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Alex Ovechkin (True) Rookie Cards
With the 1st Pick in the 1st Round of the 2004 NHL Entry, the Washington Capitals selected Alex Ovechkin from Moscow, USSR. He has 17 rookie cards and 25 parallel rookie cards.
A Collectors Confession
I really enjoy collecting the rookie cards of Hall of Famers, and/or Future Hall of Famers.
I enjoy this niche in all four primary sports, baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. However, I must confess that hockey is the one genre that is perhaps the weakest part of my collection.
This is why I set out to change that in 2021. My goal, (pun intended) is to purchase at least 9 Hockey Hall of Fame rookie cards so that I can display them in my office.
Hockey is also the one sport that I never really dabbled in and therefore, never really understood. The hockey team in my region is the Chicago Blackhawks, and in 2015 when they battled through the playoffs and all the way to the Stanley Cup Championship I took an asserted interest in hockey.
I had a co-worker sit down and explain the rules of the game to me. We spoke about the Blackhawks every morning as we looked at certain stats and scores.
Well, my co-worker friend retired the following year, and my hockey fervor had gone stale again. But that fire is relit as I came across a great YouTube channel named “Because I’m Carlos.”
It’s a live call-in show that deals with a wide variety of topics with a slightly stronger emphasis on hockey cards as Carlos is a Mike Modano Super Collector.
In one recent episode, the discussion leaned towards Alex Ovechkin’s rookie cards and I was all ears. This motivated me to learn about “The Great 8” and his rookie cards.
What Others Say of Alex Ovechkin
Simply stated Alex is currently a right-handed shooting Left Wing for the Washington Capitals. Like all professional hockey players, they are passionate and intense about their craft.
However, Alex takes it to a whole new level. It’s been said that Alex Ovechkin is an enigma, flamboyant, unfiltered, an extreme extrovert. In other words, he has rock star celebrity status.
He writes his own script and hockey fans love him for it.
On the ice you can’t take your eyes off of him, you see and feel his enthusiasm as he slams his body into the glass in celebration after a goal. The fans love it!
The rink is a party for him and he’s been asked to tone it down by coaches but does he listen? Absolutely not. Here’s the thing about Alex. He has silenced his critics in every aspect.
In the end, he’s going to be viewed as one of the Top 10 players to ever play the game of hockey.
What is it about his game that makes him so unique? Scoring, lots of scoring! Currently, he is in a good position.
Current All-Time Career Leaders for Goals (as of the date of this post)
- Wayne Gretzky – 894
- Gordie Howe – 801
- Jaromir Jagr – 766
- Brett Hull – 741
- Marcel Dionne – 731
- Alex Ovechkin – 730
As of the date of this post, he sits at the #6 spot just behind Marcel Dionne with 730 career goals. Some speculate that he had a chance at perhaps surpassing Wayne Gretzky for the #1 spot but due to the Covid-19 shortened season it will be hard to do.
But he does have a chance at perhaps being one of the Top 3 scorers ever. Time will tell, in the meantime get your Alex Ovechkin rookie cards while you can.
Career Stats & Accomplishments
According to Hockey-Reference.com Alex Ovechkin career stats are:
Current Career Stats: Points 730 | Assist 590 | Points 1,320 | Game Winning Goals 116
Career Accomplishments
- 2005 NHL All-Rookie Team
- 2005 Calder Memorial Trophy
- 2007 Art Ross Trophy
- 2017-18 Conn Smythe Trophy
- 12x All-Star
- 3x Ted Lindsay Award
- 3x Hart Memorial Trophy
- 9x Maurice Richard Trophy
- 1x Stanley Cup Champion (2018)
Alex Ovechkin True Rookie Cards
2005 Artifacts, #230 (RC)
Leading us off in alphabetical order is Upper Deck’s Artifacts brand. I love the NHL shield in the background, these are serial-numbered to /750. The card back gives player commentary but lacks in stats and player bio. One parallel with this one Artifacts Gold but it’s a one of one.
2005 Beehive, #102 (RC)
Somebody get my sunglasses. Beehive is an appropriate name for this vibrant beauty. Yellow borders are outlined with a mat-like design that really makes this one pop. The card back is nicely balanced and gives us gold borders instead. Parallels include Beehive: Red, Blue, Beige, Gold but none are serial numbered. Beehive Matte is available too and is #’d to 25.
2005 Black Diamond, #191 (RC)
Black Diamond offers a foil front that can easily be chipped so gem copies can be challenging to find. The back of the card does not have any photos but does give us everything else a good card back should have: stats, player bio, and commentary. Parallels are plentiful Ruby #’d/100, Emerald #’d/25, Gold #’d/10, and Onyx #’d 1/1.
2005 Hot Prospects, #275 (RC)
Only two Alex Ovechkin rookie cards were made by Upper Deck competitors, both were made by Fleer. This Hot Prospects offering is a jersey autograph card, and it’s serial-numbered to 199! The jersey swatch is not game used it comes from the Rookie Photo Shoot but still really sweet. Parallels include Red Hot #’d/50, White Hot #’d/5 and En Fuego #’d 1/1.
2005 Ice, #103 (RC)
Beautiful card design on this one. The card back only provides a couple of sentences of commentary, and the reverse negative photo lacks innovation but the overall card design is really nice in this high-end product. There are no parallels to speak of and this one is serial-numbered to only /99 copies so scarcity is the name of the game with Ice.
2005 MVP, #394 (RC)
The budget-friendly MVP gives collectors a facsimile signature and a great action photo. Gray-colored borders and thin card stock makes the corners and edges vulnerable to chipping and dings. Card back has nothing to brag about but an official rookie card of a highly probable Hall of Famer nonetheless. Parallels include Gold #’d/100 and Platinum #’d/25.
2005 Parkhurst, #669 (RC)
This very large hockey set offers collectors 700 cards. The overall layout and card design of the card front is decent. The color is a bit bland but overall coincides with the card back. Speaking of the card back much more could’ve been done here, it lacks stats, player bio, and photographs. Making this one average in design to me. One parallel does exist Facsimile Autograph #’d/100.
2005 Power Play, #143 (RC)
One of my favorite Alex Ovechkin rookie cards! Great full action photo accompanied with big bold letters placed in the vertical position indicating that it is indeed a rookie. I also like the way colors match the Capitals uniforms which gives it all a nice cohesive look. Great design on the card back as well lacking only in stats but the overall design is fantastic to me! No parallels for this one.
2005 Rookie Update, #275 (RC)
This one seems like a “Dual Autograph” insert card but really isn’t, it’s a part of the base set. Rookie autograph cards were really popular in the mid-2000s and the fact that these were #’d/199 also gives a scarcity factor. Card back is utilized as a Certificate of Authenticity and doesn’t offer much else. There are no parallels in this set.
2005 SP Authentic, #190 (RC)
A fantastic-looking rookie card of this hockey legend. Quality card stock, fantastic card design, autographed, and #’d/999. What more could a collect ask for? One parallel for this one, SP Limited provides a piece of jersey, it’s autographed and #’d to / 100.
2005 SP Game Used, #111 (RC)
No, it’s not a fidget spinner. It’s not a master link to a bicycle chain either. It’s an RC of Alex Ovechkin. Card back gives us a player bio, commentary, stats, and a master link. Lol. These are #’d/999. A couple of parallels to speak of, Gold #’d/25 and Autographs #’d/5.
2005 SPx, #190 (RC)
This one has it all. Official rookie card, piece of jersey, autographed, and serial numbered to /499. Thicker card stock on these but chipping is very common especially around the jersey inlays and dark bordered area.
Card back offers COA and notifies collectors that the jersey comes from the Rookie Photo Shoot meaning it’s not Game Used. There is one parallel available, Spectrum #’d/25.
2005 The Cup, #179 (RC)
Well, here it is folks. Crème de la crème! Here we have what the hobby calls Alex Ovechkin “RPA” meaning it’s a rookie, patch, autographed card, and its #’d to only 99 copies! RPA’s are typically the most sought after by collectors and have more monetary value than all other rookie cards. An overall beautiful card with three colors on the patch.
2005 Trilogy, #220 (RC)
Upper Deck offers a lot of foil on the card front. Decent design and #’d/999. Card back says “Ovechkin has all the makings of a franchise player.” They called that one correctly. No parallels to speak of with this one.
2005 Ultra, #252 (RC)
This borderless photo really gives this one some eye appeal. The card back gives us a silhouette of Ovechkin and one other unique piece of information, it gives us the pronunciation of his name, that’s different!
It’s believed that cards 251-271 were inserted at a rate of 1 in 24 packs or 1 per box making this one someone of a short print. Two parallels are offered, Gold Medallions, not serial numbered. And Ice #’d/25.
2005 Upper Deck, #443 (RC)
This Young Guns rookie card can be found in Series 2 Upper Deck. It is a brand that the hobby has embraced as its mainstream favorite or “flagship” rookie card. This is a great-looking card with lots of color in the background. Card back is legit and offers everything a card back should.
High Gloss parallel is offered and gives foil etched lettering on the card front, it’s #’d/10 and is absolutely stunning. Also, Masterpiece Printing Plate but it’s one of one.
2005 Victory, #264 (RC)
This budget-friendly product with its gray borders and great card design makes this one a fan favorite. The card back is well done too. Two parallels for this beauty Gold #’d/100 and Black #’d/5.
Happy Collecting Collectors,
Learn. Collect. Enjoy.
