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'I Found My Way Down To The Locker Rooms': Michael Pezzetta Reminisces On Moments As A Young Maple Leafs Fan

Michael Pezzetta is still pinching himself after signing a two-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this summer.

The 27-year-old, who's spent his entire NHL career thus far with the Montreal Canadiens, grew up in Toronto and was a Maple Leafs fan. A sixth-round (160th overall) pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Pezzetta recalled sitting in his childhood room and looking at all of the posters on his wall after signing with Toronto.

"I got a big picture of Mats Sundin on my wall and a couple of pictures of CuJo (Curtis Joseph) and some other guys," Pezzetta smiled. "I get to fight for the opportunity to put this sweater on, and it's just something that I've dreamed of my whole life, and I'm just, it feels amazing."

A month after signing his two-year, $1.63 million deal, Pezzetta spoke with the NHLPA about joining his hometown club. He reminisced about a moment from his childhood when he attended an open practice at Scotiabank Arena.

Alex Nylander Returns To Maple Leafs Organization, Signing One-Year AHL Deal With MarliesAlex Nylander Returns To Maple Leafs Organization, Signing One-Year AHL Deal With MarliesAlex Nylander is returning to Toronto for another season.

"One time, when I was a little kid, our team was at Air Canada Centre [now, Scotiabank Arena] to watch the Leafs practice. I was an energetic kid, not really scared of anything, so I found my way down to the locker rooms," Pezzetta said.

"I was running around outside the locker room, and I ended up running into [former NHL defenceman] Wade Redden and one of the goalies from the Ottawa Senators. By that time, my dad realized I had taken off and came looking for me. I was running around, trying to get guys to sign stuff."

He revealed that Sundin was his favorite player growing up. The former Maple Leafs captain holds the franchise record for most points (987) and goals (420) through 981 games with Toronto.

Could William Villeneuve Earn NHL Call Up After Signing One-Year, Two-Way Contract With Maple Leafs?Could William Villeneuve Earn NHL Call Up After Signing One-Year, Two-Way Contract With Maple Leafs?William Villeneuve is returning for another season in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ organization.

"I had his pictures in my room, jerseys things like that," said Pezzetta. "I remember his 500th goal, coming across the blue line and blasting a slap shot home, far side, for the overtime winner, and a hat trick. It was a great memory."

Sundin's 500th goal came on October 14th, 2006, and it was a shorthanded overtime-winner against the Calgary Flames. The Bromma, Sweden-born forward also scored 32 goals and 38 assists in 77 playoff games.

Pezzetta is entering his fifth NHL season after tallying 15 goals and 23 assists in 200 games, all with the Canadiens. Although he's likely to be a depth forward for Toronto, there's no doubt Pezzetta will bring more bite to the club's bottom six.

'They're Trying To Move Money Around': Maple Leafs Reportedly Haven't Closed Door On Signing UFA Jack Roslovic'They're Trying To Move Money Around': Maple Leafs Reportedly Haven't Closed Door On Signing UFA Jack RoslovicThe Toronto Maple Leafs were reportedly interested in unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic earlier this summer, and it appears the lure may not have gone away.

"It’s the same as Montreal, it is a big market, there is pressure and expectations are high," he said. "But that makes sense and that’s what makes it so great to play in these types of cities. I’m embracing every bit of it."

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: 'I Found My Way Down To The Locker Rooms': Michael Pezzetta Reminisces On Moments As A Young Maple Leafs Fan

(Top photo of Pezzetta: David Kirouac / Imagn Images)

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Ex-Miami Heat employee accused of stealing jerseys worth millions — including LeBron James'

An intense LeBron James yells during a game. He is wearing a white Heat uniform, with a headband and brace on his right arm.
LeBron James reacts during the third quarter in Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals. A Miami Heat jersey worn by James during that game is one of the many valuable items allegedly stolen by a former Heat employee and sold to online brokers. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

A former Miami Heat security officer has been accused in federal court of stealing millions of dollars worth of team memorabilia — including a game-worn LeBron James jersey from the 2013 NBA Finals — and selling them to online brokers.

Appearing Wednesday at U.S. Superior Court for the Southern District of Florida, retired Miami police officer Marcus Thomas Perez pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.

Perez, 62, faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. His attorney, Robert Buschel, declined to comment when asked on Wednesday by The Times.

Read more:Hernández: Lakers' commitment to Luka Doncic raises questions about LeBron James' role

According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Miami field office of the FBI, Perez worked on game-day security detail for the Heat from 2016-2021, and later worked as an NBA security employee from 2022-2025.

While employed by the Heat, the press release states, Perez "was among a limited number of trusted individuals with access to a secured equipment room" where "hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia" were being stored to be displayed at a future Heat museum.

"During his employment, Perez accessed the equipment room multiple times to steal over 400 game-worn jerseys and other items, which he then sold to various online marketplaces," the press release states. "Over a three-year period, Perez sold over 100 stolen items for approximately $2 million and shipped them across state lines, often for prices well below their market value."

Read more:LeBron James and Maverick Carter meet with Nikola Jokic's agent, who is starting a new league

One example listed in the press release is the jersey that James wore in Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, during which the Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 to win their second straight championship. Perez allegedly sold the jersey for around $100,000; it was sold in an online auction for $3.7 million in 2023.

In executing a search warrant at Perez's home April 3, law enforcement "seized nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia," all of which the Heat confirmed had been stolen from their facility, according to the press release.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Moses Moody shares hilarious story about his first encounter with Steph Curry

Moses Moody shares hilarious story about his first encounter with Steph Curry originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry does Steph Curry things on the court and a young Moses Moody learned that the hard way.

The 23-year-old guard detailed the experience of finding out what Curry is all about when he recently joined “The Young Man & the Three” podcast.

“One of my first times, I ripped him and I’m a rookie, I’m just coming in so I’m feeling good about it,” Moody recalled. “And it’s like I just felt everybody in the room kind of like ‘ohhhh, like he don’t know.’ And then Steph did what Steph do and go crazy and all that and I’m like, ‘OK, that feeling was right.’ I knew what I felt, everybody knew what was about to go down.”

Moody, who was drafted by the Warriors in 2021, said that while Curry doesn’t do his trash talking as loud as other players, the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader definitely gets his words in.

“He’s not loud, he don’t talk crazy but like, he’s like, he’s so good that like when he’s talking, he’s helping you almost,” Moody said. “Like, he’s just playing. He don’t talk a lot, it’s not in a conniving type of way, it’s genuine.”

Just add this one to the list of Curry Flurries that have taken the NBA by storm over the past decade.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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3 LA Kings Who Should Be Considered for NHL 27 Cover

The cover of EA Sports NHL 26 was revealed to be Florida Panthers’ forward Matthew Tkachuk. In their official reveal trailer on Wednesday (Aug. 6), they also revealed the deluxe edition would include his brother, Brady, and his father, Keith.

With the news in mind and it being that season of video games, where fans either complain or love the cover athlete, let’s talk about three LA Kings who should be considered next year, when NHL 27 comes out. 

Adrian Kempe

This one seems obvious. Adrian Kempe is a solid hockey player and one of the most underrated in the NHL. 

While he may not be the most flashy player in the league, selecting a player who is a bit off the board but still has the skill to deserve it, combined with the ability to reach fans who still play the game, is exactly why Kempe should be in the running.

Anze Kopitar

In what is likely his final season in the NHL, Anze Kopitar deserves a look for NHL 27. It would be a little odd to have someone who isn’t going to play in the 2026-27 season grace the cover of the video game, but why not shake things up a bit?

Kopitar is a legend and could be considered a Hall of Famer when all is said and done. Rewarding him like this is something EA Sports should consider.

Darcy Kuemper

Hear me out here. 

A goaltender gracing the cover of an NHL video game? We haven’t seen that since Martin Brodeur did it with NHL 14. Why not give a goaltender a look? It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to consider him as a cover athlete, but that is a long shot.

You could also consider Drew Doughty, since he is someone else who is still in the running for an Olympic run, has been a legend of the game, and is arguably one of the most popular players in the league off the ice. 

Time will tell, but it would be cool to see anyone from the Kings’ organization on the cover of the next instalment. 

Image Credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Alex Laferriere's New Contract Given Strong Grade By Kings' PunditAlex Laferriere's New Contract Given Strong Grade By Kings' PunditThe Los Angeles Kings recently signed Alex Laferriere to a new, three-year deal, and while most fans are very pleased with the deal, it's always nice to see another pundit give the contract a positive grade. Do the Los Angeles Kings Make Sense as a Fit for Rickard Rakell?Do the Los Angeles Kings Make Sense as a Fit for Rickard Rakell?The Pittsburgh Penguins could be looking to move some of their players this offseason, specifically both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, and with a little money left over, do the Los Angeles Kings make sense as a potential fit for Rakell? 3 PTO Options for the LA Kings Going Into the 2025-26 Season3 PTO Options for the LA Kings Going Into the 2025-26 SeasonWith the NHL offseason coming to a close, the Los Angeles Kings still have some cap room to play with before training camp. 
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Flyers Can't Meet Reported Ducks Trade Price for Mason McTavish

The Flyers have no chance of acquiring Mason McTavish at this reported cost. (Photo: Gary A. Vazquez, Imagn Images)

Following a new report, it would appear the Philadelphia Flyers don't have much of a chance of landing Mason McTavish in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks at all.

The reason isn't why you might think, either. Surprisingly, the reality is the reported asking price from the Ducks for McTavish starts with a player the Flyers simply do not have and cannot offer.

According to an NHL executive via Jimmy Murphy of RG, the Ducks would at least like a long-term, right-shot future top-pairing defenseman.

 "Unless you’re willing to get creative and knock [GM Pat Verbeek's] socks off with a monster offer, I don’t see him getting traded at this point. A right-shot, top-four and future top-pairing defenseman would be the starting point from what I know," the NHL executive told RG. "I don’t see the [Detroit Red Wings] moving Moritz Seider, so you’re likely talking Axel Sandin-Pellikka."

A cabal of Flyers fans have been holding out hope that Flyers GM Danny Briere has one more big move in him this offseason, particularly for McTavish, but based on the above information, there's no way that will happen.

Ironically, the closest thing the Flyers have to offer that would even remotely compare to a player like Moritz Seider or Axel Sandin-Pellikka is Jamie Drysdale, who was traded by the Ducks to the Flyers already last January.

Philadelphia Flyers Should Avoid This Potential Ducks Trade TargetPhiladelphia Flyers Should Avoid This Potential Ducks Trade TargetThe Philadelphia Flyers are still well positioned to execute a blockbuster trade for a top center this summer, but one popular potential trade target on the Anaheim Ducks isn't worth all the hype.

Prospects like Spencer Gill and Oliver Bonk might make some sense, but neither has the draft pedigree or pro experience that Sandin-Pellikka has.

The 20-year-old Swede has already won the SHL and owns 52 points in 107 regular season games across three seasons in Sweden's top hockey league.

Bonk, on the other hand, will be playing pro for the first time this fall and saw his production drop exponentially with the OHL London Knights this past season.

Plus, Briere and the Flyers already pried forward Trevor Zegras out of Anaheim in an attempt to resolve their issues at center and inject some skill into the top-six.

How many times can these two sides realistically continue to exchange core players and key draft assets?

There is a fit for McTavish in Philadelphia with the Flyers, yes, but it's unlikely the Flyers want to continue to fork over prime assets for more players who may or may not reach their full potential.

Instead, a slow burn towards the finish line of this rebuild is the path of least resistance at this time.

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Mets nearly no-hit by Gavin Williams in 4-1 loss to Guardians

The Mets fell to the Cleveland Guardians by a score of 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon, and have now lost eight of their last nine games.

Here are the takeaways...

-- The story of the day was Guardians starter Gavin Williams, who carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning.

After not recording a hit over the final four innings of Tuesday's loss, the Mets were left searching for answers against Williams, as the right-hander had his fastball sitting in the high-90s and induced plenty of weak contact. While he only struck out six hitters, he kept his pitch count relatively low, though he was up to 111 pitches through eight innings. 

In the ninth, Williams struck out Francisco Lindor swinging to start things off, but Juan Soto ended the no-no, homering to center field on Williams' 117th pitch of the game. Williams issued a walk later in the inning, and his afternoon ended after 8.2 innings and 126 pitches. Hunter Gaddis came in and recorded the final out, and Williams' final line read 8.2 innings, one run, one hit, six strikeouts, and four walks.

-- It seems like in every potential no-hitter situation, there's always one or two stellar defensive plays that keep it going. Lindor, the first batter of the game, lined one right back to Williams which knocked his glove off his hand, but Williams recovered to get the out at first. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Mark Vientos flared a ball to shallow right field and C.J. Kayfus laid out to make the grab, keeping the no-no alive for the time being.

-- David Peterson has been the only Mets starting pitcher to give them any length of late, and while he pitched deep into the game once again, he didn't receive any run support and was tagged for a couple of home runs. The lefty allowed a solo home run to David Fry in the top of the second, and fell victim to the long ball again in the third, when Angel Martinez lined a two-run shot to left.

Gabriel Arias later lined a two-out, RBI triple to right-center to extend the Guardians' lead to 4-0 in the sixth. That was the final frame for Peterson, who went 6.0 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking two.

-- While it was a game to forget for the offense overall, Brandon Nimmo reached base three times on three walks.

Game MVP

Williams, who came within two outs of recording the first no-hitter in the majors this season.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets are off on Thursday before beginning a three-game series in Milwaukee against the red-hot Brewers on Friday at 8:10 p.m. on SNY. 

Kodai Senga is scheduled to face Brandon Woodruff.

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Yankees' Aaron Judge 'felt good' after throwing for first time since returning from elbow injury

Aaron Judge, already back in the Yankees lineup as a DH, took a big step in his return to the outfield ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Texas Rangers. 

Judge threw from about 60 feet while playing catch with Giancarlo Stanton on the outfield grass and came out feeling positive about his progress from the flexor strain in his right arm.

“Felt good to get out there. We’ll see what I can do tomorrow,” Judge said, via Newsday. “You’ve got a flexor strain. Like a hammy, the first time you run on a hammy, it’s going to be sore. But I didn’t feel like I did when I hurt it.”

The slugger went hitless in three at-bats with two strikeouts in his first game back from the 10-day IL on Tuesday -- his first action since sustaining the injury on July 22 in Toronto. 

When asked if the soreness would be something he will have to manage for the remainder of the season, Judge said he anticipates it will eventually subside.

“I think for a little bit, and then eventually it will get better and we’ll be good to go and forget about it in a couple of weeks,” Judge said. “We’ll see. I’ve never had this. 

“Would be easier if I had a quad or a hammy or oblique, I could kind of give you a better estimate of what we’ve got.”

In that regard, Judge equated the injury to “any muscle injury” when it comes down to playing despite any lingering pain.  

“You pull a hammy, you have to be smart,” he said. “You just can’t blow it out. We’ll be smart with it.”

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Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk Joined By Brother And Father On Deluxe Edition Of EA Sports NHL 26

EA Sports NHL 26 Deluxe Cover

On Monday, Florida Panthers superstar winger Matthew Tkachuk was announced as the EA Sports NHL 26 cover athlete, becoming the first Panther to grace the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck on NHL 97.

Following the announcement, EA Sports revealed that a full preview of the game was to come out today, on Wednesday, Aug. 6. gameplay of the game, which is set to release on Sept. 13, was shown, but it was also revealed the deluxe version of the game would feature a cover of Tkachuk, alongside his brother Brady and his father Keith. 

Brady is the captain of the Ottawa Senators, a division foe of the Panthers. The brothers have been wreaking havoc in the NHL and joined forces on Team USA's 4 Nations Face-Off roster. The 25-year-old Brady scored 29 goals and 55 points last season, but has a career high of 37 goals and 83 points. 

Keith, the father of Matthew and Brady, never won a Stanley Cup, but if his sons want to catch him in all-time goals and points, they'll have a lot of work to do. Keith played 18 seasons in the NHL, scoring 538 goals and 1065 points in 1201 games. Currently, Matthew is trailing his father by 298 goals and 429 points, while playing 559 fewer games. 

Last year's edition of the game featured the Hughes brothers, portraying Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and New Jersey Devils stars Jack and Luke Hughes. While still following the theme, EA Sports came up with a clever switch in their marketing.

Matthew Tkachuk featured on cover of NHL 26, first Panthers player selected since John VanbiesbrouckMatthew Tkachuk featured on cover of NHL 26, first Panthers player selected since John VanbiesbrouckIt’s been a long time since a Florida Panthers player graced the cover of a major NHL video game.
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Hurricanes Have High Expectations For Alexander Nikishin Ahead Of Upcoming Rookie Season

James Guillory-Imagn Images

One of the most intriguing prospects for the Carolina Hurricanes is defenseman Alexander Nikishin. 

The 2020 third-round pick played multiple seasons in the KHL and served as the captain for SKA Saint Petersburg for two seasons. 

Nikishin signed his entry-level contract with the Hurricanes in April and played in four games through the team’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference Final. 

Now, Nikishin is entering the 2025-26 season with high expectations.

“To be able to have the game slow down as quick as it did for him [in the playoffs] is really something that attributes to just how high of a prospect he can be," Hurricanes assistant general manager Darren Yorke said via NHL.com. "The way he wants to play is exactly how the Carolina Hurricanes play. It really fits with his ability to get up in the play and be aggressive.”

The Hurricanes Have Reportedly Spent Time ‘Investigating’ The Possibility Of Trading For Erik KarlssonThe Hurricanes Have Reportedly Spent Time ‘Investigating’ The Possibility Of Trading For Erik KarlssonCould the Carolina Hurricanes be looking to trade for defenseman Erik Karlsson from the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Barring anything unforeseen, the 23-year-old defenseman should make the Hurricanes’ opening-night roster out of training camp and serve a crucial role moving forward.

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Tkachuk Family Announced As NHL 26 Deluxe Edition Cover Athletes

Matthew, Brady, and Keith Tkachuk will grace the deluxe edition cover of NHL 26. 

A five-time All-Star and 1997 Maurice Richard Trophy winner, Keith Tkachuk will appear on the cover in a St. Louis Blues jersey. He played 543 regular season games for the Blues over parts of nine seasons and currently serves as the team's Director of Recruitment. 

The last Blues player to be on the cover was Vladimir Tarasenko in NHL 17.

A four-time All-Star and captain of the Ottawa Senators, Brady Tkachuk becomes the first Senators player to appear on the cover of an EA NHL game. Craig Anderson was available as a custom cover on NHL 14, and Jason Spezza was on the cover of NHL 2K8.

Matthew Tkachuk was announced at the standard edition cover athlete on Aug. 4.

The father-son trio have combined for 969 career goals.  

NHL 26 is set to release Sept. 12, those who pre-order the deluxe edition get access Sept. 5. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.  

Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL

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People close to Luka Doncic say 'he’s moved on' from shocking trade out of Dallas

The story of Luka Doncic signing a max three-year extension with the Lakers could not be told without discussing the shocking trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers in the first place.

What was clear from listening to Doncic at his press conference after the signing was that he was looking forward, not back. That's what his manager, Lara Beth Seager, told Dan Woike of The Athletic.

"He's moved on," she told The Athletic...

"He's only looking forward. And he's here. He wants to get the best players here. He wants to win, and he knows it starts with him. And I think that's what he proved this offseason. 'OK, everyone wants to say or people think that they know me or I'm not a leader or I'm this way, or I'm that way, I don't care. They can think and say whatever they want. I'm gonna show them who I am."

Nothing helps someone move on like $165 million. That new contract helps.

Seager compared Doncic's situation with the Lakers like a marriage, one that may have ups and downs but is built on trust and loyalty. That echoed what Doncic himself said during his press conference.

"I was kind of thinking, obviously not at the moment when I got traded, but later on when I started playing, I wanted to be here," Doncic said. "Like I said, this is an amazing organization. We have a trust in each other, so honestly, I decided pretty quick."

That commitment to the Lakers and the future may be most evident in his post-trade revenge body and newfound commitment to conditioning.

"I would just say, it was like a fresh start for me," Doncic said. "Obviously, I was on my way of doing it [already], but it was just kind of a fresh start. I had a little more time to get my mind on basketball, just doing other things. So, I would just say, like, a fresh start for me."

Doncic has moved on, and the lottery luck leading to Cooper Flagg landing in Dallas has helped that organization and its fan base move on. That's healthy for everyone involved.

It doesn't mean that a Lakers vs. Mavericks Christmas Day game wouldn't be a real showcase for the league. Sports fans aren't going to move on quite as quickly.

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Blackhawks: How Does Nazar Compare to the Top Performers of 2022 Draft?

Frank Nazar has arrived for the Chicago Blackhawks and will be in the second line center role for the foreseeable future. He broke into the NHL last season after dominating the AHL and isn't going to look back. The Blackhawks' future down the middle looks good with Connor Bedard, Nazar, and Anton Frondell, but either Bedard or Frondell are going to be the one moving over to the wing in the top-6.

Only six players drafted in the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft haven't played a game in the NHL and a scattered number of players past the first round have. Amongst the top performers from the draft already is Nazar, despite being the Blackhawks' second first-round pick that year behind Kevin Korchinski.

Nazar is the eighth-highest point producer from the 2022 draft, even though the point totals aren't all that high yet. He has 27 points in the NHL, and that's pretty good for one partial season, whereas others have two to three full seasons under their belts already.

Ahead of Nazar is Juraj Slafkovsky (111), Logan Cooley (109), Lane Hutson (68), Shane Wright (51), Pavel Mintyukov (47), Cutter Gauthier (45), and Marco Kasper (37) with Matthew Poitras (26) and Jiri Kulich (24) right behind Nazar.

Some of these players have a head start on Nazar and will likely have better linemates to play with next season, but things could change pretty quickly for the Blackhawks who will continue to look to add big names in the coming years. It's almost impossible to say who will have the longest career or who will even have the most success from a close 2022 draft, but that's the fun of watching.

Nazar is just kicking off his career and can hang with almost anyone from the draft. 2025-26 will be a telling season with a number of these players already having roles in the NHL.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game day coverage, player features, and more.

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Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk Featured On NHL 26 Cover

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk had a treat for Senators fans on Wednesday afternoon. He posted on social media the new cover of EA Sports’ NHL 26 Deluxe Edition, which features the NHL-playing members of the Tkachuk family.

The cover shows Brady and his father, Keith Tkachuk, flanking his brother, Matthew, who has won the last two Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers.

Brady’s caption on Twitter read: “A lifetime of hockey together, now a cover we'll never forget. Pre-order 26 to get 7-day early access and check my game.”

The link directs users to EA Sports’ website, where they can watch the official 2-minute reveal trailer, which prominently features the Tkachuks in real and virtual form.

The Tkachuks' popularity went to another level in the past few months with both Brady and Matthew playing so well at the 4 Nations Face-off in February, along with Matthew's second Cup win in as many years.

“Growing up, Matthew and I dreamed of playing just like our dad,” Brady said in an EA Sports press release on Wednesday. “Even now, his influence on how we play and prepare remains huge. It’s an honour to be featured on the cover, and having him standing alongside us makes the whole thing even better.”

Matthew agreed.

“My dad, Brady and I are all unique and play the way we want to. Sharing the cover of NHL 26 is an extension of that,” Matthew said. “I’ve always tried to bring my own style to the ice, and seeing that captured in NHL 26 makes it feel like it is really me out there.”

“I always told the boys to play hard, be smart, and never lose their personality out there,” Ketih said. “What you see now is two players with totally unique styles, and I’m proud to be sharing the cover with them.”

From the EA Sports Press Release:

Electronic Arts Inc. today unveils EA SPORTS™ NHL® 26, launching September 12, 2025, on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S with a new level of on-ice authenticity and superstar quality.

Back-to-back Stanley Cup champion, Matthew Tkachuk, graces the cover of the deluxe edition alongside his brother, Brady, and their father, Keith, in a dream lineup uniting hockey’s present and past. With real-world NHL EDGE positional data (NHL Puck and Player Tracking) powering gameplay, in partnership with the NHL, and a reimagined Be A Pro mode that immerses players in the stakes and emotions of playing at the highest level, NHL 26 delivers an immersive and intense experience for hockey fans around the world.

This year’s cover athletes challenge traditional notions of NHL superstardom. Matthew Tkachuk, known for his relentless physicality and skill, has captivated fans with a signature style that breaks the conventional playbook. Bringing together two generations of Tkachuks, the cover highlights a family that’s carved its own path with individuality, edge, and an unyielding drive to win.

The Deluxe Edition launches on September 5, with the worldwide release following on September 12.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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EA SPORTS NHL 26 To Release Sept. 12

EA SPORTS NHL 26 will officially release worldwide on Sept. 12, 2025.

This is nearly one month earlier than NHL 25 which released on Oct. 4 and is the first NHL title to receive a September release date since NHL 20.  Those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition will be able to play one week early on Sept. 5. 

The reveal trailer is available on EA SPORTS' YouTube, and more information on how to pre-order on the EA website. 

Per EA, those who pre-order the deluxe edition receive: 

  • 7-day early access (starting September 5)
  • 4600 NHL Points
  • HUT Starter Choice Pack (83 OVR)
  • HUT NHL Player Pack
  • HUT Icon Choice Pack (86 OVR)
  • HUT Heroes Choice Pack (84 OVR)
  • Matthew Tkachuk 99 OVR item* (available immediately in NHL 25 with digital pre-order)
  • World of Chel Vanity Set
  • World of Chel Battle Pass XP Boost (x2)

Those who pre-order the standard edition receive: 

  • HUT NHL Player Pack
  • World of Chel Battle Pass XP Boost (x2)
  • Matthew Tkachuk 99 OVR item (available immediately in NHL 25 with digital pre-order)

EA Play members receive 10 hours of early access beginning Sept. 5. 

We will breakdown what is new in the trailer later today. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.  

Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL