Sports game developer EA Sports revealed the athlete on the cover of the NHL 24: Cale Makar, of the Colorado Avalanche. The announcement was made this Monday (14).

“It’s so cool,” Makar told ESPN in the US. “When they thought I would be part of it, it was like a ‘wow’ moment. You grow up, you play all these games.

Makar, 24, is considered the best young defenseman in the NHL. In his four seasons, Makar won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive back, and the 2021-22 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. playoffs in the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup victory.

Legends like Wayne Gretzky have compared Makar to Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr for his dominant play both offensively and defensively.

“It’s hard for me to understand that,” Makar said. “I’m 24. The amount he’s accomplished in his career is virtually unmatched. I’m not even close to that yet.

Makar said he grew up playing EA Sports’ hit series as a young fan in Calgary. He remembers seeing Jarome Iginla, Hall of Famer who played much of his career with the Flames, on the cover. He said he really got into the game in 2007, when Alex Ovechkin was the face of the game.

“[Cale] is a hugely successful player at such a young stage of his career,” said Mike Inglehart, Senior Director of Design at EA Sports and one of the architects of the NHL 24 Edition. can’t help but appreciate what he brings to the ice cream. There was a natural fit not just for what he’s accomplished and what people appreciate about him as a player, but also for how he incorporates some of those strengths into our gameplay.

Cale Makar is only the third defenseman in the past 20 years to appear on game coverage, along with Dion Phaneuf (NHL 09) and PK Subban (NHL 19). Last year’s game featured two athletes on the cover: Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras and Canadian Women’s National Team star Sarah Nurse.

The final NHL game is slated for release in early October. Details on gameplay innovations will be revealed later this week.

Photo: NHL.com/Disclosure