Today, Electronic Arts laced up its skates for another deep dive into its highly realistic hockey franchise, EA Sports NHL 26. This in-depth look focused on its Ultimate Team game mode, HUT, which is being rebuilt from the ground up this year, altering how Team Builder, Seasonal Programs, and other features will function within its live-service model.
Right off the bat, players will notice the revamped UI, as the EA Sports NHL 26 HUT main menu has been streamlined to prevent clutter. The new layout loads faster, takes fewer clicks, and surfaces the features you use most, and you’ll even see your top layers on the home screen, which is a nice touch.
After considerable feedback, offline players will also be getting a nice surprise, as the Cup Chase will now consist of an 18-game season with playoffs at the end, complete with best-of-three rounds. This mode even includes its own reward track, separate from the XP Path, though your progress will also feed into the overall XP Path to help always move you forward.
Competitive play in HUT is now centered around divisions that clearly indicate your standing, thanks to the new Matchmaking floors, which make it much more user-friendly to see your rise or fall. Reaching the Qualification Division unlocks HUT Champs, where the top players meet for the most exclusive rewards. Ultimate Rank is the highest placement, offering a season-specific jersey that signifies your achievement of reaching the highest level that season.
As with any Ultimate Team experience, most of the excitement revolves around the cards you pull and the teams you build, though EA Sports NHL 26 HUT isn’t just about the highest overall cards anymore. This year, you’ll need to manage salary cap and player combination implications that affect team chemistry, cap space, or ability points, adding an extra layer of management.
Seasonal Programs have been restructured to feature Four core programs: Captains, Heroes, Icons, and Rookies.
- Captains give you a season leader from a curated pool of stars and fan favorites.
- Heroes highlight the players who defined eras for their franchises.
- Icons celebrate all-time legends and Hall of Famers.
- Rookies spotlight breakout talent past and present.
Each program will occur across multiple years, meaning you’ll have more time to build and structure your team, making for less guesswork. HUT season starts early with Fresh Ice, a limited-time Early Access event that kicks off before global launch on September 25, 2025.
Fresh Ice includes objectives, Moments, and rewards designed to give your lineup a strong foundation, and Deluxe Edition owners also receive a Fresh Ice player item to boost their roster right away. For more info on this and other Electronic Arts Sports titles, be sure to check back to Simulation Daily.