NHL 22: These players stand out
Throughout the past week, EA Sports has revealed several top 10 best players in its upcoming NHL 22 game, based on skill. Here is a brief summary.
Featured Image: EA Sports NHL
To start, let’s look at the best shooters. As you can imagine, Alex Ovechkin reigns supreme in wrist shot power (95), slap shot power (96) and slap shot accuracy (95). Only Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews—who was chosen to cover the game this year—leads him in wrist shot accuracy. Among the players of the Montreal Canadiens, only Shea Weber is among one of these top 10, that of the most powerful slap shot. The right-handed defender, who is expected to miss next season due to multiple injuries, ranks second with a rating of 95.
As for the best skaters in the NHL, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid wins hands down with a 96 for speed. Nathan Mackinnon of the Colorado Avalanche follows him in second, tied with Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders. Let’s remember that the latter had beaten McDavid for the fastest lap of the ice during the 2020 All-Star Game. Barzal had recorded a time of 13.175 s, four hundredths less than # 97 (13.215). Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, who held the record in this event with a time of 13.172s in 2016, holds 5th place with a score of 93.
Four players also separate themselves from first place in terms of the best passers, namely Connor McDavid, Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Mitchell Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Quebecer Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida Panthers), all with a score of 96. McDavid’s compatriot, Leon Draisaitl, follows for fifth place, tied with David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins) and Nikita Kucherov (95). Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby deserves 8th place with a rating of 94, ex aequo with Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers).
He has proven it for several years in the NHL, Patrick Kane has simply magical hands. EA Sports recognized him by awarding him the first position of its two top 10 related to puck handling. The #88 of the Hawks has indeed received a mark of 97 for his feints as well as for his control of the disc. According to EA however, he is not the only one with these skills and Connor McDavid, again him, gets a 97 for these two aspects of the game as well. An honorable mention to the most recent recipient of the Calder Trophy, presented to the NHL’s top rookie of the year, Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild), who ranks ninth in feints with a 93. The Russian 26 year-old recently signed a five-year, $45 million deal with the Wild.
Defensively, Quebec Bruins Patrice Bergeron stands out among attackers and Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning) does the same among defenders. Bergeron received an impressive 95 for his batting contact. The ratings for the face-offs has not been revealed by EA Sports, but it’s a safe bet that the Bruins center is in the front row as well. Hedman also stands out for his batting contact in second place with a 94. The giant-sized left-handed defenseman is also the second strongest in the league, again with a rating of 93, behind his counterpart with the Stars of Dallas Jamie Oleksiak (94) and tied with Ovechkin, and the goon Milan Lucic. Note the presence of former Habs Zack Kassian tied with three other players in third place for power (93).
As far as goalkeepers are concerned, none rating has not yet been revealed, but only three, including Carey Price, will be equipped with an X-Factor. The other two are Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets).
