NHL 22 Player Ratings: Cover Star Auston Matthews Gets Updated Rating
The NHL 22 player ratings have started to arrive ahead of EA’s hockey simulation game. While various players’ attribute ratings were revealed in top 10 lists recently, now it’s on to the overall ratings. Leading the way for the top players in terms of ratings is NHL 22 cover star, Auston Matthews, who learned his rating in a reveal video. Here are the latest details on Auston’s rating, and where else he rates highly among players.
NHL 22 player ratings: Auston Matthews moves up
The Toronto Maple Leafs feature some of the league’s best talent with John Tavares, Mitchell Marner, and of course, Auston Matthews. The returning cover star led the league in goals last season with 41 while finishing fifth overall in points (66). His 12 game-winning goals also led the league, edging out Edmonton’s Connor McDavid.
With that, it’s only right that the first of the NHL 22 player ratings should go to the game’s two-time cover star. A video reveal arrived courtesy of EA Sports NHL has retired hockey star and podcast host Paul Bissonnette joking with Matthews a bit. He reveals an 82 at first, seeming to surprise Auston, who lets him know he was a 91 for NHL 21.
Of course, the joke is up, and Paul tells him he got upgraded by a point. Matthews enters NHL 22 player ratings with a 92 OVR, which is likely amongst the best in the game. However, it’s also likely there are star players ahead of him, based on last year’s ratings.
Matthews amongst top 10 shooters in game
Prior to his overall rating reveal, there were other NHL 22 player ratings revealed, but only for attributes. In a top 10 series, they unveiled who the top 10 players are in terms of Slap Shot Accuracy and Power. Matthews was fifth on both lists with a 94 rating for that key attribute. Some of the stars above him included Patrick Kane, Shea Weber, Stephen Stamkos, and former cover star Alex Ovechkin.
The Maple Leafs star ranks even better with his Wrist Shot Accuracy and Power. Matthews tops all players in Wrist Shot Accuracy with his 96 rating, while he’s second in Wrist Shot Power with a 93 rating. Only Alex Ovechkin ranks ahead of him there.
Matthews has Shock and Awe for NHL 22 X-Factor
Much like EA’s Madden games, the NHL title has now added Superstar X-Factor abilities. These are special abilities that star players can unlock during games to help them gain an advantage. For Matthews, he’ll get the Shock and Awe X-Factor for the game. With this one, gamers will see boosted shooting accuracy and power after successful dekes.
Based on EA’s notes about X-Factor abilities, Matthews is the only one with Shock and Awe, so far. Other X-Factors include Beauty Backhand, Shnipe, One Tee, Thunderclap, and Heatseeker. See all of the players with X-Factors and what each does here at EA.com’s website.
EA’s NHL 22 game releases for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4 on October 15th, 2021. Check out pre-order details for more about the game.
Visit our NHL news page for more updates about EA’s hockey game.