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If NHL 08 had a twin brother, it would be NHL 09. And I say that with utmost respect, because anytime you're the recipient of seven Game of the Year awards, releasing a near carbon copy wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. However, expectations for this title are at an all-time high, so it's going to take more than a few minor upgrades to bring home the hardware again. So the real question here is, can NHL 09 repeat as GotY, and have enough new features been implemented to ensure its place atop the ballot? My initial answer would have to be a no, but only because many of the new additions are merely cosmetic, and overall little has been done to enhance the actual gameplay engine. Make no mistake about it, though, NHL 09 is still a superb hockey title, I just expected more from a series that performed so well last year.
And when I say more, I mean serious refinements. Perhaps I'm too harsh on my hockey games, but anything less than groundbreaking improvements in the skating and checking engine was going to be a let down for me, and neither of those has happened this year. Instead we are left with the same solid gameplay engine from last year, with only a few minor tweaks and upgrades to keep us happy.
Yes, the Flip Dump, Stick Lift, and Protect Puck abilities are all viable improvements and perform admirably during gameplay. Defense is also much more intuitive this time around thanks to the Stick Sweep, but occasional gliding and erratic sudden movements by your player make it more difficult to execute than you would expect. I loved seeing the new checking animations (even if they could be counted on one hand), and even goaltenders have received a few new saves as well. But really, that's about it as far as actual gameplay enhancements go. Grinding and clutching along the boards is still virtually nonexistent, and players still glide across the ice instead of actually moving their skates. Tying a guy up in front of the net continues to be a problem as well, with the only real shot you have at defending successfully is to pummel the opposition into the ice. You can use the Y button to hook, or even the LB to tie-up when using the Classic Control layout, but even those result in penalties, or fights most of the time. Point being, even with the Stick Lift and Stick Sweep, playing defense is overly frustrating, and until we are allowed to actually man-up an opposing player, it's going to stay that way. 
Luckily, there is a fairly nice set of new features that will distract from the aforementioned problems. First up is the Be-a-Pro mode. This lets you experience a career through the eyes of a created or existing player in either the AHL or NHL, which will vary depending on which route you take. Choose to play as Crosby and it's straight to the NHL for you, and likewise creating a player from scratch will send you to the minors. From there you will pick your favorite NHL affiliate, meet your coach and general manager, and hopefully fulfill any goals set for you throughout the season. These milestones are usually player-type specific; number of hits in a season will be the main focus for grinders, while goals and assists will be important for snipers, playmakers, and danglers, respectively. There's also handy in-game diagram that breaks down your performance after each shift. Doing well and achieving the goals set for you will allow you to receive more ice time, where you'll eventually join your NHL squad if everything goes as planned. Keep in mind, however, that not meeting expectations can leave you searching for a new team at the end of the season, one that which your agent will likely find for you. The only real problem with Be-a-Pro mode is having to sit by and watch as your team throws the game away. Nothing worse than seeing your own player lose the game by putting the puck into his own net, especially after you worked so diligently to even the score in the first place. But moronic AI issues aside, this is still a solid feature that will entertain for hours, as long as you don't mind waiting your turn that is.
And then there's the ESHL and OTP Clubs. These allow you and up to five friends the ability to play online against a team of six other players. This will allow you to create a custom team filled with real-life people only you invited, and then compete with teams from around the World. Your Be-a-Pro created player will act as a starting point in this mode, and you'll slowly gain experience over time that can be used to enhance your ratings. Your team can compete in various custom leagues, each of which will be tracked on overall leaderboards. You can also add friends to your address book, chat in lobbies, and receive e-mails and messages in your team-specific dressing room. It's a nice addition that works fairly well, though solid communication is a must if you want to win. Getting six separate players to act as one cohesive unit can be a problem at times, but it's nothing that can't be worked out if taken seriously by the group.
Those who are into the single-player experience only might find it disappointing that Dynasty Mode hasn't received much of a facelift. Smaller touches like more realistic player injuries, enhanced progress reports (skaters now advance depending on individual player types), and the new in-depth training regiments are all positive touches, but in the end it's a near replica of last year. 
And for the most part, this sums up my feelings towards NHL 09. It is still the same fantastic hockey experience that won multiple awards last year, with a few select refinements here and there. Anyone looking for a serious upgrade will feel disappointed, but those who admire superficial makeovers like EASL and Be-a-Pro will likely consider this to be the only sports game they'll need all year.
