NHL Threes offline. Is it me or is this unplayable?

I have unlocked every player etc. within the offline Threes mode for years now.  It was always challenging (especially unlocking players like Gretzky) but it wasn't impossible or unplayable.  I was in the third venue just now trying to unlock the Dallas Star Hero on Pro level (first to 3).  My player with the puck moves like he's in quicksand compared to the other 3 players I'm facing.  I can't get away even with the boost and I'm swarmed and relieved of my puck possession just about all the time.  I managed to unlock Bernie Federko but I can't even escape the defenders with him.  Forget about it with the other two generic players.  It is basically unplayable.  Far too frustrating!  I'm not going to waste my time on it.  What happened?  I can't adjust the game speed either.  This is so far from the years past that I can hardly believe it is the same franchise.  Is anybody else experiencing this?  I'm thinking that my pre-order was a HUGE mistake.