[Kipper is King]

I played the demo, and my impression so far is really positive. I think the new tutorials are a great way to get a feel for the game. Also, I think the bodychecking is really improved- it just feels right.

One thing I don't like is the defensive skill stick- it's kinda awkward how the player always crouches over when you use it (as if to block a pass).

The Be a Player mode is a lot of fun! I thought the arrow might be distractiung, but it works well (I earned an A+ on positioning). The camera angle also is nice, but it gets distracting when you skate behind the opposing team's net (spinning around), or when your player gets a quick touch of the puck (It zooms in).

That zooming effect is really cool, though. The game feels really polished, and it runs much smoother than NHL 08! I can't wait to play the game online with you guys! But man, it is gonna be hard to avoid offsides!