The EA sports cover jinx extends to hockey, right? So, I am expecting Zegras to be traumatized by a gaggle of geese in the near future so he can no longer play for a fowl team.
NHL '96: Scott Stevens + Steve Yzerman = Devils miss playoffs, Wings lose to Avs.
NHL '97: John Vanbiesbrouck = Panthers make playoffs, lose opening round.
NHL '98: Peter Forsberg = Forsberg solid season, Avs upset in opening round by Edmonton.
NHL '99: Eric Lindros = Lindros last dominant season, Flyers lose in opening round.
NHL '00: Chris Pronger = Pronger wins Hart and Norris. Blues upset in opening round.
NHL '01: Owen Nolan = Nolan misses some time to injury, Sharks lose in opening round.
NHL '02: Mario Lemieux = Lemieux misses most of season due to injury, Penguins had begun fire sale with Jagr trade in summer 2001
NHL '03: Jarome Iginla = Iginla's numbers dipped a bit
NHL '04: Dany Heatley / Joe Sakic = Heatley car accident, Sakic is replacement cover. Sakic has good season but Avs (w/Kariya and Selanne) lose in second round.
NHL '05: Markus Naslund = lockout
NHL '06: Vinny Lecavalier = Year before Vinny's career year, Tampa loses in opening round
NHL '07: Alex Ovechkin = Ovechkin gets cover after rookie season, solid sophomore campaign but Caps still stinky.
NHL '08: Eric Staal = Staal has good season but Carolina narrowly misses playoffs.
NHL '09: Dion Phaneuf = Numbers took a dip, would get traded a year later. Calgary loses in opening round.
NHL '10: Patrick Kane = no cover jinx here. Kane good season, Chicago wins Cup.
NHL '11: Jonathan Toews = Toews good season, Chicago loses opening round.
NHL '12: Steven Stamkos = Stamkos wins Rocket Richard Trophy but Tampa misses playoffs.
NHL '13: Claude Giroux = Numbers took a slight dip, Flyers miss playoffs.
NHL '14: Martin Brodeur = Devils trade for Cory Schneider, Brodeur ends up having awkward season as 1B. Devils don't re-sign him after season.
NHL '15: Patrice Bergeron = Boston struggles and misses playoffs.
NHL '16: Jonathan Toews = Chicago loses in opening round.
NHL '17: Vladimir Tarasenko = Tarasenko decent season, Blues lose in second round.
NHL '18: Connor McDavid = McDavid wins Art Ross, Edmonton misses playoffs.
NHL '19: P.K. Subban = misses time due to injury, traded after the season.
NHL '20: Auston Matthews = Matthews good season, Toronto loses in play in round.
NHL '21: Alex Ovechkin = Numbers took a dip, Washington loses in opening round.
NHL '22: Auston Matthews = Matthews wins Rocket Richard, Toronto loses in opening round