NHL 19 Season Simulation Predicts 2019 Stanley Cup Champions

One of the fun things EA likes to do with its sports titles every year is use the simulation modes to predict the year’s most important events. In this case, we’re looking at the 2019 Stanley Cup Championship, and the recent NHL 19 was used to make a bold prediction for this year’s showdown.

In a video provided by EA, the simulation ends at a final face-off between the San Jose Sharks and the Toronto Maple Leafs, with the Canadians taking the Stanley Cup for the first time in over 50 years. With the season not even getting started until next week, that’s a tall order for the Maple Leafs.

As this news item goes live, EA will have updated its blog with a post unpacking all of the simulation results, so fans at home can track and see what happens in the end. Here are some of the more interesting bullet points, as pointed out in a press release:

Following an off-season full of rumors and uncertainty surrounding his future in Ottawa, Erik Karlsson settled down with his new team, leading the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final and claiming his third James Norris Memorial Trophy, as the league’s best defenseman
Former NHL® 18 cover athlete Connor McDavid continued to dominate the league, taking home the Hart Memorial Trophy (league MVP) and Art Ross Trophy (scoring champion)
The Vegas Golden Knights proved to be more than a one-year-wonder, claiming the Presidents Trophy thanks to a league-high 118 points
Led by NHL® 19 cover star P.K. Subban, the Nashville Predators again made a deep run into the playoffs, before losing in the Western Conference Final to San Jose
Powered by #1 overall pick and Calder Memorial Trophy winner Rasmus Dahlin, the Buffalo Sabres returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2010-11 season