This never was an issue in NHL 23, started last year with NHL 24 and now still around in NHL 25. D-Men always leading rushes as an outlet up the ice and when you get settled in the O-Zone they alwa...
Ideas
EA_Aljo
Community Manager
Community ManagerCan you put these up somewhere they can be streamed without having to log into an account?
- EA_Aljo
Is your D strategy set to Tight Point? Letang looks to be in that position. Then, when the carrier skates behind them, they see the open space and start to break out. He could have waited and stayed back, but that would sacrifice the change to get the rush going.
Wither Peterson, the center drops back in front of the net. Peterson steps up to take their position. Nieto gains possession and Peterson recognizes he's the best opportunity to breakout.
Like I mentioned already, default Pens Strats from your November 20th Roster update. Pens default is "Staggered".
With that said, Letang, he should stay back most times, the d men jump up entirely too much to where they are like forwards.
Peterson, he in real life would never think he is ever the best opportunity for a breakout.
Go back and play NHL 23, this stuff was NEVER an issue. This stuff started last year with NHL 24 and still plagues NHL 25.
If I play a full game I should never see the above more than once or so a game, my d-men and the CPU d men are constantly leading rushes and below the face-off dots in the o-zone.
Not trying to be rude, but if you played the game in Play Now and Franchise Mode you would see it, but you don't.
I see why now things just tread water and don't change, again not trying to be rude but it's frustrating man.
- EA_Aljo
The AI players aren't behaving based on what their real-life counterparts would do. It would be cool for sure, but we don't have the "brain" of every individual player matching up with their AI version. They just use general behavior based on the on-ice conditions at that moment as well as what strategies are set. Hockey is a very dynamic sport. It's not unusual to see players playing out of position as the play dictates.
There were very big changes with the AI this year so of course it's going to be different than previously. That doesn't mean it's all working perfectly though. We'll continue to tune it in the future.
Personally, if they have the opportunity to step up and create offense, I'll take advantage of that every time rather than wait for everyone to get in position in your own end and then break out.Thanks so much for all the feedback as well as capturing those videos. That really helps.