Eric Staal Named Cover Athlete of EA's NHL 08

[Dr Hook]

Redwood City, Calif. – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal will be the cover athlete and spokesman for NHL® 08. At the age of 23 with just 4 NHL seasons under his belt, this promising young player has scored a combined 75 goals over the past 2 seasons, notched 100 points in 2006, and was voted into his first All-Star game in 2007. Already a core member of the Hurricanes, Staal led the team in points (28) during their successful 2006 Stanley Cup Playoff run that resulted in a Championship. Aside from his exceptional talent on the ice, Staal is also known as an avid gamer.

“I am a huge fan of the NHL franchise and played NHL 07 fanatically,” said Staal. “I am honored to be named to the EA SPORTS™ family and the NHL 08 team.”

Eric is the trailblazer in a family rich with hockey legacy; His brothers Marc (NY Rangers, 2005) and Jordan (Pittsburgh, 2006) were also first-round draft picks. His youngest brother, Jared, was drafted in the first round of the 2006 OHL Draft by Sudbury. The Thunder Bay, Ontario natives grew up playing together on an outdoor rink built for them by their father in their backyard. Eric played with his brother Jordan on the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold against Finland in Moscow. Younger brothers Marc and Jared are teammates with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves.

NHL Franchise	Cover Athlete
NHL 08		Eric Staal
NHL 07		Alexander Ovechkin
NHL 06		Vincent Lecavalier
NHL 2005	Marcus Naslund
NHL 2004	Joe Sakic
NHL 2003	Jarome Iginla
NHL 2002	Mario Lemieux
NHL 2001	Owen Nolan
NHL 2000	Chris Pronger
NHL 99		Eric Lindros
NHL 98		Peter Forsberg
NHL 97*		John Vanbiesbrouck

*NHL 97 was the first iteration of the franchise to feature single cover athletes.

[Humpzilla]

"Who's Eric Staal?"

....Typical reaction from pretty much who isn't living in North Carolina. And the NHL wonders why no one gives a **** about their product.

[NJDevils17]

since when do forwards who gets 70 points in 82 games be on the cover of a video game? crosby should be on the cover unless ea couldn't get him since he might go on the cover of nhl 2k8. even without crosby available if in fact he couldn't go on the cover, then they should put either lecalvier, selanne or sakic on the cover since they all had great seasons. if they wanted to put staal on nhl 07, that would have made a hell of a lot more sense but he made a mediocre season.

[JeanLaRose]

Crosby should have gotten it... hell Jordan Staal should have gotten it before Eric... tons of better choices.. LeCavalier, Selanne, Heatley.... hell even a goalie like Luongo or Brodeur

[Isles4life]

Stupid choice. Maybe last season fresh off of a Cup win, but nobody looking at the game in stores has probably even heard of the Carolina Hurricanes. Some of the names being thrown out have already been cover guys, so that rules them out. But this is just a bad move by EA Sports. They're usually moderately intelligent with these selections.

[drwdan19]

I'm surprised it wasn't Crosby or Giguere.

[NJDevils17]

Originally Posted by Dr Hook

Redwood City, Calif. – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Carolina Hurricanes center Eric Staal will be the cover athlete and spokesman for NHL® 08. At the age of 23 with just 4 NHL seasons under his belt, this promising young player has scored a combined 75 goals over the past 2 seasons, notched 100 points in 2006, and was voted into his first All-Star game in 2007. Already a core member of the Hurricanes, Staal led the team in points (28) during their successful 2006 Stanley Cup Playoff run that resulted in a Championship. Aside from his exceptional talent on the ice, Staal is also known as an avid gamer.

“I am a huge fan of the NHL franchise and played NHL 07 fanatically,” said Staal. “I am honored to be named to the EA SPORTS™ family and the NHL 08 team.”

Eric is the trailblazer in a family rich with hockey legacy; His brothers Marc (NY Rangers, 2005) and Jordan (Pittsburgh, 2006) were also first-round draft picks. His youngest brother, Jared, was drafted in the first round of the 2006 OHL Draft by Sudbury. The Thunder Bay, Ontario natives grew up playing together on an outdoor rink built for them by their father in their backyard. Eric played with his brother Jordan on the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold against Finland in Moscow. Younger brothers Marc and Jared are teammates with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves.

NHL Franchise	Cover Athlete
NHL 08		Eric Staal
NHL 07		Alexander Ovechkin
NHL 06		Vincent Lecavalier
NHL 2005	Marcus Naslund
NHL 2004	Joe Sakic
NHL 2003	Jarome Iginla
NHL 2002	Mario Lemieux
NHL 2001	Owen Nolan
NHL 2000	Chris Pronger
NHL 99		Eric Lindros
NHL 98		Peter Forsberg
NHL 97*		John Vanbiesbrouck

*NHL 97 was the first iteration of the franchise to feature single cover athletes.

dany heatley was also on the cover of nhl 2004 when it first came out. they switched it over to sakic because heatley had killed dan snyder a little after the game came out so ea switched the cover player.

[Finned Senator]

Nice, looks like they'll have an anthem feature on 08.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...7011248022.jpg

[StealinUrCar06]

lol how bout parros on the cover? would the stache fit across the box?

[BRITISHKINGSNUT]

Originally Posted by StealinUrCar06

lol how bout parros on the cover? would the stache fit across the box?

Atleast if Parros was on the cover he might have a say about the fight engine for EA. Whats with only being able to have 3 fights in a game? complete crap!!

[BrianTheAdsFan]

Besides '06 being better than '07, they could have done better than Staal. Like the AHL thing being included though. Wonder if Crosby got confused and thought being on the cover was an injury curse like Madden and decided not to be on it. Hell, he's on everything else...and deservedly so.

[Purely_Purinton]

I thought Mick Megoof was gonna be on the cover

[StealinUrCar06]

Originally Posted by BRITISHKINGSNUT

Atleast if Parros was on the cover he might have a say about the fight engine for EA. Whats with only being able to have 3 fights in a game? complete crap!!

yeah tht sucks ass, in 2k7 u can have as many as u want

[IcePlayer]

Eric Staal what the hell?? I thought it would be Crosby for sure, and if not at least Selanne, Alfredsson, Scott Neidermayer?? Anyone??! Jesus Christ, ah well lets hope the game is better than the front cover, lol.