@EA_AljoRemoving the slow down I'd say you would have to revert if you DID go to Full Manual Poke Checking. I think adding slow down is not how it should have been nerfed. It looks dumb to just see a player hold his stick out and that slows themselves down drastically. I would say if you wanted to do something like that than it should be when they are making "large movements" with the stick such as trying to swing it to push the puck away. Then you could have a very minor slowdown mechanic incorporated where now they lose a step on the player.
Defense is challenging yes I would agree but that's because of the other mechanics in the game that are of an issue. Defense is challenging because pucks are forced across the crease and defenders cannot pick it up. It goes through their legs, off their skates and somehow gets to the One Timer on the other side. I see numerous times my player facing the passer and watch as they slide the puck between my legs, with quick pick and 90 awareness to the other guy with gold OneTee.
Defense is challenging because there is something (thanks season 3) called Big Tipper that you could be right on top of the guy and yet somehow he can still get his stick out to tip the puck in the back of the net.
Defense is challenging because you can't tie up said player in front of the net or along the boards because he is moving just a little bit but enough that you hold the button down to perform the tie up and nothing happens. Only to let go of it and your guy sometimes stick lifting in open ice and slashing someone because things cannot be cancelled except passes in this game.
I understand that defense is challenging and you want to make the game more offense minded. But, turning up the Hot water (poke check power) to compensate for the Cold (defense in general) is not the way to do it. Again this is my opinion based on many hours of this game. It should be a nice even balance. Yin and Yang.
EDIT: By the way I personally am all for making defense the hardest, most punishing and skill-based thing in the game. Then only the elite will be able to show themselves out there. But watching a puck go through my legs when I am in position to a guy with OneTee on the other side is not skill, its RNG.
