EA_Aljo
Community Manager
Community ManagerGameplay Deep Dive Postponed
We will be postponing the release of the Gameplay Deep Dive until a later date. Our thoughts are with the Gaudreau family at this difficult time.
Forum Discussion
I know it's very early, and I think the family should give approval regarding if it should be done or not, but can consideration be given to having Johnny Gaudreau on the cover for EA NHL? I know there have been similar ideas from the community over the years (Colby Cave for NHL 21 comes to mind), and while the loss of their lives are just as tragic, it's understandable that a 5 point 4th liner would not be a cover athlete. Gaudreau on the other hand, has proven to have been an elite player, with his peak being the 21-22 season with 115 points and setting franchise records. He was worthy of the cover then (compared to Auston Matthew's second appearance for the NHL 22 cover), and in retrospect, it probably would've been the best time.
I think the Hughes are elite players too that deserve to be on the cover, and hopefully will have many more great seasons to come, but Gaudreau has proved that he deserves a spot on the cover. It even fits well with the different US/Canada covers EA was planning (Columbus Blue Jackets for the US release, and Calgary Flames for the Canada release).
Again, I know this is very early, and I don't think any changes should be made rashly, especially without consideration or approval from the family, but at the very least I think it is worth of consideration. Condolences to the Gaudreau family and all the lives Johnny and Matthew touched. They will be dearly missed.
I like the sentiment behind this idea. That being said, trying for this year's cover would be absurd, not enough time to put together the proper paperwork, dealing with legal issues and dealing with the family at a time when they want to focus on other things, as well as wasting all the effort involved in already having the well-deserving Hughes family on the cover. Next year, might be cool though, an In Memory Of Cover.
Yeah, I think next year might be better, as it would give the family more time to grieve, make a clear decision, and would make EA look less like they're capitalizing on the situation. I do fear that by next year this will be more in the back of the mind's of hockey fans next year compared to today, and that there'll be less requests for him to be on the cover, but maybe EA will really show a rare W if they decide to do it, even after a full year later. Who knows, with interviews pointing to GM Connected mode going to take a few years to build (and NHL 26 arriving around that same time), perhaps Gaudreau could be on the cover of one of the best EA NHLs games in recent years.
