guide

The following breaks down not only every Connor Bedard rookie card (so far) but highlights their parallels as well as other inserts from the product. Highlights from some other products are also included. You can use this page to see the different options that are out there and, potentially, pick the perfect cards that suit your collecting preferences. As more sets come out, this guide will grow.

2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Connor Bedard Rookie Card #582

When it comes to hockey cards, O-Pee-Chee is all about tradition. While the hobby has evolved over the decades, this card continues to carry the retro vibes. Old-school card stock. Relatively cheap price tag. There’s even a Retro insert that channels a bygone era even more. It’s worth noting that this was the first Connor Bedard rookie card live in packs, beating Upper Deck Series 2 by a few weeks. That doesn’t translate into higher values, though. This is one of Bedard’s most affordable RCs.

Value: $
Parallels: Blue Border, Yellow Border, Red Border, Rainbow (/350), Black Rainbow (/100), Purple Border (/49), Green Rainbow (/33), Red Border Blank Back (1/1), Gold Rainbow (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)

Buy on eBay.

2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Connor Bedard Rookie Card

Other 2023-24 O-Pee-Chee Connor Bedard cards:


2023-24 SP Game Used Connor Bedard Rookie Card #230 #’ed/98

With just 98 copies, the 2023-24 SP Game Used Connor Bedard rookie card is one of his rarest. That scarcity is also the main source of its value. The foil stock gives it something of a premium feel, but not completely high-end by modern standards. If the base version is too costly, the Red and Gold parallels are actually more plentiful and affordable.

Value: $$$$

Parallels: Crystal, Red (#’ed/218), Gold (#’ed/123), Purple Autographs (#’ed/5), Autograph (1/1, copy 98/98), Green Autographs (1/1)

Buy on eBay.

2023-24 SP Game Used Connor Bedard Rookie Card

Other 2023-24 SP Game Used Connor Bedard cards:


2023-24 Upper Deck Connor Bedard Rookie Card #451 Young Guns

Young Guns are probably the most important rookie cards in hockey. They might not be the most valuable but as far as recognition and attainability, there’s nothing like it. The headliner of 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 2, the Connor Bedard Young Guns single-handedly made it the hottest hockey card product in a long time. Dave and Adam’s even offered a $1 million bounty on the one-of-one Outburst Gold parallel.

Young Guns land 1:2 packs making them a little more rare than veteran base cards but not by a lot. Lots of copies are out there but the demand is definitely there as well.

Bedard has several other inserts in Series 2. There’s also an SP draft insert in Series 1 that was a surprise initially left off the checklist by the card maker.

Value: $$$ 1/2

Parallels: Clear Cut, Outburst, Deluxe (#’ed/250), Exclusives (#’ed/100), Outburst Red (#’ed/25), High Gloss (#’ed/10), Outburst Gold (1/1)

Buy on eBay.

2023-24 Uppe Deck Connor Bedard Young Guns Rookie Card

Other 2023-24 Upper Deck Connor Bedard cards:


2023-24 Upper Deck Artifacts Connor Bedard Rookie Card #207

You’re not going to find the actual 2023-24 Artifacts Connor Bedard rookie card in packs. Instead, he’s part of the brand’s annual Rookie Redemption lineup. If you pull #RED207, Chicago’s card, it’s good for Bedard (at least until it expires). Due to its early release, Artifacts doesn’t typically have early-season debuts, hence the comprehensive and planned redemptions that have become one of the line’s cornerstones.

Bedard has redemptions for other cards as well, including autographs and memorabilia cards. He also has a couple of inserts available in packs shown as a member of Team Canada.

Value: $$$

Parallels: Emerald (#’ed/99)

Buy on eBay.

2023-24 Upper Deck Artifacts Connor Bedard Rookie Redemption

Other 2023-24 Upper Deck Artifacts Connor Bedard cards:


2023-24 Upper Deck Black Diamond Connor Bedard Rookie Card #BDB-CB (Base #’ed/349), #BDR-CB (Diamond Relic Rookie Gems Quad #’ed/99)

The 2023-24 Upper Deck Black Diamond Connor Bedard rookie card is where things get high-end. Yes, there are autographs and memorabilia cards of the prodigy in the product, but there are also diamonds. Yes, they’re from a lab somewhere, but they’re still real diamonds. This starts with one of two cards Bedard has in what’s considered the base set. His Rookie Gems card, which is numbered to just 99, has four diamonds as the highlight. He’s also got a more standard card with 349 copies. Because it’s the more common one, some will refer to it as the rookie card based on traditional definitions.

Diamonds return on multiple Bedard inserts including Band of Color, which has six that are all different colors.

2023-24 Black Diamond Hockey also has the season’s first installment of 2023-24 Upper Deck Exquisite Hockey cards. While the ultra-premium brand has been a standalone product in the past, the card maker has opted to focus on them being additions to some of their high-end hockey releases.

Value: $$$-$$$$

Parallels:

Base: Red (#’ed/75), Blue (#’ed/25), Green (#’ed/10), Diamond Relics (#’ed/5), Gold (1/1), Pure Black Diamond Relics (1/1)

Diamond Relic Rookie Gems Quad: Ruby (#’ed/49), Purple (#’ed/25), Emerald (#’ed/10), Pure Black (1/1)

Buy on eBay: Base | Diamond Relic Rookie Gems Quad

Other 2023-24 Upper Deck Black Diamond Connor Bedard cards:

Exquisite Collection


2023-24 Upper Deck Connor Bedard Collection Box Set

When you’re expected to be this good, they make a whole product of just you. No pressure, Connor. The 2023-24 Upper Deck Connor Bedard Collection is a 25-card shell set that highlights the center’s career with the Canadian National Team through his earliest days as an NHLer. Each factory set also has one of five short prints (taking the complete set up to 30 cards) or an autograph.

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2023-24 Upper Deck Employee Connor Bedard Autograph #UD-CB

Sometimes company bonuses and recognition come in the form of watches and taco lunches. But if you work at Upper Deck, sometimes those perks include top-line trading cards. Such is the case with this Connor Bedard card. His first with an on-card signature with him in a Chicago uniform, it wasn’t in packs or even available to the general public. Rather, it was a gift to select staff of the card maker. They know what they have, though. So some have made their way to the secondary market. A print run has not been released.

Buy on eBay.

2023-24 Upper Deck Employee Connor Bedard Autograph

2023-24 Upper Deck Rookie Debut Connor Bedard #1

2023-24 Upper Deck Rookie Debut Hockey is a mini set that was exclusive to the company’s e-Pack platform where collectors opened digital packs to unveil physical cards. Bedard si one of 18 players on the checklist.

Besides his base card and its parallels, there’s an autograph and a variant that uses a different photo. Bedard also appears in the retro-inspired 1993-94 Star Rookie insert set and the ensuing variation.

Value: $1/2

Parallels: Blue (#’ed/349), Red (#’ed/99), Black (1/1)

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Other 2023-24 Upper Deck Rookie Debut Connor Bedard cards:


2023-24 Upper Deck Spring Expo Parkhurst Priority Signings Exclusives Connor Bedard #PS-CB #’ed/5

For years, Upper Deck has been on hand with promo sets for the Fall and Spring Toronto Expos. One of the most elusive Connor Bedard rookie autographs was available at the Spring Expo. While not in the main wrapper redemption, Bedard does have a Parkhurst Priority Signings Exclusives autograph that was offered to those that participated in the company’s case break program. It has just five copies and no parallels.

Buy on eBay.


2023-24 Upper Deck Star Rookies Connor Bedard #1

Found in a box set, the 2023-24 Upper Deck Star Rookies Connor Bedard is abundant. Over the past few years, Upper Deck has used the set to display top first-year players in a retail-friendly way. Each factory set includes one bonus cards. For Bedard, this means a handful of parallels and a scarce autographed version.

Value: $

Parallels: Blue, Gold (#’ed/349), Red (#’ed/99), Green (#’ed/5), Gold (1/1)

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Other 2023-24 Upper Deck Star Rookie Connor Bedard cards:

2023-24 Upper Deck Star Rookies Autographs Connor Bedard

2023-24 Upper Deck Synergy Connor Bedard Rookie Card #R-CB #’ed/24

Twenty-four copies. That’s it. Needless to say, this is the rarest Connor Bedard rookie card. So if you are lucky to even see one of these in the wild, that’s why it’s so expensive. Similar to SP Game Used, there’s a more plentiful parallel, Red, that can fill the void at a more affordable price.

Value: $$$$$

Parallels: Red, Purple Autograph (#’ed/99), Gold (#’ed/25)

Buy on eBay.

Red Parallel

Other 2023-24 Upper Deck Synergy Connor Bedard cards:


2023-24 Upper Deck Tim Hortons Top Draft Pick Connor Bedard #DP-1

Included in packs of the annual food-issue set, this is an incredibly tough card at 1:12,000 packs. Even then, the card has a stated print run of 1,327 copies. But don’t let that fool you. Not a lot pop up and with the popularity of the Tim Hortons set, they command a premium over other cards with similar print runs.

Value: $$$1/2

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2023-24 Upper Deck Tim Hortons Top Draft Pick Connor Bedard

2023-24 Upper Deck Tim Hortons Greatest Duos Connor Bedard #67 with Andreas Athanasiou

While his only appearance in the main 2023-24 Tim Hortons set was via a special redemption, Bedard is in the base set of Upper Deck’s second collab with the restaurant of the season. Keeping with the Greatest Duos theme, the prodigy is paired with teammate Andreas Athanasiou on the double-sided card. Between the massive availability and bland design, this is definitely one of the cheapest first-year Connor Bedard cards.

Value: $

Buy on eBay.


2023-24 Upper Deck Trilogy Connor Bedard Rookie Card #102 (Common), 152 (Uncommon), 202 (Rare)

Trilogy gets its name for playing with threes. When it comes to Connor Bedard Rookie Cards, that means three different cards in the base set. Part of the Rookie Premieres subsets, Level 1 is the most common with 999 numbered copies. By traditional standards, that makes it the product’s rookie card because it has the largest print run. The Level 2 uncommon has 699 copies while Level 3 rare has 299. Even with their numbering, all are fairly affordable relative to Bedard’s other early cards.

Value: $$-$$$

Parallels:

Common Level 1: Red (#’ed/199), Blue (#’ed/99), Green (#’ed/49), Purple Autographs (1/1)

Uncommon Level 2: Red (#’ed/99), Blue (#’ed/49), Green (#’ed/25), Purple Autographs (1/1)

Rare Level 3: Red (#’ed/49), Blue (#’ed/25), Green (#’ed/5), Purple Autographs (1/1)

Buy on eBay: Common (#102) | Uncommon (#152) | Rare (#202)

2023-24 Upper Deck Trilogy Connor Bedard Rookie Card

Other 2023-24 Upper Deck Trilogy Connor Bedard cards:


2024 Upper Deck National Hockey Card Day Connor Bedard #NHCD-1

National Hockey Card Day is one of the hobby’s largest promotions of the year. Collectors go to participating shops and get free packs. Bedard is one of the rookies on the main checklist. He also has a second Rookie Moments base card that isn’t in packs. To get this one, collectors had to make a qualifying purchase of $10 on Upper Deck products. You shouldn’t have much problem finding either at an affordable price.

Value: $

Buy on eBay.

Other 2024 Upper Deck National Hockey Card Day Connor Bedard cards:

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