Last night I was playing Chel with the boys, and somewhere between the fourth broken breakout and my goalie freezing the puck for the 900th time, something in me snapped. The same issues just kept piling up — the soundtrack, the whistles, the matchmaking, the celebrations that look like they were animated at Comic-Con. It got to the point where the group chat basically turned into a live support group. So instead of yelling into my headset like I usually do, I figured I’d put it all down here. Consider this my digital therapy session — a full unload of everything NHL 26 somehow manages to get wrong, even though we all keep coming back for more. Let’s get into it.
Soundtrack
Ah yes… nothing gets the blood pumping for a big game quite like pretending you’re a broken-hearted skater boy from 2003. Elite vibes, EA. Truly.
But at this point, it feels like they build the soundtrack by typing “sad Canadian teenager music” into LimeWire. Where are the hype tracks? Do I look like I wear a studded choker necklace? A little variety would go a LONG way.
Celebrations
I love a good celly as much as anyone, but half of these animations look like they were made by someone who’s never watched a hockey game and only studies Fortnite emotes for research. We went from classic fist pumps and board jumps to full-blown cosplay performances that belong at Comic-Con, not in the offensive zone. It feels like EA is obsessed with turning every goal into a TikTok audition — and suddenly my winger is breakdancing like he’s trying to unlock a battle pass tier. Give us celebrations that feel like hockey again, not a cutscene where my guy looks two seconds away from opening a portal to another dimension. Let’s bring back cellys that match the sport, the moment, and the actual vibe of scoring a goal.
PUT THE WHISTLE AWAY, REF
For the love of god, just let the goalie play the puck. I cannot afford to buy my 14th controller of the year because he stands there staring at it like it’s a live grenade. Every unnecessary freeze feels like the game is actively punishing you for trying to play hockey the right way. You’ll have full possession, no pressure, a clean breakout waiting to happen… and then whistle. Reset. Faceoff. Full rage. If EA wants realism so badly, maybe start by giving goalies the ability to make the most basic decision in the sport without acting like they’ve never touched a puck in their life.
Prox Chat
It’s time. Add prox chat. Every other competitive game on the planet has some form of it, and Chel desperately needs the chaos, the chirps, and the personality it would bring. Imagine scoring in OT and actually hearing the other team slam their desk or your linemate yelling “BANG!” in real time. That’s the kind of raw, unfiltered hockey energy this game is missing. And honestly, just make everyone sign a waiver on login. If NHL players can chirp each other all night without ending up on trial, we should be able to do it too. Let the boys talk. It’s part of the sport.
Live Events
I don’t know who green-lit this year’s live event but they should not be allowed near society until further notice. It feels like EA built a mini-battle pass inside a frozen yogurt rewards app. Nothing makes sense, the interface is a maze, and the rewards feel like they were generated by an AI that’s never seen a hockey stick. If you have to watch three tutorials just to claim a jersey your guy will never wear… something’s wrong.
Time Between Games
Who doesn’t love waiting 10 real-life minutes between matchups just to beat someone by 20 or get scored on six times because your goalie wandered into the corner like he’s looking for his car keys? The matchmaking is so slow you could prep a meal, do your taxes, and learn a new language before puck drop. Then when you finally load in, either you’re playing a 9-year-old who just installed the game or a demon who plays 14 hours a day. Can we get a middle ground? Please?
SBMM / RP System
Skill-based matchmaking is cooked. I shouldn’t win 10 straight for 15 RP each and then lose ONE game and drop 600 like I just committed a crime against humanity.
It feels like the ranking system was built by someone who has never played competitive anything, ever. Dominating shouldn’t feel pointless. Losing shouldn’t feel like your account is being repossessed. Fix the weighting, tighten the matchmaking, and make climbing the ranks feel like progress instead of punishment. Also, if you’re good – put you with other good people, I’m done playing with mouth breathers.
What else am I missing, guys?