The 2008 release of NHL 09 refreshes all of the existing NHL and international team rosters and schedules, adds the Russian Elite League, and introduces the "Be A Pro"-mode. In this mode, players create a new player and only control him on the field.
The defensive stick control has been revamped to allow for example preventing direct passes. The player can also control both puck and stick with one hand in the offensive, improving their ability to outplay the goalie. However, this adds complexity to an already complex system, allowing players to switch between different control schemes.