Imagine if they manage to make NHL 26 worse than NHL 25

I play Be a Pro and it has got worse since 2020. You can’t actually play in the Juniors except for the Memorial Cup or other championship tournaments . Then get drafted maybe 1st if your interviews are satisfactory. Get placed on  a 2nd line not as a centreman even though that is your 1st position. As a default you are placed on a wing until you prove you’re a 1st line player but only on the wing. Then you have to get enough actual overall points to replace the Star/ highest point player who is the 1st line centre. But instead of him going to a wing like you did no they demote the Star to 2nd line centre. The whole game needs to be overhauled to be better. But EA had no competition to elevate their game. So we are stuck with mediocre games.

I can somewhat relate to the look of the games, or at least the stats described. I always play 3 minute periods, on superstar with 10/10 attribute... whatever it is called. I win most of my games, in different ways, and I've learned to accept that the AI usually peak at some point. Either they start very aggressive and almost score without me being able to do anything to stop them, or some DFD snipes it in the last minute with no pressure, just a goalie who's done for the night.

But if I always outplay the AI every game, it won't be much fun. I really like the gameplay generally, and while I do find it frustrating when they score because I allow them to shoot from somewhere that shouldn't be scoring chance. In the best of worlds the games would be even in shots and even in everything, and sometimes I win and sometimes I lose. I feel like that it is somehow balancing the game a bit, even if it isn't in the prettiest way, if I win every game 6-0 it will get old quickly too.

But like I wrote, I enjoy the game (a lot even), despite I've lost count of the number of times random shots go in at the end. It's rarely because I'm under heavy pressure, because I'm pretty good at avoiding that. One of the things I really like about the game is to try and learn how to deal with the situations when the game doesn't go my way. Some I've learned I just have to live with.

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with how Franchise Mode plays out. I can just comment on the actual gameplay. I'll pass on your feedback to the team. Thank you.

Yes it was simmed games and this have happend to me a few times, i only play between 2-5 games a season still can’t enjoy the game.

I have notis that you can change the game if you turn off without saving the game… sim will be diffrent every time and it can really make a big difference. 

other thing i have noticed is if you make a bad team to get higher in the draft your team will win games after the deadline so you end up with about 30 wins… you get pick between 9-17 usually and always demoted one step… this is very common.

I usually start over in franchise mode 2030/2032 because after that many faces are starting to disappear and you just get confused when you can’t recognise any players. Almost all draft picks after first round with top 6 or elite have 70 in skating and never gonna be anything even if you train them on skates, Most defenders are top 6 in the game and want 6-8 million so the game is not so fun when you get a bit into it.

It would help to see video. Typically though, in corners, if I'm chasing down the puck with an opposing player, I'll stick lift them right before we get to it. If they beat me, I'll boardplay them. Maybe I'll poke the puck away. It just depends on the situation.

As far as catching up goes, again, I need to see video. You can help keep your AI players in position for blocking shots and passes by staying in position yourself. If you tend to player lock or not switch players often and are out of position a lot, the AI will be also. They won't be in the best position to cut off lanes and block shots/passes. We'd need to see video of your play to understand exactly what's happening. 

Again, I'd need video to understand why you can't pick up rebounds. You can try setting your D strategy to protect net so they play lower. That can help. I also tend to switch to a defender when I know a rebound is possible so I'm in a better position.

A lot of your issues sound more like they're a result of how you play. Without video, we really can't tell.

I don't play Franchise Mode so can't relate to that. When I have played AI teams in the past, I experienced the AI ramping it up in the dying minutes of a game when they were behind, as you mentioned. Most games did not go to OT though since I adjusted my play to counter their aggressive offense.

Were those 14 losses all simmed games?

You sound knowledgeable so maybe you can teach me the game?? how do you win the puck in the corner?? how do you catch up with McDavid and start pushing him in the back like an idiot?? How do i make my teams AI to block every pass and shot??? why does the opposing team's AI never miss a hit... why is my veznia goalie always worse than the opposing team's back up goalie? why is the whole game just about X-factor?

Why can’t i pass when i got hit, but AI always do perfect pass when i hit them, why can’t i never get a rebound puck? but AI always have the rebound on their blade….. naaa man this game is the worst 

I think i have 100 screen shot when AI scores on the first shot…. yes it can happend but not all the time

hahahaEA_Aljo​ exactly 👍

This is how I experience it and if you think differently, that's fine.

Do you like the game play in franchise mode?? is it the perfect game? do you have fun when you play it? I'm not having fun anymore.

Sim is broken, your team lost against the bottom team with 8-1 and beat the top team with 8-1….. after deadline (no changes to the team for the deadline is the most laggy garbage in the game) my team start losing 14 games in a raw for no reason so i got mad and turn off my xbox without saving, next time my team won 11 of those matches 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ seems to work well though.

If I understand you right, you're saying the game is bad because you put a lot of shots on net, but have trouble scoring yet the AI manages to score in the last minute and takes you to overtime in every single game? That's a pretty specific complaint and one I don't see others making.

The AI will fight harder when down during the last few minutes of a game so it helps when you play stronger defense and keep the puck out of your zone. Most likely, they've also pulled their goalie. Of course, that gives them an extra player and makes defending a bit harder, but far from impossible and gives you an easier chance to score.