levik71
20 days agoNew Rookie
NHL 26 Be a Pro suggestions
These are a few things this game mode needs in NHL 26, most of these features were in older games like NHL14, and are easily implemented into the current setup. Others are already in games like MLB the Show or CFB 25, and I believe are incredibly realistic expectations for a company like EA to give us in 2025. This order is from most realistic to "wishes".
- MOST IMPORTANT, fix all the minor bugs that have plagued the mode for 4 years, things like contract bugs (auto signing after ELC), random glitches in the "conversations" that cause the game to crash the save file. Players playing 83 or more games even though they stayed on the same team all season thus throwing stats way off.
- Have players be sent down to, or start in, the AHL or even the ECHL (if that every gets properly integrated). Allow them to work their way up, whether it is related to overall, or stats or maybe a bit of both. Even better, make it possible to get offered true AHL or even ECHL contracts in addition to the normal NHL 1 or 2-way deals. Make the $ you get paid line up with the type of contract you have, as that would make it take longer to buy & upgrade attributes. If I am a 5th round pick at 70 OVR with 80 skating stats, I have no business being in the NHL.
- Allow players to select their age they start in the CHL (like in NHL 14), or Europe, this allows them to upgrade their attributes leading up to their years draft. Keep the option to select what NHL team you play for as an 18 year old(although the starting OVR needs raised a bit), as well as the Memorial Cup or Champions League. So you have the OPTION to grind it out from the start, or play casually and start as a higher overall player for your favorite team.
- Allow players to select an active CHL, ECHL, AHL or NHL player to play their career as, how cool would it be to play as 19 year old Macklin Celebrini, or a CHL Landon Dupont, I think it would be cool for players to play as their ECHL team's favorite player and try and work them up to the National League, imagine taking a guy like Peter Laviolette(the 3rd), a guy born in Wheeling WV who players for the Wheeling Nailers, then grind and work him up to play his first ever NHL game.
- Allow players to select the type of "prospect" they want to be, similar to how CFB 25 has different levels of recruit. Players should be able to have the option to start as a 15 year old exceptional status phenom in the CHL with Franchise potential and work to be the #1 pick in their draft, or start as a 16 year old bottom 6 glue guy that plays in the CHL as an over-ager who goes undrafted and works his way up through the Coast, to the A then to the National after 8 years of grinding. Even just 3-4 "templates" for different career track's would be nice.
- Make "player potential" have an impact on expectations and playtime, if I am an 20 year old Elite Potential Center, I should be placed in the lineup differently than a 28 year old Bottom 6 guy with Low potential, even with the same OVR. However the expectations are different, the 18 year old "elite" center would be dropped down a line if they cant produce at a high level (even better send me back to juniors after 8-9 games to develop) whereas the 28 year old bottom 6 would stay right where they are producing 20-30 points per season and killing PK's
- This one is wishful thinking but Allow players to get contract offers from Euro Teams, If I am a 24 year old fringe player and my contract is up it would be cool to get the option to choose a 1 year 2-way contract saying I would be an AHL middle 6 guy/NHL fringe, or a 2 year deal from a team like Skellefteå AIK as a 1st line forward, knowing I will get more playing time and able to upgrade faster, then I can either choose to tear it up in Europe or try and make a comeback to the NHL. it would give a ton of replay value to the mode that is currently lacking.
the sad part is, a lot of these features were removed, and are still in other sports games. hopefully EA will actually take some of the feedback myself and thousands of others have provided on this mode and implement something.