First NHL 26 News and Highlights to Get Excited About

We have our first NHL 26 Trailer and that means its officially NHL SZN.

For the trailer, we saw another family set for the cover, but its not just the Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady, but also their father Keith, which is a neat touch. We did not get much in terms of information in the trailer outside of Matthew saying "Sup Chat", and Utah Mammoth first look, but Be A Pro looks like it has finally been overhauled.

Be a Pro is the Single Player mode that is... not fun in its current state. We see an improvement in draft day, and a Team USA Celebration along with a Juniors Cup. From EA on Be A Pro, "The fully revamped fan-favorite Be A Pro mode gives players full control over their journey from rookie to NHL superstar. Fresh storylines, new characters, high-stakes challenges, and cutscenes make the experience more realistic and engaging than ever before. From competing in the World Juniors to the draft or working their way from the minors back to the big leagues, players will craft their own legacy on and off the ice." If this mode is anything like CFB Road To Glory, it will be great for gaming parents who want to progress your own story throughout the season.

About my favorite mode, Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT), EA shared that HUT Seasons are back, which improves some of the monotony faced by recent iterations. EA explains, "The new HUT Seasons will give players an all-new, dynamic way to compete by introducing new team-building mechanics, ranked matches, and an offline mode geared for those who prefer to play at their own pace, the HUT Cup Chase. With new Heroes and Icons player cards added each season to celebrate the greatest to ever lace up their skates, plus visual upgrades that elevate every moment, players will experience this and much more in NHL 26."

Lastly, we have a release date of September 12, 2025, which is earlier than last year. Preordering the deluxe edition will get you "up to seven days of early access, a multitude of perks including Matthew Tkachuk at 99 OVR as an immediate reward in NHL 25, 4600 NHL Points, HUT Starter Choice Pack and much more."

While I am eager to see the deep dives on each mode, I am excited that there are at least some changes to the modes which have seen none. If the content can keep up with the ambition, we should be in for a fun season.