Each year since 1991, EA Sports has released a hockey video game. The rise of the Columbus Blue Jackets last season means that some players are in for a ratings boost in this year’s game.
EA Sports will release NHL 18 on September 15. Columbus Blue Jackets fans should be feeling pretty good about playing with their favorite team this season.
The Player Ratings in the #NHL18Beta are from NHL 17 and are not final. Stay tuned for the official #NHL18 ratings around the end of August!
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) July 26, 2017
The Jackets will have a young, fast roster, meaning they’ll be as fun as ever to play with on whichever platform you may choose.
This is what I believe the ratings should be, not a predication of what I think EA will give each player. I will include established players as well as prospects who may make the team. Here are my ratings for the 2017-2018 Columbus Blue Jackets.
Center
The Jackets won’t have the highest rated group of centers this year. However, with Alexander Wennberg getting better and Pierre-Luc Dubois emerging, the ratings will look worse to start than the centers actually are.
Alexander Wennberg: 85
Brandon Dubinsky: 84
Pierre-Luc Dubois: 79
Lukas Sedlak: 77
Jordan Schroeder: 74
Right Wing
Led by all-star Cam Atkinson, the right wingers are a strong group for the Blue Jackets. Oliver Bjorkstrand will see a ratings bump as the year goes on, while Nick Foligno should have a pretty respectable rating.
Cam Atkinson: 88
Oliver Bjorkstrand: 81
Nick Foligno: 85
Josh Anderson: 80
Left Wing
The addition of Artemi Panarin will make it fun to play with the Columbus Blue Jackets in NHL 18. There may be more of a competition for playing time at left wing than any other position, making the ratings reveal much more anticipated.
Artemi Panarin: 90
Boone Jenner: 83
Matt Calvert: 78
Tyler Motte: 79
Sonny Milano: 78
Defense
The CBJ’s defense is young and dynamic. They should be rated fairly well and will only improve as the young players gain experience.
Zach Werenski: 85
Seth Jones: 87
David Savard: 85
Jack Johnson: 83
Ryan Murray: 81
Gabriel Carlsson: 79
Markus Nutivaara: 78
Scott Harrington: 76
Goalie
Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky has earned at least a 90 overall rating, while Joonas Korpisalo is a reliable low-80’s backup.
Sergei Bobrovsky: 91
Joonas Korpisalo: 82
Next: Columbus Blue Jackets Greatest Players: #16 – Matt Calvert
The Columbus Blue Jackets may very well have their best team ever, both in real life and ratings-wise in NHL 18. Hopefully it’ll be easier to play with the Blue Jackets this year as compared to other years.