With EA NHL 26 launching later this month, there’s much to be excited about for this year’s release. Most notable, the changes made to EA NHL 26’s HUT (Kockey Ultimate Team) mode that bring some welcomed additions, including an offline and a new season mode.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the biggest changes coming to HUT in this year’s EA NHL release.
NHL 26 HUT Changes and Improvements Outlined
Here’s a breakdown of all the key changes and improvements made:
Maximum Team Building Variety: NHL 26 gives fans more freedom than ever to construct the ultimate lineup, utilizing innovative new mechanics sure to keep team-building fresh all year long. Season-specific rules, rotating team captain themes and unique player combinations unlock powerful boosts to OVR, attributes, and salaries, while a streamlined interface makes squad management smooth and intuitive. The introduction of a Salary Cap also pushes players to be thoughtful about who they add to their squads, encouraging smarter roster construction and strategic balance of players.
HUT Ranked Competitive Matches For Hardcore Players: Designed for players who thrive in high-stakes competition, Ranked Competitive Matches let fans test their skills against the best of the best as they climb the leaderboard. Players will build their squad, battle for position and prove that they have what it takes to attain championship glory.
Matchmaking Structure: NHL 26 introduces Matchmaking Floors, ensuring players won’t ever drop below their earned division within a given season. The top players will qualify for HUT Champs, the pinnacle of ranked play.
Restructured Rewards: With a restructured rewards system, every game counts and progression is more transparent with better-defined tiers. Exclusive rewards and jerseys will be up for grabs.
Take the Competition Offline With HUT Cup Chase: Players can now take on the challenge of a full season in offline play, battling the CPU across 18 league games before heading into a two-round playoff. Those who advance through the bracket will chase the championship and lift the HUT Cup to unlock exclusive seasonal rewards. HUT Cup Chase also removes leaderboards and replaces them with a dedicated rewards track, giving steady, tangible reward progression.
Explore All New Heroes And Icons Player Cards: Each season, new Heroes and Icons player cards expand the HUT roster, allowing players to take control of the game’s most impactful stars across teams and eras. Heroes represent athletes who left an indelible mark on hockey history with unforgettable performances and deep legacies, while Icons embody the true legends of the sport, the greatest to ever lace up skates. Together, these new card types add a dynamic new edge to team-building and bring more variety to lineups. Fans can look forward to multiple drops for Heroes and Icons throughout the year.
Not a bad list of changes and improvements. Of course, there’s a lot more that fans have been requesting, but this is a pretty good step in the right direction for the series.
There is, of course, more to look forward to with this year’s NHL iteration, as EA has detailed in an official blog post from last month. These improvements and changes include things such as a more streamlined Be a Pro HUB, more meaningful moments, career rankings, and much more that you can read up on there.
All in all, EA NHL 26 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting refresh for those who have maybe held off the last couple of years. Of course, there’s plenty of new there for the annual player too.
NHL 26 will be available worldwide on September 12, 2025, on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Deluxe Edition buyers will have a full seven days of early access.
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