@EA_Aljo Both of my clips show my players skate being hit with enough force to lift the player's skate off the ice. I am not gliding. Not to mention my momentum into their poke check makes their stick move through my skate and to the puck on the stick.
If a player is not positioned proper for a stick lift. It is a penalty 9/10. The stick lift is fine in my opinion because you have to have enough room and be facing the player's stick side to make a proper lift.
However, the poke check is not consistent with how it makes contact with a player's skates. If I am moving slowly or I am static. Sure, I know I won't be tripped. I am not disputing that.
I am disputing that especially in my second example that it is not physically possible for a player to skate backwards when the opponent's stick hits my skate. The way my player's leg hyper extends awkwardly is enough reason to be like "Hey, maybe we should adjust the sensitivity of the triggering of a tripping animation to meet the force in which a stick hits a player's skate."
That would be reasonable. Just like stick lift. This mechanic was changed in NHL 22 when previously in NHL 18 to 21. Poke check was nearly perfect as you did require patience and timing. You couldn't just indiscriminately poke check 100 times a game. Players complained for YEARS that poke check was a huge problem with the skill gap and the decision was reversed for NHL 22 and now NHL 23.
I don't get the reasoning behind that decision when it's just not realistic. I play against the vast majority of opponents who average less than 10 hits a game. Players avoid hitting because it can leave the puck open for the opponent's team mate to pick up the loose puck. Fine, you just have to play positioning and make hits at the proper time. That is basic defensive hockey IQ to see where a play may end up.
It's like rock, paper, scissors, and all the players are using scissors every team and winning every battle. When a hockey game is dependent on situation and patience. Not just spamming the same button the entire game.
If I end up injuring one or more of my opponent's players. I should have a significant advantage offensively as I take them out of the play with clean hits. It makes the game interesting. However, there is no incentive to be physical when players are rewarded with one dimensional play style.
It gets tiring and when you pay attention to the small details of opponents that just use the meta to win every game. It's not hockey. It just becomes a chore.
I have been a top 25 player for years and it's been the same song and dance the past 2 years. There's no incentive for players to use every ability to their disposal and be rewarded.
