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- Image from NHL 25 courtesy of EA Sports

Matthew Tkachuk on the NHL 26 Cover? EA, You Finally Got It Right (Sort of)

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By Mollie Dominy | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 6:52 PM ET

Let’s talk about Matthew Tkachuk, the guy who’s been making defensemen question their life choices on ice and now has finally gotten the nod to grace the cover of NHL 26. It’s about time, EA! The man isn’t just your average hockey player; he’s been out here dragging the Florida Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, racking up playoff points like it’s a casual weekend beer league. And yet, somehow, this is the first Panthers player to make the cover since 1997? Really? EA, why’d you sleep on this for nearly three decades?

But hey, better late than never, right?

Tkachuk is More Than Just a Pretty Face on NHL 26

For starters, the dude is Florida hockey at this point. Since being traded to the Panthers in 2022, he’s been nothing short of a force of nature. Oh, he just casually tied for the team lead in playoff points last season? No biggie. Eight goals, 15 assists, and a Florida franchise that went from “hockey in Florida? Meh” to “hockey in Florida is basically a religion.”

Tkachuk being the NHL 26 cover athlete isn’t just a nod to his ridiculous skill set; it’s also EA finally stepping up and acknowledging his swagger. If you’ve ever watched the guy, you know he brings personality to the ice (and hopefully to the NHL franchise as well, because, uh, EA, y’all need it).

What to Expect From NHL 26 (Please, EA, Don’t Blow It)

The boring but real part? We don’t know the full feature set yet. EA is being cryptic and wants us to tune in on August 6 for the grand reveal. All we’ve got at the moment is their vague teaser blurb about “a new chapter awaits.” Oh wow, groundbreaking, right? It’s like they paid a marketing intern to cobble together a tagline minutes before their lunch break.

But here’s the thing about NHL games lately—even die-hard fans have been side-eyeing EA. Broken gameplay mechanics, repeated features (cough nothing innovative since NHL 21 cough), and cringe-inducing AI. If NHL 26 doesn’t bring something fresh to the table, uh, why bother putting Tkachuk in this position? Legends say the developers asked him, “Hey, will your immaculate jawline distract people from bugs we forgot to fix?”

The bar is practically underground at this point, but there’s hope. Maybe EA pulls the ultimate comeback story, thanks to a cover star who brings clutch energy. Maybe we finally get a career mode worth our time, polished gameplay, or God forbid, decent player customization. Fingers crossed.

Why Tkachuk Just Makes Sense

Image of NHL 26 cover athlete Matthew Tkachuk, Courtesy of EA Sports and the Florida Panthers

Aside from being an absolutely filthy player who can dangle, dish the puck, and drop the gloves if necessary (all while probably chirping your entire bench), Tkachuk represents grit. He’s the guy who annoys opponents to no end while making fans erupt into thunderous applause. Basically, if you could bottle his energy, you’d sell out before the first whistle of any Panthers game.

This makes him the kind of athlete who doesn’t just “look good” on a cover but actually embodies what hockey fans love about the game. Plus, him fronting the NHL 26 cover might actually make people forget the franchise needs, like, a golden resurrection to live up to the hype.

Alright, EA, No Pressure or Anything…

If NHL 26 doesn’t live up to Matthew Tkachuk’s star power, EA might have to dodge metaphorical tomatoes from fans (or maybe pucks if people get really heated). The reveal is set for August 6, where we’ll finally find out if EA can put their money where their mouth is and create a hockey simulation worthy of Tkachuk’s inclusion.

Until then, though, all eyes are on the Panthers’ franchise face. Matthew Tkachuk, you’d better bring it to this cover like you bring it to every clash on the ice. And EA, if this game flops, don’t think we won’t remember you hyping us up for absolutely nothing. Again.

TL;DR For the Hockey Fam

Matthew Tkachuk is now the NHL 26 cover athlete, making him the first Florida Panthers player to get this honor since 1997 (yes, 1997! Talk about overdue). While his on-ice resume more than justifies the choice, EA Sports now has a LOT of expectations to meet with the game’s full August 6 reveal.

Don’t sleep, EA. Tkachuk’s holding you to the same standard he holds opponents to on ice… and we know how that turns out for them. Expect highlights, drama, and hopefully minimal bugs because, seriously, we can’t deal with another recycled feature set in a $70 game.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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