What about overhauling Be A Pro into a ‘live the life of an NHL player’ mode with RPG-like choices and repercussions? It’s all that and more. Expect to see some truly horrific skating styles come out of that tool. Let’s see how they did.ĭistinctive skating strides? Not only did that make it in, but your created players can have their own custom-made stride thanks to a toolset that includes the ability to change your body angle, your stride style, your arm movement – the whole nine years. There were two key things listed in my NHL 20 review that I wanted to see in NHL 21: distinctive skating strides and a Be A Pro overhaul into an RPG. Connor McDavid versus three Calgary Flames players seems unfair thanks to the addition of chip and slip dekes this year. Goaltenders are also improved, even after the overhaul last year that saw them get over 400 new animations, with better reads on developing plays allowing them to get in position and give up less cheap goals. In addition, Svechnikov’s lacrosse-style goal is in the game and technically possible to pull off, though I haven’t managed it yet, as is Kucherov’s ‘no move’ shootout deke.Ĭhanges are also found on the defensive side of the puck, with AI that makes much smarter decisions about gap control, do more to challenge and limit zone entries, and there’s more dogged pursuit of the puck by opposing forwards. There must be a Crosby fan on the development team, as they’ve added the back-of-the-net bank self-pass that he uses so effectively to create room, as well as the Mohawk turn he’s been known to use to open up for cross-ice passing. ![]() The skating, revamped last year with RPM Tech 2.0 to allow ‘on the fly’ puck pickups, gets subtler tweaks this year with the addition of chip and slip dekes to avoid contact either in open ice or along the boards. ![]() I’m not sure if EA is finally getting the message or if this is just some kind of trap 2020 is laying for fans of the EA Sports NHL franchise, but NHL 21 finally gets the kind of improvements players have wanted for years. Bettors will just need to pick their spots and wait for a line worth playing.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins turns the puck up the ice against the Calgary Flames. Still, Chicago will find ways to pull off upsets. This team is expected to only get around 65½ points, which is no more than 33 wins. Vlasic could be one of their best defensemen in the future while the likes of Taylor Raddysh and Lukas Reichel are building blocks.Ĭhicago will almost always be an underdog on the online sports betting lines. Kane and Toews will continue to produce as they await what could be a blockbuster deal with a real contender.Īs for the rest of the team, the Blackhawks have enough young talent to build around. But the team has finally accepted that and Chicago is pivoting toward a new era. The days of Chicago being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender have been over for well over five seasons. But as an offensive defenseman, he could help improve Chicago’s 29th-ranked offense while quarterbacking its power play. Vlasic has plenty of work to do on the defensive end. With Vlasic on the ice, Chicago’s shooting percentage went up to 10.2 percent while the team’s expected plus-minus logged at 1.7, the third-best. ![]() While Vlasic only had two points in 15 games last season, his advanced analytics show that he was one of the better skaters on the ice. The 21-year-old defenseman was drafted 43rd overall by Chicago in 2019 and is slated to play on the top pairing with Seth Jones. But if he can recapture some of his success and become a potent goal scorer, he will become a valuable asset for Chicago.Īlex Vlasic was one of the few bright spots for Chicago last season. He has struggled since then and has been in both Edmonton and Los Angeles with mixed results. Chicago signed the 28-year-old to a one-year deal and is putting him on the top line with Max Domi and Kane.Īthanasiou is a former 30-goal scorer with the Detroit Red Wings in 2018-19. However, newly acquired Andreas Athanasiou bears mentioning. The two are future Hall of Famers and most teams would get in line for a chance to have either one helping their Stanley Cup run. The obvious answer here is either Kane or Toews.
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