I completely agree with the points about the tools available for defensemen—it’s really tough to be effective on defense right now. If you get too close, you risk getting reverse-hit and leaving open space behind you, or the forward can quickly flick and burn you on the other side. On the other hand, if your player is too big, they’re usually too slow and can easily get walked around by a forward with Wheels. All situational ofcourse.
If you don’t have Wheels as a defenseman, you’ll get burned almost every time by a forward with Wheels and full stamina on the counterattack—unless you position yourself very early, and even then it’s tough. Playing as a defenseman is extremely punishing, while playing as a forward doesn’t seem nearly as costly.
Even if you manage to steer the forward to the outside and into the corner, you’ll still have trouble blocking passing lanes. A forward with 85 passing can force a pass through you, even if you have 90+ defensive awareness and position yourself face forward towards the puck carrier.
Stick lifting has been nerfed into the ground and even removed as a trait this year. Stick checking has also been nerfed; even if you get your stick on the puck, a speedy forward will almost always recover it. You have to swing your stick to poke the puck away, but that’s also very difficult. I found that Elite No Contest is pretty strong, atleast it gives you a chance to win the puck. Still, a forward with Big Rig or Unstoppable makes life even harder.
I haven’t tried the Quick Pick trait enough to give a solid opinion.