Goalie fatigue needs to go in NHL 25
The fatigue system was a good idea, but very poorly implemented. Puck retrievals during fatigue as well as clearing the zone continue to be absolutely atrocious. An NHL player can lob a puck from the...
Forum Discussion
EA_Aljo
Community Manager
Community ManagerIt's really not preferring offense over defense. Offense is more attractive to most people because they prefer scoring goals to shutting them down. Offense also has the flashier moves just by nature of the position. Defense can be a very challenging position to play well. It's something a lot of people just don't focus on. I've played many opponents with a strong offensive game, but are very much lacking on defense. The tools are there to be a good defender. A lot of people just don't master them.
The flip dump is not a good example of us preferring offense over defense. Flipping the puck out isn't the only way to get it out of your zone. I'm not happy about it either, but I get why it needs to be there so the pressure system actually means something. Otherwise, why have it if you can escape that pressure so easily?
Playing D has always been generally harder to learn and master but EA has always given more tools and makes it easier for the offence. It’s been a major complaint from so many players throughout the years.
As for the flip dump. It’s a commonly used easy hockey play. If the offensive team isn’t good enough to substain pressure you don’t make it easier for them by nerfing a defensive ability. Yet by doing so you make it harder for the defensive team. The pressure system should be natural yet EA forces it. EA wants the pressure system it seems on every offensive zone play.
- EA_Aljo
What new tools would you add to defense?
Is mayonnaise a new tool?
Jokes aside, and it's not so much a new tool as much as it's reworking an existing mechanic, but I think defensive skill stick needs to be reworked. Currently, you can't use it to defend odd-man rushes to take away passing lanes because as soon as you initiate the dss, your speed is completely nerf'd and skaters can instantly speed past you.
Dss can be used against cpu players with some success, but that success doesn't translate at all to playing against human players. Human players don't move or play anything like cpu players, and humans pass better. All of these things make dss pointless against human players as you're much faster, and more likely to make a play on the puck without using dss.
I think personally this is a poor take as if you are needing to use DSS to block passes than you are already out of position to begin with. If your blade is between the two of theirs and on at least 70% towards the player receiving that puck, you should be able to stop it from going through you most of the time. As far as defense changes, did they not really improve the ability to hit players in this game? People have been doing nothing but complaining about it so has that not been a defensive tool given to us to improve defense?
Ability to quickly swat the puck away from an open net mouth would be a good one. I have seen far too many instances this year of a human or AI defender try to grab a loose puck at the net mouth and then put it in, inadvertently. Yes it happens in real life but not to the level you see it in the game. Being able to quickly one time a puck out of there without it mostly going into the net would cut that down.
Other then that, not new tools but I really do think puck flip needs to be restored and the speed penalty you get from using DSS needs to be reduced. That would go a long way to helping out defensemen.
I'd like to see an AI that learns how the opponent plays and adjust accordingly during the game. This would stop people from playing the same way over and over again. You'd have to mix up your game to be successful.
I agree to an extent. I'm not sure how the current settings change that, since it is possible to set 6/6 on how the AI will learn and adapt to your play (default is 0/6 I believe).
I think somewhere in the middle might be the sweet spot. I don't know if the skill of the coach matters, but it should.
But let's not forget that far from all teams (IRL) are able to counter another team's tactic, so if it always happen, it wouldn't be realistic. They might find a way to stop the bleeding, but not necessarily push back.
With the 6/6 setting, it does make the game harder, because I know I think it get's too difficult to be enjoyable, at least last time I tried. How much that is due to the AI's adjustments, I don't know. But I wish that the quality of the coach (and how the players fit) would determine the teams ability to adjust. How good the coach is at coaching other styles than the one he prefers.
Maybe coaches (beyond a certain skill level?) should at least have a 2nd (or even a third) option. They might not be as good coaching it, but it might still be the better option against a tricky opponent.
