With Madden NFL 25 coming out next Friday and FC 25 dropping deep dive trailers, we should soon hear news about the upcoming NHL 25 game, including the game’s cover athlete.
Despite once generating back-to-back-to-back cover NHL cover athletes in Claude Giroux (NHL 13), Martin Brodeur (NHL 14) and Patrice Bergeron (NHL 15), the QMJHL hasn’t had a single player grace the cover of an NHL game since.
That’s not to say that there’s any options, in fact, here’s three guys who are probably due for an NHL cover.
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SELLING POINT: Greatness
What better time than now for a guy like Nathan MacKinnon. The former star of the Halifax Mooseheads’ has always been around the top three conversation in the NHL, but there’s always been things holding him out.
He lacked team awards, so they won the President’s Trophy in 2021 and the Stanley Cup in 2022. He can’t surpass the 100-point barrier, until he did last year and this past year. Never scored 50 goals, until he scored 54 this year. Never won any major awards? How about winning the league MVP and the player’s MVP both this year.
Nathan MacKinnon has proved over the last few years — this year especially — that he is undeniable, which makes him a perfect candidate for the cover.
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SELLING POINT: Flashiness
The NHL game absolutely loves to market the NHL’s biggest personalities and flashiest stars. That’s a big reason why guys like P.K. Subban and Trevor Zegras were given the nod before, and why Alex Ovechkin and Auston Matthews have been repeat athletes.
There’s few without a cover spot flashier and more bombastic than Nikita Kucherov. From his patented “the Kucherov” no-move deke, to his fiery celebrations and hilarious interviews, he certainly has the charisma and it-factor worthy of a cover athlete.
When combined with a 144-point season that, wasn’t just a personal best, but led the league, it would be a no-brainer to have the former Husky on the cover.
SELLING POINT: Legacy
Need I say more?
It’s mind-boggling that the now 37-year old star has never fronted an NHL game. There’s been plenty of rumours that he’s been offered the spot, but has turned it down. Perhaps it is that he is superstitious or that Crosby doesn’t want to take part in more media coverage than necessary. Regardless, if there was a time when Crosby might welcome the opportunity, perhaps it’d…