EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWhile the release of EA Sports' new NHL 27 game this week had hockey fans buzzing, there was one aspect of the game that commanded most of their online attention: a menagerie of player facial scans that spanned from amusing to grotesque.There were social media pile-ons and instantaneous memes. While some players emerged unscathed, others were transformed. Will Boston Bruins fans ever see defenseman Mason Lohrei the same way again, now that he's one sewer away from being Pennywise the Clown?At the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas this week, we asked over a dozen players about their own "NHL 27" facial scans and those of teammates that went viral. While many players were impressed with their digital avatars, others ... were not.Frank Nazar, Chicago Blackhawks"Good, I'm glad someone's bringing this up. It's horrible ... OK, maybe not horrible, but they gave me a little bit of a butt-chin. Do I have a butt-chin? No, I feel like I have a smooth chin. I'd say maybe let's re-scan it.""I think they did a good job on the game, but no, this is just funny to see. I saw [teammate] Oliver Moore's one as well. Me and him are both very happy guys, and both of our scans in this make us look like our dogs just died."Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (as evaluated by teammate Tom Wilson)"I think it looks really good. The salt-and-pepper hair, that's accurate. I think that's a good head of hair. We always admire his haircuts. He looks good. Nice tan. Good hair. Looks awesome."Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks and 'NHL 27' cover athlete"It's not as bad as some of the others."Matty Beniers, Seattle Kraken"It's so crazy. They can't do me dirty like that. I mean, I have a touch of gray but that's like a full head of hair. It's like outrageous. I've had 45 people send me this and I'm like, 'It's not up to me.' It's tough."Trevor Zegras, Philadelphia Flyers"I like it. That's one of the better ones. I've seen some terrible ones. Some really bad ones. Like [Montreal Canadiens winger] Cole Caufield's. It's awful. I send it to him every day because it's terrible."Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens"I don't know what happened there. I look a little lost. I look like I need some sleep or some water. I don't know. It's tough. Every time I open my phone, it's there. Somebody will send it to me.""The hair doesn't look bad. I'll take the salad. Good jawline, too. But other than that it looks like I saw a ghost or something."Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils"I don't hate it. I think maybe there's been [video] games in the past that are closer, but I saw some other [scans] that are pretty funny. Cole's is not picture-perfect. But I don't think mine's too bad."Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild"I don't think about it. I mean, it looks good to me."Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild"I think my lips are a little bit bigger than that, but everything else is pretty spot on, honestly. The hair's good. Everyone says I got a little red in my hair, and they picked that up, which is impressive. It's like looking into a mirror. I'm actually really impressed."Leo Carlsson, Anaheim Ducks"I mean, they obviously did it dirty with the beard. My eyes look like I've been in war or something. Like I've seen some s---, right? The hair is pretty good. Everything except the beard and those scary eyes is pretty good. I've seen a lot worse."Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars"I think it looks good. My hair is a little more molded than what I rock, but I'll take it."Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks"It's actually pretty funny. The hair's a little off. Do you think it looks like I have a wig on? It's not bad. The face looks a lot like me."Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche (as evaluated by teammate Gabriel Landeskog)"Whoa, that's intense. He's got some more movement to the hairline in this [scan] than I think he does at this point in his life. But it's not terrible, though. He just needs to see the sun, based off this picture."John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs"A lot of mixed reviews here. I wouldn't say the eyes are pinpoint [accurate], but it's OK. It's just pretty cool to be in the game. I'll never take that for granted."
