Offsides and more not being addressed
Just played 3 games of Hut today and had multiple times where my opponent who was the same player ( 3 accounts for HUT ) was getting stretch passes to him while he was offside. He would also rag into his own zone and stretch passes while my defenders made a random line change even with full energy… the inconsistency of these issues is becoming a major problem. Devs should be addressing these more frequently instead of waiting until next release. This isn’t fair to us who pay for these games by any circumstances. Other issues is the Lt nonsense it used to take skill to do it now it’s easy to do and causes a bug of where the defenders skates tilt inwards causing them to slow down… Way to many abusers on this game even the top 3 current leaders are cheating by using discord to win and take intentional losses. I can’t even imagine how many people do this and it’s getting ridiculous. Can the devs just focus on fixing this game maybe? I’m not buying NHL 27 if these issues are still in this game and I hope others follow… not impressed by any means. Feels like I got scammed of my hard earned money for a broke product…Coach feedback is broken for BAP goalie
EA, you really need to fix this garbage system for coach feedback in BAP as a goalie. I have never been able to get any higher than a C+ in saves EVER. I just finished a game where I had 42 saves on 42 shots, so a complete shutout. I ended up with a C+ in saves, C+ in positioning, and C- in team play. You literally can not get any better than a shutout for saves so the C+ makes no sense, the C+ for positioning doesn't really make any sense either considering I wasn't caught out of position giving up a goal to the opposing team, and last but not least the team play. I made probably about 15 passes in that game between playing the puck outside of my crease and passing the puck out to a teammate instead of covering it up after a save and stopping the play, not one was intercepted or sent out to a teammate that had any opponent anywhere near them. I don't expect an A+ every game and for EA to make it a walk in the park to get good coach feedback but this is a stupid system. I have a shutout and didnt even reach what the target was for saves because the target was a B+ but I had a SHUTOUT and still only got a C+. I can see if you only have like 10 shots on net and get a shutout sure maybe don't have it so high for that but I had 42 shots on net with a shutout so like, come on EA. BAP is a lot better than it was before in my opinion but they also ruined other aspects of it while trying to fix the mode and this feedback just doesn't make any sense.
NHL 26 1.6 Patch Notes
Hello NHL Community, here are the notes for Update 1.6 launching this Tuesday, March 24th at 1pm ET. Please complete all online games before this time as server instability is expected up to an hour after the patch deployment. Gameplay Fixed an issue with cameras being obstructed in Be A Pro in the Delta Center (Utah Mammoth home stadium) Be a Pro Fixed an occasional issue where users soft lock when navigating the Box Scores post Draft World of Chel Added the ability to see player banners and teams on the Mute List and Post-Intermission Pause screens Fixed an issue with the scrolling function in the “Waiting for All Users to Resume” screen Fixed a crash after a user is kicked from a game in Threes Eliminator Fixed a loading issue when tabbing in World of Chel Fixed a visual issue where Special Characters did not display correctly after previewing other vanity items Art Uniforms The following uniforms have been added or updated in NHL 26 ECHL Indy Fuel – ThirdPlayer likeness & Player Creation
This is completely unacceptable…such a lazy and poorly executed job by the developers. Seriously, what kind of joke is this? Face scans and player likeness: I would really appreciate that when we get so few face scans as we do, and with the quality they’re at (obviously AI-generated and not scanned in the rig, strange that you can’t make more? 🤔), at the very least the helmet should fit. This is ridiculous. There are easily 20–30 players where the helmet is way too big, completely insane. Why add two new helmets, like the new CCM FTW for example, when it’s oversized and doesn’t fit anyone? It looks absurd. A really poor job. But as long as people keep buying packs in HUT, I guess it doesn’t matter what offline players think. This needs to be redone and done properly. In 2025–26, it should not be difficult at all to fix these visual details. If it is, then you need to hire new developers/animators. Player creation: How can NHL be this far behind when it comes to creating players? In 2025–26, this has to be one of the worst player creation systems in any game, which, believe it or not, is important to many people and a big reason why they buy the game. It’s completely useless and has been the same for years. The generic faces are absolutely terrible, barely any new ones get added, and the customization options are also unacceptable….eyebrows, hairstyles, and eyes? COME ON. How hard is it to add some new options? Take inspiration from your other games. Give us more choices! This is completely unacceptable. I hope you have major plans for this, because I’m definitely not the only one who’s going to lose it if I see the same things in NHL 27. Ever heard of listening to the community? These are small adjustments that a game in your price range should get right. Do better. EA_Aljo Picture of Stankoven, where his hair is coming through the helmet etc, great job guys!👏🏻 i remeber when Tippett had the same problem, took 4 years to fix, so i dont have high hopes for this😅. & A few of many with 4 sizes to big of an helmet, looks just fine, keep the good job up!👏🏻💪🏻😐.Up the slider for charging
This is absolutely ridiculous that this has continued and not have been addressed .I've heard the word accountability thrown around here well make these little Mary's accountable for garbage like this and also fix the late hits Take your pick charging or boarding https://youtu.be/orGshStE2SY?feature=shared Just in case you devs don't understand what charging is https://youtu.be/jOmH6SkyUmY?si=d63BI_2wrlny1Ew2
Wishlist from an offline-only hardcore player
Disclaimer: I only play Franchise Mode, Play Now and Be A Pro (a bit) so if things are missing, go ahead and make your own wishlist New Options Mascots on/off X-Factor on/off Pressure System on/off Pressure System board graphics on/off New Features (General, Franchise Mode & Be A Pro) Make skaters glide more both in user controlled and cpu controlled state. They stop like the ground surface is gravel Make superstar cpu defenders react harder on opposition forwards cutting into the slot. (Quick flick right stick right to left or vice versa). Right now it's very overpowered to skate fast along the boards and then deke/cut in to the slot to expose defenders and goalie. It result in a goal about 50% of the times, even with goalie sliders set to 100/100 In older games some players like Patrick Kane was really fun and reactive to manual deke with. Today it's much less creative and more bound to sequenced animations (click button > deke animation plays). It was really fun in Shootout Mode online. People created youtube videos and shared their deking skill with others much more. A good balance between now vs then (nhl 12-14) Goalies should stop more simple dekes like backhand forehand dekes at a higher rate More shot block replays New custom jerseys and logotypes in create a team You removed the ability to edit created team during post season in Franchise Mode? Why? BRING IT BACK Updated standard goalie masks (all modes where you can edit players) Increased length of handshake line after completed playoffs series, right now it's about 3-5 seconds long More replays showing close-up player reactions to near goals, shot blocks leading to pain, etc Store Stanley Cup winner team picture to watch later through the menus (if the user won) Tunnel walkout cutscene during playoffs in Franchise Mode Let users customize hairstyle and eyebrows in Franchise Mode Present starting goalies in game intro Present and compare the two team's top players in game intro (can be based on career stat if veteran players or current season stat for others, milestones, etc), like in a real broadcast Three stars of the game cutscene after a game Show team walk out from tunnel and crowd reactions during game intros Updated crowd models and animations (also fix the crowd clapping with freezed towels in playoffs). The outdoor settings/rinks are incredible in pro-am/woc, make use of them in franchise and be a pro (some event or something) Team practice in Franchise Mode and Be A Pro (maybe outdoor practice during post-season?) Outdoor Stadium games Stop showing promo popups in main menu, it is very frustrating and makes most of us wanting to stay away from online modes even more Remove female refs in men's leagues Add more grit to how players interact with each other (yelling at ref or opposition, talking trash, etc) UI panel showing last game three stars and game result in Franchise mode and BAP (right now you have to navigate a lot to see that - box score) Generate 3D headshots for all auto generated players in Franchise Mode (add option to enable/disable when starting a franchise). It's ok if this takes a long time generating each season, but if it slow down menus, then maybe not worth it PC release would be great EDIT (ADDED MARCH 21ST 2026): More context after goal scored. Next whistle talk about or show graphic for the goal scorer and cut to player in camera. Context could for example be: "1st goal after 5 games cold scoring streak", "1st point after returning from injury", etc More random timing for when cpu coach pulls the goalie. Right now cpu opposition coach pull goalie with around 00:50 left in the period. Also only if they are losing with min 1 goal or max 2 goals In goal replays, remove the slowmotion to real-time in the middle of the replay. It doesn't look that good. Remove the puck highlight marker in that 2nd replay too. The first and third replay are both in a good place in NHL 27 Fixes Fix HUT Cup Chase freezing. It's just sad this has not been fixed day one to be honest Fix poor positioning of cpu teammates blocking slap shots from the blue line Fix slow update of header player information (large headshot with name and other info) when hovering players in lineups, player lists, etc in Franchise Mode Fix lag occurring with 1 minute left in each period Fix show mascot on/off in create a team (it's always on in-game, even if saved "off" in create a team for expansion draft in Franchise Mode) Fix mascot drumming cutting off arena music during faceoffs Improve coaches body models and fix clipping of glasses (for example Dan Muse) Tune hitting to be more realistic. If players are prepared for a hit, then don't make them go down this easily as now. Same with players getting hit into the bench, happens too much now. System & Experience System: Xbox Series X Experience: Owned every NHL game since NHL 2000 I play with sliders set to punish my own players and be in favor of the cpu players. Standard Superstar AI is no match. Which I hope future games will change I also want to say that I enjoy the presentation added in NHL 26, but patches this release has been underwhelmingFix WoC balance
The worst is goal tending. I've already suggested to have better cpu goal tending we need some sort of sliders to change their playstyle such as how long they'll hold the post or how quickly they'll bite on a 1T. Ideally people play goalie themselves, but without changes how many people are gonna want to? Look at discord and Facebook at all the clubs looking for goalies and defensemen.. it's currently such a thankless job. How can we fix it? Most people don't want a human goalie because they fail to save the more routine shots. They want them because they pose some chance to stop a breakaway as the CPU goalie has almost 0 chance. Most human goalies are gonna have a worse save percentage than a CPU. I believe the best way to fix this is to give small boosts to human goalies. Either through better attributes, or bigger boosts like better rebound control. Give more incentive.. clubs/ players get more xp/ coins for playing with a goalie. Goalies get more time in the limelight for their performance. The announcers talk more about the goalie. Update goalie play.. Ideally from the ground up. Speak with players who play goalie the most, and bring in high level goalies to sit down and talk about a new/ better system. This game desperately needs more goalies. It also needs more defenders. Defenders are ALWAYS on the short end of the stick. The LT/L2 abuse. EA builds like McDavid build and Spectre are just far better than anything defensive build and much faster. So defenders have to choose to have the McDavid speed and no defensive abilities or defensive abilities but not the speed.. couple this with hits coming in extremely late after you pass it up the ice and clubs getting mad at their defenders for giving up a breakaway despite being slower or smaller (getting hit) and not being able to cover for everything. Then the pokecheck and stick lift are not the most dependable tools, we're forced to use DSS, and you're just not gonna get a lot of people wanting to play defense. The fix here is to give defensive builds at LEAST the same ability/ speed of the forwards. Once again, give them the limelight more often.. we are always showing the goals, maybe let them talk about the defenders and how well they are shutting down offensive chances and stuff.. or what they are doing offensively from the backend. Their ability to get the puck out of the zone. The forwards for FAR too many games in a row have received some sort of boost. They have more over powered EA builds, tons of dekes and more every game, they can make themselves huge and use reverse hits against nearly any defensive action, they can hit the opposing defenders long after they pass, they can be faster than any defensive build can be, they can use LT/L2 to become extremely hard to defend against, they can recieve a pass without holding vision control or turning toward the pass, while a defender MUST do this if they want a chance to intercept, etc. A lot of these need to be addressed. This game just holds the forwards hands so much and constantly rewards them. When defenders have to aim their DSS while forwards don't even have to aim their passes. When defenders have to really choose when to poke or stick lift in fear of a penalty but forwards have nearly 4 seconds after a pass to hit a defenseman, when defenders have to use vision control to try to break up a pass or intercept and somwtimes they still don't get it, meanwhile a forward can recieve it without turning, including if its a slap shot pass, Forwards being drawn into loose pucks/ rebounds while defenders always feeling like they don't fully have the right to a rebound shot or the loose puck immediately following a poke check, after a poke check the defender gets an articial speed nerf while the forward can often repossess the puck after a poke and then skate around the defender due to the speed nerf. The truth is most people would want to play forward without all these boosts and the limelight. They dont need MORE incentive to be a forward. We need more full clubs and less teams of 2 or 3 forwards. Most of the people I knew that played defense have quit playing the game altogether. We need to start finding balance.