Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov named top rated right winger in EA Sports NHL 27

The accolades keep piling up for Nikita Kucherov.

After winning the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player for the 2025-26 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning forward has been rated as the top right winger in the EA Sports NHL 27 video game, which is set to be released in September.

Kucherov received a 97 out of 100 overall rating. The next highest rated right winger was the Boston Bruins‘ David Pastrnak with a 95 overall, followed by the Dallas Stars‘ Mikko Rantanen at 94, and the Vegas Golden Knights‘ Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ William Nylander each at 93.

This marks the third straight year that the iconic video game series considered Kucherov to be the game’s best right winger. His 96 overall rating led his position last year, as did his 95 overall rating in NHL 25. Pastrnak’s 95 rating bested his 94 rating in NHL 24.

Based on his 2025-26 campaign, it’s hard to argue for anyone else as the NHL’s best right winger. Last season, the Russian national scored 44 goals and added 86 assists for 130 points en route to winning the Hart Trophy and finishing second to Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid in the race for the Art Ross Trophy.

At 33 years old, Kucherov still stands out from the rest of the NHL thanks to his peerless playmaking, creativity, and vision. His 1,124 career points puts him 11th among active NHLers, and third behind only Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin among active Russian NHLers.

His accomplishments already achieved, which include two Stanley Cup championships, two Hart Trophies, and three Art Ross Trophies, make him a surefire future Hall of Famer. He’s also shown no signs of decline, so he’ll continue bolster his legacy in the coming years.