A Lifelong NHL Fan’s Plea: Make It Feel Like Hockey Again

Subject: A Lifelong NHL Fan’s Plea: Make It Feel Like Hockey Again

Dear EA Sports NHL Team,

First off, I want to say — I’ve loved this franchise for years. Through every iteration, even when other series came and went, NHL has remained a part of my life. You’ve captured the feel of the game on the ice better than anyone. The skating, the puck physics, the presentation — all of it keeps me coming back. You’ve built something special.

But I think we’re ready for the next level. Not just in gameplay — you’ve nailed that — but in the world around the ice. The peripheries. The atmosphere. The heart and culture of hockey itself.

Here’s what I mean:

Highlights & In-Studio Presentation: Bring back that broadcast magic. Give us updates from other games around the league, studio analysis, highlight reels, and meaningful commentary that makes the season feel alive.

Deeper Be A Pro Immersion: Let our created player truly live their career — personal records, milestones, rivalries, international appearances. Bring in TSN’s Free Agent Frenzy energy. Make the off-ice world feel just as dramatic as the on-ice one.

Prospect & News Coverage: Build out the league ecosystem. Show us more about the upcoming draft classes, emerging stars, trades, and injuries — across all modes. Not just a scrolling chyron, but full-fledged stories that make us care.

Injury & Management Realism: Make injuries feel real and consequential. Recovery arcs, setbacks, lineup adjustments — the stuff that makes every season unpredictable and emotional.

Olympics & International Play: Let our players represent their countries in all career years, not just current seasons. The Olympic dream is a huge part of hockey — it deserves space in the game world.

I’m not asking for more microtransactions, cosmetics, or gimmicks. I’m asking for heart. For a game that feels like it was made by people who love hockey as much as we do — for the fans, for the players, for the sport itself.

Go big. Build the full experience. Make the hockey game of record.

You have the foundation — now give us the soul.

Respectfully,
Peter Kenney
A lifelong fan who just wants to feel the magic again