EA Sports has put Connor McDavid alone at the top of NHL 27, and the Edmonton Oilers captain is sitting on a historic 99 overall rating.
That number comes after McDavid led the NHL with 138 points in the 2025-26 regular season, a haul built on 48 goals and a league-best 90 assists. EA Sports says that production made him the obvious choice, and the result is a milestone for the series: McDavid is the first player ever to land a 99 overall in EA Sports NHL.
The rest of the top end is packed with familiar names. Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov both checked in at 97, while Leon Draisaitl followed at 96. Macklin Celebrini rounded out the top five with a 95 after his 115-point breakout season.
MacKinnon’s 97 comes after a career-high 53 goals and a year that helped Colorado win the Presidents’ Trophy. Kucherov, meanwhile, finished with 130 points and took home the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP.
EA Sports says the ratings go beyond raw scoring totals, factoring in overall impact, consistency, position and the ability to affect the game at both ends of the ice. That helps explain why McDavid’s blend of speed, puck control and playmaking keeps him in a class of his own, and why Edmonton’s offensive core looks so strong with Draisaitl right behind him at 96.
The top 10 also puts a spotlight on the modern value of elite puck-moving defensemen. Cale Makar, Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes all landed at 95, giving the list a strong blue-line presence.
Sidney Crosby and David Pastrnak also cracked the top 10, joining a group that mixes established stars with one of the game’s fastest-rising young talents.
EA Sports NHL 27 top 10 highest-rated players:
Connor McDavid - Edmonton Oilers - 99
Nathan MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche - 97
Nikita Kucherov - Tampa Bay Lightning - 97
Leon Draisaitl - Edmonton Oilers - 96
Macklin Celebrini - San Jose Sharks - 95
Cale Makar - Colorado Avalanche - 95
David Pastrnak - Boston Bruins - 95
Zach Werenski - Columbus Blue Jackets - 95
Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins - 95
Quinn Hughes - Minnesota Wild - 95
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