By Stephen Laroche
The connection between hockey legends and their trading cards often begins when they are fresh-faced rookies. A rite of passage shared by countless young players, the path to greatness features a common thread – the Upper Deck NHL Draft, an event which the company has proudly sponsored for the past five years, and one that sends prospects on a path to living out their childhood dream, and maybe being mentioned as one of the all-time greats one day.
Not Every Legend Was Drafted
In the days before the NHL instituted a formal amateur draft, however, scouts for the Original Six clubs searched everywhere for talented young men to play on their sponsored junior teams.
After seeing a teenaged defenseman and future Upper Deck spokesman Bobby Orr during a tournament, Boston Bruins scout Wren Blair was determined to bring him into the fold. After meeting with the Orr family, he was able to obtain his rights by signing what was called a C form. During the pre-draft era, this tied a prospect to one of the six clubs in perpetuity until they retired or the team decided to trade away their rights.
At age 14, Orr debuted with the Oshawa Generals and established himself as a generational prospect. His final junior campaign (1965-66) was one for the ages as he averaged two points per game on the way to a championship. The rebuilding Bruins brought him aboard soon after and his impact on the game was immediate.
Gretzky’s Unconventional Route to Glory
Much like Orr, longtime Upper Deck exclusive spokesperson Wayne Gretzky did not hear his name called on draft day. Instead, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer ultimately did things his own way.
Hailing from Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky made national headlines at the age of 10 after scoring a mind-boggling 378 goals. By 1977-78, his path took him to the OMJHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he donned the iconic number 99 for the first time.
In the late 1970s, players were not drafted until they were 20 years old but the struggling World Hockey Association was making waves by pursuing younger talents. The Indianapolis Racers brokered a deal with the 17-year-old superstar and he joined them for a mere eight games before the cash-strapped club dealt him away to the Edmonton Oilers.
In his first year Gretzky defied critics and won WHA Rookie of the Year honors. Soon after, four of the rival league’s clubs joined the NHL and the Oilers retained his rights due to a personal services contract with team owner Peter Pocklington and made him a priority selection heading into the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft.
First Round Picks Have Legendary Potential
Players perceived as having the greatest potential tend to be chosen in the early stages of the draft and first round picks historically tend to be more hits than misses. In some years, some of these names will go on to become true legends.
Before the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, Paul Coffey was touted as one of the brightest blueline prospects. In 1979-80, he had emerged as an elite offensive specialist and split the season between Sault Ste. Marie and the Kitchener Rangers – leading the latter club with 71 points over 52 games.
Edmonton was underrated by many experts at the time – but the shrewdness of their scouts, headed by Barry Fraser, ensured that the team was on its way to becoming a serious contender. Having selected future Hall of Famers Mark Messier, Kevin Lowe, and Glenn Anderson a year earlier and with Gretzky already in the fold, this draft brought them more legends in Coffey, Jari Kurri, and Andy Moog. This group would ultimately capture its first Stanley Cup in 1984.
Coffey, taken seventh overall, did not take long to become one of the game’s best. By mid-decade, he consistently racked up over 100 points a year and eventually became the second player at his position to record over 1,000 career points.
Success Can Come With Later Picks
Even those that aren’t chosen in the first round can rise to stardom. Another legend selected later in 1980 proved to be one of the decade’s best. During the fourth round, the Los Angeles Kings added a player that generated tremendous excitement in the years that followed by calling out the name of Bernie Nicholls from the OMJHL’s Kingston Canadians.
Despite not cracking the lineup right away, Nicholls was determined to succeed. Unable to be held back, Nicholls debuted with the Kings in 1981-82 and developed into a lethal scoring talent. By the time Gretzky joined the team, he exploded with a career-best 70 goals and 150 points in 1988-89.
While most drafted players are selected in their first year of eligibility, there were some that needed more time to hone their skills. In the case of Hall of Famer Mark Recchi, he was able to prove himself and recorded an eye-popping 154 points with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers in 1987-88.
Even with that impressive total, he had to wait until the fourth round of that year’s draft before the Pittsburgh Penguins took him 67th overall. After a short apprenticeship in the minors, he swiftly rose to stardom and eventually captured three Stanley Cups.
Great Goalies Come From Deep Picks
Some of the game’s greatest netminders have been selected beyond the first two rounds and in 1984, the Montreal Canadiens used a third rounder (51st overall) to take Patrick Roy of the QMJHL’s Granby Bisons. Most goalies need several years to develop, but this Upper Deck spokesman defied the trend. Snaring the top job for the Habs as a rookie in 1985-86, he backstopped the club to the Cup. By the time he retired, he added three more championship rings to his collection along with other numerous awards.
The path to the NHL is not always linear and can often take several twists and turns. Talent is a player’s true measure and like it has in the past, the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft is bound to add a few more legends to hockey’s lush historical record.
The post Legends Are Born at the Upper Deck NHL Draft appeared first on Upper Deck.
Upper Deck
For the fifth year in a row, Upper Deck is serving as the title sponsor of the NHL Draft. On June 26-27, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, Upper Deck will be on site to welcome the newest wave of rookies to the NHL and unite hockey fans around their passion for the sport and for trading cards. But that’s not all – even before the first round gets underway, Upper Deck will be in the area hosting a pre-draft party to get fans excited ahead of the big weekend.
Upper Deck SP Authentic Launch & Draft Party
Join us for a FREE event on Wednesday, June 24 from 5-8 pm at – with 2025-26 SP Authentic releasing and the Upper Deck NHL Draft just days away, this is the perfect opportunity for a massive celebration of both hockey and hockey trading cards. Attendees will receive a complimentary swag bag which includes a voucher for Upper Deck product, a raffle ticket, and a 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft promo pack. The fun doesn’t stop there – the night will also feature raffles and box breaks all night long, as well as appearances from Michael Misa and Zayne Parekh, so expect an action-packed and memorable night.
For complete details, visit Dave and Adam’s website.
Address: 375 Commerce Drive, Amherst, NY 14228
2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft
Upper Deck will be set up inside KeyBank Center for both days of the NHL Draft with plenty of exciting activations for both hockey fans and collectors.
Free Promo Packs!
All attendees of the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft will receive a free 2026 NHL Draft Promo Pack that features players selected by the Buffalo Sabres in years past as well as former number one overall draft picks.
Personalized Trading Card Station
Have you ever wanted your own Upper Deck hockey card? Now is your chance! Our fan-favorite personalized trading card station returns! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get a free trading card of yourself that you can take home and add to your collection. With a 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft theme, this 1-of-1 is sure to make any collector jealous.
Purchase Hockey Cards and Play Puck-o!
Joining us at the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft is one of the most esteemed hobby shops in the industry, We The Hobby. They’ll be breaking live during the draft, giving away Upper Deck Authenticated memorabilia, and more! They’ll also have various Upper Deck hockey sets on site for attendees to purchase. With any purchase of 2024-25/2025-26 Upper Deck Hockey hobby product, you’ll be able to play ‘Puck-O’ to win event-exclusive promo items.
Meet Devon Levi!
Buffalo Sabres goalie Devon Levi will be at the Upper Deck booth on June 27 signing complimentary 5x7s! Don’t miss out on meeting and receiving an autograph from the Buffalo netminder. Make sure to line up early as 5x7s are first come, first served while supplies last during the appearance time.
Time: 12 pm – 1:30 pm
2026 NHL Draft E-pack Promo Set
The number one wing in the draft gets its first trading card! For the first time ever, Upper Deck’s free E-Pack promo set will have a physical component, and it’s going to be a hot commodity. The 2026 NHL Draft E-pack Promo Set features five top prospects in the draft across 2 different designs. Collectors can find base cards as well as a “Lost in the Sauce” parallel – perfect for celebrating Buffalo as the host city. While collectors can only land 6 of the 10 cards upon redemption, trading with e-pack users for the others needed will yield an achievement for a physical card, as Wing Man enters his name as the number one wing in the draft. Act fast – this hot rookie will only be available to collect for a limited time. Click here to collect!
The post Join Upper Deck at the 2026 NHL Draft appeared first on Upper Deck.
Upper Deck
Carlsbad, CA (June 19, 2026) – Upper Deck, the worldwide leader in sports and entertainment collectibles, is creating collectibles and games based on the hit series The Last Kingdom. As part of a collaboration with NBCUniversal, the collectibles leader will help fans to further connect with the acclaimed show. A trading card set and game will headline the initial releases, with both scheduled to launch later this year.
“We’re always thrilled to give fans new ways to engage with the franchises they love. The Last Kingdom is widely acclaimed and has fans around the world, so being able to release both a trading card set and a game will allow fans, collectors, and gamers to further enjoy the series.” said Travis Rhea, Upper Deck Director of Entertainment Brands.
The Last Kingdom: Destiny is All card game is a new two-player game that focuses on the characters, locations, and themes across all five seasons of the series. Players will take command of either the Saxon or Great Heathen Armies and battle one another to take control of all four kingdoms. Taking turns, players will recruit characters to their cause and position troops to capture strategic locations in hope to turn fate to their side – as whoever can gain territory control wins.
The Last Kingdom trading card set brings all five seasons of the series to life. A 100-card base set spans fan-favorite characters, with an array of parallels available including silver and gold numbered as low as 10. A variety of inserts provide a visual representation of the series, including ‘The Future is Fate’, ‘I am Uhtred Son of Uhtred’, and ‘Born a Saxon and Raised a Dane’ — featuring parallels numbered as low as 10. Fans and collectors can also look for autographs and memorabilia from a number of the top cast members, including map relics and Destiny is All autographs.
The Last Kingdom trading card set and card game are scheduled to release later this year. For more information and to stay up to date on release timing, please visit UpperDeck.com.
###
About Upper Deck
Upper Deck is a global entertainment company creating trading cards, memorabilia, collectibles, games, and online platforms that deliver the experiences collectors crave. Upper Deck has set the unmatched industry standard for quality, authenticity, and innovation, and continues to bring generations of fans closer to their favorite athletes and characters with unique and authentic sports and entertainment product offerings, as well as its digital trading ecosystem. The company prides itself on creating collectibles that produce invaluable experiences for sports and entertainment’s most dedicated and loyal fans, with a goal to deliver excellence to the community across the most coveted properties as a means to develop memorable moments for collectors of all kinds.
Find more information at www.upperdeck.com or follow us on Facebook (/UpperDeck,/UpperDeckEnt), Instagram (UpperDeckSports,UpperDeckEnt), X (formerly known as Twitter) (UpperDeckSports,UpperDeckEnt), and YouTube (UDvids).
The Last Kingdom series © 2015 – 2022 Carnival Film & Television Limited
The post UPPER DECK TO PRODUCE ‘THE LAST KINGDOM’ COLLECTIBLES AND GAMES appeared first on Upper Deck.
Upper Deck