It will be in the game, so it's already in the game.
The wildly-popular adidas NHL Reverse Retro jerseys, which will be debuted at various points during the 2020-21 season, have already been added to EA Sports' NHL 21 as playable uniforms, the video game company shared on Thursday.
Live now in #NHL21 which Reverse Retro jersey is your fav? ๐ค
The news was a surprise to many fans on social media. EA also shared a short video clip of digital NHL players in action wearing the new, throwback look sweaters.
Time for the past to meet the present in #NHL21 โณ๐
Score with style in reverse retro jerseys, play with HUT Icons, and throw it way back with NHL 94 Rewind ๐ฎ ๐บ
The addition of the Reverse Retro jerseys is consistent with the "Past Meets Present" theme of NHL 21, which also features "NHL '94 Rewind," a version of the legendary old 16-bit game that has all of the original look and gameplay but current NHL rosters. In the photos shared on Thursday, NHL 21's cover athlete, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, was front and center wearing the team's Reverse Retro jersey. Ovechkin is right next to NHL 20 cover athlete Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and NHL 18 cover athlete Connor McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers captain. Other past cover athletes featured in the set of Reverse Retro jersey photos included New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban (NHL 19), Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux (NHL 13) and Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (NHL 10).