Any discussion about the best young Canadian player in the NHL today begins and ends with Sidney Crosby. But just a few years ago, Jason Spezza looked like the one who would carry that title into the future.
Spezza caught the attention of the hockey world at a young age, becoming one of only four players (Crosby later became the fifth) to ever play for Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships at age 16. After a high-scoring junior career, the Ottawa Senators selected Spezza with the second overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
The Senators eased the youngster into their lineup in the 2002-03 season, and he put up respectable numbers in his first two seasons. During the NHL lockout in 2004-05, he absolutely tore up the AHL, scoring 117 points in 80 games and winning the Les Cunningham Award as the league's MVP.
Since then, Spezza has put up points at an impressive rate but hasn't truly had his breakout season because of injuries. He played less than 70 games in both 2005-06 and 2006-07, though his average of more than a point a game during that span provided a tantalizing glimpse of what fans could expect if he ever stays healthy.
While they wait, hockey card collectors can choose from over 30 different 2002-03 Spezza rookie cards to add to their collections. They won't come cheap - his card values are second to only Rick Nash in most sets from that season - but the impression that he has yet to reach his full potential means they have some upside.
One card worthy of special note is Spezza's Upper Deck Rookie Update # 163, a dual autograph card that also features a signature from Wayne Gretzky with a print run of 199 copies.
Jason Spezza 2002-03 Rookie Cards
- Atomic # 128 - #'d to 1300
- BAP All-Star Edition # 138 - #'d to 100
- BAP First Edition # 435R
- BAP Memorabilia # 295
- Bowman YoungStars # 126
- Crown Royale # 127 - #'d to 2299
- ITG Used # 200 - #'d to 100
- Pacific Calder # 133 - #'d to 825
- Pacific Exclusive # 179B - SP
- Pacific Quest for the Cup # 133 - #'d to 950
- Parkhurst # 247 - #'d to 500
- Parkhurst Retro # 247 - #'d to 300
- Private Stock Reserve # 173 - #'d to 99
- SP Authentic # 191 - autographed, #'d to 999
- SP Game Used # 82 - #'d to 750
- SPx # 175 - autographed jersey card #'d to 500
- Stadium Club # 133
- Titanium # 126 - #'d to 99
- Topps # 335
- Topps Chrome # 151
- Topps Heritage # 147
- Topps Total # 411
- UD Artistic Impressions # 97
- UD Classic Portraits # 126 - #'d to 1500
- UD Foundations # 164 - #'d to 1250
- UD Honor Roll # 160 - jersey card
- UD Mask Collection # 171 - #'d to 1250
- UD Premier Collection # 83 - autographed patch card #'d to 99
- UD Top Shelf # 133 - #'d to 500
- Upper Deck # 443
- Upper Deck Rookie Update # 163 - dual autographed card with Wayne Gretzky #'d to 199
- Vanguard # 124 - #'d to 1650