This mode was introduced and highly advertised last year, and it’s seen some significant upgrades that make it more enjoyable to play this year. Improvements have been made for both those that play primarily online and those who prefer to play alone.
The core of HUT is unchanged: You’ll still collect cards by spending EA Pucks, assemble a team and battle it out to earn more EA Pucks. The cards are from 10 different leagues, so you’ll see a wide range of players, both in terms of quality and teams. Added for NHL 12 are the rare Legends cards, too.
This mode is still much better, in my mind, then similar modes in other EA games. There is a lot you can do to enhance your team beyond just grinding games to buy new packs. In addition to training (upgrading) players, you can now change their position and heal them should injuries occur. Again, as in the past, everything is driven by cards -- that remedy for a key injury is just a proper healing card away.
For those that like to play this game alone, the new "EAUHL 24/7" is a great addition that keeps this mode fresh and interesting. Unlike Madden’s offline UT, where you can only choose a real-life team to play against, NHL 12 will download other Ultimate Teams that have been created by other users.
Not only does the game pull three random teams from the servers, it will also grab one "top 100" team should you want a challenge. You can earn Pucks in this mode if your team is selected by another user or by simply playing games yourself.
If you like to keep the action against human opponents, HUT will now let you play "friendlies" against your online friends with some basic stat tracking. This is a nice (and common sense) addition, especially for those who like to show off their collections.
You can also save different lineups, like in FIFA, so that you are eligible for various tournaments. Also, alternate versions of players will be randomly inserted into the packs during the real NHL season, showcasing hot streaks and "players of the week."
Like the rest of NHL 12’s additions, the enhancements to HUT are small. But together, they really upgrade this mode. Those who liked HUT last year will find more to appreciate in NHL 12.