Bob Frid-Imagn Images
No one goes to a hockey game to watch the coaches.
But when it comes to playing hockey video games, EA Sports is giving fans something more to look at with real-life coaches being added to NHL 25 — because who doesn’t want to see a pixelated version of John Tortorella berate a rookie?
As part of its latest update, each coach in the video game will now feature the following:
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Likenesses of their real-life counterparts
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Historical data for each coach and their individual coaching histories
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Unique strategies and attributes symbolizing real-world strengths
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Development traits and unique styles and in-game animations
For EA Sports, which has forever used the tagline “It’s in the game,” it’s yet another way to match the sport’s realism. Then again, based on some of the character designs, the results are not always the most realistic.
Here is a sampling of some of the good, bad and just plain weird character designs:
John Tortorella
As some have noted, the Flyers coach looks like a cross between Adam Sandler and Jordan Peterson. Either way, something is off. It could be that Torts is without his signature zip-up fleece. Or maybe it’s because we’re more used to him shouting expletives than standing stoically.
Rick Tocchet/Ryan Huska
You would have thought that replicating a bald head would have been easy. But it’s the follically challenged who ended up giving EA Sports the most difficulty.
Vancouver’s Rick Tocchett and Calgary’s Ryan Huska, who both opt to shave their heads into a Mr. Clean-type of shine, look more like Friar Tuck. Or as one Reddit user suggested, Artie Bucco from Sopranos.
At least, Tocchet’s trademark goatee is sort of represented.
Martin St-Louis
The good news: St. Louis is not as grey as he is in real life.
The bad news: His hairline is rapidly receding.
Sheldon Keefe/Craig Berube
The TV can add 20 pounds to a person’s weight. But in this case, the video game appears to have dropped 20 pounds from the former and the current Leafs coaches.
Kris Knoblauch
If you weren’t already bald — or going grey — before stepping behind the bench, just give it time. The demands of an NHL coach can add years to your life.
EA Sports has taken this adage to another level when it comes to Knoblauch, who was given more grey than he has in real life. With Connor McDavid still nursing an ankle injury and the team off to a 6-6-1 start, maybe it’s a sign of things to come.
Andrew Brunette
EA Sports nailed it with Brunette. The irony, of course, is that…