(Photo Credit: EA Sports NHL, via Twitter)
As is the case in Madden and FIFA, EA Sports’ NHL game puts a lot of emphasis on speed. With the fastest players, you can blaze past the opposition and find yourself in on goal.
The two main elements of speed in NHL 19 are the attributes of speed and acceleration. So, by taking an average score between the two, this list shows you exactly who the fastest players in NHL 19 are, as well as giving a special nod to the fastest defenseman.
Connor McDavid (Speed Score: 96.5)
Age: 21Nationality: CanadianPosition: CenterHeight: 185cmWeight: 87kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: Acceleration 97, Agility 97, Offensive Awareness 97
Connor McDavid has lit up the league with his blistering speed over the last few years. In NHL 19, he’s the highest rated player at 94 overall, which is bolstered by his 97s in acceleration, agility, and offensive awareness as well as his 96 in speed, puck control, and deking.
Taylor Hall (Speed Score: 94.5)
Age: 26Nationality: CanadianPosition: Left WingHeight: 185cmWeight: 93kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: Speed 95, Acceleration 94, Puck Control 93
If the Edmonton Oilers had kept Taylor Hall, they could have had the ultimate speedster duo. Hall, rated 90 on NHL 19, has become the star of the emerging New Jersey Devils since the trade, with his speed and clinical shooting making him a highly rated player in the league. As well as speed, Hall boasts high ratings in shooting and puck skills (all above 90).
Andrew Cogliano (Speed Score: 94)
Age: 31Nationality: CanadianPosition: Left WingHeight: 178cmWeight: 80kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: Discipline 95, Acceleration 94, Speed 94
For many years, Andrew Cogliano has been the go-to speedster for some cheap pace in the top nine. In NHL 19, the Anaheim Ducks wing has an overall rating of 81, potentially making him a deadly weapon in a bottom six role. With some fair puck skills and shooting attributes, he could be a deadly weapon when your star players aren’t on the ice.
Matt Duchene (Speed Score: 93.5)
Age: 27Nationality: CanadianPosition: CenterHeight: 180cmWeight: 88kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: x3
Rated 85 overall and aged 27, Matt Duchene makes for one of the more reasonable speedster pickups for your top six. He’s also very useful in the duel with faceoffs and poise attributes at 85.
Johnny Gaudreau (Speed Score: 93.5)
Age: 25Nationality: AmericanPosition: Left WingHeight: 175cmWeight: 71kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: Deking 95, Puck Control 95, Discipline 95
Johnny Gaudreau is a well-known speedster in the NHL, and yet his 93 speed and 94 acceleration aren’t even the Calgary wing’s best stats. His ability to control the puck at high speeds and tee up his slower teammates shows that he makes the most of his natural speed.
Nathan MacKinnon (Speed Score: 93)
Age: 23Nationality: CanadianPosition: CenterHeight: 183cmWeight: 93kgShoots: RightBest Stats: Acceleration 93, Agility 93, Speed 93
Nathan MacKinnon has become the face of the Colorado Avalanche franchise and been rewarded a 90 overall rating in NHL 19 for his efforts. Not only is he a fast player, but he also knows how to throw his weight around. With his puck skills at 93 or 92 and his shooting attributes all above 90, the speedster can certainly work the puck as he blazes past defensemen.
Steven Stamkos (Speed Score: 93)
Age: 28Nationality: CanadianPosition: CenterHeight: 185cmWeight: 88kgShoots: RightBest Stats: Slap Shot Power 94, Offensive Awareness 94, Deking 94
The Tampa Bay Lightning captain is famed for his scoring and playmaking ability – famed as one of the best of his generation – so some people forget how quick he is off of the mark. They’re not the 91 overall-rated center’s best attributes, but 93 acceleration and 93 speed are fearfully fast numbers.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (Speed Score: 93)
Age: 26Nationality: RussianPosition: CenterHeight: 188cmWeight: 92kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: Deking 95, Passing 94, Puck Control 94
Rated at 89 overall in NHL 19, Evgeny Kuznetsov was pivotal to the Washington Capitals winning the Stanley Cup last season. Much like Steven Stamkos, Kuznetsov’s ability on the puck somewhat overshadows his speedy skating, for which he’s rated 93 in speed and acceleration.
Dylan Larkin (Speed Score 93)
Age: 22Nationality: AmericanPosition: CenterHeight: 185cmWeight: 90kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: Speed 93, Acceleration 93, Deking 90
With an overall rating of 84 and medium top-six potential, Dylan Larkin makes for a fine player to target if you need some more speed up the middle. Speed is his strongest asset, as shown by him breaking the All-Star speed record in 2016, but he also boasts 88s and a 90 in puck skills and decent shooting attributes.
Nikita Kucherov (Speed Score: 92.5)
Age: 25Nationality: RussianPosition: Right WingHeight: 180cmWeight: 81kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: Wrist Shot Accuracy 94, Passing 94, Offensive Awareness 94
In Nikita Kucherov, NHL 19 players get the complete package of goal scoring, playmaking, and speed. With 93 acceleration and 92 speed, he’s a very fast wing to have on the team. On top of this, he’s backed up by puck skill attributes that all hit 94 or 93 as well as shooting accuracies of 94 or 93.
Erik Karlsson (Speed Score: 92)
Age: 28Nationality: SwedishPosition: DefensemanHeight: 183cmWeight: 87kgShoots: RightBest Stats: Deking 95, Passing 95, Puck Control 95
NHL 19, like other EA Sports games, hates to give defenders speed, but Erik Karlsson simply couldn’t be denied a high speed score. With acceleration and speed attributes at 92, he’s much faster than any other defenseman on the game, even exceeding the stats of renowned forward speedsters like Cam Atkinson and Michael Grabner.