Why is HUT so horrible this year?

I actually enjoyed NHL25 last year. The new rewards and progression system was a breath of fresh air in a stale environment. The account bound players were a bit annoying but overall again fun. 

Fast forward to this year and then what the holy hell happened? From the smallest to largest things have changed and not for the better either people. HUT Moments are a slap in the face. Really 100 coins per challenge? Granted not super hard but always was a good source of beginning to earn coins towards cards/packs. Not this year. EA said screw you guys. No coins for you!!!

Then they add Cup Chase. Okay? They took away a proven system of squad battles and added the most boring, repetitive and least rewarding game mode to date. Squad Battles at least you played a never ending list of teams that people put together. Not teams EA rigged with players that would take most a season to earn those cards. Looking at teams players put together often gave you ideas of “Oh I like that line or that hmmm I forgot about that player card”. Was way more fun and you rarely played the same team twice. 

Other things like the pathetic poke checking system this year. The ability to not change period times, the joke of a reward system. Whether you’re talking pack rewards, coins earned per game or challenges rewards it’s all bad. Your CPU controlled players still have the IQ of an unborn child. Positioning of your players on the ice is like watching a team of Mini Mites learning to play hockey for the first time. Players stopping to receive a pass is laughable. Your D-men getting smoked off a face off just as they release a pass is comical and frustrating. Line changes need to be quicker or you’re constantly having to change your lines yourself. I’ve seen players out for over 10 minutes cuz they have no idea where the bench is to get off. 

This game is horrible EA. I don’t understand how you can drop the puck so badly and think oh this game is amazing release it for sale. Listen to your community who is crying out for you to fix this game. Otherwise you really need to start giving us the option to have some kind of roster update instead of buying a new game every year. That or get people who actually know what Hockey is as play testers before you finalize the game. Something needs to change. HUT is fun to play whether you’re an offline or competitive player. It’s all bad.