THE ONES TO WATCH

FOUR MITCH MARNER ROOKIE CARDS THAT BELONG IN YOUR COLLECTION

2016-17 BLACK DIAMOND #BDRMM

This has to be his most compelling non-RPA RC. The card is serial numbered out of 99, has an attractive design featuring three man-made gems, and is incredibly condition-sensitive. Of the 34 copies slabbed to date (33 by BGS), just two have earned a Gem Mint 9.5 designation. And while nearly half (16) were deemed to be Mint 9, the rest settled in at NrMt or less, making every premium copy that much more desirable. That print run means copies rarely come up for sale, so be prepared to go over book to secure your copy.

2016-17 SP AUTHENTIC #148

With a print run of 999, a clean design, and an on-card 'graph, Marner's SPA has always been one of his most desirable RCs. It's also one that consistently comes back from the graders with top marks. PSA has graded 97 copies, 66 of which were returned in Gem Mint slabs (67 percent). Of the 362 submitted to BGS, 276 (76 percent) were deemed Gem Mint, but just three (0.8 percent) were graded Pristine 10, with zero Black Label 10s. Supply, then, is not a pressing issue so shop carefully. Keep an eye out for the inscribed copies, 18 of which were graded Gem Mint by BGS.

2016-17 UPPER DECK #468

Not surprisingly, this is his most popular card in both raw and slabbed form. Nearly 4,500 copies have been graded to date – second only to Auston Matthews in this set – with almost 3,000 earning a Gem Mint rating, so finding a copy in either state isn't particularly challenging. Shop carefully and you should be able to find one you like at a price you can live with. Where things start to get interesting are the very limited ultra-premium copies. There are 63 BGS Pristine 10s in circulation and just five Black Label 10s. For such a widely available card, those numbers are below expectations. Pristine 10s make up 4.4 percent of the Matthews population, nearly twice as many as the 2.3 percent for Marner.

2016-17 FLEER SHOWCASE #187

This might be the real hidden gem of Marner's RC crop. The card has a print run of 99 copies along with a sticker autograph and a design that features a unique, artistic flair. More to the point, it has a golden hue along the top and side borders that's murder on grading. Just 13 copies have been slabbed to date, all by BGS, a shockingly small percentage that reflects the condition challenges it presents. Six of those have earned a Gem Mint 9.5, the fewest of any of his five /99 RCs. It might not be on top of everyone's want list, but this is one that savvy collectors should keep an eye on.