NHL 26 Cover Reveal by EA Sports Sparks Fan Backlash and Potential Sales Concerns

However, the choice of the forward for NHL 26 is sparking particularly strong responses, and many hockey fans are currently furious on social media.

NHL is one of EA Sports' most popular games, and many of you always eagerly await its annual release.

On social media, EA Sports has just confirmed that the player chosen for its 2026 edition is none other than Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers.
This December, the Scottsdale, Arizona native will celebrate his 28th birthday, and he already has an impressive career total of 636 points, including 240 goals, in 642 games.

A first-round pick, 6th overall, in the 2016 draft, Tkachuk was involved in a blockbuster trade in July 2022 when the Calgary Flames decided to send him to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and Cole Schwindt.

The announcement of Matthew Tkachuk as the cover athlete for the 2026 edition of NHL quickly triggered a flood of comments, with users claiming the forward doesn't deserve such an honor.

One hockey fan strongly believes that Alex Ovechkin should have been on the cover instead, as he officially surpassed Wayne Gretzky in 2024-25 and is now the greatest goal scorer in hockey history.

Montreal Canadiens fans, on the other hand, argue that Lane Hutson deserved to be featured on the cover, as he managed to finish 5th all-time in rookie season scoring with 66 points in his very first NHL campaign. Only Larry Murphy (76), Brian Leetch (71), Gary Suter (68), and Phil Housley (66) rank ahead of Hutson.