Carolina Hurricanes: A Look at NHL 20 Player Ratings

Brett Pesce – Predicted OVR 83

You could argue that I’m being conservative here. However, this is still +3 on his rating in NHL 19. Brett Pesce has been superb this season and hasn’t had the recognition he deserves outside of Carolina. He’s often been relied upon to be the shutdown guy against the oppositions big line.

Amazingly, during the course of this season, Pesce has been downgraded by two. This is a guy that finished with a team high plus/minus record this season and has been praised to high heaven by Carolina Hurricanes fans all year long. At the very least, Pesce should be returned to the rating he had at the start of NHL 19.

Pesce’s NHL 19 OVR rating is being hampered by low Slap Shot Accuracy, Wrist Shot Accuracy and Hand-Eye. All of which would need a bump in order to get him up a few ratings. He does however, boast great Slap Shot and Wrist Shot Power.

Right off the bat I would improve his Def. Awareness to 90, +5 on his current rating of 85. This is Pesce’s key skill, he’s knows where to go and where to be defensively. Criminally, Def. Awareness was of the the many stats that were downgraded during the year.

Defensive stats should be Pesce’s strength, so we’ll likely see an upgrade to Shot Blocking and Stick Checking. At the very least, these should be returning to 88 each. I’d like to see an extra one point added to each though, taking it to 89.

Pesce’s hockey sense is not to be sniffed at, evidently something the programmers at EA did when they came up with his current ratings. Expect an increase in Off. Awareness and Discipline, Poise tends to remain the say until you’re in your late twenties.

Pesce’s real-world growth this season has been phenomenal. A move to increase his in-game ratings this much would be bold, but still fair. An OVR of 82 is an absolute minimum and he should get at least that.