Guest commentary: Five future NHL stars to collect right now

By Russ Cohen

This list was compiled to show some players who have been playing under the radar. Most of them aren’t Calder eligible but right now would be a good time to collect them. Players like Jimmy Howard, Matt Duchene and Tyler Myers are the front-runners and as a result their card values are already jacked up.

Colin Wilson
He won a college hockey championship with Boston University last season. He’s been a goal scorer at every level and he’s starting to do that now for the Nashville Predators. His dad, Carey, had a nice NHL career with his career-high for goals sitting at 29. He will beat that someday soon. At 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, he will get some goals with his speed but he will get more in the front of the net. His UD 2009-10 Trilogy card is sharp and the serial-numbering is pretty low.

Taylor Hall
You’ve seen him in the OHL and on the international stage. And soon this Windsor Spitfires standout will get drafted by an NHL franchise. He is expected to be the first overall pick, and he has the ultimate package of speed and scoring. His acceleration is exceptional, and he can always find open ice as a result. He has a wicked wrister, which is deadly. His Class of 2010 Redemption card from ITG should be on the radar for sure.

Antti Niemi
At some point, he will be named the No. 1 goalie in Chicago. He is an older player because he played overseas, but he’s very collectible since the Blackhawks should be able to make a few runs at the Cup with him between the pipes. He has an amazing seven shutouts in his first NHL season, and his GAA is among the best in the business. His 09-10 Fleer Ultra rookie is sharp, especially his clean white pads!

Tuukka Rask
Sorry Maple Leafs fans! Toronto traded this gem to Boston in 2007 and now they will have to pay watching him become one of the best goaltenders in the game. For the record, the Leafs got back Andrew Raycroft (advantage Boston). The kid won best goaltender honors at the 2006 World Junior Championships, so he was a known commodity. This butterfly goalie has amazing reflexes and he’s extremely athletic and he currently has the best GAA in the NHL! His 2007-08 UD Young Guns card is one you should put on your shopping list.

Jonathan Bernier
He has the moxy and the pedigree to be a No. 1 goalie, but the Kings are loaded with netminders. So far, he’s had to claw his way back to the NHL and his recent shutout certainly opened up some eyes. Maybe he will battle for the top spot next year — or maybe he will be dealt at the draft– but either way this kid has all the athletic skills necessary to be a top-notch goalie. He’s only 21 and he’s looking for his big break. Pick up his 07-08 UD Young Guns card before it goes sky high.