Washington Capitals: NHL 21 gets it right with Alex Ovechkin

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is on the cover of NHL 21.

EA Sports (Electronic Arts Inc.) has named Alex Ovechkin their cover athlete for the new NHL 21 video game. This marks the second time the Washington Capitals star has graced the cover of the video game after he was on the cover of NHL 07. NHL 21 will be released on Oct. 16.

The press release from the NHL said it best about the great eight: “Ovechkin has been one of the most influential and impactful players in hockey and has become something of a muse for the development team, mapping the game’s innovation against the game-changing impact he has had on the sport.”

The new features of the game include a revamped Be A Pro experience, expanded creative gameplay, the new Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) RUSH, and World of CHEL additions offering players an opportunity to create an “Ovechkin-esque” style and legacy.

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“It’s a huge honor to be on the cover of NHL 21 for the second time in my career. More importantly, I’m glad I’m looking just as good on the cover this year as I did in 2007!” said Alex Ovechkin.

Ovechkin has put up video game like numbers throughout his storied NHL career. In his third season in 2007-08, Ovechkin scored a whooping 65 goals en route to his first Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP. Very rarely did Ovechkin not have a 50-goal season and he came up just short of the mark this season with 48 goals.

One of the biggest new features of the game is a overhauled Be a Pro mode. The brand new Be a Pro experience enhances the game’s narrative and quality of life, giving players the chance to live the life of an NHL star, both on and off the ice.

Impress the front office, go early on draft day, and chance greatness as players earn a spot on the first line, compete for the Stanley Cup, and become the league’s next best. Players can work their way from a chippy bottom six forward to a must-see superstar.

“Our community has been asking for an invigorating Be a Pro experience that puts them in the same spotlight as their favorite NHL stars, like Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin’s gameplay legacy on and off the ice, is helping us bring the next generation of EA Sports NHL gameplay to life with NHL 21,” said Sean Ramjagisngh, Executive Producer of NHL 21.

The game is set to be released on Oct. 16 but you can preorder your copy now by clicking the link here. We at Stars and Sticks would like to congratulate Ovechkin for being named the cover athlete of NHL 21!