Oilers’ Connor McDavid earns top player rating in EA Sports NHL 26

I’m as shocked as you are.

After EA Sports released the top 10 players at each position for NHL 26, the 35th game in the franchise, it was revealed that Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has the highest overall rating. No. 97 tops the list with a 97 rating.

It’s the second consecutive year that McDavid has a 97 rating. For most of the past decade, McDavid has been the best player in the game. Along with being the highest-rated center for the eighth straight edition of ‘Chel,’ the Richmond Hill, Ont. native is the highest-rated player for the ninth consecutive game. In NHL 18, the year McDavid was on the cover, he was tied with Pittsburgh Penguins‘ captain Sidney Crosby.

There’s little argument against McDavid not being the best player in the game, both in the real world and virtually. Since entering the league in 2015, he has electrified fans across the globe with his speed and skill, making him an instant legend.

McDavid has some company right on his tail. Teammate and reigning Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner Leon Draisaitl is tied for second with Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, with each player having a rating of 96.

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes, 2025 Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar and Florida Panthers star Aleksander Barkov are tied for fifth overall with 95 ratings. Six players, including Crosby and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, are tied for eighth with scores of 94.

EA Sports player ratings help determine the quality of each player in the league, which in turn affects their abilities on the ice during gameplay, as well as their performance in modes such as Season, Franchise, and Be a Pro.

NHL 26 will be released on Sept. 12 on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition can gain early access as early as Sept. 5.