NHL.com’s Tracey Myers filed an article from the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago today, and Trey Augustine, one of two Red Wings prospects taking part in the NHLPA/Upper Deck event, spoke briefly about his first hockey card memory:
Twenty-one NHL prospects are at this year’s Rookie Showcase, where players were photographed for their first Upper Deck trading cards and participated in video shoots on the ice for EA Sports and other promotional materials for the upcoming season and beyond.
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The showcase is usually held in early September, but NHLPA assistant executive director Ron Hainsey said it was moved up to late July to allow the players more time to decompress before the start of NHL training camps.
“It gives the guys an opportunity to be here a little more laid-back as far as how we’ve done it historically the week before training camp,” Hainsey said. “A lot of these guys know each other already, some don’t. They’re all going to be competing against each other, but at the same time, there’s a brotherhood as well.”
It was a relaxed setting Wednesday as players went through media availability among their other tasks of the day. Getting their own hockey cards is an especially fun part for those who had hockey player cards in their youth.
“I had a bunch when I was real young. I think my first card was a Pavel Datsyuk card and I grew up watching his games at the Joe (Louis Arena),” Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospect Trey Augustine said of the Hall of Fame forward, who played his entire NHL career with the Red Wings (2001-16).
Is Augustine glad he never had to face Datsyuk?
“Yes, very glad,” he said to laughs. “I didn’t want to be embarrassed too bad.”
Continued; Carter Bear’s also taking part in the event.
Introducing the @NHLPA x Upper Deck Rookie Showcase class of 2026 🤩🏒👏 #RookieShowcase #CollectTheBest pic.twitter.com/gQcvddKsEA
— Upper Deck (@UpperDeckSports) July 29, 2026
