4 Up, 4 Down: NHL Players Trending as New Season Begins
The puck dropped on the 2025-26 NHL season this week, leaving collectors geared up to watch and see which players will post eye-popping stats throughout the new campaign and who will lead their team to postseason glory by hoisting the Stanley Cup next June.
Collectors and fans are excited to see what established players like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, Cale Makar, Leon Draisaitl, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have in store for them in 2025-26. All eyes will also be on the next generation, with young stars like Connor Bedard, Ivan Demidov, and Matthew Schaefer getting plenty of attention.
Naturally, collectors keep those big-name players’ cards in focus year-round, but over the past month, they have also set their sights on players who garner fewer headlines.
Based upon an analysis of Beckett Online Price Guide data since September 1, here are four players trending up and four players trending down as the new NHL season begins.
Four Up
These four players each saw up arrows on many of their cards throughout September.
Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
The veteran is the focal point for the Golden Knights, and he will remain as such after signing an eight-year contract extension. He set franchise records for points (96) and assists (66) last season and is out for more in 2025-26. He evidenced that in the season-opener, scoring a goal and assisting on three others.
Pictured: 2025-26 Upper Deck Artifacts Emerald Materials /35 #135
Shop for Jack Eichel cards:
- On Beckett Marketplace
- On eBay
Aliaksei Protas, Washington Capitals
Protas had a massive breakout in 2024-25, and collectors are hoping for more in the new campaign. In his fourth season, Protas posted career-high totals with 30 goals, 36 assists, 66 points, and a plus/minus of plus-40. Coaches give Protas high marks for his speed and aggressiveness, but his hockey IQ is also above-average, so if he can continue to combine them on the ice, more success could come his way.
Pictured: 2025-26 Upper Deck MVP #149
Shop for Aliaksei Protas cards:
- On Beckett Marketplace
- On eBay
Adam Klapka, Calgary Flames
A towering presence on the ice at 6-foot-8, Klapka caught fire at the end of last season, scoring four times in the last 10 games of the campaign. The 24-year-old seems primed for a breakout year, if he gets enough ice time for the Flames, and collectors are taking notice of that possibility.
Pictured: 2024-25 Ultimate Collection Jerseys /499 #169
Shop for Adam Klapka cards:
- On Beckett Marketplace
- On eBay
Gage Goncalves, Tampa Bay Lightning
Goncalves showed steady improvement throughout his first full season in 2024-25, and many experts have pinned him as a breakout candidate this year. The 24-year-old forward will look to build off his late-season momentum, which saw him score a goal and assist on three others during five postseason games.
Pictured: 2024-25 SP Game-Used Edition #264
Shop for Gage Goncalves cards:
- On Beckett Marketplace
- On eBay
Four Down
These players each saw down arrows next to some of their cards in the lead up to the new campaign, which some collectors could view as a buying opportunity.
Evgeny Kuznetsov, Free Agent
Kuznetsov reportedly had talks with more than 10 teams in the offseason about returning to the NHL, but the long-time Washington Capitals center will instead play for the Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League in his native Russia.
Pictured: 2022-23 Upper Deck Artifacts NHL Remnants #NR-EK
Shop for Evgeny Kuznetsov cards:
- On Beckett Marketplace
- On eBay
Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary Flames
The 32-year-old Huberdeau was productive last season but not to same level he showcased during his prime. Now, an injury has shelved him for the start of the 2025-26 season, so collectors seem to have taken a breather on his cards.
Pictured: 2022-23 Upper Deck Credentials #12
Shop for Jonathan Huberdeau cards:
- On Beckett Marketplace
- On eBay
Zach Hyman, Edmonton Oilers
An injury forced Hyman’s early exit from the 2025 postseason, and he has not recovered in time for the new season. The Oilers have placed Hyman on injured reserve, and he will miss at least the first month of the year.
Pictured: 2024-25 Upper Deck Allure Gold Glitter Bomb /199 #2
Shop for Zach Hyman cards:
- On Beckett Marketplace
- On eBay
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins
Swayman experienced the first losing season of his career in 2024-25, and the netminder allowed a league-high 176 goals in 58 games during the first year of a big contract extension. Boston’s success will partially depend on a rebound from the 27-year-old goalie, but collectors seem to have taken a wait-and-see approach.
Pictured: 2025-26 Upper Deck MVP Silver Script #131
Shop for Jeremy Swayman cards:
- On Beckett Marketplace
- On eBay
For your card valuation needs throughout the 2025-26 NHL season, check out the Beckett Online Price Guide. To keep tabs on cards releases, see our 2025-26 Hockey Release Calendar.
