The 2008 edition of NHL 09 updates all 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 control them on the ice, with the option to play multiplayer with up to 12 players in 6-on-6-matches.
The game's defensive stick control has been improved, allowing for more complex moves like preventing direct passes. Players can also use one hand to control both the puck and stick in the offensive zone, giving them an edge over goalies. However, this added complexity means that players can switch to a simpler control scheme used in NHL '94 , which relies on just a few buttons and one analog stick.