NHL 15 Simulates Entire 2014-15 Season

Most sports video games are designed to be realistic. EA Sports' NHL 15 is no exception to that rule. 

With stunning visuals and engrossing gameplay, the game does deliver a solid on-ice hockey experience. To accentuate the game's realism, an annual simulation of the upcoming hockey season is performed just before the proverbial puck drops in real life.

The video above shows us the results of this year's simulation.

The video not only tells us who the game predicts will win the Stanley Cup, but it also shares the predicted winners of the season-ending awards.

It's all done quite dramatically. If you want to experience the suspense provided from such a solid job of editing, stop reading now and watch the video.

If you just want to know the results, here they are:

• Stanley Cup Champions: Los Angeles Kings over Boston Bruins 
• Conn Smythe Trophy : Anze Kopitar, Kings
• Western Conference Champions: Kings over Chicago Blackhawks
• Eastern Conference Champions: Bruins over Columbus Blue Jackets
• Vezina Trophy: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
• Lady Byng Trophy: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
• Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh PEnguins
• Art Ross Trophy: Crosby
• Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy: Crosby
• Ted Lindsay Award: Crosby

In case you're wondering, the Calgary Flames finished with the worst record in the simulated season. That's good news for Buffalo Sabres fans. At least their squad might not be bringing up the rear this season.

image from NHL 15, provided by EA Sports

The game missed the mark a bit with its predictions last year. NHL 14 predicted that the St. Louis Blues would knock off the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final.

As you almost certainly know, neither team made it to the final series. Without question, Kings fans are hoping the game is prophetic this season. 

How close will the simulation come to real life? We won't know for sure until the season ends. The 2014-15 NHL campaign begins on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Follow Brian Mazique aka FranchisePlay, the Sports Video Game Journalist