The Story Behind The Bedard Young Guns Canvas w/ Billy Celio @UpperDeck, Wyatt Johnston Hobby Boom

On this episode of the Hockey Cards Gongshow podcast we start by honoring the NHL's (almost) greatest player to wear the number 87 for episode 187 (3:31). Next we continue our Hobby Deep Dive Series and go in depth learning about the Dallas Stars young star Wyatt Johnston and debate if he can save the 2022-23 hobby class (17:31)? In hobby news, we update The Road To Infinity, cllct Media conducts a survey asking sports fans if they use cards as investments, and we give an update on the World Championships (36:26). Billy Celio from Upper Deck joins the show to share the story behind the newly unveiled Connor Bedard Young Guns Canvas card design releasing next month in 2023-24 Extended Series (49:51). 2023-24 Upper Deck Trilogy is out and we share our intstant reactions, plus review the upcoming new releases calendar from Upper Deck (1:23:35). We preview our favorite vintage and modern hockey cards in the current PWCC Weekly Auction (1:29:13). Finally, we end the show with personal pickups and some "outtakes" from our conversation with Billy (2:02:06).
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[@alexbabcock8018]

The most hyped hockey player maybe ever and you have him standing there holding his young guns! Seems like a slap in the face. Like look even Connor has the card you paid out the ass to pull but never could.

[@Eggman007]

Thanks for covering Panarin card! You do cover the Rangers and Laffy…. Lots of Rangers underrated Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider. CBJ fan but 2nd rangers w/ Panarin being on CBJ and now Jack Roslovic being hometown Columbus kid. Leave CBJ automatic success besides Dubois lol!!!

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

change the names and you sound like us MN sports fans hahahaha

[@cwpucks1188]

I Guess im the odd one and like the different picture on the Connor Bedard Canvas. I love Canvas and the unique photos. I like the canvas phots much better then the base. Love the show and keep up the great work.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Thanks for chiming and we appreciate the kind words!

[@RichardX-bs1pf]

I like the (meta) concept not the photo and or the canvas technology. The Easter egg, young gun and canvas is somewhat connected... Bedard (Triptych)..... Imo bedard's Easter egg is the ud1989 ken Griffey jr of today. Bedard's yg (media hype) ... Ending the meta triptych with bedard holding up said yg ( bringing it back to the original Easter egg. Holding a puck /yg and raising a finger /pointing

[@umgophers9]

Always fun to hear from Billy, good stuff! I do like the photo for the Canvas however it’s not one I’ll be after. I think it makes the base young guns more desirable as it’s the only in game photo. Between the Easter egg, YG and canvas, there should be something for everyone.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Appreciate your thoughts!

[@kosimitz]

The. Card reminds me of a young hockey player getting his first hockey card at age 7. This picture would be a good give away card at a Hawks game.

[@Eggman007]

My son and I like the look of the Bedsy YG Canvas! Something different than action photo etc

[@jvac1129]

Good listen

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Thanks!

[@fan_of_nyrangers9474]

What Upper Deck should've done was taken that Bedard YG he is holding in the Canvas and insert it as a 1 of 1 chase card in 2024-25 UD Series 1

[@beammeup1930]

How awesome would it be if Upperdeck Flagship brought back Holograms..You could do Young Gun Holograms or like the old school award winner holograms.. No matter how they did them i would definitely make them harder pulls not like 5 a box like 91-92 UD

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

In 2024-25 Series One there's a new hologram insert called Holotypes...in my opinion (Josh) the design previews look amazing.

[@beammeup1930]

@@hockeycardsgongshow..Oh shit really?..That's awesome..I can't wait to see these..Yea I opened a handful of 91-92 UD and pulled a cpl holograms and thought how it would be pretty cool to get a Mcdavid or a Jack Hughes hologram..Plus the nostalgia it would bring to collectors because even though they weren't hard pulls they were always a fun chase. Plus I would love to see what a Young Guns Hologram would look like

[@ericbarbosatravels1391]

Wow UD is soo busy working on 2025-26 young guns that they forgot to put a Leo Carlsson RC in Trilogy lmao

[@IconZQc]

They probably started working on the set in 2023 and Carlsson was not as ‘’NHL ready’’ as a guy like Fantili. That could be the why he’s not in there

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

I think that's what happened then wasn't caught before it was too late.

[@beammeup1930]

Honestly as just an idea to do that Canvas card im ok with it. Like Billy said Canvas cards are supposed to be weird/different photography..But with a generational player like Bedard they shouldve went a different route

[@schwabshockeycards2101]

FYI, that "pixelated" look to the 2022 Johnston Speckled Young Guns was a bit of a design change with speckles that was made in 2022. 2023 has the same look and it is a bit of a departure from 2019-21 which was more of a "spotted" speckle.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Great to know, thanks for chiming in with that. Don't think I've seen on in person yet...

[@theloudcollector]

DEAD! TO! ME! 1:53:35

[@minigolfer9]

I'm so sorry for this card. I get wanting it to be different but this is just weird. It's like a peewee holding a game winning puck. Sorry to be a negative nelly. Love your podcast btw, thank you for the great content.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Appreciate your perspective and thanks for the kind words about our show!

[@denisbeauregard]

Honestly, when i first saw his Canvas of him holding his card, i thought it was done by a collector as a joke. But man, i am shocked that it's the real deal. Hard pass for me, sorry.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

There will be strong opinions on this card for sure. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@denisbeauregard]

Also, since it was a stage photoshoot, i wonder why they did that there with the big black mark on the back above his glove.

[@denisbeauregard]

But props for having the balls to try it on a marquee player like that.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

@@denisbeauregard wow, hadn't noticed that...what is it lol?

[@denisbeauregard]

@@hockeycardsgongshow Agreed. But i think a good action shot would have been better and this picture of him with the card could have been a chased easter egg in Extended. Just my opinion.

[@jacobbreault621]

Bad yg canvas , at least photoshop the black blur in the background geez did no one think this through

[@epoc6477]

After taking some time to think about the Bedard canvas, my main critique is that it feels forced and staged. Billy talked about how canvas cards are known for unique photography, and I feel he missed the mark a bit on that. I feel like they are known for unique photography that captures a raw moment. This is not a raw moment. Maybe a photo of him at a fan event giving out his young guns would have worked better. Anything that doesn't feel so staged and forced would have made for a better card.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Appreciate your thoughts!

[@Masterjeffee]

Do not care for Bedard's Canvas YG at all. Totally ruined my enthusiasm for Extended. Sometimes change or something unique is not always a good thing. They should have went with the original design.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Appreciate your thoughts and thanks for chiming in!

[@alexbabcock8018]

This is without a doubt the ugliest hockey card I’ve seen in modern times. I’m actually upset. What a miss

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

It's a high-risk, high-reward approach for sure. It'll be interesting to see what the overall consensus is on the card!

[@alexbabcock8018]

UD canvas and dazzlers are my pcs when it comes to flagship. Seeing next years dazzlers is rough. Seems like that pc will be ending. I really hope this approach is a one off for canvas.

[@alexbabcock8018]

Hey guys, thanks for the pod! I’ve learned more about the hobby from y’all than I have anywhere else

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

@@alexbabcock8018 Pretty sure it's a one-off for the Bedard YG's canvas. I think the assumption is the rest will be more traditional Cnvas photos

[@gomesyontube]

what a weird and cringe looking card.

[@ClownTown15000]

How is this a high risk, high reward move? You honestly think this will have a material impact on purchases of Extended? Give me a break. That's an idiotic take.

[@hockeycardsgongshow]

Don't recall saying it would impact Extended sales but could potentially impact how much of a chase it is down the road. Think that's a reasonable take.

[@g1stylempdesign929]

Lemme guess Nolan Ryan in a Suit delivering a fastball pose………Creative. UD loves printing money