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Hockey's hobby heartbeat quickens around National Hockey Card Day (NHCD) drops—Upper Deck's annual October ritual of limited-run packs at select shops, turning one day into collector gold. The 2023-24 NHCD set (32 cards total) launched on October 14, 2023, and #NHCD-1 belongs to Connor Bedard, the Chicago Blackhawks' supernova #1 pick, as the set's flagship rookie opener. Graded KSA 9.5 Near Gem Mint, this slabbed rookie isn't just a card—it's Bedard's event-debut artifact, with scarcity baked in from day one. For Blackhawks rebuild chasers, Bedard obsessives, or modern rookie stackers, this is prime real estate: high-grade pop without flagship premiums, poised for Bedard's sophomore surge. Here's why it's a portfolio play.

Card Description

• Player & Design: Stars Connor Bedard, the 5'10" Vancouver sharpshooter who electrified the 2023 draft as the consensus #1 (Regina Pats WHL beast: 71 goals in 57 games). The front freezes him in Blackhawks red—poised for a wrister, eyes locked on net—framed by sleek black borders, gold NHCD stamping, and that "ROOKIE" banner in crisp white. At 2.5" x 3.5", it's event-promo perfection: subtle foil highlights on the crest, no clutter, just raw prospect fire. The back drops his draft lore, early NHL projections, and a checklist nod to set-mates like Fantilli (#2). This #NHCD-1 is the base from a promo run exclusive to hobby stores—raw pulls from those frenzy packs now legend.
• Condition & Grading: Locked in a KSA 9.5 NGM slab by KSA Grading (eye-appeal pros rivaling PSA/BGS at lower cost). Expect gem centering (65/35 edges), untouchable corners, flawless surfaces, and zero print specks—NGM elevates it to near-elite, ideal for slabs or scans without raw risks like bends from pack wars.
• Rarity & Parallels: NHCD's one-day distribution caps supply (no mass hobby print), with #NHCD-1 as the headliner. High-grade KSA 9.5s? Ultra-low pop (under 250 tracked), vs. base raw abundance. Parallels like Rainbow Foil (#/25) or Black (#/10) eclipse $600, making this a value base for rainbows.

Why Buy This Card for Your Collection?

• Player Momentum on Ice: Bedard's no flash-in-pan—his 2023-24 debut (61 points in 68 games, despite injury) set rookie benchmarks, and 2024-25 has him owning center stage with 23 goals and 44 assists over 82 games (plus/minus -36 in a rebuilding Hawks squad). At 19 (turning 20 in July 2025), he's logging top-line minutes, power-play captaincy, and sniper bursts that scream 80+ point upside next year. Synergies with Frank Nazar (#NHCD-3 in this set!) hint at Chicago's youth quake, positioning Bedard as the next Crosby/McDavid hybrid. This card nails his pre-debut hype—own the "before they were great" vibe.
• Investment Upside: Bedard cards are hobby rocket fuel, up 30%+ YOY, but NHCD #NHCD-1 rides event exclusivity without Young Guns (#451) inflation. Low pop + Bedard's full-season stats fuel 2-3x growth by 2027 (Calder win? All-Star lock?). KSA slabs cross-grade seamlessly to PSA, dodging waitlists—low entry, high ceiling in a Bedard market that's hot but not bubbled.
• Collection Fit: Cornerstone for NHCD completists (pair with #NHCD-3 Nazar for Hawks duo), Bedard rookie rainbows, or 2023 draft sets. Its promo pedigree adds story—evoking shop-line chaos—while the slab suits binders, frames, or trades into autos ($1K+ for Future Watch). Newbies get hype access; vets snag a "sleeper" in the Bedard ecosystem.
• Market Snapshot: October 2025 eBay shows raw #NHCD-up 12% from summer. Demand ticks with Bedard's goal tally—no panic buys, just steady climbs.

Score this KSA 9.5 NGM Bedard #NHCD-1 and you're grabbing hockey's future at event-exclusive value—a rookie card with pedigree, pop, and Bedard's boundless ceiling. Hawks horizon bright! 🦅