There is no doubt that NHL 25 can feel stale, especially if you're coming to it from NHL 24.
However, the claim that "gameplay felt the same", although a subjective viewpoint - is verifiably wrong. Liking or disliking the gameplay is another topic, but it's undoubtedly different than 24.
The hitting mechanic alone has finally been fixed where you're no longer getting an assist in targeting and timing. It's now up to the user, and it's causing players to realize they leaned on it too much. Getting caught after missing a hit is a real thing that players need to be aware of in '25. This is a foundational change to gameplay.
Skill-Based One-Timers, although a little OP right now, have been a decent META change. The icons below players, indicating they're open for one-timer are also notifications for the defenders on who to cover, not just for the puck carrier to identify. This has created some interesting scenarios where I know a player is looking for an OP one-timer, but using RS player switching (which is also VASTLY improved this year) - I'm able to get to the dangerous player before the pass makes it (most of the time). This META change is refreshing.
Presentation is a sore spot. I see no changes other than, as I predicted, some shoehorned replays being forced onto us during weird moments. For example, the first non-penalty whistle after a goal, you can expect the game to freeze for a split second and then you're jarringly shown a replay of the last goal with some forced color commentary overtop.
There also seems to have been some wires crossed as it pertains to penalty replays as well because more often than not, you'll encounter an instance during the game where the player overlay (showing who got a penalty) is still taking up the entire screen while the play begins in the background. As others have pointed out, it's not uncommon to get back to the game action and you've lost the faceoff and/or the other team has scored.
Dont' get me wrong - revisiting goals is an important element of a good TV broadcast. But, as predicted, EA is jamming these camera cuts and replay analysis into a flow that makes it so jarring and out of place and makes a guy wonder.. "this took 10+ months?". It's also the only broadcast change I've seen thus far . Edit: Just wanted to add that this is not entirely true. I've seen some VERY good camera angles on replays reminiscent of an actual TV broadcast. I love that. As an OVP and EASHL player almost exclusively, me seeing the 'grudge match' presentation is likely going to be few and far between.
Anyway, just wanted to chime in that although EA is suffering yet again from leaving stale elements in their game in favor of focusing on fornite-style presentation for kids with the attention span of fruit flies, there are some very good gameplay changes that are resulting in a very fun style of hockey.... so far...
