EA Sports’ annual hockey video game – NHL 23 – will be released on October 14th, and as always, Inside Hockey will be here to cover it. This year’s game promises some important improvements and new features, but isn’t expected to represent a seismic change from NHL 22, which was quite solid. The cover athletes for NHL 23 are Trevor Zegras (Anaheim Ducks) and Sarah Nurse (Team Canada), marking the first time that a woman has appeared on the cover of the EA NHL hockey video game. Indeed, the biggest story for NHL 23 is the substantially expanded inclusion of women players throughout the game.

Here’s a look at some of the new features we’re expecting to see in NHL 23…

Women Make Their Hockey Ultimate Team Debut

For the first time with NHL 23, you can combine the best players in the world onto one powerful roster, with the introduction of mixed women’s and men’s teams in Ultimate Team.

Last-Chance Puck Movement

NHL 23 introduces new Stumble Actions, making it possible to complete desperate moves that make the highlight reels, turn an errant shot into an opportunity to shine with Loose Puck Plays, and keep the puck out of your own net with Enhanced Goalie AI.

Hockey Ultimate Team & CHEL

Hockey Ultimate Team and CHEL will introduce cross-platform matchmaking. For the first time, players across same-generation consoles (i.e. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) can face off against each other. Here are some other new features in Hockey Ultimate Team…

As always, we’re looking forward to the game’s release, though we can’t help but wax nostalgic for the days when the 2K and Hitz hockey video games provided meaningful competition and encouraged faster innovation.