Skip to main content

Simulating the 2016-17 season with EA Sports NHL 17

The puck is almost ready to drop on the latest NHL season and EA SPORTS NHL is continuing its annual tradition of simulating the upcoming season.

The puck is almost ready to drop on the latest NHL season and EA SPORTS NHL is continuing its annual tradition of simulating the upcoming season.

Will Sidney Crosby lead the scoring race? Will Auston Matthews win the Calder? Who will have the best odds to draft Nolan Patrick? Can Connor McDavid take the Oilers into the playoffs for the first time in a decade? And, most importantly, who will win the Stanley Cup?

Eastern Conference

A healthy Carey Price leads the Montreal Canadiens back to the postseason while the Tampa Bay Lightning dominate and finish atop the Eastern Conference standings. After a full-on rebuild, the Toronto Maple Leafs manage to squeak into the playoffs, leaving the Detroit Red Wings on the outside looking in. The New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings are the only teams from the East to not return to the playoffs.

Metropolitan Division

The Washington Capitals, while not as dominant as last season, win the Metropolitan Division thanks to a strong performance from Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin, who each finished in the top 10 in league scoring.

Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine lead deep, talented pool of NHL rookies

Atlantic Division

Detroit’s impressive streak of 25 consecutive playoff berths comes to an end as the Red Wings fall just short of the playoffs. Multiple injuries to core players hampers the Boston Bruins, while the Buffalo Sabres improve slightly on last season.

Western Conference Standings

In the wild Western Conference, the dominant Nashville Predators’ blue line led the team to its first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. Connor McDavid carries his Edmonton Oilers into the playoffs, narrowly making it in on the final day of the season.

Central Division

The Central Division featured three of the top four teams in the NHL, and the summer coaching change provided the Minnesota Wild enough of an edge to make the playoffs again.

Roundtable: Picking breakout players for the 2016–17 season

Pacific Division

The Anaheim Ducks got off to a slow start and are the only team from last season’s Western Conference picture to not make it this season. The Vancouver Canucks finish in last place in the NHL, landing the best odds to draft top prospect Nolan Patrick.


STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Stanley Cup Final: Montreal Canadiens vs. Nashville Predators

After perhaps one of the biggest one-for-one deals in NHL history, the Shea Weber and the Montreal Canadiens find themselves pitted against P.K. Subban and the Nashville Predators. The Predators continued their regular season dominance, and won the Stanley Cup Final in Game 6. Filip Forsberg took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after registering 26 points in the postseason.

Stanley Cup Winners:

Nashville Predators

Bracket_661x372.jpg
NHL17_Ratings_Price_661x372.jpg
NHL17_Ratings-Subban_661x372.jpg
NHL17_Season-Sim_Nashville_TeamShot-2_661x372.jpg
NHL17_Season-Sim_Subban_Cup-4_661x372.jpg
NHL17-Ratings-Hedman_661x372.jpg
NHL17-Ratings-Ovi_661x372.jpg
NHL17-Ratings-Parise_661x372.jpg
SeasonSim-McDavid_661x372.jpg
SeasonSim-Patrick_661x372.jpg

End of Season Award Winners

Presidents’ Trophy: Nashville Predators

Conn Smythe Trophy: Filip Forsberg (NSH)

Hart Memorial Trophy: Connor McDavid (STL)

Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid (EDM)

James Norris Memorial Trophy: Brent Burns (SJS)

Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy: Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)

Vezina Trophy: Carey Price (MTL)

William M. Jennings Trophy: Martin Jones (SJS)

Frank J. Selke Trophy: Anze Kopitar (LA)

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Nicklas Backstrom (WAS)

Calder Memorial Trophy: Auston Matthews (TOR)

Ted Lindsay Award: Connor McDavid (EDM)