Connor McDavid Rookie Card Market Guide

Before he was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid was a popular Ontario Hockey League (OHL) player. At the end of his junior league career, the center was the most decorated player in the OHL's history. McDavid exploded onto the professional hockey scene and became the youngest captain in NHL history during his second year with the Oilers. Thanks in part to his junior career achievements, anticipation was high for the center's professional trading cards. Sales of McDavid rookie cards have been strong since he entered the NHL, but are these cards likely to retain value? This guide examines the Connor McDavid rookie cards available on the market, along with projections for future growth.

Who Is Connor McDavid?

Connor McDavid was an accomplished hockey player long before his professional NHL debut. He began playing hockey competitively at age five and was named the Greater Toronto Hockey League Player of the Year in 2012 at 15 years old. McDavid was selected by the Erie Otters as the first pick in the OHL Priority Selection in 2012. He had an extremely successful first season and received the 2013 Emms Family Award for OHL rookie of the year.

McDavid played for three seasons in the OHL and amassed a variety of awards, including the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award, OHL Scholastic Player of the Year and Red Tilson Trophy.

The Edmonton Oilers selected McDavid with the first overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He started with the team in the 2015-16 season, scoring his first professional goal in his third game. McDavid appeared in only 45 games during his rookie season due to a clavicle injury but was still named to the 2015-16 All-Rookie Team.

The young NHL star's solid performance at center and leadership on the ice led to him being named team captain for the Oilers during his second season. Despite a slow start to the 2016-17 season, he became the first player to reach 50 goals that year. He was selected for the 2017 NHL All-Star Team and went on to become the youngest player ever to win the Art Ross Trophy for the league’s scoring leader. McDavid finished the 2016-17 season as the league MVP and was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy.

The talented Oiler posted impressive numbers during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons despite lackluster performances from the team. He won the Art Ross Trophy again in 2018 and was named to the All-Star Team both seasons. The two seasons between 2019 and 2021 were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. McDavid still managed to reach 100 points in record time during the 2020-21 season, with only Mario Lemieux having done so in fewer games.

McDavid had a strong 2021-22 season and appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He became the second player in NHL history to score multiple goals in six playoff games. McDavid was selected for the 2018 and 2022 Canadian Olympic hockey teams, but NHL rules prevented him from playing.

Are Connor McDavid Rookie Cards Valuable?

McDavid was a popular hockey player in Canada prior to being drafted into the NHL. Thanks to his star status in the OHL, anticipation for his NHL rookie cards was high. The value for many of these cards has remained strong throughout his career. While autograph and rookie patch cards tend to be the most valuable, some Upper Deck parallels and special issues also command investor attention.

Investment Potential in Connor McDavid Cards*

McDavid has cemented his status as an All-Star player with the Oilers throughout his early seasons in Edmonton. The center's athletic prowess and determination have been key to the team's success. McDavid is well-respected by both his fans and fellow hockey players. Casual and serious investors can find McDavid rookie cards suited for their collections. If McDavid is able to maintain play through the final years of his career, values for his rookie cards should remain stable.

The Top Connor McDavid Rookie Cards

A wide variety of Connor McDavid rookie cards were issued during his first season. Both base and parallel editions have been popular among players. Autographed and memorabilia editions are generally the most valuable. The most desirable targets for serious collectors include:

2015 Fleer Showcase Metal Universe Rookies #MU-1 Connor McDavid - Blue Precious Gems #’d/50 ($59,935)

This is generally considered the most valuable parallel among all Connor McDavid rookie cards. The design features an image of McDavid skating up the ice in his Oilers uniform against a solid, bright-blue background. A gold pinstripe runs down the left side of the card, intersecting with the nameplate located below the center's photo. An embossed Metal Universe medallion appears on the left side of the nameplate. An "Oilers Center" designation runs up the left side of the card.

At PriceGuide.Cards, the average price for ungraded cards trends at $2,612, with a high at $59,935. The average price for graded cards trends at $5,680, with a high at $17,887. Average prices for graded cards should rise over time as more collectors have cards graded before sale.

2015 Upper Deck Black Diamond #BDR-CM Connor McDavid - Quad Diamond Relics #’d/99 ($48,100)

This attractive parallel is a favorite among serious collectors. A waist-up shot of McDavid on the ice in his Oilers uniform pops out of a circular metallic frame at the center of the card. A block-letter "Rookies" designator with a metallic outline is at the top of the card. McDavid's nameplate info is printed immediately below the bottom of the photo frame; an issue number indicator appears at the bottom of the photo. A large, embossed Black Diamond logo printed at the bottom, alongside four actual diamonds embedded in the card, finishes the design.

At PriceGuide.Cards, the average low price for ungraded cards trends at $3,659, with a high at $48,100. The average low price for graded cards trends at $5,362, with a high at $39,999.

2015 Upper Deck Ice Premieres #200 Connor McDavid - #’d/99 ($15,525)

Part of a limited run of 99 cards, this Ice Premieres issue from Upper Deck is printed on translucent material and features an action shot of McDavid skating up the ice. The nameplate info is printed at the bottom of the card in plain text. A circular "C" medallion in the middle right of the card indicates McDavid's on-ice position. "Ice Premieres" is printed vertically on the left of the card against a clear background. A metallic silver pinstripe with Ice logo runs to the right of the Ice Premieres text.

At PriceGuide.Cards, the average low price for ungraded cards trends at $2,545, with a high at $4,885. The average low price for graded cards trends at $5,591, with a high at $15,525.00.

2015 Fleer Showcase Metal Universe Rookies #MU-1 Connor McDavid - Red Precious Gems #’d/150 ($15,001)

This Metal Universe parallel was issued in a limited run of 150 cards. It is visually similar to the Blue Precious Gems parallel listed above but generally less valuable. This card features the same shot of McDavid skating up the ice, but the background is a deep garnet red. A metallic gold Metal Universe logo appears on the lower left side of the card. Embossed gold pinstriping and nameplate details round out the design of this card.

At PriceGuide.Cards, the average low price for ungraded cards trends towards $272, with a high at $4,822. The average price for graded cards trends towards $2,698, with a high at $15,001.

Affordable Connor McDavid Rookie Cards

While many Connor McDavid rookie cards sell for exceptionally high values, there are still many good targets on the market for amateur and casual collectors.

2015 Upper Deck Black Rookie Coverage Relics #RCOV-CM Connor McDavid ($185)

This memorabilia card is printed on bold silver and black stock with a matte finish. A full-color, cutout photo of McDavid in uniform during a game is printed on the left of the card. A jersey patch is inset to the right of the photo in a silver frame. A "Black Rookie Coverage" logo appears above the patch. A text banner reading "Relics" runs up the right frame of the jersey patch. An embossed Upper Deck logo appears in the top left corner.

At PriceGuide.Cards, the average low price for ungraded cards trends towards $71, with a high at $185. The average overall price for graded cards trends towards $137.50.

2015 Upper Deck Connor McDavid Collection #CM-3 Connor McDavid ($89)

This card is part of a wider Connor McDavid set. It features a shot of the Oilers center in a suit and tie in the locker room, holding up a puck marked "1^st NHL Goal." A blue-and-black nameplate appears below the photo, with a black outline Connor McDavid Collection logo printed immediately above it. A metallic gold Upper Deck logo appears in the top left corner of the card.

At PriceGuide.Cards, the average low price for ungraded cards trends towards $6, with a high at $16. The average low price for graded cards trends towards $48, with a high at $89.

How Are Connor McDavid Cards Graded?

All sports card certifiers use a standardized grading system recognized by card dealers, appraisers and collectors. In this system, grades range from Ungraded to Pristine 10. All grades are calculated according to the following standards.

Pristine 10: The best condition a card can be in. It is in Gem Mint condition across all four grading criteria: surface, edges, centering and corners. These cards are like-new, perfect even if viewed under 10x magnification.

Gem Mint: These cards are in ideal condition with bright colors and perfect centering. They have undamaged edges, sharp corners and no more than one very minor, barely perceptible flaw.

Grade 9.5: This is a near-Mint card that has no more than one minor flaw or condition issue.

Grade 9: An excellent card with a few minor condition issues or flaws.

Grades 8 and below: These cards are graded lower because of production flaws or post-purchase condition issues. Grades are determined by weighing the number of flaws and condition issues on each card.

Ungraded: These cards have never been graded, and their condition is known only by their owner.

Raw: Cards that have just been removed from the packaging and have been placed directly on the market.

Sports card values are determined by weighing three components: condition, rarity and collector demand. Of the three factors, collector demand tends to be the most difficult to forecast. It can change at any time with an athlete's performance, team or career achievements.

At times, a card that was highly desirable plummets in value when collectors lose their interest. Price spikes can also occur with renewed interest in a player. Of course, escalating prices at open auctions can also cause card prices to spike artificially. This means that rare cards in Gem Mint condition are sometimes more difficult to sell than lower-graded cards that are preferred by sports fans and new collectors. For further information on CGC Cards’ 10-point Grading Scale and to find out more about our industry-leading services, visit CGCcards.com.

*Any mention of "investment potential" is for entertainment only and should not be construed as investment advice. The Certified Collectibles Group does not provide investment advice and is not liable for any buy, sell or trade decisions made by any parties.