THE FUTURE IS NOW
Three packs into our box break of 2019-20 SP Game-Used CHL, my son’s eyes lit up. “ere he is,” he said, showing off an autograph of Brandt Clarke.“at’s the guy I was telling you about.”
e 2020 NHL dra wasn’t even in the books and here my kid was already looking ahead to the completely unpredictable Class of 2021.
To be honest, he gets more excited about Shane Wright and the 2022 cycle, but as a Chel-inspired prospect geek he has high hopes for next year as well. ere’s no clearcut favorite at this point to go first overall, but Clarke is definitely in the mix. And for good reason. e 6-foot-1, 180-pound defenseman is coming off a brilliant rookie season for the OHL’s Barrie Colts. Scouts rave about his poise with the puck and his mobility. His 200-foot game translates well to playing on both special teams. And his 38 points, tops among freshmen blueliners, hints at his explosive offensive potential.
No wonder astute collectors already are tracking down Clarke’s cards in anticipation of the pre-dra hype. But he’s not the only 2021 hopeful you can collect this offseason. Upper Deck’s 2019-20 CHL products also feature Carson Lambos, Dylan Guenther, Cole Sillinger, and Joshua Roy, among other top prospects.
Lambos, a big, mobile defenseman whose style evokes that of Ivan Provorov, is an early favorite to join Clarke in the top-10. He has the physical maturity to jump directly to the NHL. Guenther, the first selection in the 2018 WHL dra , is a viral video phenom who has first-line potential at either wing. Sillinger is a lethal sniper who looks to join his dad, Mike, as a top-15 pick. And Roy, the first choice in the 2019 QMJHL dra , is an elite playmaker who can pile up the points.
And UD’s not the only manufacturer dishing ahead of the next dra . You can find potential first-overall pick Aatu Räty, an energetic center with elite speed and hockey sense, in several Finnish issues, as well as in a team set from the 2020 World Juniors. Or you can track down the 2019-20 Rimouski Oceanic team set that features Zachary Bolduc. e QMJHL rookie of the year plays at a high pace and has a rifle of a shot that could power him into the top-10.
Long-term prospecting isn’t for every collector, but these kids could add some pop to an unusual offseason.
Al Muir • amuir@beckett.com • @almuirsi on Twitter