NHL 17 News

[sportdan30]

it's a very good base set of sliders. I had to tune it up a bit to get the game just a little bit more to my liking but the game is playing well regardless of the EA update. Things I tightened up a bit were puck control and players losing balance when hitting the boards...those were the biggest ones that i thought needed just a bit more to them. The other thing and I haven't addressed it yet, was that I was able to dictate physical play...hits were always in the 20-5 range or so for me, so i'd like to get the CPU hitting a bit more. I mentioned over at OS, that a few of the games with these sliders felt like I was playing 2K hockey again.

I thought for sure when I changed 20 something sliders, it wasn't going to make a difference. The number of sliders this year is overwhelming that I'm ecstatic someone decided to put out a slider set this early. If not, I would have dismissed this title on default. It's definitely a good base to start and I agree with your assessment with perhaps increasing the aggressiveness from the CPU.

[MizzouRah]

I always use auto aim.. allows me to score using ratings for the most part and games are quite competitive.

[Aristo]

Anyone else play HUT? I can't seem to get it to load. Anyone else with the same issue?

[10spro]

Anyone else play HUT? I can't seem to get it to load. Anyone else with the same issue?

Just played a couple of games online, but it seems a bit of a mess now. I don't quite understand synergy yet, but I assume it's kind of building the proper chemistry with the proper players and builds. The issue for me is that after opening those free packs last week in trying to get your best player on the ice, when you try to edit your team in substituting some players, not all the players appear in your collection. They only do, when you reset the game and go on HUT again. Unlike the last few HUT installations, it won't even allow the CPU to build the team for you in 17 so you have to do everything manually. But again, not all the players that you know you have in your collection appears, when trying to edit your team.

[Naples39]

Anyone else play HUT? I can't seem to get it to load. Anyone else with the same issue?

Just played a couple of games online, but it seems a bit of a mess now. I don't quite understand synergy yet, but I assume it's kind of building the proper chemistry with the proper players and builds. The issue for me is that after opening those free packs last week in trying to get your best player on the ice, when you try to edit your team in substituting some players, not all the players appear in your collection. They only do, when you reset the game and go on HUT again. Unlike the last few HUT installations, it won't even allow the CPU to build the team for you in 17 so you have to do everything manually. But again, not all the players that you know you have in your collection appears, when trying to edit your team.

You must've missed something 10s. When you open a pack of players, you can just click the left-stick, and hit send all players to my collection. Then when you edit your lines, you just search your collection by position or whatever and they should all be there.

But yes, you are right that AFAIK the CPU won't update your lineup--that's a manual job.

Third, I just figured out synergy myself. It's a bonus boost system. Every player has a synergy skill out of like 25 possible skills. Once you get 3-6 players in your lineup with the same synergy skill (depends on the particular synergy ability), your whole lineup will receive a boost to a few skill categories. Again, every synergy ability provides different skill boosts (for example, "defensively resonsible" synergy will be like +3 to defensive awareness and stick checking for everyone).

[10spro]

Anyone else play HUT? I can't seem to get it to load. Anyone else with the same issue?

Just played a couple of games online, but it seems a bit of a mess now. I don't quite understand synergy yet, but I assume it's kind of building the proper chemistry with the proper players and builds. The issue for me is that after opening those free packs last week in trying to get your best player on the ice, when you try to edit your team in substituting some players, not all the players appear in your collection. They only do, when you reset the game and go on HUT again. Unlike the last few HUT installations, it won't even allow the CPU to build the team for you in 17 so you have to do everything manually. But again, not all the players that you know you have in your collection appears, when trying to edit your team.

You must've missed something 10s. When you open a pack of players, you can just click the left-stick, and hit send all players to my collection. Then when you edit your lines, you just search your collection by position or whatever and they should all be there.

But yes, you are right that AFAIK the CPU won't update your lineup--that's a manual job.

Third, I just figured out synergy myself. It's a bonus boost system. Every player has a synergy skill out of like 25 possible skills. Once you get 3-6 players in your lineup with the same synergy skill (depends on the particular synergy ability), your whole lineup will receive a boost to a few skill categories. Again, every synergy ability provides different skill boosts (for example, "defensively resonsible" synergy will be like +3 to defensive awareness and stick checking for everyone).

So it's a good idea to shop for players with the same synergy skills? I'll check it out. Regarding my players, that's what I usually do, left click all my package to my collection but when I do try to edit my team, some of those players just don't appear right away.

[ddtrane]

Hey guys the trane is leaving the maintenance facility and coming to a cyber arena near you. I took the year off to do some reorganizing and relocate the trane from Maryland to Texas.

Next week with my birthday I'm getting back on the ice I need an invite from whoever runs the club and the clubhouse. Man I can't wait to sharpen my blades for my return, but what I really need to know, what's the difference between the regular edition and the deluxe edition? If it's the card packs then the regular edition will be fine.

Vader, XXXIV, IOSPRO, Game se7en, and Diablo, if I didn't call your name, I'm sorry and charge it to my head and not my heart. But those aforementioned dudes played every Friday and Saturday nights religiously, win or lose, they skate hard. Dare I say, gay porn hard.

Man, that self imposed sabbatical was awful. But next week, the trane will once again leave the Depot to take his place with the Ice Dagons. VIVA LA Ice Dragons!!!!!

[10spro]

DDTrane, whaaat's gooooiing on? Man, we missed the Trane last season and it's great to have you back dude. You know when, you know where, looking forward to see you really soon.

If you're not into HUT, just get the standard version.

Chooo, chooo...

[Diablo25]

Traaaaaaaane! Christmas in September!!!

[Diablo25]

I am convinced HUT is broke. Just lost a game to a dude I annihilated the entire game. Phantom penalties, weak ass fluke goals all to make sure the game stays close. I am done with it. Totally Disgusting.

[Aristo]

I am convinced HUT is broke. Just lost a game to a dude I annihilated the entire game. Phantom penalties, weak ass fluke goals all to make sure the game stays close. I am done with it. Totally Disgusting.

I lost my two HUT games 2-0 and 4-0. I wish it was broke and would bail me out.

[MizzouRah]

Roster update is live.. time to start my Blues franchise!

I think I'll even try out the owner stuff.

[MizzouRah]

Started my Blues franchise after the roster update yesterday. Menus are much quicker this year, which is great considering you have more to do if you enable the owner stuff, which so far, isn't as tedious as I thought it would be (and actually kind of fun, much to my surprise).

Played two preseason games and the game is definitely tougher this year, which is a good thing. The CPU AI on full sim/expert really uses stick lift and pressures you quite nice. Keeping the puck is much tougher so far for me. I'm getting out shot as well, which never happened in previous versions. Tie ups in front of the net are a welcome addition (again). Goalies are SO much better and actually look much more realistic! Small sample size, but I have yet to see those goofy cheezy animations that allow weak goals. I've had to work for my 3 goals in two games, haha.. much tougher to score, which is great!

Puck is much more lively and fatigue really makes a difference. I haven't changed much yet as far as sliders go, but I do love the bigger scale and more to tweak.

Also.. will full collision on 4/4 full sim.. you cannot just skate around with the puck anymore.. you must dump/pass!

[sportdan30]

Love this game. What an upgrade in terms of gameplay this year.

[MizzouRah]

Love this game. What an upgrade in terms of gameplay this year.

Agreed! I can't believe it took them this long to put stick collisions back into the game! I even like the fatigue on default full sim, you really have to grind late in the game as your lines will get tired.

[MizzouRah]

I had a rage quit a few days ago.. playing my franchise and the CPU scored on a deflection where the player was like 6-10 feet to the right side of the net, it looked so scripted I quit the game and uninstalled it.

I know they toned these down in the last patch, but I NEVER saw any of these garbage deflection goals in any previous EA NHL game before. I was having a good time with the game up until then, despite the flawed morale system, which I know can be turned off, but it does bring a bit of difficulty to the franchise mode. (I thought they would fix that this year?)

I guess it's a money/staff issue compared to Madden why they take so long to update rosters or come out with patches, but I'm starting to grow frustrated with this series. I'm very lenient on EA hockey as I love the sport too much to really quip about the shortcomings of the series... but I'm growing tired of the lack of updates to the game, especially the game play.

I've had some really fun games in my franchise with the Blues and just like the real life Blues, I don't score much, but damn I hate these goofy looking deflection goals that turn a tough, hard fought game into a joke of a game.

I'm going to wait on the next patch, if they ever come out with one and hope they fix some of these issues... like the CPU teams, after preseason, players never get their "C" back and they are all Alternate captains.. after the first season, all players are set to never fight... stuff like that just kills it for me and I don't understand how it all of a sudden gets introduced into the game when it's never been an issue before. Test the freaking game!!! (thought they had these people called Gamechangers???)

/rant off

[sportdan30]

Yeah, I'm getting that same feeling. Was up 4-0 the other night and proceeded to let in six goals in two periods. It just seemed that the CPU was ridiciulously relentless and they are so quick to poke check and take control of the puck. They can get knocked down and still get up quicker than I ever could.

But, what bugs me the most is that the sliders don't seem to play the same from game to game. I'll go from a sloppy, fun game of hockey to a game in which the CPU pinballs passes together. It feels scripted in a way.

I'm not sure if I'll hold on to this game or not...

[GameSeven]

Big patch tentative for this week: https://forums.ea.com/en/nhl/discussion ... ov-21-2016

Patch 2.0 - Coming Soon (Tentative Nov 23/16)
GAMEPLAY:
• Added 11 new goal celebrations to the creation zone.
• Fixed an issue where a user goalie would get stuck after getting hit while in butterfly.
• Fixed an issue where after an icing the puck it would sometimes cause human players to sit on the bench for the next play.
• Fixed some issues where a goalie would get stuck in a post lean away from the post.
• Added new post lean saves for more coverage.
• Improved goalie post lean logic so goaltenders to try and make saves that keep them sealed on the post to prevent short side goals.
• Fixed an issue where some signature stances caused the goalie’s glove hand to push back behind their pad when holding the puck idle on their stick.
• Fixed issues with shot animations when in close to the net.
• Updated User goalie save logic to help them move into a save when they are requesting to push/move first.
• Added functionality to allow goalies to rotate more when coming off the post from VH to butterfly to make them more square to the puck.
• Updates to User goalie save logic on wraparounds based on requested motion.
• Updates to User goalie save delay when in good position to make a blocking save.
• Fixed an issue where a goalie would sometimes drop to butterfly when in possession of the puck on a User requested pass attempt.
• Improved the reliability of one timers by adding quicker snapshots for situations where there isn't enough time to take a full slapshot.
• Fixed an issue where precision skating would sometimes conflict with a loose puck deke attempt at a slow speed. Now if you have your stick out a deking position it prioritizes the deke request.
• Updated goalie logic so that goalies will hold their near post on pass attempts near the net to prevent easy short side goals.
• Updated goalie logic for softer shots on net so that they look to pick it up rather than make a save.
• Various crash fixes.
• General stability updates across all modes.
PRESENTATION:
The following uniforms have been added:
NHL
• Los Angeles Kings Alternate Uniform
• Philadelphia Flyers Alternate Uniform
• Winnipeg Jets Heritage Classic Uniform
AHL
• Springfield Thunderbirds Home and Away Uniforms
• Tucson Roadrunners Home and Away Uniforms
CHL
• Calgary Hitmen Home and Away Uniforms
• Charlottetown Islanders Home and Away Uniforms
• Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Alternate Uniform
• Drummondville Voltigeurs Home and Away Uniforms
• Everett Silvertips Home and Away Uniforms
• Kingston Frontenacs Alternate Uniform
• Lethbridge Hurricanes Home and Away Uniforms
• Swift Current Broncos Alternate Uniform
Liiga
• Oulun Kärpät Home and Away Uniforms
• Rauman Lukko Home and Away Uniforms
• Tampereen Tappara Home and Away Uniforms
• Tampereen Ilves Home and Away Uniforms
SHL
• Malmo Redhawks Alternate Uniform
• HV71 Home and Away Uniforms
• Farjestad BK Home and Away Uniforms
• Djurgården IF Home and Away Uniforms
• Karlskrona HK Home and Away Uniforms
ECHL
• South Carolina Stingrays Alternate Uniform
The following equipment has been added:
• Bauer Vapor 1X OD1N
• Vaughn V7 XF Pro Carbon
• Brian’s G-NETIK III
EASHL:
• Added new jersey logos to customize for your club.
• Added 11 new goal celebrations for your Pro.
• Added a new Drop-in Feature where a group of users can play a private unranked game through the Drop-in Dressing Room lobby:
• Dressing Room Leaders can enter a 4-6 digit private matchmaking ID to matchup privately against another group using the same ID
• Both groups must be matchmaking at the same time with the exact same ID, which means this is meant for larger coordinated games or practice sessions.
• Added the ability to select and view the Player Summary screen from the disconnect and end of game pause menus.
• Fixed issues where Banners, Entry Props, and Flags were clipping through certain cameras in EASHL stadiums.
• Fixed an issue where after icing the puck while on a 4on4 as their penalty is expiring, users would have their players on the bench on the next play.
• Added a new PS4 Feature called Play Together which is used to quickly get a group of friends playing in a Drop-In Group Matchmaking session:
• Allows the host players to invite up to 6 players directly from the Party screen to a new game session
• Go to [Party] > [Play Together] > [Start Game] to create a new session
• The host will be brought to a Drop-In dressing room and the game will automatically send invites to all players the host selected,
• Allows players to join a new game session through invitation or directly from the Party screen:
• Open the invitation sent from the host and select [Join]
• Or go to [Party] > [Play Together] and select one of the Current Game Sessions to join
HUT:
• Improved the Quick Swap functionality in the Edit Lineup screen for quicker line management and updated animations. Quick Swaps can now be performed without transitioning to a separate screen.
• The Synergy Details screen is now visible in the Collection search results when performing player substitutions to further enhance the team building mechanic.
• The highlight animation has been updated in all HUT screens to improve visibility.
• Added new Jersey items to some of the team collections.
FRANCHISE:
• Fixed an issue where players who have a playable injury and are scratched lose morale.
• Note: if a player is fully healed and is scratched they will lose morale.
• Fixed issue where no captains were being assigned in Franchise Mode.
• Fixed multiple arena capacities.
• Fixed multiple teams merchandise images in the set prices screen.
• Improved overall stability within the mode.
BE A PRO:
• Fixed issue where a User would keep getting the doctor's approval to play popup each time they returned to the bench.
• Fixed issue where no captains were being assigned in Be a Pro.
• Improved overall stability within the mode.

[Gangrel]

I hope all the goalie improvements eliminate most of the crap goals that get scored from the red line.

My other big fix is the morale thing for guys with "playable injuries".

I wish one day they will add "effective board play for HUMAN players" to a list somewhere, but I suppose I need at least one major gripe with the game. (well, two if you include the ridiculous instant speed of the AI passing)

[MizzouRah]

Finally! and they actually gave us info before the release...

Only thing I've heard reported, but can't verify and don't see in that list is some have said after your first season and when you start the next season, all players are defaulted to "no fighting".

Other than that.. nice list of fixes! Since I play all games, if that no fighting issue is in the game, I'm guessing it will be fixed long before I get my first season completed.

[MizzouRah]

Patch and roster update are out!

[10spro]

We'll see how the gameplay improvements pans out for the Dragons this weekend, personally I don't care about the so called new goal celebrations but the teens will.

G7, I just read somewhere that the animation where you gets stuck while on a butterfly position trying to slide across the crease has been fixed.

[GameSeven]

We'll see how the gameplay improvements pans out for the Dragons this weekend, personally I don't care about the so called new goal celebrations but the teens will.

G7, I just read somewhere that the animation where you gets stuck while on a butterfly position trying to slide across the crease has been fixed.

Yeah, I'm sure several of the new celebrations will be quite douchey.

I'm definitely interested in having another spin in net using some of the listed changes. Hopefully we get enough Dragons together to give it a go sometime soon.

[XXXIV]

We'll see how the gameplay improvements pans out for the Dragons this weekend, personally I don't care about the so called new goal celebrations but the teens will.

G7, I just read somewhere that the animation where you gets stuck while on a butterfly position trying to slide across the crease has been fixed.

Yeah, I'm sure several of the new celebrations will be quite douchey.

I'm definitely interested in having another spin in net using some of the listed changes. Hopefully we get enough Dragons together to give it a go sometime soon.

I'm sure we will at some point this weekend.

I'm interested in the patch too. Id be up for trying it later tonight if guys are and we can get the bodies...I promise not to fall asleep on faceoffs

[MizzouRah]

Offline, franchise seems about perfect now, all around.

Beat Chicago 5-1 to open the season and lost our first two at home, 4-2 to Minnesota and 3-2 to the Rangers. Nice to be back on the road again.