NHL Suggestion
To the NHL Development Team at EA Sports (EA Vancouver)
Hello,
I would like to send this letter to the developing team EA Sport but I couldn't find any point of contact or e-mail so I am using this forum hoping it's reaching someone inside the developing team who can make the difference.
I’m reaching out as a long-time fan of the NHL video game series, and for the past few years, I’ve been meaning to share some ideas that I believe could help enhance the NHL experience. I’m currently 46 years old and have been playing since NHL 1991 on the Sega Genesis. I’ve followed the series year after year, and first off, I want to thank you for the tremendous progress the game has made. The gameplay now feels incredibly realistic, and while passing is more challenging compared to the 2010–2020 versions, I genuinely enjoy the new mechanics.
That said, I’d like to offer a few suggestions
-mainly focused on Franchise Mode, which is my favorite. My goal is to help bring the experience even closer to what it feels like to be a real NHL player, both visually and statistically.
1- In-Game Stats
-Show Key Offensive Numbers
Currently, when a player scores a goal, the game sometimes displays their total body checks or other less relevant stats, rather than showing updated goals, assists, and points. These core offensive stats should be prioritized during goals or assists to make the moment feel more meaningful and immersive.
2. Trophy Ceremony at Season’s End
Previous NHL titles included an end-of-season awards presentation, which many longtime fans like myself appreciated. Bringing back a more polished trophy ceremony with today’s visuals—featuring awards like the Maurice Richard, Hart, Calder, and Vezina—would make player stats feel more rewarding and impactful.
3. Matchday Atmosphere and Presentation
As someone who never got to play in the NHL myself, I’ve always dreamed of living that experience through the game. Here are a few ideas to increase immersion:
- Reintroduce scenes of players walking from the locker room and skating warm-up laps.
- Use authentic team entrance music and crowd build-up before puck drop.
- Add “players to watch” and goalie stat graphics during pre-game.
- The national anthem was a great feature to bring back—thank you!
- The return of a post-game 3 Stars presentation on the ice would give matches a more satisfying and realistic conclusion.
- Bring back aerial shots of the arena and city skyline during pre-game presentation. These “fly-by” views of each team’s home city not only help set the atmosphere but also give players a sense of geography and culture—it even sparks the desire to travel and visit these arenas in real life.
Player face models are outstanding, but coaches still look generic and unrealistic. Improving coach visuals behind the bench would greatly enhance the presentation quality.
4. More Goalie Replay Highlights
Goalies are often game-changers, and I’d love to see more highlight replays featuring big saves and key stops throughout the game—especially in clutch moments.
5. Online Play with Real Teams and Rosters
While I respect the Ultimate Team fanbase, it’s not for me personally. I would love to be able to play online using real NHL teams and up-to-date rosters, and ideally even have access to a full-season or online Franchise mode where players could manage rosters, track stats, and make trades or draft picks. That would be a dream come true for simulation-focused fans like me.
6. Be a Pro – More Narrative and Immersion
Be a Pro is already a fun mode, but I believe it could be greatly improved by introducing a deeper, more interactive story mode, similar to what we've seen in Madden 2025. Starting a career in the minors and working our way up to the NHL- while managing relationships with an agent, coach, GM, friends, and family—would make the journey far more immersive.
I also enjoyed how Madden added special side events, such as charity games or sponsored events (e.g., Nike weekend challenges). Features like these would add flavor and realism to the player’s career.
Additionally, coach feedback becomes very repetitive over time. Adding more dialogue variety, context-sensitive conversations, and dynamic storylines would bring this mode to life in a whole new way.
Once again, thank you to the entire team for your hard work and dedication. As someone who’s grown up with this series for over 30 years, I truly appreciate everything you’ve created. I hope my suggestions can contribute to making the next NHL games even more immersive and rewarding for players like myself.
With great respect and enthusiasm,
A dedicated hockey fan since 1991
Jeff
