EA Sports NHL 26 just finished unveiling their player ratings for the top ten players at each position. As with every EA Sports release, it does not come without its share of controversy. However, the Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves with six players within the top 10 spots of their respective positions.
Now these are just ratings in a video game, minimizing all the players in the NHL and all their skill sets into a single number in the attempt to quickly convey where that player stands in terms of the best to the worst players in the league. For example the top player in the game is Connor McDavid at a 97 overall, followed closely by MacKinnon, Draisaitl, and Kucherov, all at 96.
NHL 26: If it’s in the game…
Meanwhile, EA NHL has had a strong place within the hockey community for many years. Fans of the video game wait to see what ratings their teams and favourite players receive, before jumping into the game to take control of the game themselves. So let’s take a look at the 2026 Tampa Bay Lightning and EA’s initial rankings before the start of the season.
Victor Hedman is the only Lightning player to make the top 10 list amongst defencemen, coming in at a 92, fourth amongst left defencemen and fifth amongst all defencemen. After another Norris nominated season, Hedman continues to be one the NHL’s star defencemen, and is being represented as such in the game. Ranking only behind Hughes, Josi, and Werenski, there is an argument to be made that Hedman deserves to be behind only Hughes. Another strong season from the veteran defender could get him there in the near future.
Bolts strong on the wing
Along the wing is maybe Tampa Bay’s biggest strength, and it is shown amongst EA’s ratings. Both Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel appear in EA’s top 10 left wingers, and Nikita Kucherov, unsurprisingly, ranks number 1 amongst all wingers in the league. Guentzel and Hagel find themselves 7th and 10th amongst left wingers, with Guentzel at an 89 and Hagel at a 90.
Brandon Hagel’s impressive 90 overall is amazing to see after Hagel had a career season, only one year after his last career season. Hagel seems to keep getting better year after year, and his video game stock is rising just as quickly. As for Jake Guentzel, there may be some slight disrespect for the veteran star. Guentzel is a three time 40 goal scorer, and an incredibly consistent player in the league, as well as one who is widely considered to boost his level of play come the playoffs. Perhaps an upgrade to a 90 overall alongside Hagel would be in order.
For Nikita Kucherov? Not much needs to be said. At 96 overall, Kuch is the best winger in the league, and 4th best player overall, just barely behind McDavid, MacKinnon, and Draisaitl, three of the best centermen in the league. But where does Tampa’s own star center rank? At a 92 overall, Brayden Point is the 9th highest ranked center in the league, sandwiched between a 93 overall Jack Hughes and a 91 overall Mark Scheifele.
Vasilevskiy remains elite in NHL 26
Finally, let’s look at video game goaltenders. Andrei Vasilevskiy ranks second among goalies in EA NHL 26 with a 93 overall rating, behind only the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck. After a down year in 2024, Vasy was back into his old self this past year. Having his best statistical season in five years, it is a no-brainer that Vasilevskiy is second among all goalies in the league, and would be first if it wasn’t for the meddling Hellebuyck and his dumb Hart Trophy!
All in all, the Tampa Bay Lightning continue to be very well represented among tier lists and rankings. EA NHL’s player ratings are no different. With six players within the top ten of their position, and all six players mentioned fall within EA’s top 50 players, Tampa Bay is in a very strong position both in real life, and in the video game world. Now with the ratings set, it is up to the fans to take over for Julien Brisebois and lead the Lightning to another Stanley Cup in the comfort of their pajamas.
