18th year without a PC Release

I can understand maybe why they originally stopped.  But they made it for 15 years prior and in the 18 years since so much has changed that it seems EA has just  happily left a lot of older gamers to wander the dessert forever...and are leaving many more news with their money out there in the dust.  

Since they stopped producing a PC version the NHL has added:
Vegas
Seattle 
Over tripled the league revenue
Record setting attendances and TV ratings

Since then the NHL and its teams have:
Drafted many high talent, high profile American players
Built huge online presences
Started holding overseas exhibition matches

You already got the PWHL (which again wasn't around in 2008) so now you can actively target the female audience on an another platform that might not necessarily game too much but has a laptop/pc for school and wants to play some hockey.  And that can go for anyone in general: not everyone has/wants a console—but they just might wanna play a game!

And with the US teams winning the Olympics, and the NHL bringing back its own best on best World Cup....

Oh, and let's not forget since then DRM has gotten way stronger (not that I necessarily like that ;)) and distribution platforms like Steam and the PC based mobile gaming devices....there are several out there and an obvious market for them!

Not sure what the EA execs are thinking for not ordering a PC version....even if it is a 3-5 year trial test the modern waters and try and regain users to the platform and franchise.