Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card Rankings and What’s the Most Valuable
At this point, any Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card is valuable. That’s what happens when you prove yourself to be not only one of the greatest players to ever step on the ice but one of the NHL’s most beloved superstars as well.
Ovechkin’s first NHL cards came out during the legendary 2005-06 hobby season. Boasting a double-rookie crop thanks to the previous season’s lockout, the first pick in the 2004 NHL Draft is a cornerstone alongside rookies of another legend, Sidney Crosby.
Upper Deck had an exclusive deal with the NHL at the time so they’re the only company to make Alex Ovechkin Rookie Cards. The lineup, which totals almost 20 cards, ranges from entry-level offerings to five-figure museum pieces.
Always popular, Ovechkin’s cards came into their own once Washington won the 2018 Stanley Cup. They continued to gain steam in the ensuing years as the winger moved up the ranks as the NHL’s all-time goal scorer. Wayne Gretzky is the only person ahead of him now.
Here’s a look at every Alex Ovechkin RC, ranked by what’s the most valuable.
Most Valuable Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card Rankings
The following list included Alex Ovechkin base cards with the RC tag in the Beckett database. Inserts and parallels were not taken into consideration. Rankings are based primarily on values in the Beckett Price Guide.
1. 2005-06 Upper Deck The Cup Alex Ovechkin RC Auto Patch #179 /99
This isn’t just the most valuable Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card. It’s one of the most important hockey cards every produced — period. Similar to what 2003-04 Exquisite did for basketball, Upper Deck’s 2005-06 The Cup introduced luxury-level cards into hockey. For Ovi’s RC, that means a minuscule print run of 99 copies, a hard signature and a patch swatch. All of these attributes are relatively commonplace today but they weren’t when this set came out. Alongside Sidney Crosby, the two cards are a barometer for the market’s strength, selling for tens of thousands of dollars.
Parallels: Platinum (/25, no autograph or patch), Gold Rainbow (/8), Black Rainbow (1/1, no autograph or patch), Printing Plates Black (1/1, no patch), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1, no patch), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1, no patch), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1, no patch)
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2. 2005-06 SP Authentic Alex Ovechkin RC Auto #190 /999
Rarity is a big thing in sports cards but it’s not the only thing. The 2005-06 SP Authentic Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card has 999 copies. That’s more than double the print run of his next most plentiful autographed RC, SPx. But when a line is as popular as SP Authentic, it doesn’t matter as much. This is a set that a lot of collectors build, thus expanding its demand. The on-card ink certainly helps, but the Future Watch banner also plays a big role.
Parallels: Limited Auto Patch (/100), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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3. 2005-06 Ultimate Collection Alex Ovechkin RC Auto #92 /299
Sometimes the hobby doesn’t make sense, at least on the surface. Ovechkin’s Ultimate Collection rookie has less than a third the number of copies as SP Authentic but is less valuable. Both have on-card signatures as the anchor. Maybe what doesn’t make sense is a deal to some who want one of the best Alexander Ovechkin Rookie Cards but still want to save a little money.
Parallels: Autographed Patch (/25), Autographed Shield (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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4. 2005-06 Upper Deck Ice Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #103 /99
As cool as acetate is, this card ranks where it does in large part due to its print run. At just 99 copies, it puts it in line with The Cup as his rarest. Factor in parallels — or the lack thereof for this one — and Ovechkin’s 2005-06 Ice RC is his scarcest.
Parallels: Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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5. 2005-06 Hot Prospects Alex Ovechkin RC Auto Patch #275 /199
When it comes to bargain autographed Alex Ovechkin Rookie Cards, this might be the best and closest thing. Not only is there a signature but there’s a patch piece as well. At 199 copies, it’s also a tough find.
So why isn’t it more valuable? A couple of likely reasons. The autograph is on a sticker, which to many, is a knock down. There’s also the brand. Hot Prospects is a line that comes and goes but there’s no real continuity with it.
Parallels: Hot (/50), White Hot (/5), En Fuego (1/1)
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6. 2005-06 SPx Alex Ovechkin RC Auto Jersey #190 /499
Another autographed memorabilia Rookie Card, SPx boasts a bigger print run of 499 copies. The swatch is a plain on rather than a colorful patch. The autograph is also on a sticker. This one gets a modest boost thanks to SPx’s long-running hockey history.
Parallels: Spectrum (/25), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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7. 2005-06 Upper Deck Rookie Update Alex Ovechkin RC Auto #275 /199 with Ilya Kovalchuk Auto
The only Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card that doubles as a dual autograph, this one pairs up the Capitals legend with another prolific Russian scorer, Ilya Kovalchuk. Despite the Thrashers standout being one of hockey’s best for a period in the early ’00s, he ultimately brings this one down in value.
Parallels: Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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8. 2005-06 Upper Deck Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #443
Standing up against numerous autographs and low-numbered options, 2005-06 Upper Deck Hockey might not have the most valuable Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card. But it’s arguably his most famous and iconic. The Cup brings the pedigree. The flagship Upper Deck Young Guns brings the recognition. At the time of its release, this was a card that was attainable by all. Found in Series 2 packs, you could walk into a card shop and grab a hobby box or wander to Walmart and snag a handful of packs in hopes of getting one. This is a card for everyone.
At least it was. As Ovechkin’s accomplishments continued to pile up, values have soared, making it one of the most valuable Young Guns cards ever produced.
Parallels: High Gloss (/10)
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9. 2005-06 Upper Deck Trilogy Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #220 /999
With autographs out of the way, the next tier of the most valuable Alex Ovechkin Rookie Cards shift largely towards rarity. Trilogy isn’t super tough with 999 copies but it’s not exactly an easy-to-find card today, either. It also benefits from being part of a line that has appeared almost every season since.
Parallels: Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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10. 2005-06 Black Diamond Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #191
Today, Black Diamond is an ultra high-end line with lots of big hits and actual diamonds. When Alexander Ovechkin was breaking into the NHL, it was something different. Still flashy, it was in that middle ground of being premium but not quite premium enough to really stand out. That said, the foil gives this card a distinct pop when compared to other Alex Ovechkin Rookie Cards. It’s not serial numbered, but Quad Diamond cards are moderately tough to find nonetheless.
Parallels: Ruby (/100), Emerald (/25), Gold (/10), Onyx (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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11. 2005-06 SP Game Used Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #111 /999
Another brand that has evolved since Ovechkin’s rookie season, his 2005-06 SP Game Used card has 999 copies. That’s a lot more than the eight that it would have been had the line followed the format it does today, limiting base cards to the player’s jersey number.
Parallels: Gold (/25), Autographs (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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12. 2005-06 Artifacts Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #230 /750
Artifacts is a line known largely for its memorabilia cards. Modern sets also use rookie redemptions as a cornerstone. For this Ovechkin RC, it’s the print run of 750 copies. From a design standpoint, there’s not a lot that stands out. And while Artifacts is now one of the oldest brands in the hobby, it doesn’t bring much here like it does other cards on this list.
Parallels: Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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13. 2005-06 Ultra Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #252
Go back a decade before this card came out and Ultra was one of the top high-end brands in the industry. But as a lot of things evolved, it didn’t. As a result you’ve got a card that’s nice from a visual standpoint but doesn’t really stand out.
Parallels: Gold, Ice (/25)
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14. 2005-06 Parkhurst Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #669
Parkhurst is a name that brings instant nostalgia in hockey — most of the time. Not so much here. While there’s an attempt to evoke an old-time design and make it modern, the result is one of the more forgettable Alex Ovechkin Rookie Cards.
Parallels: Facsimile Autograph (/100)
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15. 2005-06 Beehive Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #102
The real history of Beehive is in oversized premiums, not traditionally sized hockey cards. But this isn’t history. Upper Deck looked to tap into the brand’s nostalgia. It didn’t really stick, though.
Parallels: Beige, Blue, Gold, Red, Matte (/25), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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16. 2005-06 Upper Deck MVP Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #394
Upper Deck is known primarily for their premium offerings. However, they have historically done several more affordable lines as well like MVP. There’s not much fancy happening here. A slight boost is likely due to the fact that there’s a significant amount of continuity for MVP.
Parallels: Gold (/100), Platinum (/25), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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17. 2005-06 Upper Deck Power Play Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #143
Remember Power Play Hockey? It’s okay if you don’t. Not all brands find a place. This is one of them. Power Play lasted just a couple of years as a traditional pack-based product. It appeared later as a box set as well. The foil gives it a slightly more elegant look than Ovechkin’s other bottom-tier RCs but that lack of history brings it down overall.
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18. 2005-06 Upper Deck Victory Alex Ovechkin Rookie Card #264
Victory is a lot like Collector’s Choice. It’s a line that aims for affordability over rarity. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles, either. Outside of being the most affordable Alexander Ovechkin Rookie Card, this one is also notable for being his first to hit the market.
Parallels: Gold (/100), Black (/5), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)
Printing Plates found in 2005-06 The Cup boxes.
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