NHL 22: The 10 Best Players

Here are the best overall players you can choose to play as in NHL 22.

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NHL 22 is finally here and the latest game in the EA Sports Hockey series has hit the ice just in time to coincide perfectly with the real world Hockey season, in the interest of supplying fans with even more on-ice action between regular-season games. NHL 22 is the 31st installment in the sports simulator series, and it’s the first to utilize the Frostbite game engine.

Choosing a team is certainly an important decision in sports sims but the biggest draw in the genre has to be the chance to step into the shoes of incredible athletes – something that’s akin to playing as a superhero for diehard fans. The full roster for NHL 22 is stacked with talent, and here are the ten highest-rated players whose skates you’ll want to lace up.

10 David Pastrnak (Rating: 91)

After leading the Czech Republic’s under 18 squad in goals and points in 2011 – 2012, David Pastrnak was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2014 and has triumphantly established himself as one of the best wingers in the NHL ever since.

The 25-year-old is dominating on Boston’s top line alongside his teammates, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. He’s a goalscoring machine who led the Bruins in points in 2020 after netting 41 goals and 47 assists in 70 games. With top-notch stick handling and precision passing, he’s a leading offense man on the ice.

9 Auston Matthews (Rating: 92)

The cover star of NHL 22 and the alternate captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews has rightfully earned his place as one of the best talents in the NHL. Since making history after being the first player to ever score four goals in his debut, Matthews has become a fan favorite and staple of the Leafs’ offense.

He currently heads up the center of first-line with teammates, Nick Ritchie and Mitch Marner, and finished the arbitrated regular 2020 season with a career-high 47 goals and 80 points. His X Factor ability Shock & Awe gives him a power and accuracy boost on the ice.

8 Alexander Ovechkin (Rating: 92)

The commanding captain of the Washington Capitals, Alexander Ovechkin is a hockey beast. Universally regarded as one of the greatest NHL players of all time, Ovi is simply a monster on the ice. He became the eighth player in history to score his 700th goal in 2020 and followed this up in 2021 by entering the elite all-time goal scorers club, joining the likes of the great Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Jaromir Jagr.

His NHL X Factor ability is the powerful One Tee which delivers elite one-timer shots to propel your team even further into the lead.

7 Nikita Kucherov (Rating: 92)

One of the key components of the reigning two-time champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nikita Kucherov led the league in playoff scoring in the 2020 – 21 season, earning 32 points in 23 games. He also led his team with 24 playoff assists, and 62 shots on goal. The right-winger has a brilliant ability to set up plays, a skill that has driven his assist total throughout his career. In short, he’s a monster of timing and executing perfect passes.

His NHL 22 X Factor ability, Make It Snappy, gives him big power and accuracy booster when taking snapshots while skating, supplying some great mobility and power on the ice.

6 Victor Hedman (Rating: 92)

Victor Hedman is another fundamental part of the Lightning’s roster. A defenseman and alternate captain, he’s been with the club since being drafted second overall in 2009. With a knack for stickhandling through high traffic zones, and excellent puck handling ability he can quickly turn the tide on the ice – swiftly moving the puck back into the offensive zone at high speeds. As a defenseman he’s not the most aggressive player, instead favoring smart stick work over big hits and physical play to protect his end of the ice.

His elite ability has earned him recognition as one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and he’s achieved numerous awards over the years, including the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2020 for playoff MVP.

5 Patrick Kane (Rating: 92)

Entering the league in 2007 as the Chicago Blackhawks’ number one overall draft pick, Patrick Kane has remained with the organization ever since and has helped the team secure three Stanley Cups. The right-winger has become a staple of Chicago and a recipient of numerous awards since joining the league. These include the Art Ross Trophy in the 2015 – 16 season during which he led the NHL with 106 points made up of 46 goals and 60 assists.

Kane is known as a stickhandling specialist, something that’s reflected in his X Factor ability, Puck on a String, which gives players lightning-quick stickhandling moves to swiftly weave through the opposing team to get the puck in the back of the net.

4 Leon Draisaitl (Rating: 93)

One half of the Oilers dynamic powerhouse duo, Leon Draisaitl is Edmonton’s top-line left-winger and the 2020 Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award winner. For those unfamiliar, this trifecta honored him as the season’s top point leader, the Oilers MVP, and the player most regarded as outstanding by his peers. Simply put, Draisaitll is an incredibly talented hockey player, deserving of all the recognition he’s received so far.

His NHL 22 X Factor skill pays homage to his accuracy and play-making. Tape to Tape gives the player increased backhand accuracy, reduced power penalties within their vision, and the ability to auto-saucer. Effectively, allowing you to see, and be ready for anything on the ice.

3 Sidney Crosby (Rating: 93)

Sidney Crosby has taken the Hockey world by storm since he was drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005. The young star quickly made a massive impression after becoming the first player to reach 100 points in his debut season at just 18 years old. By his second season, he had become the only teenager in any North American sports league to win the scoring title.

In the fifteen years since his debut, Sid the Kid has taken the torch from the great Mario Lemieux, and led the Penguins to three Stanley Cups championships, including back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017. He’s a true visionary on the ice and is regarded as the greatest Hockey player in the world by many. As long as he’s still around, you can never count the Pens out of contention. Crosby’s X Factor skill is Backhand Beauty which grants players exceptional power and accuracy when shooting on the backhand.

2 Nathan MacKinnon (Rating: 93)

The Colorado Avalanche is undoubtedly one of the most exciting teams in Hockey right now, and is hot in contention for the Stanley Cup. If you’re new to Hockey in general, as well as the NHL franchise, the Avalanche should be the team you make time to watch this season. Their current roster is filled with talent and some of the most fun players in the game, none more so than their center and alternate captain, Nathan MacKinnon.

A power forward with elite skills, he’s a skating superstar who’s well-rounded in his defensive and offensive abilities. Ankle Breaker is the X Factor at his disposal in NHL 22, a reflection of his speedy skating style – this skill dekes opponents at top speed without any penalties. They won’t even see you coming, let alone notice the puck slide into the net.

1 Connor McDavid (Rating: 94)

Connor McDavid. Even if you’re not a Hockey fan it’s likely you’ve heard that name uttered in the past twelve months because Edmonton’s captain is undoubtedly the best player in the NHL right now. McDavid was named the youngest captain in league history when he was bestowed the honor by the Oilers in 2016. In may 2021 he received the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP for the second consecutive season in a row, making him only the second player in history to do so.

McDavid is an elite speedster, a goal-scoring machine, and has precision stick work. He’s most recently racked up 13 points in just five games this season. Players can experience his speed with the Wheels X Factor ability that provides exceptional agility when skating with the puck.

Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/nhl-22-overall-best-players-in-the-game/