NHL 10 Blog: More Gameplay Refinements w/ 3 New Videos

[sportmats]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

Um, rebound goals happen more often than that. Either you don't watch much hockey or the Euro hockey you do watch doesn't have many guys driving to the front of the net to fight for rebound opertunities.

Well you can have a point there. I know that Pat Jablonski, Manny Fernandez, Jose Theodore and Tim Thomas was very much critisised for making way too many rebounds when they were playing here in Sweden. Thomas had a GAA of 2.48 and 91,7 in saving percentage when playing here and he would have much better stats if he wasnt letting so much rebounds instead of catching the puck.

Even Johan Holmqvist that come back from some years in NHL last season was very much critisised for the way he played with much rebounds that resulted in goal for the opponent teams. It took about 15-20 games before he stopped doing those rebounds and catch the puck instead.

Here in Sweden, goalies tries to stop the puck and blocking after a shot to make a faceoff instead of letting a rebound out in the "slot" and if they do makes a rebound they often puts the rebound down the corners, not right out to the slot, that Thomas, Theodore and Fernandez did.

[akula]

you do realize they said the goalies will try to direct rebounds into the corners, right?

The only thing EA needed/needs to do is realease a video of some more goals, that are NOT rebound goals

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by sportmats

Well you can have a point there. I know that Pat Jablonski, Manny Fernandez, Jose Theodore and Tim Thomas was very much critisised for making way too many rebounds when they were playing here in Sweden. Thomas had a GAA of 2.48 and 91,7 in saving percentage when playing here and he would have much better stats if he wasnt letting so much rebounds instead of catching the puck. Even Johan Holmqvist that come back from some years in NHL last season was very much critisised for the way he played with much rebounds that resulted in goal for the opponent teams. It took about 15-20 games before he stopped doing those rebounds and catch the puck instead. Here in Sweden, goalies tries to stop the puck and blocking after a shot to make a faceoff instead of letting a rebound out in the "slot" and if they do makes a rebound they often puts the rebound down the corners, not right out to the slot, that Thomas, Theodore and Fernandez did.

Yeah because in the NHL we have something called NHL calibre defensemen who are capable of clearing rebounds from the front of the net. You're gonna tell me goalies who are from/play in sweden are able to glove every shot down and never give up a rebound right? If they could do that they'd be in the NHL.

[Ruffy]

The Swedish Elite league in many hockey minds is the best league in Europe. but thats Europe. If you don't think their is a huge jump from that league or the KHL or the AHL to the NHL then i don't know what to tell ya sportsmats.

This was talked about the otherday with the Leafs 1 yr signing of "the Monster". If he's so great why did only 4 NHL teams contact his agent about his services? Sure can he work out over here. Probably, i know Burke and the leafs are hoping so.

A regular leaf reporter also stated...which is fact that when the Leafs went over there a while back for training camp...they crushed the two top Swedish elite teams at the time. This was with a roster mostly full of guys trying to make the NHL squad.

is there talent over there sure....but the NHL is still the best overall league for talent.

I'm loving all the videos...I want to give Litman a hug! I'm hoping they can incorporate the hard dump around too....where the D-man fires it in hard along the boards and the winger on the other side races for the puck on the come around.

Great stuff. I do want to see the occasional goalie being plain beat on a shot. But again this shot should be perfect...NHL goalies are just plain tough to beat when they can see the puck. Loving the rebounds and the sterring of shots to the corners as well. With all the goalie focus Tim Thomas may have deserved the cover!

I'd love to hear about some online features this your for regular H2H play as well.

Can't wait till September!

[ComaFaction]

I believe there were close to a dozen teams who initially expressed interest in gustavsson. he is considered the best goaltender not in the NHL by many right now.

[RealmK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ruffy

The Swedish Elite league in many hockey minds is the best league in Europe. but thats Europe. If you don't think their is a huge jump from that league or the KHL or the AHL to the NHL then i don't know what to tell ya sportsmats. This was talked about the otherday with the Leafs 1 yr signing of "the Monster". If he's so great why did only 4 NHL teams contact his agent about his services? Sure can he work out over here. Probably, i know Burke and the leafs are hoping so. A regular leaf reporter also stated...which is fact that when the Leafs went over there a while back for training camp...they crushed the two top Swedish elite teams at the time. This was with a roster mostly full of guys trying to make the NHL squad. is there talent over there sure....but the NHL is still the best overall league for talent. I'm loving all the videos...I want to give Litman a hug! I'm hoping they can incorporate the hard dump around too....where the D-man fires it in hard along the boards and the winger on the other side races for the puck on the come around. Great stuff. I do want to see the occasional goalie being plain beat on a shot. But again this shot should be perfect...NHL goalies are just plain tough to beat when they can see the puck. Loving the rebounds and the sterring of shots to the corners as well. With all the goalie focus Tim Thomas may have deserved the cover! I'd love to hear about some online features this your for regular H2H play as well. Can't wait till September!

I think it was mentioned in either a preview or earlier blog that if you get under the AI's skin and intimidate them, their Dmen may fire it around the boards rather than skate it out to try and avoid contact and or shake things up. Its definately something I'd like to see as well. Take some of the sameness out of the game when it comes to breakouts and have the AI vary it up. I think we're getting there slowly but surely.

I was kinda suprised they didn't go with a goalie on the cover as well with all the work that went into tenders this year. Timmy would have been my choice but I'm a Bruins homer to begin with.

I'm loving the puck physics so far, in combination with the new passing and the removal of goalie suction, along with the new goalie animations and AI improvements I really think the game may play pretty realistic and sloppier than it has in a long time. Which is something that was desperately needed as the game has played a bit too clean and tape to tape the past couple years.

[Ruffy]

Quote: Originally Posted by ComaFaction

I believe there were close to a dozen teams who initially expressed interest in gustavsson. he is considered the best goaltender not in the NHL by many right now.

Directly from his agent a Toronto reporter inquired and only 4 teams inquired about his services. Fact from the agents mouth.

[Ruffy]

Quote: Originally Posted by RealmK

I think it was mentioned in either a preview or earlier blog that if you get under the AI's skin and intimidate them, their Dmen may fire it around the boards rather than skate it out to try and avoid contact and or shake things up. Its definately something I'd like to see as well. Take some of the sameness out of the game when it comes to breakouts and have the AI vary it up. I think we're getting there slowly but surely. I was kinda suprised they didn't go with a goalie on the cover as well with all the work that went into tenders this year. Timmy would have been my choice but I'm a Bruins homer to begin with. I'm loving the puck physics so far, in combination with the new passing and the removal of goalie suction, along with the new goalie animations and AI improvements I really think the game may play pretty realistic and sloppier than it has in a long time. Which is something that was desperately needed as the game has played a bit too clean and tape to tape the past couple years.

Breakouts yes i agree as well. Which the 1st vid showed a bit with the attempt to clear it.

...but I was talking about hard dump ins too....see mostly on the powerplay. You ring one in off the glass from center on one side...it goes hard around so the goalie cant stop it behind the net. Winger on other side hopefully wins race to the puck or pressures the Dman quickly.