EA has finally given us some huge news on NHL 21, but we’ve yet to get a confirmed cover athlete.
Let’s go over everything we know, and who could make the cover this year.
NHL 21 Release Date
While we don’t have a confirmed NHL 21 cover athlete, we do have an apparent release date thanks to a pre-order Amazon listing from EA (which also revealed the game’s price).
According to the listing, NHL 21 will release on 16 October, with Early Access beginning 13 October with the Ultimate Edition.
NHL 20 Regional Covers
For those who do not know, the current cover star of NHL 20 is the Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews.
Although Matthews is the cover star of the main NHL 20 version, EA has typically released region-specific versions of the game. These versions also have different cover stars for the icons from that specific region.
This year past, Finland’s cover featured Patrik Laine and Swedens’s cover featured Elias Pettersson.
NHL 21 Cover Predictions
It is rare that EA repeats who is on the cover of an NHL title, so we can rule out all players who have already been on one!
With that said, let’s take a look at some of the likely options who have yet to grace the cover of an NHL game!
Sidney Crosby
It may come as a surprise, but Sidney Crosby has never been on an NHL cover. Considering he has been regarded as one of the best players of all time since 2005 this rather odd.
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There have been multiple rumors and speculation by fans that Crosby has told EA no multiple times about being on the cover. For those who do not know, Crosby is a highly suspicious player, and given the Madden Curse he may be opposed to it. However, this year could be the year!
Nathan MacKinnon
This year’s North American cover star front runner appears to be Nathan Mackinnon. He was one of the most consistent players all year round, and the leading scorer on a resurgent Colorado Avalanche roster.
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He has also never graced the cover of an NHL game and looks to be one of the league’s poster boys for years to come.
Leon Draisaitl
Rounding out our possible cover stars, we have to look at the leagues leading point scorer for the current season. Leon Draisaitl has been one of the most dangerous forwards in the league over recent years, however, no one expected the type of season he is currently having.
Before the season stopped a few weeks ago, Draisaitl leads teammate Connor McDavid in total points by 13!
The German forward may be all be a lock for this year’s game cover, at least in Europe.
The post NHL 21 Cover: Predictions – Crosby, MacKinnon, Draisaitl, Release Date & more appeared first on RealSport.