EA SPORTS NHL 25 HUT Deep Dive Blog

Welcome to the EA SPORTS NHL 25 HUT Deep Dive Blog, let’s get into all the exciting new features and updates coming to chel’s Hockey Ultimate Team™ this year.

Introducing HUT Wildcard

First up, we have the brand-new HUT Wildcard mode. HUT Wildcard implements unique rulesets that cycle and refresh regularly so players of all skill levels must adapt their strategies accordingly. 

These rotating rulesets include everything from salary caps to predetermined players that must be part of your lineup and other elements. Building the right team within these rulesets will play a major role in your success within HUT Wildcard.

HUT Wildcard will also allow you to bring a set amount of players from your collection into your Wildcard lineup. The lineup requirements will change for each Wildcard season, including how many players you can use from your collection.

Wildcard games can be played online and offline and It’s safe to say HUT in NHL 25 will be Wild!

Revamped Progression System and Rewards Structure

This year we’ve streamlined the rewards structure and how you progress through it.

We wanted to make sure earning rewards is based on the modes you want to play and your skills. So we’re introducing the unified XP Progression Path, whether you’re winning games in Squad Battles, jumping in and competing in Rivals, or honing your strategic drafting skills in Wildcard, you’ll constantly be making progress in a singular XP progression path that’s unified across modes. All of your XP will be funneled into one place where you unlock your HUT rewards which include packs, more XP, coins, and other items.

If you can’t wait to experience HUT in NHL 25  for yourself and want an early look at the unified XP Progression Path along with some Early Access and Day 1 rewards, be sure to pre-order the NHL 25 Deluxe Edition*, which includes seven days of early access plus an Early Access XP path that will feature an 82 OVR Power-Up Icon as a reward for completing it, this Power-Up Icon will help you on your way to getting a hologram Power-Up Icon. You’ll also get the following items:

• 4600 points
• A HUT Cover Athlete Choice Pack
• A HUT Wildcard Starter Choice Pack
• HUT “Hockey is Family” Objectives Choice Pack
• HUT NHL Player Pack

Reworked Card Tiering, X-Factor Series, and More

NHL 25 features a completely reworked card tiering system and player grades:

• 74 OVR and below are now Bronze
• 79-75 OVR are now Silver 
• 80+ OVR are now Gold.

This allows each league to have better representation in the game with their star players being shown front and center, you’ll see more gold-tier players from your favorite leagues.

X-Factor cards are back for NHL 25, but now select X-Factor cards will have abilities that will have their AP cost discounted, so keep your eye out for those. New X-Factor cards will be released throughout the year

DAY 1 Content

When HUT launches in NHL 25 on Day 1 worldwide, its first event is kicking off with a bang! 

When you begin the Day 1 XP Progression Path you’ll be able to acquire 5 different XP Season 1 players which can be upgraded to a max of 85 OVR using tokens that you’ll get as well. You can choose to upgrade one player completely, or spread the tokens across multiple players to balance your lineup, the choice is yours!

Clearing the Day 1 XP Progression Path will net you an 87 OVR XP Jack Eichel card. 

While those are the most noteworthy pieces of Day 1 content, there will be some other goodies you can unlock as you explore the inaugural XP Progression Path. 

HUT Rivals  - All-New Dynamic Leaderboard

Finally, HUT Rivals will now feature an all-new dynamic leaderboard that tracks your Rivals games.

These are just some of the pieces of content and additions you can expect in HUT when EA SPORTS NHL 25 launches. If you want a jumpstart on NHL 25, pre-order the Deluxe Edition now and get seven days of early access along with a host of additional content. 

We can’t wait for you to experience all these new features and much more. Get ready to hit the ice when EA SPORTS NHL 25 launches in Early Access on September 27.

Thank you for checking out the EA SPORTS NHL 25 HUT Deep Dive Blog.

EA SPORTS NHL 25 will be available worldwide on Oct. 4, for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S. Get seven days early access starting on September 27 with the pre-order of the Deluxe Edition. Stay in the conversation by following NHL 25 on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.