This week, EA Sports revealed its top 10 young stars and the top 50 overall highest ranked players for EA Sports NHL 18, based on the game’s rating system. Cover star Connor McDavid took the top spot in both the young stars and the top 50 players with a whopping 93 rating – up five points from his ranking last year, and blowing past many of the top stars and veterans of the NHL.
Other young stars who are climbing the ranks include Auston Matthews, now with an 87 rating, surpassing the ranking of the 2015-16 NHL Rookie of the Year winner Artemi Panarin (rated this year at 86) and 2011-12 NHL Rookie of the Year, Gabriel Landeskog, who was rated at 85.
Young star Matt Murray is ranked as the fifth best overall goalie in the game. The ranking puts him ahead of Vezina Trophy winning netminders, Henrik Lundqvist and Tuuka Rask.
Below is a general guide to how veteran NHL players fit in with their overall in NHL® 18. There will be some crossover as there are players in real-life who find themselves right in between a second line forward and third line scoring forward role:
FORWARDS:
First Line Forward = 85 OVR – 99 OVR
Second Line Forward = 82 OVR – 85 OVR
Third Line Scoring Forward = 80 OVR – 82 OVR
Third Line Checking Forward = 78 OVR – 80 OVR
Fourth Line Forward = 75 OVR – 78 OVR
DEFENSEMEN:
Top 2 Defenseman = 87 OVR – 99 OVR
Top 4 Defenseman = 81 OVR – 87 OVR
Top 6 Defenseman = 78 OVR – 81 OVR
Top 8 Defenseman = 75 OVR – 78 OVR
GOALTENDERS:
Elite Goaltender = 87 OVR – 99 OVR
Starting Goaltender = 82 OVR – 87 OVR
Backup Goaltender = 75 OVR – 82 OVR
Stay tuned for our ratings reveals!
