can just take tips out of the game or make them easier to defend

I believe you. That's not the case. I've made the team aware of it so hopefully, they can figure out what's going on.

And I can sympathize with the team and yourself on clips like this, because there's not like a graphical indicator or anything that shows I'm actively trying to tie the player up, so all you really have is my word. But, I can assure you 100% I'm pressing and holding A the entire time trying to do a tie-up. There was no issue with my controller, and I'm on a 2gig hardwired fiber connection so it shouldn't have been a connection issue. 

I passed this on to the team. It's an odd one for sure. We can't really tell why the tie-up didn't work here. Thanks for capturing this.

Here's a great example of what I'm talking about with tie-ups: https://www.xbox.com/play/media/zqwJHm6dSs

Go to about 19 seconds into the clip. I'm playing right defense and am trying to tie-up and otherwise annoy the forward standing in front of the net. I'm standing right next to the player and am holding A to try to initiate a stick tie-up. The player is just standing there doing nothing and I STILL can't tie him up. From 19 seconds until the whistle, I'm trying to initiate a stick tie-up and can't do it.

This is so frustrating. I don't run a heavy, hit-oriented build. I run a light weight build designed to skate closely with opposing players, taking pucks away with stick lifts, poke checks, etc. So, it's not as easy as just shoving players in front. I need to be able to tie up the net-front guys and get them focused on trying to get away from me instead of being focused on offense.

Defenders desperately need a more reliable tie-up mechanic than what we have. It's very annoying when you give up a goal because the game won't initiate animations/mechanics when you're in good position to do so. It feels like the game just ignores my inputs.

Precisely my point. Here are two examples (1.25 moreso) that show the inconsistency of shoves and penalties. You can maybe make the argument that I am a little too far out of the box but I argue that the point of contact happens inside it in the end. The second one though is absolutely a full display of inconsistency for shoves vs penalties as my player is not moving and merely responding to his attempt to just walk past me with the slip animations. 
Shove Inconsistency examples

EA got it right for a short period last year I think, when defenders were allowed to clean the slot. Now it's too much of a gamble penalty wise, rarely worth it. I guess the forwards couln't handle it instead of adapting, like sending two guys, keep moving in and out or use bigger build. Added the fact that tippers dont get screened and can track the puck better than the actual goalie, yea it could use some work.

1000% this. Plus, it would probably force more players to use bigger, stronger builds to avoid being tied up so much which would lead to more diversity of builds and less reliance on a small, speedy meta.

Bruanor59 wrote:

if this method were improved, it would also be good.

100%. Tie ups need to be more fluid and accessible to initiate. Plus, players who are being tied up can execute an escape by pressing vision control (LT). 

If executing a tie up didn't rely on having to be standing absolutely still, and allowed some leniency to the initiator to enter the battle while simultaneously making it simple for a player to time an LT (vision control) push to escape it - you'd have a much more dynamic battle META in front of the net. 

You don't get a crosscheck penalty if you don't hit your body, shoulder, or back. you can only push with your hands. it would be more convenient, of course, to make a separate control for this. there is a cool way to create a game - net battle, but unfortunately it doesn't work, please do it. 

There is another way to lift the stick from behind - X+r1 (A+rt) is an effective but slow way. if this method were improved, it would also be good.

Well what happens is you normally shove a player but if you go again too fast the chances are much higher you will be taking a penalty such as a crosscheck.  It's most likely meant to be used as a timed thing when a shot is going to be incoming.  Granted this doesn't equate in the 1v1 gameplay but more for full human team scenarios.