Round 1: Stajan VS Backlund

At a young age, Matt Stajan knew he was going to be a star. Growing up in Mississauga Ontario, in the back yard of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Stajan idolized the Toronto Maple Leafs. After playing his Junior Hockey in the Ontario Hockey League, Stajan found himself selected in the second round of the 2002 draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. After his 66 point season with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, It was evident that Stajan was going to be a star. A few years later, Stajan would find himself as the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade along with Nik Hagman, Ian White, and Jamal Mayers that would send him to the Calgary Flames in in exchange for Dion Phaneuf(EA Coverboy from NHL 09), Freddie Sjostrom and Keith Aulie. From there, Stajan's hard work ethic and 16 points in 27 games would earn him a contract deserving of an NHL Star. Stajan signed a 4-year contract that would amount to an average of $3,500,000 a year.

Help recognize Matt Stajan as the elite player he is by voting him to the cover of EA Sports NHL 13. You can vote from now until April 11th at http://covervote.nhl.com