Evgeni Malkin has reasserted himself as a dominant force in the NHL and is now ranked No. 1, while John Tavares has become an elite player and has jumped from 45th to 4th.
After November, the Bruins and Red Wings were first and second respectively, but at the All-Star break it was flip-flopped with Detroit first and Boston second.
?It isn?t tennis, I can tell you that much!? xxclaimed one local observer who, out of embarrassment, wished to remain anonymous. ?They both just kinda?push the ball over the net, you know?"
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By Nick Obergan
EA Sports is one of two powerhouse sports gaming companies, along with 2K Sports. EA produces quality next-gen games for football (Madden and NCAA football), NBA (NBA Live), golf (Tiger Woods), soccer (FIFA), and hockey. In each sport, apart from golf, EA chooses a new cover athlete for every new season.
Unless you're in the NFL and believe in the dreaded ?Madden curse?, it can be an honor for the athlete to represent his sport on the cover.
Over the past decade ? and especially for hockey ? EA has gone with multiple cover athletes: one in North America, and a couple of different covers in Europe, which are usually represented by an athlete born in a specific country such as Sweden, Russia, Finland, etc. The below list will focus on the primary cover athlete only.
A common theme for the NHL covers over the last five editions has been breakout stars, preferably who are young and likely to be stars for years to come. The last five years were Patrick Kane, Dion Phaneuf, Eric Staal, Alexander Ovechkin and Vincent Lecavalier.
One name that stands out as missing is Sidney Crosby. There is no evidence for this, but I wonder if it has to do with him having his own brand through Reebok, much like Michael Jordan does through Nike. Jordan was never on any cover for NBA 2K or NBA Live game, and quite possibly this is a money factor, where it would cost the company too much money to put him on the cover. Gaming companies could now be facing the same issue when it comes to Crosby and the likes of LeBron James. Thus, I will discount Sidney Crosby from this list, as he would be a likely #1 choice until the day he does appear on a cover.
EA?s NHL 11 is due to come out in September, but no cover athlete has been announced yet. Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks has long ago been chosen for NHL 2K11.
Below are 10 players who could be the face on this year?s edition of NHL 11, in order of likelihood (in my opinion).
10. Roberto Luongo ? Vancouver Canucks
While not a young up-and-comer like is usually the case, Luongo has been at or near the center of much of the media surrounding hockey for the last 6+ months. As the league?s only goaltender that serves as team captain, he is constantly under scrutiny. The scrutiny was only elevated after his team?s premature exit to the playoffs last year, and he responded with a very good regular season (40-22-4, 2,57GAA, .913SV%). On top of that, he became the face of the Olympics as it was hosted in his home rink in Vancouver. As the tournament went on, he led Canada on a great run through the elimination rounds en route to winning a Gold Medal as the starting goaltender.
9. Mike Green ? Washington Capitals
For the second consecutive year, Green led all defensemen in goals (19) and points (76) despite playing 75 games, earning him his second consecutive Norris Trophy nomination. There is no doubt that Green is the best offensive defenseman in the league, and that Washington?s flash-and-dash style of game suits his strengths perfectly. His two downfalls remain his play in the post-season (12 points in 21 games over the last 2 seasons) and his defensive zone play. But who cares about playing defense in a video game?
8. Mike Richards ? Philadelphia Flyers
Though he set a career high in goals this year (31), it was a down-year offensively for Richards. He had 75 and 80 points respectively in the previous two seasons, but only managed 62 this year. His struggles mirrored that of his team, who waited until the shootout of the final game of the season to clinch a playoff berth. All of that is forgotten, though, as he has led his team to the Conference Finals where he had 17 points in the first 12 games of the playoffs. The hard-nosed, two-way captain was also a member of Team Canada?s gold medal performance at the Olympics, making his presence felt on the team?s top energy and defensive line.
7. Drew Doughty ? Los Angeles Kings
There aren?t many 20-year-olds who have had a better year in their lives than Doughty. The sophomore defenseman earned his first (of many, I?m sure) Norris Trophy nomination after 16 goals, 59 points, and improving from a -17 rating last year to +20 this year. He quarterbacks the power play, dishes out hits and moves the puck up ice better than almost anyone. He also refuses to let the spotlight affect him, as he was one of Canada?s best all-around players in the Olympics from start to finish. Watch him play and it?s easy to see why the Ray Bourque comparisons are valid.
6. Zach Parise ? New Jersey Devils
In a historically strict offensive system, it?s difficult for offensive stars to be noticed in New Jersey ? not to mention the greatest goalie of all-time stealing all of the attention. But those limitations haven?t stopped Parise from elbowing his way into the league spotlight. Last year, his fourth in the league, he put up an MVP-caliber year with 45 goals, 49 assists and 94 points; this year he was no slouch either with 38-44-82. On top of his great scoring touch he provides fantastic speed and solid defensive play. This star-level play will likely force the Devils to let Ilya Kovalchuk walk in free agency because Parise will require a large pay raise next year. And if you didn?t know who he was before the Olympics, you sure did after; Parise provided numerous glowing moments, most notably scoring the tying goal in the waning moments of the gold medal game for Team USA.
5. Henrik Sedin ? Vancouver Canucks
One would think that the Art Ross winner and Hart Trophy candidate would be higher on this list. But Sedin will turn 30 during the month of the game?s release, so he doesn?t really fit the up-and-coming-star criteria. Indeed, this was Sedin?s first truly elite season in the NHL with his 83 assists and 112 points leading the league (previous career highs were 71 and 82 respectively). A case could even be made that it would be neat to have Henrik joined on the cover by his brother Daniel ? I could see this concept being a European cover, but due to age not the primary feature. It?s not impossible though, as EA could choose to strike the iron while it?s hot and catch Sedin in a career-year instead of market a younger player who can/should have a bigger window of success ahead of him.
4. Nicklas Backstrom ? Washington Capitals
Prior to this year, Backstrom was the forgotten star on Washington, playing in the immense shadow of Ovechkin and to a lesser extent, the Norris-nominee Green. But the former 4th overall pick turned in a year for the ages, with 33 goals, 68 assists (3rd) and 101 points (4th). Those numbers earned him a recent extension that keeps him beside his high flying team-mate for the next 10 years. He has previously served as a Sweden-only cover athlete, but is making a case to increase his exposure with EA.
3. Jonathan Toews ? Chicago Blackhawks
The young captain is one of the budding stars in the league, and after last year?s fiasco with Toews? team-mate Patrick Kane (shortly before the game?s release, Kane had a well-publicized altercation with a cab driver in Buffalo), the game would be much better served promoting the characteristics that Toews displays: strong leadership, accountability, hard-working, well-spoken, a team player, a champion. He was a key member of Canada?s gold medal team, scoring a goal in the final game and centering the team?s shutdown line with Richards and Rick Nash. Through two rounds of play in the NHL playoffs, Toews was leading all scorers with 20 points, and could be a different kind of champion at the end of June as his Hawks are currently battling it out in the Conference Finals for the right to play for the Cup.
2. Ryan Miller ? Buffalo Sabres
While Miller will be 30 this summer, it?s impossible to dispute his place on this list or what he has done this past season. He is the front-runner for the Vezina Trophy this year after leading Buffalo to a division title with incredible stats (41-18-8, 2.22, .929) and little help from his team?s paltry offence. In addition to his NHL season, he turned in a historic performance in the Olympics for Team USA, being named tournament MVP after an overtime goal was all that stood in the way of USA and the gold medal. Still, a silver medal was far more than any expert had pegged USA to take home, and Miller was the biggest reason.
1. Steven Stamkos ? Tampa Bay Lightning
Speaking of great years at age 20, Stamkos? year wasn?t far behind Doughty?s. No, he wasn?t selected for Team Canada at the Olympics, but he turned in one of the best sophomore year?s imaginable after leading the NHL in goals with 51 (tied with Crosby) and placing 5th in points with 95. All of this after the word ?bust? was whispered part-way through last season when he struggled as a rookie (and was mismanaged by his first coach Barry Melrose). From the midway point of last season until now, he has proven to be one of the league?s elite goal scorers, putting himself in the company of Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Dany Heatley, Parise, Marion Gaborik and Crosby when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the net. Stamkos is going to be a star for a long, long time in this league (health permitting) and he showed the world 51 reasons why he is a top candidate to appear on the front of NHL 11 this year.
Nick can be reached via email nickobergan@hotmail.com or on twitter http://twitter.com/nickobergan
