Wishlist from an offline-only hardcore player

Disclaimer: I only play Franchise Mode, Play Now and Be A Pro (a bit) so if things are missing, go ahead and make your own wishlist

New Options

Mascots on/off
X-Factor on/off
Pressure System on/off
Pressure System board graphics on/off

New Features (General, Franchise Mode & Be A Pro)

Make skaters glide more both in user controlled and cpu controlled state. They stop like the ground surface is gravel
Make superstar cpu defenders react harder on opposition forwards cutting into the slot. (Quick flick right stick right to left or vice versa). Right now it's very overpowered to skate fast along the boards and then deke/cut in to the slot to expose defenders and goalie. It result in a goal about 50% of the times, even with goalie sliders set to 100/100
In older games some players like Patrick Kane was really fun and reactive to manual deke with. Today it's much less creative and more bound to sequenced animations (click button > deke animation plays). It was really fun in Shootout Mode online. People created youtube videos and shared their deking skill with others much more. A good balance between now vs then (nhl 12-14)
Goalies should stop more simple dekes like backhand forehand dekes at a higher rate
More shot block replays
New custom jerseys and logotypes in create a team
You removed the ability to edit created team during post season in Franchise Mode? Why? BRING IT BACK
Updated standard goalie masks (all modes where you can edit players)
Increased length of handshake line after completed playoffs series, right now it's about 3-5 seconds long
More replays showing close-up player reactions to near goals, shot blocks leading to pain, etc
Store Stanley Cup winner team picture to watch later through the menus (if the user won)
Tunnel walkout cutscene during playoffs in Franchise Mode
Let users customize hairstyle and eyebrows in Franchise Mode
Present starting goalies in game intro
Present and compare the two team's top players in game intro (can be based on career stat if veteran players or current season stat for others, milestones, etc), like in a real broadcast
Three stars of the game cutscene after a game
Show team walk out from tunnel and crowd reactions during game intros
Updated crowd models and animations (also fix the crowd clapping with freezed towels in playoffs).
The outdoor settings/rinks are incredible in pro-am/woc, make use of them in franchise and be a pro (some event or something)
Team practice in Franchise Mode and Be A Pro (maybe outdoor practice during post-season?)
Outdoor Stadium games
Stop showing promo popups in main menu, it is very frustrating and makes most of us wanting to stay away from online modes even more
Remove female refs in men's leagues
Add more grit to how players interact with each other (yelling at ref or opposition, talking trash, etc)
UI panel showing last game three stars and game result in Franchise mode and BAP (right now you have to navigate a lot to see that - box score)
Generate 3D headshots for all auto generated players in Franchise Mode (add option to enable/disable when starting a franchise). It's ok if this takes a long time generating each season, but if it slow down menus, then maybe not worth it
PC release would be great

Fixes

Fix poor positioning of cpu teammates blocking slap shots from the blue line
Fix slow update of header player information (large headshot with name and other info) when hovering players in lineups, player lists, etc in Franchise Mode
Fix lag occurring with 1 minute left in each period
Fix show mascot on/off in create a team (it's always on in-game, even if saved "off" in create a team for expansion draft in Franchise Mode)
Fix mascot drumming cutting off arena music during faceoffs
Improve coaches body models and fix clipping of glasses (for example Dan Muse)
Tune hitting to be more realistic. If players are prepared for a hit, then don't make them go down this easily as now. Same with players getting hit into the bench, happens too much now.

System & Experience

System: Xbox Series X
Experience: Owned every NHL game since NHL 2000
I play with sliders set to punish my own players and be in favor of the cpu players. Standard Superstar AI is no match. Which I hope future games will change
I also want to say that I enjoy the presentation added in NHL 26, but patches this release has been underwhelming

discussion

feedback

franchise