they should also add a “start in offseason” mode to franchise.
as well as:
-coaches challenges.
-ability to game plan an opponent.
-practice mode for franchise mode. It’s super annoying that you can’t practice plays/schemes before a game.
-in-depth animations for pregame/intermission/postgame. their animations are sloppy and too quick. it’s 10 seconds or less from load screen to puck drop.
-more realistic commentary, based on each team. Rather than the same generic lines, like “one of the best rock bands from the 80’s is performing at intermission.” Are you kidding lol.
-ability to have taxi squads.
-free agency interviews.
-the ability to coax players out of retirement. you touched on that above.
-add a feature that allows you to call other GM’s to propose a trade. How insanely immersive would it be to pull up a phone and text another GM to get the ball rolling on a trade. Then after, have an NHL Network animation pop up discussing the trade. That’s probably never going to happen, but it would be sick.
the game as it stands is too arcade. The gameplay is decent, but everything else is absolutely bland.