Question about "qualifying for NHL card"

[Mauri]

I know there are some kind of rules that players needs to fulfill in order to get an NHL card made out of them. What's the exact rule?

As an example player you could use Shane Bowers. He gets NHL cards made of him because...?

 

[creasecollector]

The exact rule is the player needs to be a member of the NHLPA in order to receive a card made of them. In order to do this, they need to step on the ice in an official NHL game. For goalies, they need to at least backup for a game.

This year for 2020-21, however, Upper Deck was given a pass at this rule due to COVID-19, so they were allowed to select players who haven't played an NHL game yet (pictures for their cards were sourced from practices and/or NHL pre-season games, etc.

 

[Mauri]

The exact rule is the player needs to be a member of the NHLPA in order to receive a card made of them. In order to do this, they need to step on the ice in an official NHL game. For goalies, they need to at least backup for a game.

This year for 2020-21, however, Upper Deck was given a pass at this rule due to COVID-19, so they were allowed to select players who haven't played an NHL game yet (pictures for their cards were sourced from practices and/or NHL pre-season games, etc.

Very good answer, thank you!

So basically a player might get hundreds of NHL-cards made of him without ever being in a lineup at all. Bowers for example has 126 cards for 2020-21 so far.

(Obviously excluding CHL cards here)

 

[thorn]

Very good answer, thank you!

So basically a player might get hundreds of NHL-cards made of him without ever being in a lineup at all. Bowers for example has 126 cards for 2020-21 so far.

(Obviously excluding CHL cards here)

As you were explaned:

2020-21, Upper Deck was given a pass at this rule due to COVID-19, so they were allowed to select players who haven't played an NHL game yet. :hockey:

 

[numbern9ne]

Moreover - the pass due to COVID was applied to players that were in the 2020 Playoff Bubbles or were on the taxi squad of their team during the 2021 regular season

 

[30ranfordfan]

Very good answer, thank you!

So basically a player might get hundreds of NHL-cards made of him without ever being in a lineup at all. Bowers for example has 126 cards for 2020-21 so far.

(Obviously excluding CHL cards here)

Moreover - the pass due to COVID was applied to players that were in the 2020 Playoff Bubbles or were on the taxi squad of their team during the 2021 regular season

Exactly. This was a one time deal (at least, in theory). Upper Deck was allowed to use those bubble / taxi squad players.... plus Alex Laferriere, despite not playing in an NHL games. This is not going to become a new normal (at least there is no reason to expect that). It was a one time deal, so that UD's earlier season releases (i.e. UD Series 1) didn't tank, due to lack of half-decent rookies.

I believe there are 26 names on the list, that have RCs... were part of the bubble or taxi squad... but still haven't made their NHL debuts. I'd expect that list to get much smaller this year - many are legit prospects, who just haven't made the NHL yet.