That's a problem no matter what, and the main problem is that the forwards never tie each other up on faceoffs or even try to bump. Even if a human player tries, they get a penalty. In real hockey, they would bump for at least a moment and give you a second with the puck off a clean draw, but in the EASHL, the speed demons are on you
before the puck even gets there.
I've played D in the EASHL for years now and this has always been a problem. The loose puck won't really make it any worse.