NHL 15: Review of Top 5 Player Ratings for Each Position

The release of EA Sports’ NHL 15 on Tuesday has hockey fans and video gamers ready for the next-generation console upgrades and the visual improvements to the action on the ice.

With EA Sports focusing heavily on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 editions of the game (Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners will get a watered-down version), the graphics for the gameplay and cut scenes should be some of the best in the history of sports games.

To build even more excitement for the game’s release, here are the top-five player ratings at each position and a breakdown of the rankings.

Centers	Player	Rating
Left Wings	Player	Rating
Right Wings	Player	Rating
Defensemen	Player	Rating
Goalies	Player	Rating
1	Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins	96
2	Steven Stamkos - Tampa Bay Lightning	93
3	Jonathan Toews - Chicago Blackhawks	93
4	Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit Red Wings	93
5	Ryan Getzlaf - Anaheim Ducks	92
1	Alexander Ovechkin - Washington Capitals	93
2	Henrik Zetterberg - Detroit Red Wings	92
3	Zach Parise - Minnesota Wild	90
4	Taylor Hall - Edmonton Oilers	90
5	Jamie Benn - Dallas Stars	90
1	Corey Perry - Anaheim Ducks	92
2	Marian Hossa - Chicago Blackhawks	91
3	Phil Kessel - Toronto Maple Leafs	90
4	Patrick Kane - Chicago Blackhawks	89
5	Martin St. Louis - New York Rangers	88
1	Shea Weber - Nashville Predators	93
2	Duncan Keith - Chicago Blackhawks	92
3	Ryan Suter - Minnesota Wild	92
4	Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings	91
5	Zdeno Chara - Boston Bruins	91
1	Henrik Lundqvist - New York Rangers	93
2	Jonathan Quick - L.A. Kings	93
3	Carey Price - Montreal Canadiens	92
4	Tuukka Rask - Boston Bruins	92
5	Pekka Rinne - Nashville Predators	91

Breaking Down the Rankings

The latest release of EA Sports’ NHL series has fans excited for which players will be the most dominant in the game, and to the surprise of no one, the biggest names in the sport are the highest-rated stars in the game.

The top-rated player in this year’s edition is Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby. The talented player won the Hart Trophy last season and racked up over 100 points (104) for the fifth time in his career. With the ability to score goals on his own or make his teammates around him better, Crosby is considered the best player in the league and was awarded a rating by EA Sports to back that up.

While Crosby is regarded as the best all-around player in the NHL, Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin is arguably the best pure goal scorer. Crosby racked up 36 goals last season, but for the fifth time in his career, Ovechkin racked up at least 50 goals in a season (51 to be exact.) There are legitimate questions about his ability and willingness to defend, but there is no doubting his offensive attributes.

Many fans look to the offense first and foremost, but a good team in hockey is built around goaltending and defense.

On the defensive side, no one does it better than Nashville Predators captain Shea Weber. As one of the top shutdown defenders in the NHL, Weber has the ability to neutralize even the best skaters in the world with his size and his strength. Add in a vicious slap shot and power-play vision, and Weber deserves his 93 ranking.

As for goaltenders, there is a tie for the top player at the position between Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and Jonathan Quick of the L.A. Kings. Both men earned the 93 rating this season with their elite play and the fact that both helped their respective teams make the Stanley Cup Final.

While Quick got the win in the series, both goaltenders are worthy of building a franchise around.

The release of the top player ratings was a smart move by EA Sports. The company understands the hype that releasing these numbers has on gamers, and just like the frenzy over the Madden series, hockey fans are clamoring to get their hands on this game.

Mercifully, it finally hits shelves Tuesday.

*Stats via EASports.com.

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