AI Don't Know Proper Positional Play In NHL 23
Noticed this in NHL 23, especially it HUT where AI have no idea where they need to be positioned. I have played hockey since I was 11 years old. I grew up around the game, and furthest I got was to BCHL junior camp. Played 3 games of Midget AA, and rest of the season club. Recently tried out for Senior AA and play hockey very often to this day at age 30. Watching AI position is cringeworthy!
Wingers: Weak side winger doesn't cover the lost positions when the puck is in the D-zone. Instead they try to attack, leaving the weak side D-man and goalie left to dry on the point to point shots. Meaning I have to try and player switch to all my players in a scramble fashion, not being able to react on time before the net is vulnerable.
In this first video shows where the weak side winger should be positioning themselves. Strong side winger is to help out with puck position to provide a breakout strategy, This was something we practiced in hockey tryouts this year during our drill period.
https://youtu.be/cJB45SJ1jsU Always as a weak side winger you want to be covering these areas. If the puck goes down low and center decides to help out the defenseman, the winger needs to come down a little bit underneath between the circles. While the weak side D-man is covering the front of the net.
There is no reason for that defenseman to leave their position, nor the weak side winger should be attacking the puck carrier...
Mistakes like that is what cost games, and coach more likely will have the team bag skating and doing drills to get their heads working properly...
I get this is a video game, but some realism needs to be in effect.
