In NHL 2005 we find EA building on the existing game rather than making more of the kind of large-scale changes of 2004. Much of what we saw in last year's games is still here, though at times this is true to a worrying degree. For example, the exact same training videos from the 2004 disc appear, with no new ones to augment them. The Elite League feature, with three European leagues to play in hasn't changed at all, apart from a roster update. The commentary is also fairly similar to last year's game, with the same commentators providing many of the exact same soundbites.

The main Dynasty mode has been refined from last year's excellent mode. Different teams now have differing focuses, which will affect how players operate as the general manager. Some focus on results, so making the playoffs becomes the primary focus, while others are more financially oriented, so high profit becomes a factor. It's a good way to direct GM behaviour, and something for players to think about off the ice.

EA's current obsession with email continues and as GM the player now receives regular emails (in the game, that is), which update you on such things as player signings, directives from team owners, and financial reports. While much of this is largely superfluous, it does serve to alert you to various matters that may have slipped your attention. Greater control over practice sessions is also now a more vital part of the Dynasty mode, with six different practice plans affecting the overall team behaviour. Gone are various frilly bits that didn't really add anything to the game, such as decorating the GM's office and upgrading team facilities. The result is a more streamlined mode, and one which is overall easier to manage while focusing on actually playing games.

Along with updated rosters, a couple of new features in team management greatly help players define the type of game they want to play, and the personnel who will help to implement that. Players now have to consider chemistry when editing lines in the team. Certain players will gel better with some players than others, and replacing an existing player in a line will affect the chemistry of particular lines, thus affecting how they play. This proves to be an excellent tool when thinking about creating lines, although the ability to test out line combinations when signing new players to the team would have been useful.

Strategies can also now be selected for teams to follow, and even set differently for each line of players. Offensive and defensive strategies can be defined, as well as those for pressure or power play situations. This is a great addition, and helps a lot when switching lines for different situations on the fly in the game. Different lines are better suited to different strategies as well, for instance using a "crash the net" strategy with a line of larger players. These strategies are well explained in the training videos, as they were last year, but with this option they can be better utilised.

A couple of new modes have been added to NHL 2005, one of which is the World Cup, which replaces the 16-team tournament option from last year's game. Eight teams compete in a tournament, beginning with a round robin format before going to a knockout finals series. 21 national teams have been included, each with dozens of players eligible to be picked in the national squad of 26. NHL teams or teams from the European leagues can also take part in the World Cup, or even a user-created team.