McDavid receives historic rating in upcoming NHL 27 video game
Connor McDavid might be a literal cheat code now.
The Edmonton Oilers captain has been terrorizing opponents on the ice for the past decade, and that dominance appears to be taking another step in the digital space. EA Sports has begun its annual rollout of player ratings for the upcoming NHL 27 video game, and McDavid was the first player to be revealed.
The NHL’s reigning Ted Lindsay winner will rock a maxed-out rating of 99 in NHL 27, making him the first player to join what EA Sports is calling “The 99 Club.”
“Connor McDavid has made EA SPORTS NHL history,” the company said in a release. “We are proud to introduce the EA SPORTS NHL 99 Club, with Connor McDavid as its first-ever member.
“A 99 OVR is the ceiling of our rating system, representing a standard that few reach. It is reserved for players who demonstrate mastery across almost every facet of the game.”
For the first time in EA SPORTS NHL history, there is a 99 Club. š
And there could only be one first member.
Welcome to the Club, @cmcdavid97
Pre-order #NHL27 Deluxe Edition to play 7 Days Early on September 4th ā”ļø https://t.co/RA3sJZHGhV pic.twitter.com/oG99czDYTH
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 17, 2026
McDavid has flirted with a 99 rating in recent games, but hasn’t quite managed to get there. In NHL 26 last year, the Oilers captain was revealed to have a 97 rating to match his jersey numbers.
As for what playing as McDavid in the upcoming video game will feel like, EA Sports revealed gamers can expect explosive speed, elite vision, and unmatched puck control.
It feels likely that he will be the top-rated player in the game once again, which is fitting as he once again showed to be the most dominant player in the league last season. McDavid won the Art Ross for most points, notching 48 goals and 138 points in 82 games with Edmonton this past season.
The only players likely to challenge him for the top spot would be Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar and Oilers teammate Leon Draisaitl.
Gamers won’t have to wait long to get their hands on NHL 27, as the game is set to release on Sept. 11 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.