NHL 26 – Update 1.3.0 Notes

Server downtime will be required and begin at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET. Up to an hour of downtime is expected.

Gameplay

• Improvements to AI forechecking behavior to exit Neutral Zone Trap to apply pressure if offensive team is choosing not to break out
• Adjusted AI diving shot logic to weigh opposing team acquiring the puck higher
• Fixed a case around leg vs stick contact weighting for the stick in physics where the puck carrier legs were stronger than intended against opposing stick checks
• Delayed penalties are now called if the player kicks the puck without a stick
• Fix to icon passing where it was sending the puck in the player facing direction instead of towards the intended receiver
• Goalie reaction improvements to dump ins and shots taken from sharp angles
• Animation improvements to passes out of toe drag animations

Be A Pro

• Lowered the form score targets required for advancing lineup positions (Top 6 Forward, Top 4 Defense, Power Play 1–2, and Performance Challenge Side Quests).
• Fixed an issue with challenge objectives for the “Get on Power Play 2” Swagger & Humble challenges, now tracking goals instead of points.
• Fixed an issue where failing the “Move up to the 1st line” challenge could show incorrect dialogue options.
• Fixed an issue with the games played objective for the “Become Starting Goalie” Humble challenge.
• Fixed an issue where coach audio did not align with on-screen text during the “Stay on 1st Power Play” conversation.
• Fixed an error causing Long Term Endorsement Part 2 challenges to appear before Part 1 in certain endorsement scenarios.
• Corrected the runner-up conversation trigger, so skaters who place as Lady Byng runner-up no longer receive a Vezina Trophy runner-up conversation.
• Adjusted timing so the Calder Trophy winner conversation now occurs after the awards ceremony.
• Resolved an issue where tying for most goals and leading in points in the Rocket Richard Trophy race could incorrectly result in a runner-up conversation with your agent.
• Fixed an issue where the “Make the playoffs” challenge appeared when the coach’s goal was to “win the division.”
• Fixed an issue where headlines referencing struggling players could appear while the player was injured.
• Fixed an issue where the headline with the Stanley Cup prop might not display after a Cup win.
• Fixed an issue where the Top 3 Draft Pick headline did not display the intended finger pose.
• Fixed an issue where a “Disappointing season” headline appeared after Round 1 despite winning the Calder Trophy the same year.
• Fixed an issue where players could become team captain at the start of their first NHL preseason if likability was maxed out.
• Fixed an issue where the “Magnetic” X-Factor could be slotted into Be A Pro; this ability has now been removed as intended.
• Fixed an issue where the attribute requirement to upgrade Big Tipper was incorrectly tied to Body Checking.
• Fixed an issue where Backhand Beauty was unavailable as an X-Factor for Sniper archetypes.
• Fixed an issue where Shooting% objective does not track correctly in Stay on Powerplay 1 - Humble challenge
• Surfaced Activity Feed screen containing
  • Message Center
  • Player & Pick Trading
  • Signings
  • Contract Renewals
  • Player Injuries
  • Waiver Declarations
  • Waiver Claims
  • NHL Team Call Up
  • AHL Team Assignments

World of CHEL

• Added in the ability to preview Loadouts in the store prior to purchasing.
• Fixed a crash when players were deep linked from live events to the Store page through a hidden button callout.
• Fixed an issue where the Rewards Widget disappeared when switching from Rewards to Play tabs.
• Resolved an overlap issue where XP Token icons and buttons covered the Season Pass header after deep linking into Objectives.
• Fixed a backend UI bug where the pause menu failed to load, leaving players stuck in the rink after the first period in EASHL 3v3 Clubs.
• Fixed a visual issue where changing handedness during the loadout tutorial did not update the skater model.
• Resolved an issue where the message “Objectives are unavailable” appeared when all weekly objectives were completed.
• Fixed a desync that could occur when the AR leaderboard was triggered in EASHL Clubs.
• Resolved a rollover event timer issue where the timer remained stuck at “01s” with a grayed-out tile for Ones Eliminator in WoC.
• Fixed visual issue where the mute icon appeared in black on the Player Summary tab.
• Improved contrast of grayed-out text in the abuse reporting screen.
• Fixed black text appearing after returning from the “Report Content” screen.
• Fixed overlapping UI elements in Objectives when navigating via deep link banners.
• Fixed display issue where the Rewards Widget disappeared when switching tabs in the Mode Hub.

Franchise Mode

• Fixed a crash when accessing “View Draft Class”.
• Fixed an issue where the contract interest bar carried over from negotiations to the offer overlay but not the contract details.
• Fixed inconsistencies in goalie save percentage between player cards and stat spreadsheets.
• Adjusted overlay logic so regular season stats no longer appear during playoffs for other players.
• Improved tuning for coaches when constructing their defense pairings to no longer ignore defenseman with offensive & skating x-factors

Game Modes

• Added Spengler Cup under Tournaments

Hockey Ultimate Team

• Additions to Hockey Ultimate Team

Ranked Objectives

• New Season 2 Ranked Objectives will be added, allowing players to earn Season 2 Ranked Collectibles through gameplay.

Ranked Collectibles

• Season 2 Ranked Collectibles will become tradable for upgraded rewards through new high-value Collectible Sets.

Ranked Rewards

• Ranked rewards will be scaled up, with additional Ranked tiers added so players can earn more rewards throughout the season.

New Win Streaks

• New Win Streak feature in Ranked will arrive early December, granting bonus progress for consecutive wins to help players climb tiers faster.
• Fixed a crash when animating placeholder cards with synergy boosts in My Collection.
• Fixed an Internal Error when resetting Cup Chase after changing season settings.
• Fixed a gameplay crash triggered by passing the puck to another player.
• Fixed a crash when scrolling Quick Lineup with R2.
• Fixed crashes when viewing Ultimate Rank Floor in Rewards & Unlocks.
• Fixed an error when completing Wildcard Draft and Redraft.
• Fixed critical Internal Errors when entering HUT.
• Fixed crashes and FTRD errors during HUT Champions matchmaking.
• Fixed a crash when purchasing or opening the Captain Pack.
• Fixed Internal Error when matchmaking across HUT modes.
• Cup Chase rewards and Undefeated reward displays now show correct information.
• Team logo changes no longer cause Captain Chemistry cards to display OVR “0.”
• AP count now updates correctly when multiple AP line combinations are used on the same line.
• Captain Chemistry Salary Cap indicator now shows the correct icon.
• Fixed incorrect AP/SP/FP text appearing in certain languages.
• Fixed Salary text overlapping icons in some languages.
• Fixed misaligned logos and event name translations.
• Fixed overlapping event/nationality/team logos on MSPs.
• Fixed incorrect art or white borders on Chel Week 3–4 MSPs and collectibles.
• Fixed Next Gen Additional Players showing as “Pending Item” in Packs.
• Fixed Alexander Ovechkin’s 900th goal milestone card showing as basic art.
• Fixed Set Requirements showing “Pending Item” for Collectible Tickets.
• Fixed Team of the Year rewards text visibility issues.
• Fixed debug text appearing in Ranked/Postgame screens.
• Fixed multiple win-streak progression issues
• Deep Link banners no longer trigger FTUE incorrectly.
• HUT main menu banner now correctly routes to the intended mode.
• Fixed Ranked Summary animation not triggering after matches.
• Fixed inability to relegate when appropriate.
• Fixed “Play Next Game” showing opponent username early (prevents early dashboarding).
• Fixed Set search results repopulating cards already added.
• Fixed goalie controls breaking after certain Quick Swap + Pull Goalie combinations.
• Fixed non-NHL goalie helmets not appearing in gameplay.

Art

• Fixed an issue where neck guards were causing some clipping
• Fixed an issue in the Victory sequence where uniforms would deform
• Fixed an issue where some heads in creation zone had their eyeballs overlapping their eyelids

Equipment

• The following equipment has been added in NHL 26
• CCM FTW Stick
• CCM FTW Glove
• CCM FTW Skate
• CCM FTW Helmet

Center Ice Updates

• The following center ice designs and lines have been added or updated in NHL 26

PWHL

• Seattle Torrent
• Vancouver Goldeneyes

AHL

• Abbotsford Canucks
• Bakersfield Condors
• Chicago Wolves
• Coachella Valley Firebirds
• Hartford Wolf Pack
• Hershey Bears
• Iowa Wild
• Milwaukee Admirals
• Providence Bruins
• Rockford Icehogs

ECHL

• Greensboro Gargoyles
• Savannah Ghost Pirates
• Trois-Rivieres Lions
• Utah Grizzlies

Canadian Hockey League

OHL

• Flint Firebirds
• Kingston Frontenacs

QMJHL

• Halifax Mooseheads
• Val-D’or Foreurs

WHL

• Prince George Cougars
• Penticton Vees

Uniforms

• The following uniforms have been added or updated in NHL 26

NHL

• Chicago Blackhawks - Third
• Colorado Avalanche – Third
• Dallas Stars - Third
• Los Angeles Kings - Third
• Minnesota Wild – Anniversary
• Pittsburgh Penguins - Third

AHL

• San Jose Barracuda - Third
• Texas Stars - Third
• Tucson Roadrunners - Third

ECHL

• Allen Americans – Home
• Atlanta Gladiators – Home, Away and Third
• Rapid City Rush – Away and Third
• Trois-Rivieres Lions – Third
• Worcester Railers – Home and Away

Canadian Hockey League

OHL

• Brampton Steelheads – Third

QMJHL

• Moncton Wildcats – Third
• Rouyn-Noranda Huskies - Third

WHL

• Calgary Hitmen - Third
• Kelowna Rockets – Third

Liiga

• Kiekko-Espoo – Third