This update is probably a little heavier on the bug fixes vs. new content than previous December updates, but there were a few complex issues that needed addressing. We've still added a number of new things, like the long-requested improvement to the 2D mode popups and the option to start standard games with an NHL redraft. There are also a couple of larger projects we're continuing to work on for the mid-winter content update that'll come after this one.
Your existing savegames will be compatible with the updated game, but some issues that are data-dependent may require a new game before you see them.
Changes:
-2D mode popups have had some changes made and information, specifically: on a penalty the current PP/SH% are shown; on a fighting major, both players are now shown rather than just onel after a fight the winner is shown (or a message stating that there was no clear winner); and more information on goals: extensions of goal and points streaks, mutiple-goal games (and this system is expandable, so more will be coming in future updates)
-added initial draft (for NHL only) to standard-mode games (i.e., you can redraft the NHL at the beginning of a new standard game, rather than needing to create a custom game to do that) - option is on the "Set Up Your Manager" popup during initial setup, labeled "Ini Draft")
-added "Is on Watchlist" and "Is on Shortlist" (of the user's team) to the player search filter
-RFA compensation salary ranges are now editable on July 1
-fixed problem that was causing waiver claims by human players to fail in some cases
-AI teams will no longer trade draft picks that they've already traded
-adjusted trade valuation of players with bad contracts to prevent their trade value from being reduced by an excessive amount if the disparity between player quality and pay was very large; this has improved trading performance by the AI, but we still may need to look at other financial factors (e.g. remaining length of contract) that affect trade value of players
-fixed likely cause of extreme slowness of 2D engine display on some Macs
-fixed issue that was preventing proper display of full highlights in 2D mode
-playable league rosters are updated (as of December 15)
-2024-25 awards history is added
-made additional adjustmets to 2D mode to fix the imbalance of shots coming from centres vs. from wingers
-fixed issues with some U20 national teams using players from other countries
-fixed a crash caused by a problem with the USports playoff timing
-fixed issue that could cause an unrecoverable dropoff of the quality of Russian and Belarusian generated players during and just after the seasons where those nations are suspended from international play
-2002 Olympics now begins after the qualification round to prevent conflicts with the NHL schedule
-in commissioner mode, the option to move a player to a generic team is no longer cut off
-the last few league names are no longer cut off on the Leagues of the World popup