Here's my "Dream Control Scheme" that i've posted probably way too much at this point.
"I mentioned in another thread that it would be nice if they revamped the skill-stick system to be used on defense for just about everything. Have the left trigger, or L2/LB be something you hold to activate your "stick moves" and then you could use a MLB 2K type system where different movements of the thumb stick would perform different actions. Maybe while holding LB you would move the right stick up, and depending on the speed and distance you move the stick, your on-screen player would attempt to stick lift with an equal amount of force. That combined with the player's defensive attributes could help determine the chance (along with the accuracy of your aim) of missing and getting a possible high sticking call, or just missing all together.
Then you could have things like pushing the stick down to try and disrupt reception of passes or deflections (Holding it down allowing you to try and tie the player's stick up and keep it down, but also leaving your player vulnerable to missing passes to intercept, or rebounds to clear). You could even have it so when you're next to/behind a player you would kind of roll the slick left/right and up to try and reach around the player to knock the puck loose, but then your attributes and force of the movements would affect the likelihood of you getting called for a hold.
Then if you just moved the right stick you would poke check in that direction, again, with speed and distance affecting how far and forcefully you go for the poke, and to keep the broken record going, your movements combined with your player's attributes and the accuracy of your poke determining how likely you are to take the skates out on a guy.
That level of control would make defense so much more fun. The learning curve would be steep initially, but i'm sure it was when they went from A to Slap shot, and B to Wrist shot. But with that defense would become fun, and you would practically free yourself of the buttons on the face, maybe allowing them to have something like FIFA where you can send a guy ahead to receive a pass, or call for help along the boards. Anything to let you have more control over yourself, and your team mates."