With the 2018-19 NHL season set to start next week, EA Sports NHL19 today released the results of its annual season simulation. In what has become an annual tradition, the EA Sports NHL simulation predicts who makes the Stanley Cup Playoffs, who takes home the major awards and which team will hoist the Stanley Cup, ahead of each season start.
Big off-season acquisitions played a large role in the NHL19 simulation this year. Led by star center John Tavares, this year’s predicted Conn Smythe Trophy winner, the high-octane Maple Leafs dominate the Eastern Conference before defeating the San Jose Sharks in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, ending a 50-year championship drought for the Original Six franchise.
Some other notable predictions from the season simulation include:
Following an off-season full of rumors and uncertainty surrounding his future in Ottawa, Erik Karlsson settled down with his new team, leading the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final and claiming his third James Norris Memorial Trophy, as the league’s best defenseman
Former NHL18 cover athlete Connor McDavid continued to dominate the league, taking home the Hart Memorial Trophy (league MVP) and Art Ross Trophy (scoring champion)
The Vegas Golden Knights proved to be more than a one-year-wonder, claiming the Presidents Trophy thanks to a league-high 118 points
Led by NHL19 cover star P.K. Subban, the Nashville Predators again made a deep run into the playoffs, before losing in the Western Conference Final to San Jose
Powered by #1 overall pick and Calder Memorial Trophy winner Rasmus Dahlin, the Buffalo Sabres returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2010-11 season
NHL19 launched to critical acclaim on September 14, heralded as “the best playing hockey game of the generation” by Game Informer and “the best sports game currently on the market” by Inside Hockey. NHL19 introduces players to the World of CHEL where they can compete in the great outdoors and journey from the pond to the pros. Powered by the revolutionary RPM Tech gameplay technology, NHL 19 delivers all-new skating and collision physics systems that make gameplay look, feel and play better. In addition, over 200 playable hockey Legends gives fans the chance to compete with and against the greatest players to ever lace up their skates.
The EA Sports NHL season simulation is conducted annually by artificial intelligence that uses real-life data from each player. Results are determined by the videogame when two teams match up based on player ratings, line combinations, and include variances such as injuries and hot streaks to give a realistic outcome of a game or series.
