Florida Panthers superstar forward Matthew Tkachuk has been revealed as EA Sports’ NHL 26 cover athlete, becoming the first Panther to grace the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck on NHL 97.
Tkachuk is as popular a hockey player as you’ll find nowadays. The two-time Stanley Cup winner totals 258,000 Instagram followers and 71,900 followers on X, but that’s just the start of his popularity.
While dealing with an injury following the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, The Pat McAfee Show and the Up and Adams Show, highlighting his personality and natural charisma in front of the camera.
EA Sports' selection of the 27-year-old to be the cover athlete of NHL 26 seems to be a no-brainer, as his play on the ice backs up his media attention.
Thank you to the ones who believed, and the ones who didn't.
The full #NHL26 reveal hits August 6th:https://t.co/Iq8zn3ltK5pic.twitter.com/07c0GGxUqH
— Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) August 4, 2025
Tkachuk dealt with a major injury this season, forcing him to dress in just 52 games. He returned for the start of the post-season but was still nursing the injury. Despite the injury hampering his abilities, Tkachuk poured in eight goals and 23 points in 23 games. Unfortunately for the former sixth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, the injury issues will carry into the 2025-26 season, as he’s expected to miss several months while rehabbing from corrective surgery after suffering an adductor injury and a hernia.
Tkachuk joins a list consisting of the Hughes brothers, Cale Makar, Trevor Zegras, Sarah Nurse, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin and former Panthers teammate Vladimir Tarasenko as recent players to appear on the cover.
A full preview for the game is set to come out on Wednesday, and the game itself is reportedly set for a Sept. 13 release.
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