Young Guns Part 1: The Beginning

Rookie cards are arguably the most valuable cards to collect in the hobby. I'm not 100% sure why, but there is something about getting the first NHL card of the next star player. Of course there are positives and negatives for the hobby when chasing the next Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid. Bedard-mania in 2023-24 lead to some wild prices increases that effectively put kids or the casual collector out of the hobby. Speculators and investors aside, a true collector will appreciate the history of the Upper Deck Young Guns rookie inserts.

The Young Guns series started with the 1990-91 Upper Deck series, then returned for 1991-92, the series subject of this blog, and one more year after that. The series disappeared for the 1993-94 season, then returned as part of Collector's Choice for two seasons, before disappearing once again only to resurface in flagship for 1999-2000. In honour of the first era of Young Guns, let's look at the most significant players to be featured during the 1990s:

1990-91 Upper Deck: Sergei Fedorov and Pavel Bure.

1991-92 Upper Deck: Nicklas Lidstrom (featured below).

1992-93 Upper Deck: Teemu Selanne.

1995-96 Collector's Choice: Daniel Alfredsson and Saku Koivu.

1996-97 Collector's Choice: Jarome Iginla.

1999-00 Upper Deck: Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Roberto Luongo.

The theme for initial Young Guns is European invasion. With the Soviet Union collapsing, the door was open for more European players that had honed their skills against men in their home countries, preparing them to obliterate the competition in North America. For more on the history of Young Guns, visit Cardboard Connection, a major source of this information.

584 - Young Guns Checklist featuring Niklas Lidstrom

585- Donald Audette

A right winger, Audette was drafted 183rd overall by Buffalo in 1989 after scoring 76 goals and 161 points with Laval in the QMJHL. He turned pro immediately, scoring 88 points in 70 games with Rochester and winning the AHL rookie of the year award. Audette also appeared in eight games with the Sabres, scoring four goals and seven points.

In his true rookie season of 1991-92, Audette played in 63 games, scoring 31 goals and 48 points, finishing sixth in Calder voting. Over his next six seasons in Buffalo (1992-98), he scored 24 or more goals four times and 50+ points twice. Recurring knee injuries caused Audette to miss a significant number of games during this time, although there were highlights along the way. In 1994-95 he finished second in the NHL in both power play goals (13) and game winning goals (7). During the 1998 playoffs Audette tied for the team lead in scoring with 13 points as the Sabres lost to Washington in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In March 2000 he was traded to Atlanta with Frantisek Kaberle for Kelly Buchberger and Nelson Emerson. His first full season in Atlanta was a career-best, with 34 goals, 79 points and an appearance in the all-star game. His time in Atlanta was short, as just over a year after the initial trade Audette was sent back to Buffalo for a draft pick and prospect.

For the 2001-02 season he signed with Dallas as a free agent, playing 20 games before a trade to Montreal with Shaun Van Allen for Benoit Brunet and Martin Rucinsky. Over three seasons with the Habs he played in 90 games, scoring 37 goals. Two weeks into his start with Montreal, Audette had his forearm skated over during a game, severing tendons in his arm so severely that only the presence of a specialist at the Bell Centre prevented him from losing the use of his arm. After 23 games in the 2003-04 season he was released, then signed with Florida, playing 28 games with the Panthers before retiring at the end of the season.

In 14 NHL seasons, Audette played in 735 games, scoring 260 goals and 509 points. From 2010 to 2020 he was the general manager for AAA minor hockey team in Quebec, and since 2012 he worked as an amateur scout with the Canadiens.

YouTube clip: scoring two goals in 14 seconds for Buffalo during a March 1992 game against Toronto.

586 - Tomas Forslund

A right winger, Forslund was drafted 85th overall by Calgary in 1988. He came to North America for the 1991-92 season, playing in 36 games with the Flames, scoring five goals and 14 points. The following season Forslund played the majority of his hockey with Salt Lake City in the IHL, scoring 54 points in 63 games, while also scoring two assists in six games with the Flames.

From 1993 to 1996 he played in his native Sweden, then went to Germany for five seasons before returning to Sweden for three more seasons, retiring after the 2003-04 season. During Forslund’s time in Germany he led the Elitserien in goals in 1994-95 and played in the 1999 all-star game.

In 2 NHL seasons Forslund played in 44 games, scoring five goals and 16 points. In retirement he has coached off and on in Sweden, most recently with the national under 16 team in 2020-21.

YouTube clip: getting jumped by Scott Thornton following a high hit during an October 1991 game between Calgary and Edmonton.

587 - Nicklas Lidstrom

A defenceman, Lidstrom was drafted 53rd overall by Detroit in 1989. Following two seasons of pro hockey in Sweden, Nicklas (not Niklas as spelled on the card) joined Detroit for the 1991-92 season. He played in 80 games, scoring 11 goals and 60 points, was named to the all-rookie team and finished tied with Tony Amonte for second in Calder Trophy voting behind Pavel Bure.

The young defenceman played well over his next three seasons on an underachieving Red Wings team, scoring 56 points and recording a +43 rating during the 1993-94 season. In the 1995-96 season Lidstrom played in his first all-star game and recorded his best goal (17) and point (67) totals since his rookie season. 

Lidstrom’s step into superstardom coincided with Detroit’s emergence as one of the best franchises in the NHL. During the seven seasons spanning 1996 to 2003 his accomplishments are as follows:

• Winning three Stanley Cups. During the 1998 playoffs he scored 19 points and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2002, become the first European to do so.

• Scoring 14 or more goals in six seasons, including a career-high 20 in 1999-2000.

• Scoring 59 or more points each season, including two 70+ point seasons.

• Earning four first team all-star selections, two second team selections and playing in six straight all-star games.

• Six straight seasons as Byng Trophy finalist, Norris Trophy runner up from 1998 to 2000, then Norris Trophy winner from 2001-03.

• Becoming assistant captain in 1996.

2003-04 represented a down season by Lidstrom’s lofty standards, scoring only 10 goals and 38 points. He played in the all-star game, but was not a post-season all-star, nor was he a finalist for any awards.

After the 2004-05 lockout, Lidstrom authored one of the best second acts of an NHL career. During 2005 to 2011 the incomparable Lidstrom accomplished the following:

• Winning a fourth Stanley Cup in 2008, becoming the first European to captain a Stanley Cup winning team, and playing in a fifth Cup final the following season.

• Scoring 10+ goals in five seasons.

• Scoring 49 points or more each season, including a career-high 80 in 2005-06.

• Earning four first team all-star selections and playing in three all-star games.

• Winning four Norris Trophies, along with one finalist and a Byng Trophy finalist.

• Taking over as team captain in 2006 from Steve Yzerman.

2011-12 was Lidstrom's final season. At the age of 41 he scored 34 points in 70 games and finished fifth in Norris Trophy and sixth in Byng Trophy voting.

In 20 NHL seasons, Lidstrom played in 1564 games (14th all-time), scoring 264 goals, 878 assists (23rd all-time) and 1142 points. His +450 career rating ranks eighth all time. Among defenceman he ranks sixth all-time in games, assists and points, and eighth all-time in goals. Lidstrom’s statistics in the playoffs are even more impressive for a defenceman: 264 games (second), 54 goals (third) and 183 points (second). He is also a member of the Triple Gold Club, the IIHF Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

From 2012 to 2015 he worked for Detroit as a scout, and since 2021 has been their vice-president of hockey operations.

YouTube clip: video montage from being named one of NHL’s Top 100 players.

588 - Geoff Sanderson

A left winger, Sanderson was drafted 36th overall by Hartford in 1990. Following the draft he played a third season with Swift Current in the WHL, scoring 62 goals and 112 points. Sanderson also made his NHL debut that year (1991), scoring one goal in two games. In his rookie season of 1991-92 he played in 64 games, scoring 13 goals and 31 points.

Over the next five seasons Sanderson developed a reputation as a fearsome goal scorer. In 1992-93 he scored 46 goals and 89 points (career-highs), followed by 41 goals and an all-star game appearance. After the lockout shortened 1994-95 season, he had back-to-back seasons of 34 and 36 goals, and played in a second all-star game (1997). 

Shortly after the franchise moved to Carolina Sanderson was traded to Vancouver with Sean Burke and Enrico Ciccone for Martin Gerlinas and Kirk McLean. He played only nine games for the Canucks before being traded to Buffalo for Brad May and a draft pick.

In his two full seasons with the Sabres Sanderson struggled in the goal scoring department, managing seasons of just 12 and 13 goals. However, when the Sabres went to the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals he contributed 10 points in 19 playoff games.

In June 2000 Sanderson was selected by Columbus in the expansion draft. In his first season as a Blue Jacket he scored 30 goals and 56 points. Injuries caused him to miss half of the 2001-02 season, but the following season he scored 34 goals, the sixth and final time he broke the 30 goal barrier. In March 2003 Sanderson was traded to Vancouver for a draft pick, playing 20 regular season and postseason games with the Canucks.

He was claimed off waivers by Columbus in summer 2004, but the lockout of 2004-05  delayed his return to Ohio. When hockey came back, Sanderson played only two games with the Jackets before a trade to Phoenix in a five player swap. After scoring 25 goals in 75 games he signed with Philadelphia, playing one season before an off-season trade to Edmonton with Joni Pitkanen and a draft pick for Joffrey Lupul and Jason Smith. Sanderson scored three goals and 14 points in 41 games before retiring at season’s end.

In 17 NHL seasons, Sanderson played in 1104 games, scoring 355 goals and 700 points. Although he never won a Stanley Cup, he did win a  Memorial Cup (1988), Calder Cup (1991) and two World Championships (1994 and 1997). From 2010 to 2012 he was a development coach with the Islanders before he started a matting rental company with former NHLer Brendan Morrison. In 2024 he joined the New Jersey Devils as a pro scout. Geoff’s son Jake is currently a star defenceman with the Ottawa Senators.

YouTube clip: scoring the overtime winner for Buffalo against Montreal in Game 1 of 1998 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

589 - Valeri Zelepukin

A left winger, Zelepukin was drafted 221st overall by New Jersey in 1990. With several years of pro experience in the Soviet league, Zelepukin came to North America for the 1991-92 season. He found immediate success, scoring 20 goals in 22 games with Utica in the AHL, and adding 13 goals and 31 points in 44 games with the Devils.

Zelepukin made New Jersey’s roster for good in 1992-93, scoring 23 goals and 64 points and earning postseason all-star and Selke Trophy votes. The following season he scored a career-high 26 goals and finished sixth in the league in plus/minus (+36). At the start of the 1994-95 season Zelepukin suffered a serious eye injury in practice and missed all but four regular season games. However, he played in 18 playoff games, earning his first Stanley Cup as the Devils swept Detroit.

He played parts of another three seasons with Devils before a January 1998 trade to Edmonton with Bill Guerin for Jason Arnott and Bryan Muir. Zelepukin played 33 games with the Devils, scoring 12 points before a trade at the start of the 1998-99 season to Philadelphia. He played two seasons with the Flyers, scoring 57 points in 151 games. In the 2000 playoffs Zelepukin faced his former team New Jersey in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Flyers losing in a hard fought seven games.

For the 2000-01 season he signed with Chicago, playing 36 games in what would be his final NHL season. In 2001-02 Zelepukin played in the AHL, followed by four seasons in Russia before retiring after the 2005-06 season. In 10 NHL seasons he played in 592 games, scoring 117 goals and 294 points, also winning an Olympic silver medal with Russia in 1998. In retirement Zelepukin has coached and managed teams in Russia, mostly recently with Severstal Cherepovets from 2017 to 2019.

YouTube clip: during the 1992 season, the Devils played four Russian players in a game, the first time that had happened in NHL history: Zelepukin, Slava Fetisov, Alexander Semak, and Alexei Kasatonov.