Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin’s league bio notes that he; “is already the greatest goal-scorer of the 21st century, with a chance to become No. 1 in NHL history.”

It’s a fair assessment, and it’s a big reason why he’s seen as one of the best hockey players to invest in at the midway point in 2022. 

Ovechkin has won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s leading goal scorer, an NHL-record nine times.

Here’s what you need to know about the very best Alexander Ovechkin rookie cards, as we list our top five of all-time. 

The Best Alexander Ovechkin Rookie Cards

We’ve included a couple of the more affordable Alexander Ovechkin hockey rookie cards that are popular with collectors. There’s also a trio of high-end cards to round out the list. 

(They were released to coincide with the 2005-06 season.) 

5. 2005-06 SP Authentic Future Watch Alexander Ovechkin RC #190 Autograph #/999 (eBay)

Ovechkin’s Future Watch RC is a great place to start. It might be numbered to 999, but it’s still one of the most collectible hockey rookie cards of all-time. 

The Future Watch Rookie Autographs release features an on-card signature, alongside a simple profile shot of the player while holding a stick. Despite the higher print run, it’s proven to be worth a considerable sum whether you’re looking at graded copies or not. 

Check prices for 2005-06 SP Authentic Future Watch Alexander Ovechkin RC on eBay 

4. 2005-06 Upper Deck Young Guns Alexander Ovechkin RC #443 (eBay)

Young Guns is another popular option with collectors looking for the best hockey RCs. The Upper Deck Alexander Ovechkin rookie card features a great action shot of Ovechkin on the ice, while it was located in Series 2 of the 2005-06 Upper Deck flagship set. 

Originally released at a rate of one in four packs, demand still continues to outweigh supply. There are also a few rare parallels to be aware of, with High Gloss limited to just 10 copies, plus one-of-one UD Masterpiece printing plates.

Check prices for 2005-06 Upper Deck Young Guns Alexander Ovechkin RC on eBay 

3. 2005-06 Upper Deck Ice Alexander Ovechkin RC #103 #/99 (eBay)

Next up is a release which can be tough to locate. The Upper Deck Ice Ovechkin RC has a print run of just 99, which makes it one of the rarest ever. Given an acetate overlay, it certainly stands out from the crowd.

It’s not the most interesting design, with an image of Ovechkin set against a variety of circles, with a silver chrome finish. The majority of the value is derived from the rarity.   

Check prices for 2005-06 Upper Deck Ice Alexander Ovechkin RC on eBay 

2. 2005-06 Ultimate Collection Alexander Ovechkin RC #92 Autograph #/299 (eBay)

The 2005-06 Ultimate Collection Alexander Ovechkin RC is another which is sure to catch the eye of any serious collector. He has a variety of rookie autos in the set, but we’re looking at the Ultimate Rookies card numbered to 299.

Hard-signed, it’s likely to set you back by a significant amount if you’re looking at graded versions. 

Check prices for 2005-06 Ultimate Collection Alexander Ovechkin RC on eBay 

1. 2005-06 UD The Cup Alexander Ovechkin RC Autograph Patch #/99 (eBay)

Our top pick is a rare auto patch from 2005-06 Upper Deck The Cup. Once again, the print run comes into play, as there are only 99 copies of this elusive Ovechkin hockey rookie card. 

This time, the combination of an on-card signature and jersey swatch make this one of the best premium Ovechkin rookies, albeit with the highest overall price tag. You’ll struggle to find much better. 

Check prices for 2005-06 UD The Cup Alexander Ovechkin RC on eBay 

Alexander Ovechkin Rookie Cards: Buyers Guide 

What’s the current state of the market for Alexander Ovechkin rookie cards? Here’s what we think. 

What’s a good affordable option? Either the Young Guns or the Future Watch, even if they’re only ‘cheap’ in comparison to some of the heavy hitters with a print run of 99.  

Young Guns and Future Watch tend to be some of the most popular rookie cards for any modern hockey, while the Ultimate Collection Alexander Ovechkin RC is a great auto to hold onto. Regardless, the /99 cards are likely to be the best long-term investment options. 

Alexander Ovechkin Rookie Cards: Buying/Selling Advice

Alexander Ovechkin rookie cards are one of the safer investments within the sport when all is said and done. 

In March 2022, he passed Jaromir Jagr for third place on the NHL’s all-time goals list. 

The biggest question now is: where will the Caps superstar be on that all-time goals list when he decides to retire? Keeping up with his current scoring rate is a big ask. It would see him claim the number one spot sometime during the 2023-24 or 2024-25 season.

In any case, he’s a legendary soon-to-be Hall of Famer, and one that is still on track to score the most goals in the history of the sport. As a consequence, we think that the best Alexander Ovechkin rookie cards are a no-brainer to keep tabs on.