Macklin Celebrini’s 1/1 Rookie Card Sells for $1.28 Million, Sets Non-Gretzky Card Record

A one-of-one Macklin Celebrini rookie card sold for $1.28 million USD through Goldin Co. The sale, reported on August 16, 2026, set a public record for a hockey card that does not feature Wayne Gretzky.

It also pushed Celebrini’s card above public sales tied to several NHL stars.

A Record That Rewrites Hockey Card History

Prices climbed. Celebrini’s 1/1 card is the only copy of its kind. It sold for $1.28 million USD, or close to two million Canadian dollars.

Only Wayne Gretzky cards have sold publicly for more among hockey cards. That puts Celebrini ahead of famous players such as Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Mario Lemieux in this market.

The result is especially notable because Celebrini is still early in his professional career. The sale shows that rare cards of young NHL stars can attract very large bids.

Why Celebrini? The Market Logic Behind the Price Tag

Macklin Celebrini has quickly become one of hockey’s most watched young players. In just his second season, the San Jose star finished fourth with 115 points, fourth in goals with 45, and the 20-year-old was fourth in Hart Trophy voting as the league’s MVP. Macklin was second to McDavid in Olympic scoring with ten points, and his five goals led all players as Canada won the gold medal, losing to the United States.

Fans and analysts have followed his development, while collectors have also shown strong interest. In sports collectibles, buyers often pay for what they believe a player may achieve in the future.

That helps explain the huge price. Celebrini already attracts attention from hockey fans, fantasy players, bettors, and collectors. His one-of-one rookie card combines rarity with the hope that his career will keep rising. In that sense, the $1.28 million purchase is partly a bet on what Celebrini may become.

Goldin Co. and the High-Stakes Collectibles Auction World

Goldin Co. handled the sale. The auction house is well known for expensive sports memorabilia and regularly deals with major collectors. Its auctions typically include items worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

Rare sports cards are also being treated more like investments. Some buyers believe top cards can hold or increase their value over time. One-of-one cards sit at the top of that market because no second copy exists. A seven-figure sale for a young hockey star shows how much confidence collectors have in rare modern cards.

Context: Where This Sale Sits in the Broader Sports Memorabilia Market, and Looking Ahead

The US sports memorabilia market has grown sharply over the past decade. Big card sales now make financial news and attract longtime fans, wealthy collectors, and investment groups. Baseball and basketball cards have usually produced more major sales than hockey cards, but this deal shows hockey can compete at the highest end of the market.

A non-Gretzky hockey card selling for $1.28 million is a major moment for the sport’s collectibles business. It places a young NHL player’s card in the same high-price conversation as premium NBA and MLB cards.

The next question is whether Celebrini’s card values will keep rising. The sale reflects strong belief in his future, but sports collectibles can change in value as players’ careers develop.

If Celebrini becomes the elite NHL star many buyers expect, this record sale could look more reasonable over time. For now, the deal makes him a major name on the ice and in the auction world, and gives collectors another reason to watch his career heading into the 2026-27 season.