I'm also puzzled by this. Would've been nice to see a new face. Hopefully the icon doesn't get a pink background this time like the last game he was on.
Nope i think its blue or gray but dam i didnt expect ea to do that much of a overhaul. I think thats why nhl 21 might never had another update cause ea know we would riot if it was just 15 again
Matthews is a pretty big name by now. He is young and talented. He's American so these are probably all factors to their reasons for going with him again. He is seen as someone with dare I say it... fashion. He's at other sporting events. So exposure for the league and game is good. They can't just put anyone on the cover without them wanting to be on the cover and I'm sure getting some $$$ out of it too.
MacKinnon is 1 of the few that I felt could have been on the cover if he wanted to be. Panarin is a great player but he's not as recognized by the average joe hockey fan. Ovi is a worldwide name so obviously he got the cover last year.
Look at how we got outdoor games and such in NHL series and it makes sense that Matthews would be in it. Trying to captivate a younger audience and trust me they do surveys/data polling of who is most impressionable on "x" age groups and such. That is where the marketing comes into play.
Matthews is a pretty big name by now. He is young and talented. He's American so these are probably all factors to their reasons for going with him again. He is seen as someone with dare I say it... fashion. He's at other sporting events. So exposure for the league and game is good. They can't just put anyone on the cover without them wanting to be on the cover and I'm sure getting some $$$ out of it too.
Yeah good point - but it gives the feeling that NHL is poor on superstars.
There’s so many of them - and Matthews X2 in the loop of 3 releases - naahh..it feels lame..
But I can see why EA/NHL thinks diffrent - I wonder how this kinda things is decided - would be cool if the people could vote - on 10-15 diffrent names.
Matthews is a pretty big name by now. He is young and talented. He's American so these are probably all factors to their reasons for going with him again. He is seen as someone with dare I say it... fashion. He's at other sporting events. So exposure for the league and game is good. They can't just put anyone on the cover without them wanting to be on the cover and I'm sure getting some $$$ out of it too.
Yeah good point - but it gives the feeling that NHL is poor on superstars.
There’s so many of them - and Matthews X2 in the loop of 3 releases - naahh..it feels lame..
But I can see why EA/NHL thinks diffrent - I wonder how this kinda things is decided - would be cool if the people could vote - on 10-15 diffrent names.
We had a vote the year Subban was on the cover and people complained it was rigged and simply used as a publicity stunt. But getting a younger generation star on the cover helps over the Panarin, Pasta, others that hardcore hockey fans know but aren't very out there with media.
Ideally if Crosby would say yes to a cover then I'd try the hardest to get a double athlete cover of MacKinnon and Crosby on the same cover.
One has to imagine the return to Matthews was some type of decision by the NHL and not EA.
The NHL is big on players developing their own brand and with Matthews' brand building day by day combined with being an American born player - it makes sense as to why they'd want him on the cover.
Matthews is a pretty big name by now. He is young and talented. He's American so these are probably all factors to their reasons for going with him again. He is seen as someone with dare I say it... fashion. He's at other sporting events. So exposure for the league and game is good. They can't just put anyone on the cover without them wanting to be on the cover and I'm sure getting some $$$ out of it too.
Yeah good point - but it gives the feeling that NHL is poor on superstars.
There’s so many of them - and Matthews X2 in the loop of 3 releases - naahh..it feels lame..
But I can see why EA/NHL thinks diffrent - I wonder how this kinda things is decided - would be cool if the people could vote - on 10-15 diffrent names.
We had a vote the year Subban was on the cover and people complained it was rigged and simply used as a publicity stunt.
Hehe oh really - what is even possible to arrange today - without getting jumped on by the force of people.. "it's a discrimination against all good white hockey players - it's rigged!"
I personally don't care about the cover other than having to see his stupid picture on the icon and load up of the game. Matthew's might have been the best guy they could get that wants to be on the cover. Who knows how these things work?
Replies
Maybe EA and Matthews are standing close to each other.
MacKinnon is 1 of the few that I felt could have been on the cover if he wanted to be. Panarin is a great player but he's not as recognized by the average joe hockey fan. Ovi is a worldwide name so obviously he got the cover last year.
Look at how we got outdoor games and such in NHL series and it makes sense that Matthews would be in it. Trying to captivate a younger audience and trust me they do surveys/data polling of who is most impressionable on "x" age groups and such. That is where the marketing comes into play.
Yeah good point - but it gives the feeling that NHL is poor on superstars.
There’s so many of them - and Matthews X2 in the loop of 3 releases - naahh..it feels lame..
But I can see why EA/NHL thinks diffrent - I wonder how this kinda things is decided - would be cool if the people could vote - on 10-15 diffrent names.
We had a vote the year Subban was on the cover and people complained it was rigged and simply used as a publicity stunt. But getting a younger generation star on the cover helps over the Panarin, Pasta, others that hardcore hockey fans know but aren't very out there with media.
Ideally if Crosby would say yes to a cover then I'd try the hardest to get a double athlete cover of MacKinnon and Crosby on the same cover.
I am shocked and stunned.
One has to imagine the return to Matthews was some type of decision by the NHL and not EA.
The NHL is big on players developing their own brand and with Matthews' brand building day by day combined with being an American born player - it makes sense as to why they'd want him on the cover.
Hehe oh really - what is even possible to arrange today - without getting jumped on by the force of people.. "it's a discrimination against all good white hockey players - it's rigged!"
damned if you do damned if you don't ...
Same cover for the same game 🤷♂️
Maybe rethinking actually it does make sense. He is thi next gen and not since why put him maybe put Dylan larken on the cover ea
Poor thing - but a very rich one.