The best HUT base cards in NHL 25

summary

• NHL 25's HUT mode has events like Fantasy and Next-Gen that affect a player's OVR numbers.
• Starting a HUT team requires base cards obtained from booster packs, tournaments, and the auction house.
• The best player offers for HUT include players from the NHL and PWHL.

in NHL 25players can collect various cards and build their dream team in the Ultimate Team (or HUT) hockey game mode. EA has added event cards to HUT since release and popular events are back. These events include the Fantasy Event, which tracks actual stats and players of the National Hockey League and the Women's Professional Hockey League, and the Next Generation Event, which shines a light on rookies and younger players in the game. Their OVR numbers are influenced by their rank on the Calder Trophy ladder.

But if players want to start their ultimate hockey team, they need to play the game and get some base cards to start their HUT career. Some of the ways to get those cards are by tearing open booster packs in the store, competing in HUT Moments, and buying cards in the auction house. Although some players in the auction house, even basic players, can get a large amount of credits.

10 84 OVR Ann-Renee Desbiens

Montreal Victoria

• Height/Weight: 5'9″/161 lbs
• Synergy: Decking Boost
• Position: goalkeeper

Desbiens is a great option for players looking to start their ultimate hockey team. He has a great stat line-up with balanced numbers in key goalkeeper stats such as speed, agility and positioning. Another key metric for goalie success, especially in HUT Champs built in PvP game mode, is height.

Dezbin isn't the tallest, but he has stats that allow his base card to compete with most other base cards. Some of the alternatives include: Aerin Frankel, Klara Peslarova, and Abbey Levy.

9 84 OVR Connor Hellebuyck

Winnipeg Jets

• Height/Weight: 6'4″/207 lbs
• Synergy: Strengthen defense
• Position: goalkeeper

Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets is a monster in net. His overall speed, agility and positioning aren't the best, but he makes up for it with his height and defensive synergy. He's been a mainstay when players start their HUT journey, and as a result, his average price on the auction house is quite inflated.

Now that some events in NHL 25 Players have most likely gone for some of the better and higher OVR keeper cards in the game. Connor Hellebuyck also has a Gamebreakers event card with slightly boosted stats at 85 OVR. Some alternatives include: Jake Oettinger, Igor Shesterkin, and Sergei Bobrovsky.

8 84 OVR Natalie Buchbinder

Minnesota Frost

• Height/Weight: 5'8″/150 lbs
• Synergy: Two-Way Defenseman
• Position: right back

With the addition of PWHL cards, they have shaken up the status quo for the best base cards and best strategies. NHL 25. His defensive stats are all in the 90s and go well with his checking and skating abilities. His two-way defender synergy, when activated, raises his hands, skating, and defense a bit higher to compete with other cards.

His shot is average offensively, so players shouldn't expect to score often from the blue line with Buchbinder. Some alternate cards include: Cayla Barnes, Charlie McAvoy, and Drew Doughty.

7 84 OVR Kale Makar

Colorado Avalanche

• Height/Weight: 6'0″/187 lbs
• Synergy: Offensive defense
• Position: right back

Kale Makar was the previous athlete cover NHL 24 The game is a great card. His skating, shooting and hand stats are excellent for a defenseman. His shooting stats are complemented by offensive defense synergy, increasing Makar's accuracy and lethality in wrist shots and slaps.

Makar also has event cards like Moon Star 87 OVR Makar and Cover Athlete 85 OVR Makar. Some alternate cards are Adam Fox and Erin Ambrose.

6 84 OVR Kendall Quinn

Minnesota Frost

• Height/Weight: 5'5″/126 lbs
• Synergy: two-way forward
• Position: Left wing

With Minnesota Frost being the first Walter Cup champions, they have a lot of better players added to the trophy. NHL 25 List so far Kevin has a good shot, good hand stats and great stamina. He can score goals with two-way forward synergy for HUT teams, helping not only offensive stats but defensive stats as well.

Unfortunately, with his smaller size, he can be easily handled, but his skating and defensive stats allow him to check behind him effectively. Some alternate cards include Brad Marchand and Emma Maltais.

5 83 OVR Kirill Kaprizov

Minnesota Wild

• Height/Weight: 5'10″/202 lbs
• Synergy: Sniper Forward
• Position: Left wing

Kirill Kaprizov is a scorer for every HUT line-up. His accuracy and shooting power are already fantastic, but with the synergy of Sniper Forward active, he becomes one of the highest shooting stats on a base card in the game. However, the downside to having one of the deadliest shots is that Kaprizov's checking and defense is subpar at best.

He's also on the shorter side, meaning bigger skaters can often trip him up. Kaprizov also has an OVR Next Gen 87 event card. Some alternate starting cards include Filip Forsberg and Alex Ovechkin.

4 84 OVR Hilary Knight

Boston Fleet

• Height/Weight: 5'11″/172 lbs
• Synergy: Power Forward
• Position: Right wing

Hilary Knight's base card is a very good option for the right wing. He has balanced stats with stamina, hands and great checking before adding Power Forward synergy to the mix. Overall, the Power Forward synergy is one of the weaker options, adding only 1-2 points to each damage stat.

Despite this, he is a competitive card for HUT's core set that can be found at a cheaper price on the auction house than other options in this OVR. Alternate cards include Natalie Spooner and Grace Zumwinkel.

3 84 OVR David Pasternak

Boston Bruins

• Height/Weight: 6'0″/196 lbs
• Synergy: Sniper Forward
• Position: right wing

Pastrnak's base card is the best option for the right wing with Sniper Forward synergy active. It boosts his shooting accuracy into the 90s, making him the best pure RW sniper in the game. Pastrnak is also not exactly responsible defensively, and his defensive stats are mediocre at best. However, since Pastrnak is not the tallest or heaviest person, he can handle a big checking body.

Pastrnak has an upgradeable Off the Charts card that ends at 86 OVR. Other great wingers include Nikita Kucherov and Mitchell Marner.

2 85 OVR Hannah Bielka

Minnesota Frost

• Height/Weight: 5'5″/140 lbs
• Synergy: two-way forward
• Location: Center

in NHL 25 In Ultimate Team Hockey, most of the forward cards are in the center game. They are responsible for making face-offs for the team to get possession of the ball first. Bilka's Face-Off stat is active with two-way forward synergy, making him good in face-offs.

Despite his struggles, Bielka has excellent and solid stats that can support him as a first or second line center for any new HUT player. Some alternatives include: Brian Jenner and Marie-Philip Pauline.

1 85 OVR Connor McDavid

Edmonton Oilers

• Height/Weight: 6'1″/194 lbs
• Synergy: Playmaking Forward
• Location: Center

For a point guard, Connor McDavid stands alone as the most popular point guard on the Ultimate Hockey Team. His forward playmaking synergy only complements his ridiculous skating and hand stats. He can easily go end-to-end and skate through most player cards without breaking a sweat. However, his faceoff stats are mediocre.

As a result of these best stats in the position, his price at the auction house is very, very high. McDavid also has three event cards that include 89 OVR Frozen Forces, 87 OVR Milestones, and an upgradeable X-Factor Season 1 to 89 OVR card.