EA’s NHL 26 cover drama isn’t over: new announcement sparks outrage all over again!

When EA Sports announced that the deluxe edition of NHL 26 would feature not one, not two, but three members of the Tkachuk family, Matthew, Brady, and their father Keith, I’ll admit it made a kind of sense on the surface. It’s a family deeply rooted in hockey, with a legacy that spans generations.

“My dad, Brady and I are all unique and play the way we want to,” Matthew said to NHL.com. “Sharing the cover of NHL 26 is an extension of that.”

But for many fans, this choice doesn’t just feel uninspired… it feels like a second blow.

It’s been almost a year since Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew tragically lost their lives in a bicycle accident that shook the hockey world to its core. Both men were young, vibrant, and beloved in their communities, not only for their play on the ice, but for who they were off it. Johnny Hockey was only 31. His younger brother, just 29. They both died on the scene, on the eve of their sister Katie’s wedding, where both brothers were to be groomsmen.

In that context, EA’s choice to elevate the Tkachuks once more, especially after the already controversial pick of Matthew for the standard edition cover, feels somewhat tone-deaf.

Let’s be honest: the deluxe edition was their chance to get it right. Their chance to honour the memory of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau in a way that truly resonated. Instead, they doubled down on a name already dividing the fanbase.

There’s no doubt the Tkachuks are a hockey family. But the Gaudreaus were a hockey story, one that ended far too soon. A special edition cover honouring Johnny would’ve meant more than just another glossy tribute. It would’ve stood as a symbol of what the sport can mean to people. Family. Loss. Legacy. The kind of things that go far beyond stats and rivalries.

On social media, fans are doing what EA Sports wouldn’t per creating and sharing fan-made covers featuring Johnny Gaudreau, writing captions filled with heartbreak and disappointment. The sentiment is clear. We needed Johnny.

And this isn’t about shutting out the Tkachuks, it’s about recognizing the deeper meaning behind who we choose to immortalize on these covers. In this moment, the absence of Johnny Gaudreau is more than a missed opportunity. It’s a decision that continues to sting and outrage fans.

EA Sports still has time to course correct. A special memorial edition, a downloadable tribute, a patch update, anything to get it right. Because Johnny’s legacy, and that of his brother, deserves more than a fan-made cover and fading outrage. It deserves a place in the game.

The game is scheduled to be released Sept. 12. The Deluxe Edition is available for pre-order now, with gamers being able to start playing on Sept. 5.