NHL 2K9 covered by Columbus star

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted May 16, 2008 12:50 pm PT

Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash leads the charge for 2K Sports' revamp of veteran hockey franchise.

Fans of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets usually don't have much to be happy about this time of year. Each May, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing, but since entering the league in 2000, the team has yet to reach the postseason.

Rick Nash was drafted by Columbus first overall in 2002.

2K Sports is giving true Blue fans something to cheer, given that the publisher announced that Columbus captain and three-time All-Star Rick Nash will adorn the cover of NHL 2K9. The 23-year-old left-winger is an avowed gamer, and has been consulting with the game's developers to make "the most fun hockey experience available."

When it comes to critical reception, 2K Sports' series of hockey games typically runs neck-and-neck with Electronic Arts' own pucks franchise, but the series stumbled last year compared to its counterpart. To address that shortcoming, 2K Sports developer Visual Concepts is building NHL 2K9 from the ground up, and promising "to bring the fun and excitement back to hockey video games."

NHL 2K9 is set for a fall release on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 2.

43 Comments

  • Thrice8

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 2:24 pm PT

    what a joke! anyone who questions why this man is on the cover: all you benders go to youtube and type in "rick nash goal of the year" then please remove your heads from your arses.

  • hardcorps1110

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 12:59 pm PT

    When are they actually going to release something? Geez...

  • pdiddymack10

    Posted May 27, 2008 12:47 pm PT

    don't forget to take the short bus to school

  • ohjtbehaaave

    Posted May 22, 2008 5:46 pm PT

    Crosby is on the cover of the Olympic game ... starring on Canada's DIVING team!!! He should wear a skirt out there he's so soft and a pooooooosaaaaaaaay! He's not a good showcase player for the NHL... he flops way to much when breathed on. Ovechkin is the young showcase player the NHL should promote... not some whiny brat who dives like that skirt wearing Crosby pooooosaaaaaaay. He isn't even the best player on bis team. I'd take Malkin and Stall over that baby.

  • pdiddymack10

    Posted May 22, 2008 6:39 am PT

    I still don't get why Crosby isn't on the front cover though

  • pdiddymack10

    Posted May 22, 2008 6:31 am PT

    NASH IS AN UBER CHOICE!!! PEOPLE HATING ON HIM OBVIOUSLY DON"T HAVE A CLUE WHAT REAL HOCKEY IS ALL ABOUT SO THEY SHOULD GO BACK TO PLAYING VOLLEYGAYBALL!!!

  • jusducks6

    Posted May 22, 2008 6:22 am PT

    Why is everyone hating on Nash he is a top tier player in the NHL after the season he had bringing him back to where he was very early in his career.

  • balanekk

    Posted May 20, 2008 1:34 pm PT

    hey 2k sports, usually good players go on hockey game boxes.

  • Slayer420

    Posted May 20, 2008 1:19 pm PT

    1uP_OnYou - I named my dog after Sean Avery when he was still playing for the Wings. As to this cover.. meh. While I think it should have gone to a player that was able to actually get his team into the playoffs, like a Pavel Datsyuk or Henrik Zetterberg, I think it is a good think for the NHL as a whole. Gives some love to the lesser known team and may help drum up some extra enthusiasm for the Jackets.

  • puppiemaster

    Posted May 20, 2008 4:00 am PT

    Never heard of him, wheres Wayne G

  • MegamanX97

    Posted May 19, 2008 12:23 pm PT

    Thanks for getting a delay of game in the IIHF gold medal game Nash...sigh, But awsome that your on the 2k cover!!

  • mad_tyger

    Posted May 19, 2008 8:55 am PT

    I'm surprised, I thought they would have tried to get the Great 8 on the case.

  • sieg6529

    Posted May 19, 2008 3:48 am PT

    That's awesome. I live in C-bus, and the Blue Jackets deserve some recognition.

  • 1uP_OnYou

    Posted May 18, 2008 10:10 pm PT

    I want a Ranger like Sean Avery on the cover. *still hopes for nhl'09 case*

  • Uncle_Jesse_

    Posted May 18, 2008 7:43 pm PT

    actually, the Seals are considered the worst nhl team in history. I'm pretty sure they still hold the record for most losses in a season, they folded and moved to cleveland within a couple of years too, so yeah the Blue Jackets aren't as bad as you think. I was hopin to finally see Pronger on the cover but I guess he's getting on in years now

  • Nintendo_Ownes7

    Posted May 18, 2008 7:40 pm PT

    @SIN-dycate I hope not eventhough I'm a big Penguins fan and Evgeni Malkin is my favorite player currently but I'm also a fan of All the Pens. I just don't like that alot of players that get on the cover have a bad season after they are on the cover. But there is not really a way the Pens can have a worse year they they had this year with all the Injuries like Sidney Crosby was out for 6-8 weeks with a High Ankle sprain, same with Talbot and Fleury. Gary Roberts was out with a Broken leg, Groin injury and currently Flu like Symptoms (Can't spell Pnemonia) (Is that how it is spelled) and some other Players had other injuries but I can't remember them..

  • benjaminjoel

    Posted May 18, 2008 4:11 pm PT

    still no wii version?

  • SIN-dycate

    Posted May 18, 2008 1:17 pm PT

    I don't know, Sid the Kid would be a good choice. Maybe NHL '09 will plaster him on the cover. Though Malkin would be a good choice too.

  • wilmepe

    Posted May 18, 2008 12:49 pm PT

    Good Choice. As long as it wasn't Cindy Crosby.

NHL 2K9 Quick Links

Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices

Check Prices: $10.75 – 19.99

GameStop $19.99 SHOP ›
Amazon.com $17.85 SHOP ›
Deep Discount.com $18.99 SHOP ›
advertisement
Click Here
advertisement
Click Here
NHL 2K9 Boxshot Enlarge the boxshot
NHL 2K9

Game Stats

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Games you may like…

Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.

See More Similar Games
advertisement