Changes for NHL 26 you want to see

This is a reminder that they still have the same bugs in the game as NHL 16. Let’s relax with the wish lists and demand that they release an optimized, functioning product that doesn’t have people playing dressing room simulator for 40 minutes before even being able to play. 

They need to figure out their games lifespan, though. NHL games die down around December, come alive for a month or two after the new years sale, then the player base drops off a cliff. There’s 0 excuse for it, they have 0 competition. It makes no sense. 

It would probably be helpful for them if you said what bugs have been in the game since NHL 16. Give them details and specifics so they can actually look into the problems you are having. Maybe suggest solutions too?

It is way easier for developers ti fix things when they know exactly what the problem is. 

For example: instead of saying “wait times are too long”, I’d say “the queue timer counts up to 3 minutes for almost every game I search for in EASHL Club 3s, even though every time it tells me average search times are usually around 20 seconds. Then after the 3 minutes it just stops trying to find a game with nothing telling me it failed or why it failed. Some things that could be nice is a more accurate search time estimate so it isn’t as frustrating to see the time I’m waiting being 5 times longer than the average. Or if the game told me why it failed, or if it just kept searching regardless of the queue time would be nice improvements. If wait times can’t be reduced, it would be nice to give us something to do while we wait, like practicing drills or plays with my team.”

Online franchise mode is definitely at the top of my list plz add it

I know this is probably wouldn’t be a big priority for most considering what it would probably take to become part of the game but I would love to see something a long the lines of certain players having abilities beyond their classes. For example, say you have Brad Marchand who’s a two way forward but also has an extra ability called “the rat” where if you accomplish certain ratty objectives during a game like, getting away with a slash, hip checking, late hit, running the goalie, (licking someone’s face) lol, it would eventually goad an opposing player into taking a penalty. Another could be “clutch” or “showtime” if you take x amount of shots, hit the post, x amount of dekes you’d get attribute boosts during crucial times in the game. Little game within the game stuff and fulfilling players roles on the team that help get momentum in other ways besides scoring a goal would feel authentic cuz after all the oilers have an entire roster that contributes to wins while not having the skill set of McDavid. 

I would buy a new controller if it had a lick button even if it was only for Marchand

I don't know how it's done in the FIFA (last I played was 23), but I want to recall there was a benefit to doing the mini-game. You could skip it, but if you did it properly, the player could get better from it. I remember I didn't have to do it, but I almost always did because I didn't want to waste the progress.

I’d also like Connor McDavids salaryEA_Aljo​ 

There's plenty I would want, but without being to unreasonable, I'd settle with these (all for offline):

1. Fully unlock player editing - This goes for Franchise Mode too, but I'd settle for player editing when editing the roster file. Especially height and weight, which is often outdated information, would be very welcome. I think that makes a lot more sense than to still be able to change players from right to left handed (and vice versa).
   
   
2. Change goal song for my team - This is partly a me problem, but some teams have such terrible/annoying goal songs I ALMOST don't want to score and surely don't watch any replays because I want to hear as little as possible of the song. It's frustrating when some of my favorite teams rarely get used because their goal song is awful. Might sound silly, but it feels within the realm of possibility to get that fixed.
   
   
3. More ON/OFF options for Franchise Mode - I understand if some people don't like the addition of the clauses. Personally I really like them, and I will always keep them on. But I get that some people (children in particular) who want to be able to trade any player, should be able to turn it off, just as salary cap and a great many other things can be turned off. I don't remember what else I was thinking of with this, but there are some features that could benefit from the option of being turned off.
   
   
4. Full control over Franchise Mode - Be able to keep things real. I get it that it's not possible to add a new roster file to an existing franchise file. But if I want to manually keep it up to date as things happen in real life, I think that would be awesome. Another reason would be to stop silly things like... Sidney Crosby decide to become a journeyman and move through a few teams in his 40's before retiring.
   
   Hmm, that might be all for now. There's plenty more I would love to see, but these (relatively) minor things.
   
   - If I allow myself to dream a little about something new, it would be something that was in the games 30 years ago. As part of starting a game, you got some information about which players were on hot or cold streaks. It seemed pretty random, but it would be a nice addition now. Maybe a list of injured players for each team and just a short report while the game loads or something.
   
   - Another thing would be something that FIFA has, which is that players announce their retirement during their last season. If I recall correctly, in FIFA it means the players can't be dealt. That is not what I'm looking for at all, but there are times when players have decided that is their last season, and I would like that to some extent too. Not this surprise at every offseason. Some players can make it a surprise decition, maybe it will depend on their performance. But like Flower did this season, the decision was made no matter what.

Generally speaking, I welcome anything that make it feel more realistic.

Too late, the lick button is the answer to this discussion 😂

How great would a buffoon class be? Marchand would lick, Avery would dance like an idiot in front of the goalie, Perry would squirt water in a glove then bang the rookie’s mom!? Kidding aside what’s yr guys honest opinion on that game within the game thing I mentioned?