nhl 22 xfactors

NHL 22 Superstar X-Factor Abilities for Top 50 Players Revealed

EA has revealed the 50 elite players in NHL 22 with Superstar X-Factor abilities. New to NHL 22, Superstar X-Factors represent an all-new ability system that unlocks the unique skills of the league’s best players and gives signature traits of today’s stars to the game bringing an exciting layer of class-based competition and strategy.

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From the Shock and Awe shooting of Auston Matthews to the One Tee one-timer skills of Alexander Ovechkin, Superstar X-Factors are a game-changer system to help make NHL 22 the most realistic hockey gaming experience.

Player Name Team Name Zone Ability 
Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs Shock and Awe – Boost Shots after Dekes
Artemi Panarin New York Rangers Make It Snappy – Boosts Snap Shot from Stride
David Pastrnak Boston Bruins Shnipe – Elite Catch and Release of Shots
Leon Draisaitl Edmonton Oilers Tape to Tape – Elite Core Passing
Nathan MacKinnon Colorado Avalanche Ankle Breaker – Deke at Higher Speed
Mikko Rantanen Colorado Avalanche Tape to Tape – Elite Core Passing
Andrei Vasilevskiy Tampa Bay Lightning Contortionist – Boosts Wild Saves Ability
Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks Puck on a String – Elite Stick Handling
Matt Barzal New York Islanders Elite Edges – Great Speed into Directional Changes
Seth Jones Chicago Blackhawks Quick Pick – Boosts Puck Interceptions
Victor Hedman Tampa Bay Lightning Stick ‘Em Up – Boost Stick Checks
Cale Makar Colorado Avalanche Elite Edges – Great Speed into Directional Changes
Aleksander Barkov Florida Panthers All Alone – Elite Shot on the Breakaway
Nikita Kucherov Tampa Bay Lightning Make It Snappy – Boosts Snap Shot from Stride
Connor McDavid Edmonton Oilers Wheels – Great Skating with Puck
Mark Stone Vegas Golden Knights Yoink! – Improves Stick Checks without Penalty
Brad Marchand Boston Bruins Make It Snappy – Boosts Snap Shot from Stride
Joe Pavelski Dallas Stars Big Tipper – Elite Level Deflections
Jake Guentzel Pittsburgh Penguins Shnipe – Elite Catch and Release of Shots
Ryan O’Reilly St. Louis Blues Quick Draw – Elite Level Faceoffs
Brayden Point Tampa Bay Lightning Wheels – Great Skating with Puck
Sebastian Aho Carolina Hurricanes Third Eye – Great Peripheral Passer
 Gabriel Landeskog Colorado Avalanche Crease Crasher – Elite Rebound Opportunist
Patrice Bergeron Boston Bruins Yoink! – Improves Stick Checks without Penalty
Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals One Tee – Elite One-Timers
John Carlson Washington Capitals Thunderclap – Elite Slap Shot from the Point
Carey Price Montreal Canadiens Post to Post – Elite Post to Post Saves
Alex DeBrincat Chicago Blackhawks Make It Snappy – Boosts Snap Shot from Stride
Sean Couturier Philadelphia Flyers Stick ‘Em Up – Boosts Stick Checks
Kris Letang Pittsburgh Penguins In Reverse – Elite Back Skating Ability
Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins Beauty Backhand – Elite Backhand
Mitch Marner Toronto Maple Leafs Third Eye – Great Peripheral Passer
Alex Pietrangelo Vegas Golden Knights Shutdown – Elite 1 on 1 Defending
Shea Theodore Vegas Golden Knights Heatseeker – Elite Wrist Shots
Marc Andre Fleury Chicago Blackhawks All or Nothing – Elite Poke Checking
Jonathan Huberdeau Florida Panthers Tape to Tape – Elite Core Passing
Elias Pettersson Vancouver Canucks Third Eye – Great Peripheral Passer
Adam Fox New York Rangers Tape to Tape – Elite Core Passing
Kirill Kaprizov Minnesota Wild Tape to Tape – Elite Core Passing
Mika Zibanejad New York Rangers Magnetic – Elite Pass Reception and Puck Pick Up
Mark Scheifele Winnipeg Jets Shnipe – Elite Catch and Release of Shots
Connor Hellebuyck Winnipeg Jets Dialed In – Elite Poke Checking
Jaccob Slavin Carolina Hurricanes Shutdown – Elite 1 on 1 Defending
Matthew Tkachuk Calgary Flames It’s Tricky – Elite Trick Shooting
Anze Kopitar Los Angeles Kings Quick Pick – Boosts Puck Interceptions
Steven Stamkos Tampa Bay Lightning One Tee – Elite One-Timers
Roman Josi Nashville Predators Send It – Elite Long Passing
Jack Eichel Buffalo Sabres Make It Snappy – Boosts Snap Shot from Stride
Dougie Hamilton New Jersey Devils Heatseeker – Elite Wrist Shots
Kyle Connor Winnipeg Jets Thunderclap – Elite Slap Shot from the Point
  • Superstar X-Factors in Modes:
    • Hockey Ultimate Team: Power-up items that start players off with one X-Factor ability and let them unlock abilities as they progress
    • World of CHEL: Play in any World of Chel Mode to unlock X-Factor Abilities to assign to your customized player
    • Be a Pro: Earn and equip X-Factor abilities to shape players and advance their pro career
    • Franchise Mode: New X-Factor reports allow scouting of both pro and amateur X-Factors. X-Factors contribute to line chemistry, influence trade values of players and are integrated with Fog of War.
  • New Mode Features:
    • Hockey Ultimate Team: Introducing customizable synergies—unlock and choose synergies for upgradeable players to maximize the ultimate team’s performance.
    • World of CHEL:
      • Customize Player Classes: More tools to fine tune your playing style by being able to adjust attribute points as well as topping it off with powerful X-Factor Abilities
      • Revamped World of CHEL Hub: Access game modes, player customization, clubs, rewards, challenges and stats more quickly than ever in a completely new hub.
      • New Party Flow: Invite friends and hang out anywhere in the World of CHEL Hub. Migrate from one game mode to another without having to party up again.
      • EASHL Club Arenas: If a player’s EASHL Club has a custom arena, it’ll be your home base in the World of CHEL Hub.
    • Be a Pro: New multi-season storylines and challenges offer longer term goals like building a dynasty early in a player’s career like Sidney Crosby, or winning consecutive Cups on different teams like Patrick Maroon.
    • Franchise Mode: Celebrating the arrival of the Seattle Kraken, players can now have an expansion draft for the 33rd NHL team.

Here’s a look at the NHL 22 schedule of events prior to release.

  • September 28 – First Full Gameplay of NHL 22
  • October 4 – Be A Pro and Franchise Mode
  • October 6 – Hockey Ultimate Team

The Standard Edition of NHL 22 releases on October 15 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The X-Factor Edition launches 3 days earlier and includes bonus in-game content. The NHL 22 trial arrives for EA Play and Xbox Game Pass on October 7.

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Steve Noah
Steve is the Editor in Chief at Operation Sports. He's been here since the year 2000 posting news, features and interviews, along with keeping the hardcore sports gaming community alive and well for over two decades. He covers almost every game related to sports but enjoys basketball, football and baseball games the most.