Panthers’ Tkachuk Named Cover Athlete for NHL 26, Family Featured on MVP Edition

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will be the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 26, marking a significant honor for the two-time Stanley Cup champion. The announcement comes after Tkachuk helped lead the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, showcasing his status as one of the League’s best talents.

His appearance marks the first time a Panthers player has been featured on the game’s cover since goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck in 1997.

Earlier this morning, EA Sports has revealed that the deluxe “MVP Edition” of the game will feature not only Matthew, but also his brother Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators and their father Keith Tkachuk, the former NHL star who had played over 1,200 games in his 18-year career.

“My dad, Brady and I are all unique and play the way we want to.”

Sources: EA Sports, NHL.com, Matthew Tkachuk statements.

The game is set to release on September 12th, but pre-orders are now available, with the Deluxe Edition offering up to seven days of early access and additional content like a 99 OVR Matthew Tkachuk card in NHL 25 and 4600 NHL Points. Also, EA Play members will receive special benefits including a 10-hour trial starting September 5th, plus in-game bonuses and discounts on NHL Points and other digital content.

Fans can look forward to more details about NHL 26 as the September release date approaches.