EA Sports has officially unveiled NHL 26, and as with any new sports game, the cover star reveal is a major part of the announcement. Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers graces the cover of the game, but that’s not all. The game’s Deluxe edition features both Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, along with their father, Keith.
Brady is the captain of the Ottawa Senators and Keith is an 18-year NHL veteran who retired in 2010 after playing for various teams.
The cover of last year’s NHL 25, meanwhile, was a family affair as well–Jack, Luke, and Quinn Hughes all appeared together on the game’s Deluxe edition.
NHL 26 launches on September 12 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. EA Sports is promising better gameplay and presentation, along with updates to the Be A Pro mode, among other things.
Matthew Tkachuk has won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Panthers. During the playoffs this year, he played through a serious injury where his adductor muscle was torn from the bone. A report from earlier this week said Tkachuk might miss the start of the new NHL season this year due to injury.
“I always told the boys to play hard, be smart, and never lose their personality out there,” Keith Tkachuk said in a press release. “What you see now is two players with totally unique styles, and I’m proud to be sharing the cover with them.”
NHL 26 is just one of multiple EA Sports titles in 2025. The season kicked off with College Football 26 in July, with Madden NFL 26 coming later this month. NHL 26 lands just before EA Sports FC 26 comes out on September 26.
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