This, this, and this.
Myself...I can kinda understand the game playing like this[like it does now] on default settings. [off-line] But say on the "Hardcore" setting, the game should much better represent hockey as it's really played. Which I totally agree BNG...is a very "gritty" game. Not up and down, back and forth which is what we currently have.
Imo...if the AI overall just was far closer checking, with more realistic pass accuracy...this would be a big step in the right direction for those of us who crave a more sim type of play. You wouldn't think this would be very difficult to achieve. I hope one day soon we'll see it.