Hey everyone!So I compiled a lengthy list last year on what I wanted to see in NHL 23. As most of you know, Be A Pro did not change hardly at all. So, instead of copying and pasting my list (eventhough this appears to be EA's favorite thing) I thought I would make a more realistic list on what EA could likely do instead of what I want to see in a dreamworld (Since that hasn't happened in years and likely wont anytime soon).First though here is my quick NHL 23 BAP review:While this game mode is the same as 22 (mostly), I have noticed that the gameplay has improved somewhat. However, I am still noticing that AI teammates turn the puck over easily. The powerplay runs a lot smoother in my experience. One thing I did like was the draft. Apparently there was a trade made and MTL did not have the first pick - which is where I fell. So I was drafted by ARZ (as a Coyotes fan I was perfectly fine with this) first overall. Not sure if that was a random incidence or not, but I liked it. Gave the draft a bit of an unknown surprise. Also, I did some tests and it's actually not nearly as easy to become the 1st overall as it used to be. I played through on Superstar once and was drafted 40th overall. Another time I was drafted around 15th. I did like how it felt harder to earn your spot. Otherwise the game is exact same as last years.NHL 24 Wishlist (realistically)Please, PLEASE, add contract features. I would be happy even if it was something minor like being able to add a no movement clause, or selecting my own contract length. Just something. Add more than 2 team offers. Again, if I am a top 6 player on my team I should be getting multiple offers from teams when my contract ends. Not just one new team offer. Now I haven't made it to this stage yet in NHL 23, but I am 99% sure it will be unchanged. This is a HUGE time in a players life so the game should reflect that.Add a trade risk. Sometimes you get traded out of nowhere. Now I realize this rarely happens with first overall picks - but still it could happen, especially if your management/teammate score is low and you're not performing well. I'd like to see the ability to be traded without asking. It's part of the business.Realistic trades. Please just give us realistic trades. In the times I have ever asked for a trade I was always given up for literally nothing. If I am a 89 overall player former 1st overall pick with multiple awards, no GM would trade me for a 4th line AHL player. Involve picks and better players. Make conversation system optional and or skippable. Just like last year, the conversations are dull and a nuisance. Make this an option or at least allow us to skip them - especially in game. Grant stat boosters for draft position. I just find it odd that I am a 70 overall being drafted first overall when the 2nd and 3rd picks start out near 80. If I am drafted in the third round and beyond then okay, but if you are drafted first overall there should be a huge stat booster to reflect that. Just make it an "accomplishment". Starting off as a 70 on the second/first line is super unlikely.Bring back player development. We had it in NHL 20, so we can easily have it back. Please let us develop. I would be perfectly fine with being a later round pick and having to fight my way into the lineup. Let me go back to the CHL or AHL for a few years if needed. I promise this would make the mode so much more realistic. Off-ice activities. I know this is a stretch, but adding even the simplest practice modes would be a gamer changer. Nothing massive, just something simple. This could be used as a way to boost your XP as well. League stories. Why can we not see trades/signings/waiver claims/injuries on a tab? This was in NHL 20..just add it back. Presentation. The anthem and all is cool, and im glad there's something new to this but build on that. Spend a little more effort on the pre-game presentation. The crowd got an upgrade, and that's great. I really like the crowd getting into the game so kudos to EA for implementing that. However, let's run with that. I remember in the older NHL series it actually showed your player skating on the ice during the intro..that was cool. Also, make winning the cup a bigger deal than it is. Go all out. Have the media on the ice taking pictures, have the players interviewing, all the above. Again, just make it skippable if needed.And finally here is my way out of the park wishAllow us an option to control the team management. Now listen, I usually get eyebrows raised for this. "Just go play franchise mode" I get it. However, I don't want to play a full game. I love the Be A Pro aspect of ONLY playing the shifts for your created player. However, the AI GM is atrocious. I would like to be able to control the management aspects of the team as well. I know this isn't the NBA and I am not Lebron calling all the shots..but if I could control the roster I played with it would be so much more fun. Gone would be the days of your team trading prospects for nothing and selling everyone when you're a playoff contender. I am sure I will add more to this list once I play through the seasons a bit but we can hold out hope for NHL 24. I understand that EA makes stupid money on these online modes and that's where the attention is spent, but offline players still pay for the game too.

NHL 24 Wishlist (realistically)Please, PLEASE, add contract features: OMG I can't ask for this more! I'm a freaking 89 after my first year, I lead the league in goals, got the Calder and the Stanley Cup. I won the European League Cup, broke 3 records, and two years later, the only team interested in me besides Buffalo is Philadelphia and they are only offering me 4 million? Damn, in Framchise, that doesn't get you a third line check forward. Yes! I want a negotiation mini game sorta like the draft deadline game. Let me get offers, make counters, and decide where to go... Also as an RFA why doesn't my Team match it? Why can't I sign with Seattle for 6 years?Add a trade risk. Yes! But maybe add it as a coach challenge. Hey Brayden, the Vegas Golden Knights are I terested in you. We want to make the deal, but if you can score 15 points in 5 games, we'll keep you.Realistic trades. This needs to happen at the Trade Deadline as well. I'm the only talent on the team, but at the deadline, somehow we've managed to get 2 new first line players to skate with me, two awesome defenders, and a good goalie... What did we trade? Draft picks for 3 years and all of our AHL people.... Maybe a kidney?Make conversation system optional and or skippable. Add flavor to them, my character is a rebel so he just waves off the coach, even after a conversation that went: Hey, you're moving to the first line. Thanks coach, and I walk away looking disgusted.Grant stat boosters for draft position. Do it with X-Factors, I start with nothing, but I can get Spin-O-Rama pretty quick, however the 2nd and 3rd have Zone Abilities and 4 Superstar Abilities... Why would anyone pick me first? In Franchise, the first Roundtree is always 78+ with a full board of X-Factors... Yes, I want to earn some, but its not fair to ask me to complete against the co.puter with literally nothing.Bring back player development. Talk to FiFA, their training is awesome. You should do this too!Commentary. Okay, so this one is a bit harder, but can we get decent commentating? How many times per game do I need the woman to talk about every X-Factor. I counted, I literally heard about Make it Snappy 12 times in one game. Also, talking about the Sophomore Slump in year 1 is a bit oof, the same with making the Rookie a Captain... Also, Becky needs to stop calling in and reluctantly talking about taking me on her fantasy team...Building Rivalries. Can you add opposing Team interactions. I beat up Nurse three times in one game and injured him the second time I faced him. It would be cool to see him stride up to me before a game and talk to me. Maybe offer weird challenges, like "Let's see who gets more hits tonight"Brand/Management/Team Likeability. This is pointless after season 1. Getting to 10k points takes you up to the Trade Deadline, and then its pointless.Sponsors. We've got a Hockey Super Agent, but he got me 1 deal in 3 years for 300k... Maybe make a few pretend Brands, then when one sponsors me, I need to meet certain goals to keep them. Like Knie Shoe Company, wants me to score once every three games, or they'll yank my sponsorship, or Fightsr's Gym yanks their endorsement if I lose three fights in a year.Sorry @johum2886 and @ccleme20 I supported most.of what.you said and just added a few other things. These could so easily be implemented and make the game 100% better.

@ccleme20 this is all beyond what needs to be donebe a pro simply needs to not have the stupid forced superstar storyline and let us play how we want to, like NHL 14 and the PS3/XBOX360 versions of 15 & beyond

When I play as a "stay-at-home" defender, who usually plays a conservative, risk averse game and does not score much, instead focusing on defensive assignments towards the opposing team, I don't want my coach to pressure me to score, but is satisfied that I prevent others from scoring.

Bring back player development. We had it in NHL 20, so we can easily have it back. Please let us develop. I would be perfectly fine with being a later round pick and having to fight my way into the lineup. Let me go back to the CHL or AHL for a few years if needed. I promise this would make the mode so much more realistic.If I could have one thing it would be this ^^^^^^ just give us some player development and the juniors/minors back.Give me weekly drills to do (See Fifa) to get better and place me in a league I belong in, that's it.Or we could just skip all that send me right to NHL as a 70 rated player and get scratched for 60 games a season. Think of how much fun that is........

Exactly. I find it more fun to be a later pick and have to fight my way to the NHL. This is why I played NHL 20 for so long. Sadly I don't see this mode ever getting better. It's gotten progressively worse since NHL 14.

Forum Discussion

ccleme20

3 years ago

NHL 24 BAP Wishlist & NHL 23 Review

Hey everyone!

So I compiled a lengthy list last year on what I wanted to see in NHL 23. As most of you know, Be A Pro did not change hardly at all. So, instead of copying and pasting my list (eventhough this appears to be EA's favorite thing) I thought I would make a more realistic list on what EA could likely do instead of what I want to see in a dreamworld (Since that hasn't happened in years and likely wont anytime soon).

First though here is my quick NHL 23 BAP review:

While this game mode is the same as 22 (mostly), I have noticed that the gameplay has improved somewhat. However, I am still noticing that AI teammates turn the puck over easily. The powerplay runs a lot smoother in my experience. One thing I did like was the draft. Apparently there was a trade made and MTL did not have the first pick - which is where I fell. So I was drafted by ARZ (as a Coyotes fan I was perfectly fine with this) first overall. Not sure if that was a random incidence or not, but I liked it. Gave the draft a bit of an unknown surprise. Also, I did some tests and it's actually not nearly as easy to become the 1st overall as it used to be. I played through on Superstar once and was drafted 40th overall. Another time I was drafted around 15th. I did like how it felt harder to earn your spot. Otherwise the game is exact same as last years.

NHL 24 Wishlist (realistically)

Please, PLEASE, add contract features. I would be happy even if it was something minor like being able to add a no movement clause, or selecting my own contract length. Just something.
Add more than 2 team offers. Again, if I am a top 6 player on my team I should be getting multiple offers from teams when my contract ends. Not just one new team offer. Now I haven't made it to this stage yet in NHL 23, but I am 99% sure it will be unchanged. This is a HUGE time in a players life so the game should reflect that.
Add a trade risk. Sometimes you get traded out of nowhere. Now I realize this rarely happens with first overall picks - but still it could happen, especially if your management/teammate score is low and you're not performing well. I'd like to see the ability to be traded without asking. It's part of the business.
Realistic trades. Please just give us realistic trades. In the times I have ever asked for a trade I was always given up for literally nothing. If I am a 89 overall player former 1st overall pick with multiple awards, no GM would trade me for a 4th line AHL player. Involve picks and better players.
Make conversation system optional and or skippable. Just like last year, the conversations are dull and a nuisance. Make this an option or at least allow us to skip them - especially in game.
Grant stat boosters for draft position. I just find it odd that I am a 70 overall being drafted first overall when the 2nd and 3rd picks start out near 80. If I am drafted in the third round and beyond then okay, but if you are drafted first overall there should be a huge stat booster to reflect that. Just make it an "accomplishment". Starting off as a 70 on the second/first line is super unlikely.
Bring back player development. We had it in NHL 20, so we can easily have it back. Please let us develop. I would be perfectly fine with being a later round pick and having to fight my way into the lineup. Let me go back to the CHL or AHL for a few years if needed. I promise this would make the mode so much more realistic.
Off-ice activities. I know this is a stretch, but adding even the simplest practice modes would be a gamer changer. Nothing massive, just something simple. This could be used as a way to boost your XP as well.
League stories. Why can we not see trades/signings/waiver claims/injuries on a tab? This was in NHL 20..just add it back.
Presentation. The anthem and all is cool, and im glad there's something new to this but build on that. Spend a little more effort on the pre-game presentation. The crowd got an upgrade, and that's great. I really like the crowd getting into the game so kudos to EA for implementing that. However, let's run with that. I remember in the older NHL series it actually showed your player skating on the ice during the intro..that was cool. Also, make winning the cup a bigger deal than it is. Go all out. Have the media on the ice taking pictures, have the players interviewing, all the above. Again, just make it skippable if needed.

And finally here is my way out of the park wish

Allow us an option to control the team management. Now listen, I usually get eyebrows raised for this. "Just go play franchise mode" I get it. However, I don't want to play a full game. I love the Be A Pro aspect of ONLY playing the shifts for your created player. However, the AI GM is atrocious. I would like to be able to control the management aspects of the team as well. I know this isn't the NBA and I am not Lebron calling all the shots..but if I could control the roster I played with it would be so much more fun. Gone would be the days of your team trading prospects for nothing and selling everyone when you're a playoff contender.

I am sure I will add more to this list once I play through the seasons a bit but we can hold out hope for NHL 24. I understand that EA makes stupid money on these online modes and that's where the attention is spent, but offline players still pay for the game too.

18 Replies

johum2886
3 years ago
@ccleme20 this is all beyond what needs to be done

be a pro simply needs to not have the stupid forced superstar storyline and let us play how we want to, like NHL 14 and the PS3/XBOX360 versions of 15 & beyond
ccleme20
3 years ago
Exactly. I find it more fun to be a later pick and have to fight my way to the NHL. This is why I played NHL 20 for so long. Sadly I don't see this mode ever getting better. It's gotten progressively worse since NHL 14.
IrishOwl
3 years ago
NHL 24 Wishlist (realistically)
Please, PLEASE, add contract features: OMG I can't ask for this more! I'm a freaking 89 after my first year, I lead the league in goals, got the Calder and the Stanley Cup. I won the European League Cup, broke 3 records, and two years later, the only team interested in me besides Buffalo is Philadelphia and they are only offering me 4 million? Damn, in Framchise, that doesn't get you a third line check forward. Yes! I want a negotiation mini game sorta like the draft deadline game. Let me get offers, make counters, and decide where to go... Also as an RFA why doesn't my Team match it? Why can't I sign with Seattle for 6 years?
Add a trade risk. Yes! But maybe add it as a coach challenge. Hey Brayden, the Vegas Golden Knights are I terested in you. We want to make the deal, but if you can score 15 points in 5 games, we'll keep you.
Realistic trades. This needs to happen at the Trade Deadline as well. I'm the only talent on the team, but at the deadline, somehow we've managed to get 2 new first line players to skate with me, two awesome defenders, and a good goalie... What did we trade? Draft picks for 3 years and all of our AHL people.... Maybe a kidney?
Make conversation system optional and or skippable. Add flavor to them, my character is a rebel so he just waves off the coach, even after a conversation that went: Hey, you're moving to the first line. Thanks coach, and I walk away looking disgusted.
Grant stat boosters for draft position. Do it with X-Factors, I start with nothing, but I can get Spin-O-Rama pretty quick, however the 2nd and 3rd have Zone Abilities and 4 Superstar Abilities... Why would anyone pick me first? In Franchise, the first Roundtree is always 78+ with a full board of X-Factors... Yes, I want to earn some, but its not fair to ask me to complete against the co.puter with literally nothing.
Bring back player development. Talk to FiFA, their training is awesome. You should do this too!
Commentary. Okay, so this one is a bit harder, but can we get decent commentating? How many times per game do I need the woman to talk about every X-Factor. I counted, I literally heard about Make it Snappy 12 times in one game. Also, talking about the Sophomore Slump in year 1 is a bit oof, the same with making the Rookie a Captain... Also, Becky needs to stop calling in and reluctantly talking about taking me on her fantasy team...
Building Rivalries. Can you add opposing Team interactions. I beat up Nurse three times in one game and injured him the second time I faced him. It would be cool to see him stride up to me before a game and talk to me. Maybe offer weird challenges, like "Let's see who gets more hits tonight"
Brand/Management/Team Likeability. This is pointless after season 1. Getting to 10k points takes you up to the Trade Deadline, and then its pointless.
Sponsors. We've got a Hockey Super Agent, but he got me 1 deal in 3 years for 300k... Maybe make a few pretend Brands, then when one sponsors me, I need to meet certain goals to keep them. Like Knie Shoe Company, wants me to score once every three games, or they'll yank my sponsorship, or Fightsr's Gym yanks their endorsement if I lose three fights in a year.
Sorry @johum2886 and @ccleme20 I supported most.of what.you said and just added a few other things. These could so easily be implemented and make the game 100% better.
PeterMagnuss0n
Seasoned Traveler
3 years ago
100% agree basic features is missing in this game mode. Features that makes you feel unaware on what's going on around you.
Skipitaway
3 years ago
When I play as a "stay-at-home" defender, who usually plays a conservative, risk averse game and does not score much, instead focusing on defensive assignments towards the opposing team, I don't want my coach to pressure me to score, but is satisfied that I prevent others from scoring.
DarrynDark
3 years ago
100% agree with the contract thing! Why does everyone always offer around the same money for the same years. Ask me how long Id like a contract for and be able to negotiate money and term. You should also be able to see their roster and who you might be playing with if you do sign with that team. Maybe a signing bonus as well on the big contracts. Have players from other teams call you and ask you to join their team in free agency. Free Agency should be a big deal and if you're a superstar player it should be a very big deal around the league.
Be able to interact with your teammates in the locker room, where you can go up and talk to them and maybe a few of them have different challenges for you. Maybe the coach put something on the board for big games " $10,000 for whoever scores the game winning goal" Just something more then the same teammate coming up to you and asking if you want to see a museum or asking you to be one of the 3 stars of the game.
Sprukleberry
3 years ago
Bring back player development. We had it in NHL 20, so we can easily have it back. Please let us develop. I would be perfectly fine with being a later round pick and having to fight my way into the lineup. Let me go back to the CHL or AHL for a few years if needed. I promise this would make the mode so much more realistic.

If I could have one thing it would be this ^^^^^^ just give us some player development and the juniors/minors back.

Give me weekly drills to do (See Fifa) to get better and place me in a league I belong in, that's it.

Or we could just skip all that send me right to NHL as a 70 rated player and get scratched for 60 games a season. Think of how much fun that is........
Vicprestige
3 years ago
They also need to include the Olympics/World cup and All star game/skills competition. I really like the trade risk idea and I've been wondering why it was missing for quite some time. I get the feeling they won't make any of these changes though unfortunately
Ironhawk73
3 years ago
@ccleme20 Give me the ability to see what strategies my team is running!
erovion
3 years ago
I want three sliders for every option in gameplay sliders, not just for human and cpu but one for ai teammates as well, in the beginning when my player gets over to the NHL I can't keep up in the skating but when slightly adjusting the human sliders to be able to keep up to my teammates better they also get faster and therefor are faster than everyone else in the game.
This is a feature I have been waiting for for several years now.
IIHF- tournaments is also something I have wanted in BAP for several years.
A complete overhaul of conversations and being able to choose some personality traits. I would love being able to have more options in every conversation and be able to do more things outside of the games. Add some conversation when going with the team to a bowling alley for example. Maybe some talk in the locker room during games etc.
I would love to be able to play an entire season in a european league of my choice before being drafted (for example SHL or Liiga) Maybe be a couple of years older and being an establised player in that league or be drafted and play another season in my home team befor being broought over to the NHL. A bit more how it works in real life many times.
I think these features would bring a completely new depth to BAP for me at least.
And I agree about contract features, draftbonus and a bigger risk of being sent down to AHL and being traded.