Every year, as summer progresses, hockey fans across America wait for the newest edition of the NHL series. While EA generally releases the game in September, most fans get their first glimpse through teasers or cover art revealed in August.
This year, fans were eagerly awaiting the first look at NHL 26. However, when the cover was finally revealed on August 4, the reaction was anything but positive. The cover showcased Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk as the latest cover athlete, sparking immediate controversy.
But as fans voiced their disappointment with this decision, one fan’s custom artwork suddenly turned the conversation around.
Why Did Fans Rally Behind a Johnny Gaudreau Tribute Cover Instead?
When the official NHL account revealed Tkachuk as the cover athlete for NHL 26, it didn’t take long for fans to express their frustration. Many had expected this new edition to honor the passing of former Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau.
Gaudreau was with Columbus when, last August, he was struck by a suspected drunk driver and died from his injuries. Since that tragic day, many assumed NHL 26 would pay tribute to Gaudreau. One fan decided to take matters into her own hands.
took me 2 seconds to make and is infinitely better https://t.co/7cNKuzGU8k pic.twitter.com/jGevCrMLjM
— ᖭི༏ᖫྀ 𝒩𝑜𝓇𝒶𝒽 ˖ . ݁𝜗𝜚. ݁₊ (@norrie1313) August 4, 2025
@norrie1313 on X revealed a custom cover she made with Gaudreau on the cover with the caption, “Took me 2 seconds to make and is infinitely better.” The response was immediate and overwhelming. One fan wrote, “Actually, I’m putting it on my wall.”
Meanwhile, another fan mentioned, “Don’t mind the Panthers one, but this one is pretty glorious too!” The reaction highlighted just how deeply Gaudreau’s accident impacted the NHL community and how meaningful a tribute cover would have been.
Don’t mind the panthers one but this one is pretty glorious too!
— VHL (Victory Hockey League) (@VHL_Sim) August 5, 2025
One fan even wrote, “A jersey combo on him would’ve been fire too,” hoping for a home and away double cover. There are still possibilities that Gaudreau could appear on a Deluxe Edition cover.
However, another player’s absence from consideration has fans equally upset.
How Did Alex Ovechkin’s Historic Season Get Overlooked for the Cover?
Alex Ovechkin has been one of the standout performers of this past season. With his 895th goal in April, he passed the milestone of overtaking Wayne Gretzky, so selecting him as the cover athlete would have made perfect sense.
The official NHL X account revealed Tkachuk as the cover athlete with the caption, “He’s a tone-setter, a leader, and now a cover star. Matthew Tkachuk is the face of #NHL26. See the full reveal on August 6th.” Fans immediately voiced their disagreement.
He’s a tone-setter, a leader, and now a cover star.
Matthew Tkachuk is the face of #NHL26.
See the full reveal August 6th: https://t.co/gsLeVReKbu pic.twitter.com/S24tmSe834
— NHL (@NHL) August 4, 2025
Not only did Ovechkin achieve the incredible milestone of surpassing Gretzky, but he may also be playing his final season. The significance of this wasn’t lost on fans. One fan wrote, “I thought for sure it would be Ovechkin.”
The magnitude of Ovechkin’s achievement resonated deeply with him and the entire NHL community. Some fans argued that either Gaudreau or Ovechkin should have been featured on the cover. Looking at the numbers, Ovechkin also outperformed Tkachuk during the regular season.
Ovechkin recorded 73 regular-season points compared to Tkachuk’s 57. While the Panthers star did capture his second Stanley Cup title, the historical significance of Ovechkin’s milestone clearly surpasses that achievement.
Despite the ongoing debate over EA’s decision, most fans still await the full reveal scheduled for Wednesday, August 6.
