No more pricey pond hockey.
EA’s NHL 26 hype train continued today with a deep dive into Be a Pro mode, offering up a further three minutes of information alongside a previous five-minute deep dive.
“We know you all love some good old pricey pond hockey,” said EA’s Mike Inglehart, acknowledging fan burnout over a copy/paste Be a Pro intro seen over the last few years, “but it was due time for a refresh.”
Be a Pro will also feature new voice lines from the likes of the San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini… though he sounds like he was forced to do so under threat.
“Hey, congrats on making the roster,” Celebrini says, emotionless. “This is a huge accomplishment.”
The mode will feature new cinematics like a new World Juniors trophy sequence, new tunnel walkouts, Stanley Cup celebrations, and more.
Moreover, Be a Pro will feature a “completely reimagined” storyline, “that begins with an all-new chapter-based core game loop which brings about more stakes and immediate impactful consequences to your actions in-game.”
Performance appears to be key to move from chapter to chapter, with the story beginning in the semi-finals of the World Juniors before heading over into the draft and your rookie NHL year.
It was also confirmed that for the first year in a while, poor performance will see your player demoted to the AHL.
NHL 26 heads to Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PS5 from 13 September. You can pay for a pricier Digital Deluxe Edition of the title that provides early access (and more Tkachuks on the cover) from 5 September.
 |
NHL 2612 September 2025PS5 Xbox Series S & X
|
This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
