This series has finally died to us...

Can you elaborate on how you're aiming your poke checks? There seems to be a big change to the simple poke (hitting R1). Previously, it would aim to the puck's location on the frame the poke check was initiated. Meaning, if the puck carrier moved the puck at the next frame, by the time the poke check arrives at the puck - it's position has moved - resulting in a miss. More often than not, however, most players don't have the twitch skill to react in time, so poke checks were largely successful.

I'm most often using DSS and trying to cut off their passing lane. I can often get in close enough to get a poke in so I wait for that opportunity and take it. In the case I'm just making a quick poke without using DSS, I'm just waiting for a clean path to the puck. Mostly, from the front. I'm still able to poke from the sides. I'm just waiting for the right moment. And it's not that I never miss. I'm not saying every poke is successful. I miss plenty of them, but I also connect on them a lot better than when the game first launched. I captured some clips last night, but for some reason they aren't showing up. Hopefully, they will and I can show it. 

Nothing changed with the auto-aim of pokes. It's still aimed at the location of the puck on the frame the poke was triggered.

It appears to me, since the X-Factor revamp, the poke check ability seemingly has a randomized error state where the poke checks will simply avoid the puck altogether and miss wildly despite the puck carrier not moving the puck via stick handling at all. This is the major change that I think is contributing to the poke check 'issue' people are describing. 

I'm using Stick 'em up. That most likely is helping my pokes. I switched to this from Quick Pick. But, I'm also noticing I'm better at them in HUT. My team is pretty low rated as well so I don't think it has to do with inflated abilities. It is against the computer though and they can be pretty easy to separate from the puck. 

Pokes are pretty basic. Like we both said, pokes go to where the puck is. It's not a random fail. There's a lot going on with various XFs and ability scores though. And, pokes are being investigated. It's also possible the puck is being picked up too easily. I know that's being looked into as well. That makes it also seem like pokes aren't working. I'm just making more of an effort to get a really solid poke so there's more separation. Again, Stick 'em up may have something to do with that.

Personally, I've found the same as you: Poke checks require better gap coverage and they will no longer work in close like they used to. once you make this adjustment, you seem to be able to get better success. Your 'aim' comment makes me think there's something else that's been added to the mechanic that maybe hasn't been properly communicated to the player-base. 

My aim comment was more about using DSS. I use it a lot. Probably almost as much as a regular poke.

I think the expectation of players to have the same skill level and dominance that they did in previous years runs contrary to the same expectations of a new game every year. They clamour for 'new' gameplay elements, and then rage about not being copletely adept at them on day 1. 

Agreed. If we truly copied and pasted the game, you should still have the same level of dominance. Every year we see this. Complaints about struggling when they were previously in D1. Each year, changes are made and we all need to adapt. My club has had the same issue in the past. The first couple of weeks are rough, then we find our groove.

I completely agree. As a defenseman, I rely on truculence, stick 'em up, and quick pick. There's no need for wheels—you just have to be patient and read the game well. I'm effective with my poke checks, but having an X-factor is definitely crucial. You don't always have to poke the puck off the opponent's stick. Sometimes, simply blocking their stick with yours dislodges the puck automatically. What I would like to see in the game is better reaction time for D to intercept passes in front of the net. I often find myself laughing when I'm covering the same spot as the opponent—I'm really close to them, yet my player refuses to even move the stick to attempt an interception and puck is going through me. Reaction time should be better at least for DD.