Let me know when NHL games are fun again.

So I'm not saying you can't find some fun if you try very very hard (not online which is now pay for win) but the AI is not intuitive whatsoever to how they promoted it. I have never seen Ovei once set up for a one timer like in real life (was highlighted in the deep dive, maybe once saw Crosby do a "signature backhand" and I'm into my 3rd season of my offline franchise playing on superstar difficulty with full AI learning and adjustments). 

Then we get to the animation based game play that is the bane of the frostbite engine and spots games where once that animation starts it doesn't matter what you do.. IE you poke check a pick - puck goes away from AI Player but hits an invisible wall and then morphs back to the AI Player due to the movement animation that started during the poke check. Or the diving shots that trigger when you are at the Blueline facing the boards (no scoring chance or shot on net whatsoever), poking it away from your teammate and giving the puck to the AI that leads to a goal. Getting penalties for checking the boards cause the animation starts for the hit but glitches, misses the hit box but still believes it happened due to it being locked into the animation (this was an issue in NHL 25 as well)  

Or the fact that the AI can't determine what a defence and forward is when creating lines after injury (playing 2 center on the 3rd line pairing defence instead of calling up players from the AHL), which ultimately cost that that team the series (this has been an issue for 3 or 4 games now). 

The own goals are not as bad as they used to be overall but still happen, next time I get a dumb one I'll make sure to show you it. 

Then we get to the fact that the game can't handle or determine penalties and how or when they are called. I'm 16 games into my 3rd season and I have been on the PP 5 times and short-handed 6 times. That is a horrible percentage and not even realistic to how it is in hockey ( you get more penalties in kids games then you do in NHL 26). What is worse is that the sim engine can properly handle calling penalties so it's a direct issue with the in game AI directly (IE 39 times on the powerplay to 43 times shorthanded in 15 games)

Let's touch on the fact that there is no coding or framework for goalies injuries when you play the games (this has never been in an EA title that I can remember), however the SIM AI does have this coding so why is there a disconnect.. those injuries are on the game. 

Then we can touch on the lack of interest EA has on putting out patches and updates for this game compared to prior years (maybe they have will have a decent Feb patch if they bother to put one out but I'm not going to hold my breath). They even lied on the last update stating jerseys are in the game but clearly can't be cause they are not worn yet (this is what it has come to).

I won't even get into presentation and all of that which can be a whole conversation all on its own (NHL 23 stating in their marketing that teams had their own unique openings and it's now NHL 26 there are still plenty with generic openings).

Yes, I do force myself to find some fun in this game cause I'm a huge hockey fan and have been playing since blades of steel but I also know and tell myself I'm playing an indie title so my expectations are extremely low.