The Snapshot
Pre-NHL Connor McDavid signatures are rare and hard to verify, so provenance (a specific event, a first-hand account, period-correct materials and a documented chain of ownership) matters as much as the signature itself. Our own example is the "Connor #97" brochure he signed at age 13 at The Hockey Expo in April 2010, listed at $4,500 CAD with a transferable Web3 COA. Have an early autograph of your own? Start with our Card Management evaluation service.
Few modern players have autographs as widely signed, and as widely faked, as Connor McDavid's. For most collectors that means sticking with certified, on-card autos from the NHL years. But a small number of signatures predate all of it: the minor hockey days, when a kid from Newmarket, Ontario was signing brochures and programs for whoever asked. Those pieces can be very special. They're also the hardest to verify. Here's how Sprunger Originals approaches them.
Why pre-NHL autographs are different
A certified card autograph comes with a manufacturer's guarantee. A kid-era signature usually comes with nothing but a story. No authenticator was standing beside a 13-year-old at a hockey expo, and there's no large, documented sample of how he signed at that age to compare against. So with these items, the signature itself is only part of the evidence. Where it came from matters just as much.
How the McDavid signature evolved
Like most players, McDavid's signature changed as he went from minor hockey to the OHL's Erie Otters, then to the Edmonton Oilers after being drafted first overall in 2015. In broad strokes:
- Minor hockey era (roughly 2009–2012): Expect a young person's handwriting. Letters tend to be more fully formed and readable, often with a number added. The flow is less practised, and size and spacing can be uneven.
- OHL era (2012–2015): As demand grew, the signature got faster and more stylized, with letters becoming more compressed.
- NHL era (2015 to now): The quick, flowing autograph you see on certified cards and memorabilia, built for signing hundreds of items in one session.
The key point: a genuine early signature should look like it belongs to its era. If an item dated 2010 carries a polished, modern-style NHL signature, that's a mismatch worth questioning.
Provenance: the story has to hold up
For kid-era autographs, provenance is the backbone of authenticity. Strong provenance usually includes:
- A specific event: a named place, date and reason the signer was there, ideally something you can check independently.
- A first-hand account: who asked for the autograph, and how they came to be there.
- Period-correct materials: the signed item should match the event (a show program, a brochure, a tournament sheet) and be printed before or at that date.
- Supporting photos or documents: pictures from the event, booth records, receipts or other paperwork.
- Documented chain of ownership: a certificate that travels with the item. A Verisart or Web3 certificate records the item's details and ownership history in a way that can be transferred to each new owner.
No single item on that list proves authenticity alone. Together, they make a story that is much harder to fake.
Red flags to watch for
- A too-perfect signature on an early item: a mature NHL-style autograph on something claiming to be from 2010.
- No provenance at all: "Got it at a tournament years ago" with no event, date or person attached.
- Mismatched items and dates: a program for an event that didn't happen that year, a jersey style that didn't exist yet, or paper stock and printing that look newer than the claimed date.
- Ink that doesn't fit: a perfectly fresh signature on a visibly aged item, or ink that sits strangely on the surface.
- Lots of "early" signatures from one seller: real kid-era autographs are scarce. A seller with a steady supply is a warning sign.
- Pressure and odd payment: rushed deals, refusal to share full photos, or requests to pay outside protected channels.
Example: the 2010 Hockey Expo autograph
Our own Connor McDavid Autograph (2010) shows what solid provenance looks like. In April 2010, Dean Sprung of Sprunger Originals was working booth #1152 at The Hockey Expo at the International Centre in Mississauga, promoting synthetic ice alongside Georges Laraque. On the Saturday, a 13-year-old Connor McDavid was walking the show with friends. Dean knew the family from Newmarket rinks, recognized him, and asked for his autograph.
The "Connor #97" signature was written in Sharpie on the promotional brochure used at the booth, and the ink bleeds through the front panel. The signature is intentionally blurred in the listing photos to prevent fraudulent copying. The buyer receives a transferable Web3 COA, with a QR code label on the back of the brochure linking to the certificate.
The item is listed at $4,500 CAD. The price is based on McDavid's NHL career playoff points and Olympic points, and 25% of the sale will be donated to the Southlake Foundation in Newmarket.
Protecting and valuing early autographs
- Store it properly: use acid-free sleeves or a top-loader for paper items, avoid direct sunlight (Sharpie fades), and keep humidity stable.
- Don't add anything to it: no extra inscriptions, tape or laminating.
- Keep the paper trail together: photos, written accounts and certificates should stay with the item and transfer with it.
- Value it honestly: early autographs don't have a deep sales history, so value depends on the player's career, how strong the provenance is, how scarce the item is, and its condition. Ask for comparables and get the item documented before you sell or insure it.
Have an early autograph of your own?
If you have a pre-pro signature with a story behind it, Sprunger Originals can help you document, evaluate and protect it. Start with our Card Management evaluation service, or contact us with photos and what you know about where it came from.
Interested in a piece of McDavid's early story? View the Connor McDavid Autograph (2010).