Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk is cover athlete for NHL 26 video game originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk has been revealed as the cover athlete for the upcoming NHL 26 video game.
EA Sports is expected to release more details for the game on Wednesday.
He’s a tone-setter, a leader, and now a cover star.
Matthew Tkachuk is the face of #NHL26.
See the full reveal August 6th: https://t.co/gsLeVReKbupic.twitter.com/S24tmSe834
— NHL (@NHL) August 4, 2025
Tkachuk is the first Panthers player to be on the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck in 1997.
The 27-year-old winger has only been with Florida for three seasons but has already led the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, in 2024 and 2025.
Tkachuk was traded to the Panthers in 2022 after six seasons with the Calgary Flames. Next year, Tkachuk will suit up for Team USA at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics alongside his brother Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators.
Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks was the cover star last year of NHL 25.