Matthew Tkachuk Named NHL 26 Cover Athlete After Cup Wins

Fresh off his second straight Stanley Cup championship, Matthew Tkachuk is taking his talents to the video game world. EA Sports announced Monday that the Panthers forward will grace the cover of NHL 26.

The timing couldn’t be better for Tkachuk, who has been putting up video-game stats in real life. In three straight playoff runs to the Stanley Cup Final, the agitator has amassed 25 goals and 44 assists for 69 points.

“He’s loud. He’s relentless. He’s a problem. Now he’s the face of the game,” EA Sports said in their announcement.

And honestly? They’re not wrong. Love him or hate him, Tkachuk’s become one of the most recognizable faces in hockey.

This is another massive moment for the Panthers franchise. Tkachuk’s the first player from South Florida to land on the main cover since John Vanbiesbrouck way back in NHL 97. That’s nearly three decades of waiting, though Olli Jokinen did get some love on the European cover of NHL 2005.

The cover itself looks a bit odd if we’re being honest. Something about the way they’ve edited it makes Tkachuk look like he’s been run through an AI enhancement tool. The Panthers logo appears twisted, and his arms have that uncanny valley vibe. But hey, maybe that’s just what passes for cover art these days.

Many hockey fans thought Alexander Ovechkin might get the nod after breaking Gretzky’s goal record this past season. Or perhaps EA would honor Johnny Gaudreau by putting him on the cover. But they went with the guy who’s been living his best life all summer.

And what a summer it’s been for Tkachuk. From the week-long parade, marrying Ellie with a wild celebration, a Bahamas trip with teammates, to that controversial Stanley Cup jail photo, he’s been everywhere.

Chucky’s response to the backlash? “I would like to apologize to absolutely f—–g nobody, because a double champ does what the f— he wants.” He channeled his inner Conor McGregor with that one.

The reaction from fans has been mixed, to put it mildly. Panthers fans are glad their guy’s getting recognition, while the rest of the league’s fanbases are having a collective meltdown. Scroll through any hockey forum right now and you’ll see everything from “Should’ve been Barkov” to much less printable takes.

The bottom line is that Tkachuk sells. He’s must-watch TV, whether you’re rooting for him or against him. The guy lit up the 4 Nations Face-Off, fought Brandon Hagel off the opening draw against Canada, and has basically turned heel-heat into an art form. That’s exactly what EA wants on their cover.

Here’s what’s interesting: Tkachuk played through a completely torn adductor muscle and sports hernia during the playoffs. Reports indicate he might miss a chunk of the 2025-26 season recovering from surgery. So there’s your EA curse angle if you’re into that sort of thing.

The full cover design drops Wednesday on EA Sports’ NHL YouTube channel, with the game release coming in September. No word yet on whether they’ll include a special “turtle mode” when things get chippy, but we can dream.

One thing’s for sure – putting Tkachuk on the cover guarantees this game will get people talking. Which is probably the whole point.