Gameplay and Presentation Issues

Skating Mechanics - Players’ skates appear to sink unnaturally into the ice, breaking immersion and realism.

Stick Physics - Hockey sticks often clip through players’ bodies, which disrupts visual fidelity and realism.

Post-Fight Glitches - After fights, players frequently get stuck on other players or objects, causing awkward movement and gameplay interruptions.

Stick Interaction with Environment - Sticks lying on the ice behave unnaturally when players come into contact with them, lacking realistic physics responses.

Goalie Behavior Behind the Net - Goalie movements when retrieving dumped pucks behind the net feel robotic and unrealistic, lacking fluidity and natural decision-making.

Missing Stanley Cup Playoffs Logo on Ice - The iconic Stanley Cup Playoffs logo is missing from the ice surface during playoff games, which negatively impacts the atmosphere and authenticity. In real-life NHL broadcasts, this logo is a key visual element that enhances the playoff experience.

Players Clipping Through Referees - Skaters can pass through referees without any collision or physical interaction, which breaks immersion and reduces the realism of on-ice dynamics.

Coach Character Models - Coaches on the bench look unnatural in their clothing and posture. Their models lack detail and realism —some older games like GTA 3 arguably had better character modeling (excluding facial detail).

Bench Animation Synchronization - Characters on the bench often perform identical animations at the same time, especially when a player is checked into the bench area. This synchronized movement looks artificial and detracts from the realism.

Penalty Box UI and Animation - The penalty box interface and animations feel outdated. Adding a staff member who opens and closes the penalty box door—like in real NHL games—would greatly enhance authenticity.

Bench Activity During Gameplay - Players on the bench remain static for most of the game. In reality, not all players just sit—some stand, react, or move around. Adding more dynamic bench behavior would improve immersion.

Medical Staff Response to Injuries - When a player gets injured, there is no visual response from medical staff. Including a trainer or medic skating onto the ice would add realism and reflect actual NHL protocols.

Timeout Functionality - There is no clear or intuitive way for the user to call a timeout using a controller, especially in critical moments near the end of a game. Additionally, AI-controlled teams never call timeouts when trailing, which reduces strategic realism.

Crowd Attendance Realism - Arenas are always shown as fully packed, regardless of team performance or game importance. In reality, not all games are sold out—adding variable crowd attendance would improve atmosphere and realism.

While some of these issues may seem minor, addressing them would significantly enhance the overall realism and immersion of the game, especially for dedicated fans who value authentic presentation and gameplay details.