NCAA/USHL, and other suggestions
Hello! I'm hoping this gets to the right people
Long time fan of the series here. I had an idea that I think could make Be A Pro and Franchise Mode a lot more immersive and realistic, and I wanted to share it.
One thing that would really elevate the game is adding college hockey and the USHL to the player development system. The real life path to the NHL is rarely straight to the pros. A lot of players develop through junior and college hockey first. Having that pathway in the game would make the journey feel way more authentic.
For Be A Pro, imagine starting your career in the USHL, working your way up and committing to an NCAA program based on how you perform. Schools could recruit you during the season, and you could choose where to commit depending on playing time, team prestige, or development opportunities. You could play multiple college seasons, compete in conference tournaments, and even play in something like the Frozen Four before deciding to leave for the NHL Draft or sign with a team.
Your draft stock could rise or fall depending on your performance in juniors or college, and you could choose to stay in school longer to develop or leave early to go pro. That kind of system would make the early part of Be A Pro feel like a real hockey journey instead of just jumping straight into the NHL pipeline.
For Franchise Mode, adding leagues like the USHL and NCAA would make scouting and drafting much deeper. Teams could scout players over multiple years, watch them develop in college, and decide when they’re ready to sign them. NCAA players could stay in school for several seasons, giving GMs more long term decisions with prospects. It would make the draft feel bigger and more realistic with a deeper prospect pool.
Another thing a lot of people in the community have been asking for is bringing the NHL series to PC. There’s a huge hockey gaming audience on PC, and it would open the door to mods, roster sharing, custom leagues, and a lot of long term community support that could really help the game grow.
The NHL series already has great gameplay, but expanding the development path and immersion in Be A Pro and Franchise Mode could take it to another level.
Just wanted to throw the idea out there. Thanks for continuing to make hockey games for the community.
