3. Zach Werenski
A lot of different young superstars deserve to be on the cover of an NHL game. Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel come to mind, but EA will surely give them their chance in the future.
To mix it up and bring awareness to a rising defenseman, consider Werenski. At the age of 21, Werenski already looks to be mature, poised and confident in the league. It looked that way in his rookie season, as well.
The University of Michigan product knows his position very well. Positioning never seems to be a problem from Werenski, and it looks as if he’s earned complete trust from John Tortorella in a short span of time.
Poise is a huge part of his game. When pressure arrives, Werenski is never worried. He stays calm and collected on moving the puck, or using his great agility to dodge oncoming traffic. Watching Werenski control the puck on the edge of the blueline in the offensive zone is a privilege; something only a couple of defenders can really do well.
Werenski is earning top minutes with Seth Jones in a defensive core of the Columbus Blue Jackets that can really do a ton of damage on the rest of the NHL in the near future. The past campaign had Werenski collecting a total of 16 goals and 21 assists in 77 games. An incredible offensive start percentage of 60.8 really adds a cherry to the top of all that Werenski can do.
Being calm and relaxed in a game that is fast-paced and nerve-racking is difficult, and Werenski has mastered it at a young age. Keep an eye on this player for the years ahead.