Ooooooooooooh yeah! It’s that time of the year again: the newest iteration of the NHL series has arrived, which means that we now know the initial rating for every player in the league, which means we are now able to have some fun and complain about the ratings which we think are unfair. The 2019 edition has something new for us: with the introduction of alumni players, we can now argue about the ratings of NHL superstars which have retired a long, long time ago.
As we do every year, we took a look at the most outrageous ratings: those from players we feel deserve better, but also those of players which have been grossly overrated. Of course, these are all done for fun, because this is ultimately still just a video game, and if you feel like Logan Couture has been unjustly misrepresented, then there’s probably an update coming up soon to vindicate you.
Still, debating the merits of hockey professionals which have a million times the talent I have as a player has been a hobby of mine for many years, and it is strangely addictive and fun. On top of the players whose rating we feel has been completely messed up, we also take the time to underline the times when EA actually got it right. In a league as competitive as the NHL, it’s always fun to see a player get recognized at their proper value. So enjoy this list of 25 NHL 19 ratings which have caught our attention for the right or wrong reasons.
25 DISGRACEFUL: Mario Lemieux – 96
Let’s start with a controversial one: 96 is a great rating on its own, but Wayne Gretzky has a 97. I will go to my grave swearing that talent-wise, Mario Lemieux was just as good if not better than Gretzky. The guy was just cut down by a string of bad luck, including a bad back, cancer (which he came back from to win the scoring championship despite missing two months) and heart problems which finally retired him. When it comes to dominance, no one could stop Lemieux on the ice. His gigantic frame gave him an imposing demeanor that Gretzky could not approach.
24 DISGRACEFUL: Pekka Rinne – 88
Really? We’re gonna take the most recent winner of the Vezina trophy (a trophy which means the recipient was the BEST GOALIE LAST YEAR!) and give him an 88?
Shouldn’t he be the best-rated, or close to be the best-rated, modern goalie in the game?
As it stands, there are at least half a dozen goaltenders who have received a better average than he has. Some of those are justified (Carey Price, for example, is the lone star on the Canadiens’ roster), but Rinne should be ahead of someone like Frederik Andersen or Tuukka Rask.
23 LOVE: Patrick Roy – 96
It just makes sense that Patrick Roy is the best rated goaltender in the game. He’s simply the best to ever play the game. While some goaltender of past eras might struggle in the modern era because of how the game has changed, Roy would excel in any era. He perfected the butterfly style which evolved into the current hybrid stance, and he won four cups along the way. Honestly, the only goaltenders that should be anywhere close to him in that conversation are Martin Brodeur and Dominik Hasek.
22 DISGRACEFUL: Marc-Andre Fleury – 87
While we are on the subject of goaltenders, let’s talk about our friend Flower. Another year, another time when Marc-André Fleury gets disrespected by EA’s NHL team. Last year’s inaugural Golden Knights season was a team effort, but they would not have gone so far in the playoffs without Fleury being his usual calm and confident self. He’s a veteran who has been doubted time and time again, but never let it get to his head. This guy deserves to be considered one of the best, in the current season, and possibly of all time.
21 DISGRACEFUL: Jakub Voracek – 88
Last year was not the first time that Jakub Voracek broke the 80-points barrier in a season, but the only thing his critics focus on is the year or two of lesser production in between. That however was as much on the Flyers as a team, who had been experiencing some problems maintaining their usual on-ice standards. Last year proved that the guy still got it, and that he’s at least as good as a Patrick Kane, who’s being afforded a lot more leniency in his rating.
20 LOVE: Taylor Hall – 90
When he was still stuck with an Edmonton team that was going nowhere, analysts already knew that Taylor Hall had talent;
It was just really hard for him to show how much he could offer on a team which seemed to squander his every effort.
As the most recent winner of the Hart trophy, he finally made his mark on the league after many years of being a “can’t miss” prospect. Taylor Hall has arrived, and his NHL 19 rating finally reflects reality.
19 DISGRACEFUL: Nicklas Backstrom – 88
Nicklas Backstrom has been playing at an elite level for a long time now. Ovechkin has always been the superstar of the Washington Capitals, but for a while, it seemed like Backstrom was the real backbone of the team. While Ovechkin was focusing on scoring goals, Backstrom was scoring, setting plays, and contributing defensively. Dare I say that the guy should ahead of Evgeni Kuznetsov and just behind Ovechkin in the ratings. He’s an awesome two-way player who is somehow in the shadows because of his reserved demeanor.
18 DISGRACEFUL: Patrick Kane – 91
Sure, Patrick Kane is still the best player on the Chicago Blackhawks’ roster, but this title does not mean as much now as it used to. Being the best player in Chicago should not carry an automatic 90+ rating; Matthew Barzal was the best player on the New York Islanders’ roster last year, with an offensive contribution similar to Kane’s, and he’s nowhere near the top 50 in NHL 19. At this point, Kane is coasting on reputation, and while still good, it doesn’t justify being rated the 8th best player in the NHL.
17 LOVE: Jonathan Marchessault – 86
After floundering for a few seasons, Jonathan Marchessault finally had his breakthrough season with the Vegas Golden Knights last year. He was showing promises with the Panthers, but it’s in Vegas that he finally became a complete player. The man is still young, and though his season was excellent, it is still just his first time as a member of the league’s elite. Since we don’t know yet if he’s going to be consistent, a rating of 86 sounds pretty good right now. Still, don’t be surprised if he gets upgraded with a mid-season patch.
16 DISGRACEFUL: P.K. Subban – 88
It’s a good first step that P.K. Subban is on the cover of this edition of NHL, but his rating still does not reflect his true value.
Subban has consistently been one of the best defense in the league for at least the past five years.
His contribution was minimized by those who didn’t know better, but his impact was such that his trade to Nashville severely precipitated Montreal’s downfall. He’s unjustly carrying a reputation for style over substance, which might have been true in his first few years, but he has improved tremendously since. Give him a 90 already.
15 DISGRACEFUL: Craig Ludwig – 81
He’s one of the more obscure alumni players in the game, but those who have seen him know the secret. Craig Ludwig was not the best offensive defenseman of all-time, but he was a machine defensively, and one of the hardest hitters of his time. Ludwig could not only impose respect, he also specialized in blocking shots. All of this led him to two Stanley Cups, including one with the Dallas Stars during his last active season. If Rob Ramage, another alumni, was able to get 85, Craig Ludwig should get at least an 85 too.
14 LOVE: Alexander Ovechkin – 92
I have been critical of Alexander Ovechkin in the past, but last year finally proved that he could take a team all the way and that he could perform just as well in the playoffs as he could in a regular season. After a decade of neglecting his defensive duty in favor of an all-out offense, he evolved into a solid two-way player. His rating of 92 makes him one of the best in the game, as he should be. Plus, his off-the-ice antics were just so funny that I would consider bumping him up an extra point.
13 DISGRACEFUL: Phil Kessel – 89
After two Stanley Cups and a constant increase in point total since he joined the Penguins, you would think that Phil Kessel would get the respect he deserves, but no. Phil Kessel is perennially underestimated because he likes to eat hot-dogs and because he doesn’t look like your prototypical hockey player. He comes off another season of nearly 100 points, his best EVER, and he still can’t break a 90 rating. At this point, I’m thinking EA is keeping Kessel down because Pittsburgh already has Malkin and Crosby in that range, and they don’t want the team to be overpowered.
12 LOVE: Joe Sakic – 93
I feel like Joe Sakic was often unnoticed during his career, and that is despite the outstanding numbers he kept posting year after year. This might be because he played alongside some of the all-time greats, but also because he was often teammates with flashier players like Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin or Teemu Selanne.
Sakic was more of a silent killer. Always calm on the ice, but deadly with his wrist shot.
He was a perfect example of strong leadership. I’m glad he’s being rightfully recognized as an all-time great.
11 DISGRACEFUL: Filip Forsberg – 86
The Nashville Predators have been performing really well in the past few years, and Filip Forsberg has been a driving force on the team ever since he joined. I feel like his rating is a bit down because he missed a bunch of games last year. The guy might have been injured for a while, but he still had close to one point per game. In fact, his point total was his best ever at that point, with only 67 games under belt. If he played on a less successful team, he’d be closer to 90.
10 LOVE: Patrice Bergeron – 90
Patrice Bergeron is still the best defensive forward in the league, and manages to score at a decent pace on top of it all. At this point, there truly isn’t anything that he hasn’t done yet. He has a Stanley Cup and two Olympic gold medals to his name. He’s a veteran, but he’s still only 33. If he stays healthy, he still has many years of high caliber hockey left in him. I’m just glad to see that his skills, while less spectacular than that of a flashy scorer, are still rewarded.
9 DISGRACEFUL: Thomas Vanek – 81
So Thomas Vanek is not the player he used to be, I will grant you that. But a rating of 81? I feel like that’s being incredibly harsh. He’s currently playing in Detroit, with a team which has been struggling for the past few years, and yet his rating still places him behind a bunch of players who are either similar to him or objectively worst. Does he really deserve to be behind Gustav Nyquist, for example? With Henrik Zetterberg being all but retired, he’s the closest thing to a consistent veteran player on the team.
8 LOVE: Victor Hedman – 91
A solid defenseman with a surprising offensive contribution, Victo Hedman is one of the best in the game, and it’s nice to see him get his due. The Tampa Bay Lightning has been a perennial Stanley Cup contender for a few years, and most people would put that success on the team’s forwards. That would be a mistake. Stamkos, Kucherov and co. are strong, but Hedman just keeps showing the importance of a solid blue line. Plus, despite playing defense, he’s still one of the biggest contributors to the team’s offense.
7 DISGRACEFUL: Mitch Marner – 86
Mitch Marner is the underestimated player on the Leafs’ roster. He’s rated way behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares, and yet, his season last year was improving with every game.
His playoffs contribution was even better than Matthews, and should the trend keep going, he’ll be a key to the teams’s success.
He’s the kind of players who should have been closer to his teammates’ 89 rating. As it is, he’s in a similar position to Nicklas Backstrom in Washington: a superb player in the shadows of flashier teammates.
6 LOVE: Leon Draisaitl – 87
When I saw Leon Draisaitl’s rating this year, I was ready to be offended, mostly after remembering his second year in Edmonton. The, I doubted myself and double-checked the facts: He still did pretty well last year, but like the rest of his team (minus McDavid), he struggled to keep up. That’s when I decided that 87 is a sufficiently high, and very comfortable rating for a guy who’s done an adequate job on a team that had a terrible season. Good job, EA’s ratings team!