Defense

In their effort to make the game more offensive minded. They have done it at the cost of defensive play. Ever since they introduced the shoulder check. The hitting ability of the defense has gone down hill. Its frustrating to watch offensive players maneuver around your Dmen like they were standing still. The Hut version is even worse. Its almost as if the AI players on the opposing team anticipate your effort at trying to lay body checks. This franchise cannot just leave the things that work alone. Instead they alter existing elements, that in the end are a hindrance to game play.

I don't play online just Be A Pro but your right about the AI. I miss more checks than I hit because they "dodge" me. and I'm not just talking when their skating right at me, I'm talking when they are near the boards, back to me, and "step out of the way" just as I am about to check. it's like they know what I'm going to do before I even know what I'm going to do. I've had passes that seem to go right through me but when I check the replay, it "just misses" my skate or stick. the AI can get off lightning fast, accurate passes WHILE BEING CHECK AND AGAINST THE BOARDS. if anything EA should have focused on should have been the AI gameplay but they didn't as usual.

Think of how computer chess works. It responds to moves you make. So it seems that the AI in this game has adopted the same logic. But! Its like the AI anticipates your moves, why you have a hard time being able to lay checks. Its understandable that the AI has to react this way. Its how its able to be competible. But they have put more emphasis on offensive play, and limited the defensive response. The checking in this game is one of its biggest failures. 

to me the entire AI teammate system is the biggest failure. I'm sick and freaking (want to cuss but already got a warning) tired of getting penalized for my teammates failure. I just got a "missed assignment" AND a "bad line defense" because my stupid AI teammate gave it up just past my blue line. I am a 2way defenseman but I was passed the puck so I passed it just inside my blue line because I was about ready to get checked and my so called teammate just turns and they take it from him and while I'm still trying to get up they score. I'm going to restart every freaking time that happens because that brought me from around 58-60% to 42%. I don't care if we were winning or not FIX THE FREAKING AI TEAMMATES. I'm also sick and tired of every freaking goalie I play, play like their Patrick Roy times 5 including the best goalie in the league right now. I had triple their shots and we were tied 4-4 until they scored that goal I restarted on. screw that

this is the crap I'm talking about. there is no freaking way he can get that accurate of a pass off. heck, he shouldn't have been able to get ANY pass off that close to the boards. I cannot do that. every time I'm in that situation, the pass does not go anywhere and they get the puck, EVERY TIME. then my stick is stuck on the boards, it doesn't "go through" the boards like it wasn't there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YtZKBgdsAw

do you see what I'm talking about? I hit the pass button to send it around the boards to the back of their net. when you see it paused is when I was hitting pass. but of course my stick doesn't "go in the boards" and pass it, heck no, they get the puck. make the freaking game fair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pXIn5qnIxU

I'm done with this piece of crap game. I'm sick of getting scored on when I KNOW I shouldn't. there is no way anyone can get off a shot that accurate with a stick literally in front of his stick. but in this game they can. he shot it like my stick wasn't even there. they should give refunds to who wants it. I will never buy another EA game until I see the reviews and posts

Complaints regarding problems in the game have been mentioned and sent in. But to date. EA has little interest in. 1st  Acknowledging there is a problem. And.  2nd. They neither have the time or desire to address them and render a fix. So. Its the same old game. New player on the cover. And content, producing problems one after the other.