Overview

• EA Sports opened its NHL 26 ratings rollout by placing Hughes atop the left-shot defensemen at 95 overall for the second straight year, up from 94 in NHL 25.
• Roman Josi, Victor Hedman, Zach Werenski and Rasmus Dahlin are tied next at 92 overall, followed by Miro Heiskanen at 91, Jaccob Slavin and Josh Morrissey at 90, and Jake Sanderson and Gustav Forsling at 89.
• EA’s attribute breakdown lists Hughes at 97 for passing, agility and offensive awareness, with 96 for speed and puck control.
• Hughes’ virtual standing aligns with his 2024–25 production of 16 goals and 60 assists in 68 games, a season that ended with a third-place finish in Norris Trophy voting.
• The right-shot list released later Monday puts Colorado’s Cale Makar at 95 overall, tying Hughes for the highest-rated defenseman, as NHL 26 targets a Sept. 12 launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X with Deluxe early access Sept. 5.