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Who's that guy on the cover of the current Beckett Hockey? And why is he overshadowing hobby phenom Sidney Crosby?

If you're not already familiar with John Tavares, you will be soon. After all, the 16-year-old center just erased Wayne Gretzky's name from the record books.

When Tavares scored his 71st goal on Saturday for the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals, he passed the remarkable standard of 70 set in 1978 by the 16-year-old soon-to-be Great One. On Sunday, the season’s closing night, he added a goal and three assists, driving his totals to 72-62-134 in 62 games, good for second place in the league scoring race.

By way of comparison, the 16-year-old Sidney Crosby went 54-81-135 for Rimouski in the run 'n' gun Quebec league.

No wonder Tavares' cards have been on the upswing over the past few weeks as he drew a bead on Gretzky's mark. For example, the last four sales of his 2005-06 ITG Heroes and Prospects Autograph, his first signed card, have sold for more than the $200 HI column value in the March issue of Beckett Hockey. That's a staggering sum for a player still more than two years away from his first NHL game.

To learn more about Tavares, and hear from several industry experts who give their insight into his massive hobby potential, pick up Beckett Hockey. The March issue is on sale now at hobby shops and book stores nationwide.

If you're already a Tavares collector looking for something unique, Beckett is offering up the original press plates used to create his first-ever national magazine cover. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE