Fansided

EA Sports’ NHL 22 covers that Dallas Stars fans want to see

By John Grux |
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 16: (L-R) Sergei Zubov #56, Mike Modano #9 and Jere Lehtinen #26 of the Dallas Stars celebrate after a goal against the Los Angeles Kings on March 16, 2006 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 16: (L-R) Sergei Zubov #56, Mike Modano #9 and Jere Lehtinen #26 of the Dallas Stars celebrate after a goal against the Los Angeles Kings on March 16, 2006 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)
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No member of the Dallas Stars will appear on the EA Sports’ NHL 22 video game cover. The only Dallas Stars players to be featured on video game covers were Mike Modano and Marty Turco. Modano was featured on the cover of NHL Championship 2000, an obscure game produced by Fox Sports Interactive for PlayStation consoles.

Turco’s cover was for 2K Sports’ NHL 2K6. The 2K6 cover was memorable for some of us because the Stars net-minder posted a career-high 41 wins that season. 2K discontinued their NHL 2K series after their 2K11 release that featured Ryan Kesler on the cover. NHL 2K was alway cheaper than EA Sports’ NHL, but less popular due to inferior game play functionality and graphics.

EA Sports’ NHL series has remained the only licensed game on the market since 2012. And, to the dismay of every fan outside of Toronto, Auston Matthews will be the EA Sports’ NHL 22 cover boy. EA revealed Matthews as their featured player during last week’s game reveal trailer.

Matthews’ selection is puzzling because he was the featured player for the game’s 2020 release. Such has us wondering why EA Sports is recycling their cover athletes so quick. In addition to Matthews, Patrick Mahomes will make an appearance on the Madden 22 cover alongside Tom Brady. Mahomes was featured on the Madden 20 cover and Brady donned Madden 18, albeit in a Patriots uniform..

Blackout Dallas would (obviously) much rather see a Dallas Stars player on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 22. The good people at EA Sports might struggle with ideas of what Stars talent would look good marketing their game. EA need not worry; we have them covered.

DALLAS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 23: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars in the third period at American Airlines Center on February 23, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 23: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars in the third period at American Airlines Center on February 23, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Jamie Benn

Dallas Stars fans might look at Jamie Benn’s 2018-20 stats and say “no thanks”…but, not so fast, my friends.

If any current member of the Dallas Stars deserves a video game cover it is the captain. Benn embodies what it means to be a leader of team. The power forward shoulders all the criticism when the team does not play well and he has made those around him better. But, hey, don’t take our word for it…just ask Tyler Seguin.

https://twitter.com/nhl/status/1309524963037261825?s=21

Dallas Stars fans may have forgotten that Jamie Benn was almost an EA Sports’ NHL cover player. Benn advanced to the semifinals of an EA-hosted fan vote for the 2017 release of the video game. The Stars captain lost the semifinal vote to Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues, who went on to win the final cover vote.

We can’t help but wonder how much better EA Sports’ NHL 17 would have looked with a Jamie Benn cover. EA could help us out by putting the Stars leader on the cover of NHL 22.

ST. LOUIS – DECEMBER 26: Center Mike Modano #9 of the Dallas Stars looks on against the St. Louis Blues on December 26, 2005 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Stars defeated Blues 6-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS – DECEMBER 26: Center Mike Modano #9 of the Dallas Stars looks on against the St. Louis Blues on December 26, 2005 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Stars defeated Blues 6-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Mike Modano

We are bending rules a tad, but nobody represents Dallas Stars lineage better than Mike Modano.

It is difficult to count Modano’s NHL Championship 2000 cover because the game stunk and few have heard of it. We envision Modano on the cover of a ‘Hall of Fame’ or ‘Legends’ edition of NHL 22. It is also worth demanding Modano’s cover image be one of him in a Dallas Stars sweater circa 1999-2003.

EA Sports has frequently produced A ‘Hall of Fame edition’ alternate edition of their Madden NFL series games. In addition to a different cover, the alternate versions of Madden typically come with extra or exclusive downloadable content. For example, the Madden 19: Hall of Fame Edition featured Terrell Owens on the cover and exclusive ‘Madden Ultimate Team’ packs and custom uniforms.

EA Sports is missing out by not releasing an ‘NHL 22: Hall of Fame Edition’ with Modano on the cover.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 25: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period in Game Four of the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on September 25, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 25: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period in Game Four of the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place on September 25, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

John Klingberg

We had some fun with the John Klingberg suggestion when EA Sports announced Auston Matthews as their guy. But, seriously, why not Klingberg?

NFL draft analysts would refer to Klingberg using a hard hat or lunch pail analogy. That is to imply the Dallas Stars defenseman is a worker. Klingberg is an important part of the Stars blue line core and their most creative at finding offense. The 28-year old also plays defense exceptionally well and has been recognized for his leadership in the locker room.

EA Sports could set an interesting precedent by putting a player like John Klingberg on their NHL video game cover. Such a precedent would be one celebrating the workhorse instead the superstar. We do think Klingberg would look darn-good on the cover of NHL 22 in a victory green sweater.

Some fans will claim they wouldn’t buy an EA Sports game with a Klingberg-type of player on the cover. We know they’re lying.

DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 28: Jake Oettinger #29 of the Dallas Stars in goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the third period at American Airlines Center on January 28, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 28: Jake Oettinger #29 of the Dallas Stars in goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the third period at American Airlines Center on January 28, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Any player in the ‘Blackout’ alternates

The Dallas Stars introduced ‘Blackout’ alternate uniforms for the 2020-21 season. These uniforms  made little sense to those unfamiliar with the Dallas nightly skyline. Regardless, the ‘Blackout’ uniforms were a bold move by a franchise unafraid of going outside the box with design. We think the ‘Blackout’ uniforms would look amazing on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 22.

Joe Pavelski wearing ‘Blackout’ on the cover of NHL 22 would make a lot of fans happy. Those familiar with fan-made covers using Photoshop know Pavelski was one of the most requested players during his San Jose tenure. It is also worth mentioning Pavelski finished third in the NHL 17 fan vote to determine the game’s cover. Pavelski being one of the top American-born NHL players should also appease most in the video game circles.

Tyler Seguin is another Dallas Stars player that would represent well in the ‘Blackout’ uniform on the NHL 22 cover. Seguin looking good should surprise no one because…well, Tyler Seguin always looks good. Additionally, Seguin is young enough and comes with enough accomplishment that few could question his selection as EA cover boy. –JG

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