Panthers alternate captain, two-time Stanley Cup champion featured on cover of latest NHL video game
SUNRISE, Fla.– The Florida Panthers and EA SPORTS™ announced today that Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk will be the cover athlete for the EA SPORTS™ NHL 26 video game. His brother, Ottawa Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk, and their father Keith Tkachuk, will join him on the cover of the deluxe edition of the game.
“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” said Tkachuk, featured athlete across both editions of this year’s game. “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.”
EA SPORTS™ NHL 26 will launch Friday, Sept. 12 on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S with a new level of on-ice authenticity and superstar quality. Tkachuk becomes the second Panthers player to appear on the main North American cover of an EA SPORTS™ NHL game, joining goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck for NHL 97.
He’s loud. He’s relentless. He’s a problem. Now he’s the face of the game.
See the full #NHL26 reveal August 6th: https://t.co/dXmeA7gpdw pic.twitter.com/2s2cneeJMs
In 2024-25, Tkachuk finished the regular season ranking third on the Panthers with 57 points (22-35-57) despite missing 30 games with injury. He also produced three points (2-1-3) in three games with the United States at the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off.
In the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Tkachuk tied Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe for the team lead with 23 points (8-15-23), his third consecutive postseason either leading or tying for the team lead in points, to help the Cats capture their second consecutive championship. His goal in Game 6 against Edmonton ended up as the championship-clinching tally.
Since being acquired by Florida ahead of the 2022-23 season, Tkachuk leads the Panthers with 254 points (88-166-254) in 211 regular season games and 69 points (25-44-69) in 67 playoff contests, with the Panthers reaching the Stanley Cup Final in all three seasons, capturing the Stanley Cup in each of the past two seasons.
The Florida Panthers are back-to-back 2024 & 2025 Stanley Cup Champions! Fans interested in Season Ticket Memberships for the 2025-26 season are encouraged to join the waitlist by clicking here, visiting FloridaPanthers.com/tickets or by calling PUCK line (954.835.PUCK).
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