Goalie Reactions

Morning! You mentioned before that being in a butterfly stance versus standing should not make a huge difference, but I am finding it actually matters a lot, especially on tight-in shots. Being down in the butterfly for those in-close plays works much better for me. Logically, it makes sense: when a shooter is right on top of you, they have less time and space to lift the puck, so dropping down seals the bottom of the net immediately.

The main issue is control. It is really hard to hold your ground or adjust in the butterfly because you are sliding on your pads instead of digging in with your edges. That loss of control makes it way too easy for skaters to pull a quick forehand-to-backhand or backhand-to-forehand deke, sliding me completely out of position while I am stuck coasting.

To help fix this gap between real goaltending logic and gameplay balance, here are a few core adjustments to the goalie mechanics and position design that would make a world of difference.

First, introducing a post or pad plant hard-stop mechanic would give goalies a way to cancel unwanted slide momentum. Right now, once a slide begins, you are locked into a fixed path. Allowing goalies to tap a button like L2/LT or push the Left Stick opposite to momentum would drive an edge into the ice, killing momentum instantly and re-establishing a base stance.

Second, differentiating between butterfly shuffles and full-momentum slides would solve the issue of micro-adjustments turning into sweeping, unmanageable slides. A dual-threshold system on the Left Stick could trigger a tight butterfly shuffle with high edge control on a slight nudge, while a full stick tilt would trigger the wide butterfly slide.

Third, adding variable ice friction in tight would help goalies stay in position. Pad friction feels identical whether you are at the top of the crease or on the goal line. Increasing edge traction when the puck is within 5 to 10 feet of the net would prevent goalies from sliding off-screen during close-range dekes.

Fourth, dynamic recovery angles on dekes would allow goalies to react to counter-moves. Currently, when a skater moves forehand-to-backhand, recovery animations force the goalie to slide with the shooter's initial movement rather than cutting off the new angle. Allowing a butterfly push to immediately bite back toward the center of the net or toward the second move of a deke would give goalies a fighting chance.

Fifth, proportional edge engagement would mean butterfly is no longer an all-or-nothing commitment state. Goalies could seal the ice with their pads while maintaining slight edge contact on the trailing foot, enabling quick directional changes against in-close stickhandling.

Finally, tuning animation cancels for reading dekes would level the playing field. Skater deke animations complete faster than the goalie's minimum frame delay to stop or redirect momentum. Opening up tighter animation cancel windows for user goalies who correctly anticipate a deke ensures a good read isn't punished by animation lockouts.

I really appreciate all the work you and the team put into tuning gameplay and listening to community feedback. Playing goalie is such a unique position in sports gaming, and I love seeing how the position continues to evolve in NHL. I would love to hear your thoughts on these ideas whenever you have a moment, and I would be more than happy to help test or bounce around future goalie ideas down the road. Thanks again for your time.