2D Sim Issues and the Curse of the Offensive-D

GM Infernos · 05-27-2026, 02:42 AM

One thing I've noticed since I started playing this series a few years ago, is the issues regarding the Offensive Defenseman playstyle in the 2D sim engine. I haven't verified if the same issue persists in the classic sim mode or not, but put simply, Point Shoots, Quarterbackers, and most defensemen playing the puck from the blue line suffer from a few hickups when it comes to the way the game elects to play them. Below I'll outline a few examples, as well as give my suggestion on the fixes.

Currently, OffD are lumped into the same "playset" as all other defensemen, you'll see this in sim where they will always carry the puck deep in their zone, pass to a forward, and plod their way up to the blue line with robot-like compliance. Even if you do everything in your power, tilt all the sliders to attacking and aggressive play, make them the best rushing defenseman possible, they will still avoid crossing the red line with the puck like the plague. The second, and what I think to be most cumbersome issue with defenseman in general is their blue line shot ability. Disproportionately point shots will be blocked near to the defenseman or far away from the net. There is little to no chance for a rebound, deflection, or bouch-bomb that makes its way through traffic to find the net. This is entirely unrealistic to actual hockey, and why I think point totals, especially for defensemen, are so far off of the league averages every year.

The key to remediating this is pretty simple, break up defenseman playstyles in the engine to have more variance. I'm not sure of the nitty-gritty of the engine and how it makes players move, but what I'd like to see is each major role(Two-Way D, Offensive D, Defensive D) have its own movement style. Two-Way D will act almost like an up and down forward, sticking to their side of the ice while still pinching in to drive play deeper in both zones. Offensive Defensemen will act almost like another forward, with the full range of motion that that entails. Let a Cale Makar-like actually dip and dive around checks to try and drive the net, let a Quinn Hughes carry the puck from the goal line back up to and around the blue line. Finally, the Defensive Defenseman carries the same movement set as now, largely avoiding being stuck with the puck, and not wanting to do more than just hold the blue line and fire wristers.

The second fix comes down to the way the game handles shot blocking and shots in general. I think more shots need to get through traffic, and more shots need to have the opportunity to be tipped and rebounded. A secondary issue to this is the lack of presence screening forwards have around the net. Anecdotally, I find that they usually play close to, but not in front of, the net, and thus can't get in position to screen the tendy or provide a deflection.

Let me know what you all think of these changes!

lawrence97 · 05-27-2026, 06:22 PM

I just sim, i never watch thew 2d games but you seem absolutley right to what i see results wise from simming 2d. IMO this is list of things that need attention for 2d. There's a lot about 2d in these threads, i really hope they tweak it some more for the next game

1) Center scoring balance, centres score too many goals, and have usually have a much higher shooting percentage than anyone else.

2)the very Top Elite Defencemen don't score enough goals , as per your point above. I once had one season of classic where larry murphy scored 40 goals, and on 2d the very next season he scored 11, with nothing else changing.

3)Related to the above, im not sure how much player roles impact player style/perfomance.

3)Too many shorthanded goals are scored

4)Not enough powerplays are given

5) Giveaways.Takeaways, not dealt too much into this too much, but in this area its better than classic but doesn't match real life performance, giveaways are too many, takeways not so much, but i feel this one is not as important as the others.

edit points 3 &4 there is not a huge disparity, but sometimes i can get 40 shorthanded goals a season. and 60 power play goals in the same season. However i do alter with the pens per game edit so am not too bothered by this* It is just when doing own games 2d and rest classic that you get big diffeferences in points 3 4 and 5*

GMO123 · 05-31-2026, 09:02 PM

Yes, the 2D needs to be improved, to make it more realistic.

Colorado · 06-13-2026, 12:20 PM

It neither looks or plays like hockey. There's a lot that's already been said about it, but it could be so much more fun and aesthetically pleasing.

05-27-2026, 02:42 AM	#1
GM Infernos Bat Boy Join Date: Aug 2025 Posts: 2	2D Sim Issues and the Curse of the Offensive-D One thing I've noticed since I started playing this series a few years ago, is the issues regarding the Offensive Defenseman playstyle in the 2D sim engine. I haven't verified if the same issue persists in the classic sim mode or not, but put simply, Point Shoots, Quarterbackers, and most defensemen playing the puck from the blue line suffer from a few hickups when it comes to the way the game elects to play them. Below I'll outline a few examples, as well as give my suggestion on the fixes. Currently, OffD are lumped into the same "playset" as all other defensemen, you'll see this in sim where they will always carry the puck deep in their zone, pass to a forward, and plod their way up to the blue line with robot-like compliance. Even if you do everything in your power, tilt all the sliders to attacking and aggressive play, make them the best rushing defenseman possible, they will still avoid crossing the red line with the puck like the plague. The second, and what I think to be most cumbersome issue with defenseman in general is their blue line shot ability. Disproportionately point shots will be blocked near to the defenseman or far away from the net. There is little to no chance for a rebound, deflection, or bouch-bomb that makes its way through traffic to find the net. This is entirely unrealistic to actual hockey, and why I think point totals, especially for defensemen, are so far off of the league averages every year. The key to remediating this is pretty simple, break up defenseman playstyles in the engine to have more variance. I'm not sure of the nitty-gritty of the engine and how it makes players move, but what I'd like to see is each major role(Two-Way D, Offensive D, Defensive D) have its own movement style. Two-Way D will act almost like an up and down forward, sticking to their side of the ice while still pinching in to drive play deeper in both zones. Offensive Defensemen will act almost like another forward, with the full range of motion that that entails. Let a Cale Makar-like actually dip and dive around checks to try and drive the net, let a Quinn Hughes carry the puck from the goal line back up to and around the blue line. Finally, the Defensive Defenseman carries the same movement set as now, largely avoiding being stuck with the puck, and not wanting to do more than just hold the blue line and fire wristers. The second fix comes down to the way the game handles shot blocking and shots in general. I think more shots need to get through traffic, and more shots need to have the opportunity to be tipped and rebounded. A secondary issue to this is the lack of presence screening forwards have around the net. Anecdotally, I find that they usually play close to, but not in front of, the net, and thus can't get in position to screen the tendy or provide a deflection. Let me know what you all think of these changes!

05-27-2026, 06:22 PM	#2
lawrence97 All Star Reserve Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: England Posts: 552	I just sim, i never watch thew 2d games but you seem absolutley right to what i see results wise from simming 2d. IMO this is list of things that need attention for 2d. There's a lot about 2d in these threads, i really hope they tweak it some more for the next game 1) Center scoring balance, centres score too many goals, and have usually have a much higher shooting percentage than anyone else. 2)the very Top Elite Defencemen don't score enough goals , as per your point above. I once had one season of classic where larry murphy scored 40 goals, and on 2d the very next season he scored 11, with nothing else changing. 3)Related to the above, im not sure how much player roles impact player style/perfomance. 3)Too many shorthanded goals are scored 4)Not enough powerplays are given 5) Giveaways.Takeaways, not dealt too much into this too much, but in this area its better than classic but doesn't match real life performance, giveaways are too many, takeways not so much, but i feel this one is not as important as the others. edit points 3 &4 there is not a huge disparity, but sometimes i can get 40 shorthanded goals a season. and 60 power play goals in the same season. However i do alter with the pens per game edit so am not too bothered by this* It is just when doing own games 2d and rest classic that you get big diffeferences in points 3 4 and 5* Last edited by lawrence97; 05-28-2026 at 08:29 AM.

05-31-2026, 09:02 PM	#3
GMO123 Major Leagues Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 434	Yes, the 2D needs to be improved, to make it more realistic.

06-13-2026, 12:20 PM	#4
Colorado Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 441	It neither looks or plays like hockey. There's a lot that's already been said about it, but it could be so much more fun and aesthetically pleasing.