NHL 17 Features List Reveals World Cup of Hockey, Draft Champions

Sports gaming season is in full-swing, and the latest title to get the spotlight is EA’s NHL 17, which promises to include a number of new features. Some of those features you’ll probably be familiar with, if you’ve played other games from EA. For the first time in the NHL franchise, Draft Champions will be making an appearance.

The game will also introduce the World Cup of Hockey and Franchise mode. You can get the rundown with the full list included below, directly from EA’s NHL website.

LIVE YOUR HOCKEY FANTASY IN NEW GAME MODES

No matter how you play the game, NHL 17 delivers new modes to connect to your favorite teams and players. Feel the thrill of fantasy draft night with a star power team in Draft Champions, or play for national pride in the World Cup of Hockey. Be a GM fans experience the evolution of team management and take on the entire business in Franchise Mode, where you call the shots from concessions to arena relocation.

WORLD CUP OF HOCKEY

For the first time in EA SPORTS NHL history, play for national pride in a full International Tournament Mode. Featuring all of the official World Cup of Hockey teams, players and uniforms, take to the ice on a world stage as your national team and heroes.

DRAFT CHAMPIONS

The new Draft Champions mode introduces the thrill of the fantasy draft with fast rounds of superstar picks. Each round challenges managers to choose the best players to build a balanced team. Immediately following your draft, take to the ice and fulfill your team’s potential by winning the Draft Championship.

FRANCHISE MODE

Fan-favorite Be a GM mode expands to complete control of an entire franchise with the addition of unique team owners. Control your favorite team and lead them to Stanley Cup glory by managing the team and the business behind the scenes. Make game-changing decisions from player personnel, ticket prices, marketing, arena upgrades, and even relocation – all from under the watchful eye of a demanding owner with challenging goals.

NEW WAYS TO PLAY FAN FAVORITE GAME MODES

Take your EA SPORTS Hockey League team to the next level by progressing through ranks to unlock customization items and give your uniform a unique look, or use the all-new Arena Creator to build the home ice you’ve always wanted. Celebrate career defining Moments in Be a Pro and immerse yourself into the most exciting Hockey Ultimate Team ever with the introduction of team Synergy, completely changing the way you build and play your dream team.

TAKE CONTROL OF THE ICE AND PLAY YOUR WAY

Own Every Zone with more end-to-end control with authentic goalies featuring positional awareness and Reactionary Save Intelligence, all-new Net Battles for offensive and defensive zone play, and dozens of thrilling new goal celebrations that capture the excitement of scoring the biggest goals on game night.

AUTHENTIC GOALTENDING

With all-new Reactionary Save Intelligence goalies will process their position, angle and the scoring situation before committing to an athletic or technical save. New motion capture replicates the technical movements of goaltenders resulting in true-to-life stances and an ability to use their body to stay big and block versus making a reactionary save.

BATTLE FOR THE ICE

In hockey, games are won and lost in front of the net. All-new Net Battle physics give you the ability to own that crucial piece of real-estate on offense or defense. Authentic battles, tie-ups, and stick play makes the battle for position in front of the net exciting thrilling and bruising chess match.

CELEBRATE WITH STYLE

After you’ve buried the puck into the back of the net all eyes are on you. Bring glory and emotion to the spotlight and celebrate using dozens of all-new player celebrations that give you a variety of ways to rub that goal into your opponent’s face and bring the crowd to their feet.

OWN EVERY ZONE

Feel complete control over the ice with improved tape-to-tape passing, puck pick-ups, and pivots. Manage your gap on the puck carrier and break up passing plays on defense with more responsive skating and stopping. Enhanced hit mechanics allow you to choose whether you close someone off at the boards, push them off the puck, or deliver a devastating body-check.

SHARPEN YOUR GAME

Whether you’re competing online for elite status or lacing up the skates for the very first time, the next generation of the critically acclaimed Visual On-Ice Trainer and Coaching Feedback tools return to teach you the skills needed to sharpen your game. Unprecedented control over gameplay settings and sliders give you the tools to go from fast, action-packed gameplay all the way to the most authentic simulation so you can play the style of hockey you love.

That’s a long list of new improvements, and if you’d like to get a more in-depth look at what’s involved with them, you can head on over to the official EA Sports NHL website. Are you excited to get your hands on the game? Let us know in the comments.

NHL 17 Features List Reveals World Cup of Hockey, Draft Champions