You make some valid points. It is still a preview build and who know which build they're playing. I do agree that the presentation could have used a change but with this being the "last" of this generation, I doubt they were planning on doing something new for a fading generation (yes, I know this is a bad excuse). But, in my eyes, presentation doesn't sell me on a hockey game, it's performance on the ice.
But, David Littman is still part of the NHL team, he was involved with the first NHL 14 preview stuff they did when OS guys visited EA earlier this year.