Alex Ovechkin is knocking on the door of hockey history and the title of the greatest scorer the sport has ever seen. The Washington Capitals legend is closing in on breaking the NHL scoring record of 894 career goals currently held by “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky.
Hockey card collectors have been dazzled by the two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner’s talent for two decades. So what are the best options when it comes to Ovechkin trading cards? Here are our picks.
Top pick
(full recommendations below)
2005 Upper Deck Young Guns #443 rookie card
Ovechkin’s 2005 Upper Deck Young Guns #443 rookie card is my best recommendation based on its established popularity, and the lower number of graded copies compared to top rookie cards from other major sports. When it comes to must-have hockey cards, Upper Deck’s “Young Guns” are praised as the standard of modern NHL rookies because of their quality photography, significant demand and long-standing value.
Things to know before buying
The value of sports cards can fluctuate for various reasons such as condition, print runs, or graded population. Other factors that can cause prices to go up or down include player performance, market trends, and health of the wider economy. The secondary sales market for individual cards of a given sport generally hits its lowest point during the offseason (in other words, you can usually find better prices in the offseason than during the season). My recommendations are not an attempt to promote specific investment behavior or trading advice, but to guide and inform readers about popular and unique cards that are celebrated by the sports card community.
Ultimately, the best cards to collect are always the ones you will enjoy regardless of whether they go up or down in value. The recommendations below should serve as a starting point for cards to consider, but a big part of the fun in collecting is the hunt for the cards you like the most.
“Raw” cards vs. Graded cards
Cards can come out of the pack (their “raw” state) with a wide variety of imperfections that can impact their value. Card grading is a process in a which an expert of the field determines the condition of a card based on a number of factors (including corner sharpness, image centering, print imperfections, and more) and assigns a numerical grade, usually on a scale of 1-10 (with the latter being close to perfect) and sealed in a protective case. There are a number of grading companies, each with their own unique grading scales, but PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is by far the largest and most prominent in the industry. Cards graded a “PSA 10” can carry a significant value multiplier compared to raw cards or those graded by other companies.
It’s fine (and often cheaper) to buy cards raw, but if you want to ensure authenticity and/or a minimum condition level and you’re not experienced at determining card condition for yourself, you may want to buy a graded card instead — particularly if you’re buying online and only able to see the card in photographs.
Best low-end (~$1-$100) Alexander Ovechkin cards
This is a category for collectors who are on a tighter budget or aren’t as concerned about the long-term monetary value of the cards they buy.
2005 Upper Deck Rookie Class #2 rookie card
If you want to add a budget-friendly Ovechkin rookie card to your collection, his 2005 Upper Deck Rookie Class #2 is a solid choice that’s not hard to find for sale. The card’s image showing Ovechkin ripping a shot is particularly fitting as he marches toward Gretzky’s record.
Unlike most of the cards I will highlight here, this one cannot be pulled out of a pack and is part of a 50-card box set that celebrates the 2005 NHL rookie class.
At the time of writing, PSA 9 graded examples are selling for around $100 and raw sales are closer to $50. Since this was a factory set release from 2005, it doesn’t have any variations or parallels (more limited cards that run parallel to the base set — they have a similar look, but are distinguished by a unique physical quality like a different color border or added design element).
The 2005 box set is a worthy release to own whether you are a set collector or submitting raw Ovechkin rookie cards for grading as it’s guaranteed to include notable rookie cards of Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Henrik Lundqvist. Sealed boxes are available on eBay with sales in the $100 range.
2005 Upper Deck MVP #394 rookie card
Upper Deck MVP Hockey is known as one of the first NHL sets released for the new season and is geared toward set builders and younger fans looking to collect on a budget.
The fun design of the card includes two hockey sticks that border his image and a foiled facsimile signature across the front.
Although this set is not particularly known for generating high interest for its base cards on the secondary market, Ovechkin’s MVP rookies have aged well and continue to draw collector demand. Raw copies are currently selling for around $50, and PSA 9s are in the $100 range.
More expensive variations and parallels: Gold (/100), Platinum (/25)
Best value (~$100-$499) Alexander Ovechkin cards
This is a category for collectors looking to pay a bit more for cards that have some degree of scarcity and have a better chance at retaining or increasing in value long-term.
2005 Parkhurst #669 rookie card
The roots of the Parkhurst brand in the trading card hobby date back to the 1950s, when it first produced hockey and non-sports trading cards. The 1951 “Parkies” hockey card release is considered one of the most iconic all-time sets, featuring the legendary rookie cards of Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard, and Terry Sawchuk.
In 2005, Upper Deck acquired the license to produce Parkhust branded sets just in time for Ovechkin’s debut season in the NHL.
According to PSA’s grading population report, Ovechkin’s Parkhurst base rookie card has less than 500 PSA 10s in existence. Current PSA 10 sales are in the $250 range, but its scarcity in gem mint grades translates to only a few sales per month on eBay. Raw and PSA 9 prices are slightly cheaper, going for between $100-$150.
The storied past of Parkhurst sets and its familiarity with hockey collectors should continue to spell interest in Ovechkin’s 2005 Parkhurst card in graded and raw condition.
More expensive variations and parallels: Facsimile Autograph (/100)
2005 Upper Deck Victory #264 rookie card
Ovechkin’s 2005 Upper Deck Victory #264 is a mid- to low-end base rookie card that’s pack-pulled and has an interesting backstory. A “pack-pulled card” is a card found in a sealed, randomly collated pack of cards, meaning there’s no guarantee on what particular cards you may get out of it.
Even though this card is technically supposed to be a part of Upper Deck’s “Victory” set, the 2005 Calder Memorial Trophy winner’s rookie card was not included in sealed 2005 Victory packs. Instead it was inserted into packs of Upper Deck Series 2.
Manufacturers sometimes run into production issues or delays for various reasons, which can determine which players or cards may be included or missing in a given set release. This card’s odd release to the public has resulted in a relatively small number of graded PSA copies compared to today’s standards.
Not to mention, the low-quality card stock and grey borders of 2005 Upper Deck Victory cards have proven condition-sensitive and make it difficult for grading companies to assign a Gem Mint score. Of roughly 1,200 examples authenticated by PSA, only 113 have received a Gem Mint 10 grade.
Although Upper Deck stopped producing Victory sets in 2012, the current demand for Ovechkin’s Victory rookie card in PSA 10 grades has it selling for around $350. The set also offers short print gold and black parallels that I’d highly consider as an alternative to the base rookie card.
More expensive variations and parallels: Gold (/100), Black (/25)
Best high-end (~$500+) Alexander Ovechkin cards
This is a category for collectors looking to acquire the most desired Ovechkin cards on the market.
2005 Upper Deck Young Guns #443 rookie card
When it comes to compelling modern rookie cards for hockey fans to collect, Upper Deck’s “Young Guns” undoubtedly take the top spot. First introduced in 1990, the Young Guns brand has evolved into the most valuable and in-demand NHL base rookie cards the hobby has to offer today.
In the Series 2 release of 2005 Upper Deck Hockey, collectors had the chance to pull a Young Guns rookie card in 1:4 hobby packs on average. The relativity low supply on the set’s most chased rookie cards was Upper Deck’s way to avoid overprinting, which the company had been guilty of during the height of the junk wax era in the late 1980s. If you look at the mainstream set releases from Topps and Panini for other major sports, most will generally include one or two rookie cards per pack. This approach of shorter printed base rookie cards has benefited the long-term demand and value of Ovechkin and others’ Young Guns rookie cards.
As of this writing, PSA 9 graded examples are selling for around $1,500 and raw sales are in the $900 range. If you have deep pockets and are looking to make a big purchase, PSA 10 copies sell for north of $4,000.
In my opinion, it’s the gold-standard of Ovechkin base rookie cards.
More expensive variations and parallels: High Gloss (/10), Masterpiece Press Plates (1/1)
2005 SP Authentic Future Watch Rookie Autograph #190
Upper Deck’s SP Authentic is highly praised as one of the prominent hockey sets and is specifically known for its “Future Watch” rookie autograph cards.
One of the major selling points of Ovechkin’s 2005 SP Authentic Future Watch autograph card is that his signature is directly on the card. This may seem like a minor detail, but “on-card autographs” are immensely desired because many of the signatures in modern collecting involve the player signing a sticker, which is then attached to the card. There’s something about a player having the card in hand when signing it that makes it feel more personal to collectors.
Future Watch Autographs from 2005 have a simple, yet elegant white and blue design that really makes the ink from the signature pop off the card. Ovechkin’s 2005 Future Watch Autographs come in two variations: The base auto has 999 copies and the parallel is a patch autograph limited to only 100. Multiple examples of the base auto in a PSA 10 grade sold for more than $10,000 in 2024.
The positive reputation and brand recognition of SP Authentic Future Watch Autos place this card among the elite for NHL rookie autograph cards.
More expensive variations and parallels: Limited Auto Patch (/100), Black Printing Plate (1/1), Cyan Printing Plate (1/1), Magenta Printing Plate (1/1), Yellow Printing Plate (1/1)
2005 Upper Deck The Cup Rookie Patch Auto #179
If money grew on trees and I had my choice of one Ovechkin card to treat myself with, it’s his 2005 Upper Deck The Cup Rookie Patch Autograph #79. Upper Deck’s “The Cup” is one of the most coveted premium sets for hockey collectors and is widely regarded for producing the finest NHL rookie patch autograph cards in the entire hobby.
Cards featuring a rookie’s autograph and pieces of game-used or player-worn memorabilia have become a main attraction in modern collecting and a top choice for high-end collectors. Depending on the sport, player, set, and parallel, the popularity of rookie patch autograph cards (or “RPA” for short) can translate into six-figure sales. In 2023, a PSA 10 graded copy of Ovi’s The Cup Rookie Patch Autograph #179 sold for $182,400 at Goldin Auctions. Ovechkin’s 2005 The Cup RPA is limited to 99 copies and is the most common in comparison to the other variations.
I believe this is the ultimate chase card for Ovechkin collectors based on the quality of The Cup’s RPA cards, its low print run, and its high-end price.
More expensive variations and parallels: Platinum (no patch auto /25), Gold Rainbow (/8) Black Rainbow (no patch auto 1/1), Printing Plates (no patch).
Other cool Ovechkin Cards
2005 Upper Deck Rookie Showdown Ovechkin/Crosby #SCAO
The 2005 NHL rookie card class not only featured one of the sport’s best in Ovechkin, but it also includes three-time Stanley Cup Finals champion Crosby, who recently became the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time assists leader. Ovechkin and Crosby were each the No. 1 pick of the NHL Draft in back-to-back years, and both had historic rookie seasons in 2005. “Sid the Kid” finished his rookie campaign as the youngest player in NHL history to net 100 points in a season, and Ovechkin became only the second player to collect 50 goals and 100 points in his debut season.
Upper Deck wisely noticed the rising popularity of the NHL’s new rivalry at the time and created a special “Rookie Showdown” holographic card including both superstars. When holding the card in your hand, you can see action shots of Ovechkin and Crosby, depending on how the light refracts off of the front.
For such a visually captivating rookie card that features two players who’ve heavily influenced the popularity of modern hockey cards, it’s rather affordable. Ungraded copies sell for about $20-$30 and PSA 10 examples are fetching around $250.
2012 Fleer Retro 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems #16
Precious Metal Gems inserts are one of the rarest chase cards in the entire sports card hobby. Known as the ultimate headliner of Skybox Metal Universe sets since 1997, “PMG” cards have a distinct metallic design with gleaming colors that shine like fine jewels. Following Upper Deck’s purchase of Fleer, the inception of Fleer Retro sets in 2011 recreated many of the classic rare Skybox inserts from the late 1990s.
The 2012 Fleer Retro hockey set produced only 160 Precious Metal Gems cards divided into three colored variations. The red parallel is serial numbered to 100 copies, and the blue variation is limited to 50, while the ultra-rare green parallel had only 10 printed.
The high-end prices of his first-ever PMG from 2012 may make it difficult for the average collector to obtain it. Luckily, Ovechkin is featured in Precious Metal Gems insert checklists across multiple years, including the most recent Metal Universe sets. Ovechkin’s red parallel PMG inserts from recent releases sell between $100-$150 raw.
Even though this is the first Ovechkin card I’ve recommended that’s not from his rookie season, I consider his 2012 Fleer Retro Precious Metal Gems #16 inserts (regardless of which serial numbered variation) a holy grail for hockey card inserts.
Getting the best price
Prices for a certain trading card can vary wildly and fluctuate quickly, making it important to check recent sales of a given card to make sure you’re buying at a fair value. You can check recent sales of an item on eBay by selecting the “sold items” filter on search results. You can also run a search on 130point.com, which is a free site that provides sales data from a number of online marketplaces. There are also several apps that provide more in-depth sales data, often charging subscription fees for full access.
To account for outliers, it’s important to take multiple previous sales into account, not just the single most recent. It’s also important to note the recency of those sales and any real-world factors that could affect changes in value.
Why you should trust us
As a second-generation collector, Tyler Holzhammer started collecting cards and attending the National Sports Collectors Convention at 10 years old. He’s continued his passion as a collector into a career, providing sports card content and market analysis for companies like Sports Card Investor and Goldin Auctions. Tyler’s sports card collection is centered around players from his favorite teams, the Los Angeles Rams and the St. Louis Cardinals.
How we recommended
We utilize marketplace research databases that provide sports card analysis and sales information, such as eBay’s Terapeak product research tool and CardLadder. We recommended this list of cards by analyzing the values, sales volume, set popularity, and grading population of over a dozen different Ovechkin rookie cards.
The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
(Top photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images; card images: eBay)
