Cale Makar is the first Colorado Avalanche player to get on the cover of an EA Sports NHL game in 20 years.
It has been two decades since a Colorado Avalanche player got the cover spot on an EA Sports NHL game and it isn’t Nathan MacKinnon. Cale Makar was awarded the honors as the company made the announcement Monday. He joins Peter Forsberg (NHL 98) and Joe Sakic (NHL 04) as the only Avs players to don the cover of the video game.
Makar spoke with the media about his newest accolade and how he is not unfamiliar with the game.
"When my brother and I would play growing up, it was moreso score as many goals as you can and try and kill each other in the game,” the 24-year-old told the media following the reveal.
The 2022 Norris Trophy winner posted on the X social media platform that he couldn’t be more excited and is honored to be chosen. And his fellow D-man, Devon Toews, chirped in his excitement for his other half on the ice in the thread.
Makar and his brother’s childhood EA Sports NHL playing experience consisted of mostly offense, he told the media.
"The only thing defense I would do is poke checks or sliding tackles,” the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy winner said.
It's ironic for one of the best defensemen in the world to have focused solely on playing offense but it apparently gave him an edge on real ice. Even though he suffered injuries keeping him out 22 games last season, he still managed to rack up 66 points.
This is certainly an honor very well earned and deserved.