While the recent change in the setting of line formations can seem a step back, there is indeed a reason for it, and the following is a little explanation. Very soon the new game engine will be implemented, and it will include several new tacitcal situations, such as:
1. Power Plays and Penalty Kills - these will be influenced by the aggression settings for the team and the match - each team will have to create 2 power play lines and 2 penalty killing lines.
2. Tactics set-up for each line - each tactic will have a counter-tactic - due to the change in ice time distribution, it will be possible to set up automatic substitution depending on the opponent. This will allow you to shut down the opposition's top lines through good use of counter-tactics.
3. Line chemistry - the performance of players who have been linemates for a longer time will raise as a result of familiarity and chemistry which have developed. Having the forwards and defensemen included in one set line saves on the calculations this function will make. This is one of the reasons why the formations were changed to whole lines of 5 (forwards and defense pairing together).
Along with the changes mentioned above, a partial or complete automatic process of training level is being planned. This will make the use of all ice time possibilities easier, as players will not have the risk of being exhausted for the following match.
The main reason for the change in formations is for a simplification of the game controls. This will lead to better and easier use of the new tactical options, while at the same time making the game more challenging.
