The New Jersey Devils star rookie Jack Hughes was giving the same video game rating from just about every number-one overall pick. Maybe EA Sports could change their rating system?
Coming into the 2015-16 season, one of the biggest storylines was how well rookie Connor McDavid was going to play. He was one of the most exciting players coming into the league in a long time. He was playing with the Edmonton Oilers, a team that also boasted former number-one overall picks Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The team looked stacked with talent. McDavid was going to put up video game numbers.
Speaking of video games, when NHL ’16 was released that September, and McDavid saw his rating at 82 when the game came out. That number will sound familiar.
Last year, Rasmus Dahlin was given that same 82 rating. Nail Yakupov was given a low 80s rating as a rookie. The only one who seems to be given the short end of the stick was the New Jersey Devils‘ Nico Hischier, who was given a paltry 78 rating to start his career.
On Tuesday, we learned what Jack Hughes rating was going to be in NHL ’20. Guess what it was? No seriously, take a guess. Have the number in your head?
First Look at Jack Hughes in #NHL20 👀 pic.twitter.com/WTOELdsvb4
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 20, 2019
Surprise, surprise. Jack Hughes was given an 82 overall rating in the next EA Sports video game.
Hughes is one of the most exciting American prospects ever. He has ridiculous speed, incredible hand-eye coordination and he can already pass the with best of centers. In our opinion, he needs to be higher than 82 overall, but we thought the same thing about McDavid when his rating came out.
This will never change. This is safe for EA Sports, and they will continue to go the safe route. Instead of setting themselves up for controversy, they give all these top rookies an 82 overall. Then, they can make them filled with upside possibilities so if you score 50 goals with them the first season, their numbers go up.
It’s typical, but again it’s not changing. Hughes could make himself better in NHL ’21 by having a great season, but he had no choice but to be an 82 this season.