Whether it's Connor Bedard, David Pastrnak, Jason Robertson or someone else, who should be the next face of EA Sports NHL after the Hughes brothers were chosen?
Connor BedardHockey news isn't always the most bountiful in August, with the past two weeks being an exception.
But when it comes to the virtual ice surface, this time of the year is the best for fans of EA's NHL series.
Thursday was the official reveal that brothers Quinn, Jack and Luke Hughes will grace the cover of NHL 25, the first time that siblings will be front and center for the game.
With the Hughes family on this year's edition of the game, more than a few superstars in the NHL have yet to be a cover athlete. Let's look at a few names that should be getting a call in the coming seasons from EA Sports.
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
After an MVP season in 2019-20, multiple 50-goal campaigns and adding a Rocket Richard Trophy to his name, it seems long overdue that Leon Draisaitl would be on the cover of EA Sports NHL.
He would join Connor McDavid as the only Edmonton Oilers players to grace the game's main cover. That said, in limited edition Edmonton-only covers sold at EB Games (now GameStop), Jordan Eberle and Justin Schultz appeared on NHL 14 and NHL 15, respectively).
Not only is Draisaitl one of the league's top players, but his appeal could also be used to get more players for the series within the German and European markets. The last European player on the cover was Alexander Ovechkin in NHL 21, and then Vladimir Tarasenko was on the NHL 17 cover before that.
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
The current face of Czech hockey and one of the Boston Bruins' biggest names is David Pastrnak.
With two straight seasons of 110-plus points and four seasons of 40 or more goals, the call to be featured in a future NHL game must be on the way.
Not only has Pastrnak proven to be one of the best players in the NHL right now and one of the top Bruins of all-time, but he's also shown a sense of humor in various forms that would do wonders for promoting the game.
Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
It seems like a slam dunk that Connor Bedard's face will be on the cover of an upcoming NHL title. The question is really only a matter of how soon EA Sports will pick him.
The 2023-24 Calder Trophy winner recorded 68 points in 61 games as the new face of the Chicago Blackhawks. Even missing time due to a jaw injury didn't slow him down for too long when producing highlight-reel moments.
At only 19, don't be surprised if Bedard ends up in a rare role of one day appearing on the game's cover twice, a feat only accomplished by Jonathan Toews on NHL 11 and NHL 16, Ovechkin on NHL 07 and NHL 21 and Auston Matthews on NHL 20 and NHL 22.
Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars fans should be excited for many more years of Jason Robertson.
The California native has already been one of the best young offensive weapons for the Stars. He led the team in scoring in 2022-23, which saw him put up the second-highest point total with 109. He'd lead the team again in scoring in 2023-24 with an 80-point campaign.
Not only is he one of the dynamic American-born players at 25 years old, but he'd also make history by being the first Filipino-American player to grace the series' cover.
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins, and Linus Ullmark, Ottawa Senators
There hasn't been a goaltender on the NHL series cover since NHL 14 when Martin Brouder was featured, so why not return goalies to the prominent role with two popular netminders?
Linus Ullmark may no longer be a part of a goalie tandem with Jeremy Swayman after his off-season trade to the Ottawa Senators, but EA Sports could continue to do things a little differently.
NHL 23 saw Anaheim Ducks star Trevor Zegras share the space with Team Canada star Sarah Nurse, and the three Hughes brothers were used for this year's version. Perhaps there could be a goalie hug cover with Ullmark in his Senators jersey and Swayman in his Bruins one, or both in all-star jerseys.
The bond isn't the only thing that should land these two on the cover. Both have been to the NHL All-Star Game, with Ullmark taking home a Vezina in 2022-23 and the two sharing the Jennings Trophy in the same season.
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