Macklin Celebrini’s rapid rise to superstardom has reached another major milestone.
The San Jose Sharks center has officially been announced as the cover athlete for EA Sports’ NHL 27, making him the youngest player ever to appear on the cover of the popular video game franchise.
The honor has already drawn praise from the previous cover stars, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk.
Tkachuk Brothers Praise Macklin Celebrini
The Tkachuk family, who dominated the cover of NHL 26 (featuring Matthew on the standard cover, with his brother Brady and father Keith joining him on the deluxe edition), handed off the baton during a recent episode of their podcast.
Matthew Tkachuk immediately praised the decision. “Very well deserved,” was Matthew’s verdict.
Brady was just as impressed with what Celebrini has already accomplished. “Absolutely well deserved. He’s a beast. He’s going to be a beast for many years,” Brady said.
Matthew also pointed out the significance of Celebrini becoming the youngest player ever to receive the honor. “It’s got to be an honor for him. The youngest ever. That’s so cool,” he said.
Matthew reflected on his own experience as a cover star, noting how special the honor is for kids who grew up obsessed with EA Sports. “We were die-hard NHL gamers when we were younger. We absolutely loved it,” Matthew shared, adding that seeing the final hard copy of the cover makes all the extensive promotional shoots worth it.
Why Celebrini’s NHL 27 Cover Is Historic
Celebrini’s selection as the cover athlete is another major sign of his growing status in the NHL.
The 20-year-old has already established himself as one of the league’s most exciting young stars.
The honor comes after an outstanding sophomore season. Celebrini scored 45 goals and 70 assists for 115 points in 82 games. He also became one of the fastest teenagers in NHL history to reach the 100-point mark, trailing only Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby.
For a player who is still only 20, his rise has been remarkable.
NHL 27 Release Dates
With Celebrini now officially on the cover, fans are waiting to get their hands on the latest edition of the title.
Players who purchase the Deluxe Edition will receive early access on September 4, 2026. The standard edition will then be released worldwide on September 11, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
The Tkachuk brothers may be passing the virtual spotlight to Celebrini, but their praise shows just how much respect the young star has already earned around the league.
As Matthew and Brady prepare for their first full season together in Florida, Celebrini will enter the 2026-27 NHL season as the face of San Jose and, now, officially, one of the faces of the NHL video game franchise as well.
