NHL 14 Cover Vote: Martin Brodeur, Sergei Bobrovsky Named Finalists
By Josh Hill
The NHL asked and the fans have spoken. After sifting through a pile of players, the cover vote for NHL 14 has been narrowed down to one of the best netminder of the 2013 season and perhaps the best to ever play the game. Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and New Jersey Devils legend Martin Brodeur have been named the two finalists to appear on this year’s version of the NHL 14 video game.
Whoever wins the cover vote will succeed Philadelphia Flyers star Claude Giroux who appeared on the cover of last year’s installment of the game. Also, regardless of the winner, NHL ’14 will mark the first time since NHL ’97 that a goalie will grace the cover of the game as John Vanbiesbrouck of the Florida Panthers.
After the 1996 season, John Vanbiesbrouck was named the cover athlete after he helped lead the Panthers to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals where they eventually lost to the Colorado Avalanche by way of a series sweep. Still, Vanbiesbrouck had one of the best seasons of his career but was the leader of the upstart Panthers.
Bobrovsky may not have led the Blue Jackets to the postseason but he almost did. He’s one of the bright young stars of the future for the NHL and getting on the cover the NHL ’14 will only boost his street cred around the league. As for Brodeur, his resume deserves much more than simply winning a cover vote. Brodeur is well on his way to the Hall of Fame and getting to be the cover athlete on this year’s edition of EA’s game is just another thing to add to his long list of accomplishments.
Hockey is on the rebound in terms of popularity in America and it’s only fitting that the most important player on the ice is getting the nod as the cover athlete this season. The only question is which netminder will win it?