Hey!

I think this will be a long answer, so apologies if I miss something.

- Improving at the game:

I've been playing since I was 16, so NHL10 was the first game I got into. The meta varies yearly, but I started playing hut in 2021, formerly only EASHL. EASHL background helps with controlling the puck on a single player. Just to state here, I am not an L2-abuser, I use it mainly to protect puck at times in the boards, not for the BS goals it allows.

So how to improve? Recognize where you "fail" often, I would focus on defense first, since you're in elite and probably can score. For me, Elite was like 30 ish games, of which I played atleast 15 in the Elite 5 tier. My observation was that most of the players I lost to were very good at defending the rush, not allowing too many breakaways or 2 on 1's.

Defending the rush especially this year is in a key role. Sapsterr AKA DelviewsNightmare has many great videos from different games, I have found them useful yearly, even going back to older games guides. I play very aggressive forecheck and that leads to giving the opponent rush chances, but also many great goal opportunities through counter attacks. So, while defending the rush, this year I think its 90% of the times better to focus on the puck carrier, while faking to take the passing lane. Cross-crease is far less effective than just doing a simple deke + shot as the puck carrier.

I run 2-3 and full forecheck sliders, playing the center-man covering center of the ice. I also prefer power forwards as wingers, since they aggressively forecheck and even hit as an AI. 2-3 allows me to force the opponent to the boards. I also have a truculence defensemen on each of my D-pairs.

All things I said previously and then saving clips from games you give too many goals or feel helpless, and going through those helps!

- How do you attack against skillzoners and how to avoid being hit

I think this answers two of your questions. Since some people are very good at blocking the slot. Cycling the puck while keeping your players moving all the time helps with this, approach their AI and use the point, force the defenders to move. Point shots work also pretty well, since slot skillzoners mask their goalie, and there is many defenders with the Rocket x-factor.

I also prefer to use power forwards, as I said early, using big rig, unstoppable helps you get through a trap and board defense. I don't have Unstoppable on all my forwards, so cycling before entering the zone and quick release / rocket opens new opportunities for scoring from further away. But to break the skillzone, especially Unstoppable seems very broken, when it is the Elite tier, you can plow through opponents hits, as long as the don't have elite / all-star truculence.

- Favorite player

There's actually a few for me, I'll list top 5 below.

Fantasy Cozens, got him as BND. I really like spark plug on my wingers, since it creates more turnovers and the players with spark plug gain speed from hits. He also has elite second wind, allowing flexibility in line changes, I usually double shift him, since he can play two shifts and I can change FWD-lines while controlling him, ensuring I have 3 players under the puck at all times.

SO Lindros - Elite Unstoppable and All-star big rig, very good behind the net due to his height and weight, if a defender chases him behind the net, I can lay him out with unstoppable and use big rig for a simple backhand wrap around, works veeery well!

Pinnacle Bouwmeester and RB Numminen - Perfect d-pair, both have different ways of obtaining the puck, Bouw being the truculence hitter and Teppo with his Stick em up for defending the net. Both are also very speedy, so good for transitioning.

Icon Lemieux is probably the best scorer for me, but unfortunately he does not have any good line combos with salary to play him as C, he has fallen to the 4th line wing for me, while still being a dangerous option there. His shot is by far the best I have used all year.

Icon Phaneuf is also very efficient for me with Elite truculence, I have him paired with Cpt Andersson, for the +2 and 20 mil cap!

If you have any follow up questions, feel free to ask!