To name some of these specific issues...
- The sim engine is ridiculous unrealistic. Detroit will frequent miss the playoffs in spite of a phenomenal team and twenty year consistency, whereas a distinctly mediocre team will finish first overall. You then have to factor in player point statistics. I cannot count the number of times in the past years Crosby has finished with an underwhelming 75-90 point season, players are rarely injured, especially your own and the special team numbers make little to know sense.
- Player progression is complete generic. Pacioretty will always have a sizable boost even if he had a below average season and gave the impression of a first round bust. It has been a while but I recall stats that certain players rarely use are usually the ones to increase (faceoffs for example.)
- Schedule has you playing ten home games a twelve away games, which is insanity barring an Olympic year.
- The trade AI is embarrassing incompetent and willing to move franchise players for prospects. No offense to Leaf fans but they could offer their entire roster and Crosby is still worth more. I do not recall if how often trades happen but in the real NHL they are virtually nonexistent until a month prior to the trade deadline or during the off season and big names never move. Ryan Kesler should be almost untouchable unless a team practically destroys their roster for years.
- There is a complete lack of uniqueness to players. A upper 70s overall rookie should have no business scoring much higher than 60 points and even that is a stretch.
- The mode lacks any degree of piazzas or whatever flashy adjective you wish to attribute. There is no award ceremony or even mention of any of the various awards players win, no interviews or anything save a generic cheer and skate with the cup.
This is only a few noticeably problems that lead to a gneric and unappealing BaGM. It has essentially be identical to NHL 08, which was not a significant upgrade from its predecessor. It has been five years and thus EA is long overdue to cease being lazy and expecting people to shell out money for a rehashed product with minor online improvements.