NHL 23 is the latest in the NHL series of ice hockey simulation games. The title has a strong element of team and character building, as well as allowing players to participate in the ice hockey games themselves, where they can take on a range of rivals and compete on a number of different rinks.
One element of the franchise that is well-known and especially appreciated by fans is its Superstar Abilities. Superstar Abilities enhance characters' attributes and abilities and make them more effective at an aspect of the game.
8 Wheels
Wheels is probably one of the more versatile Superstar Abilities in that it simply greatly enhances a character's ability to skate with a puck. This might sound simple, but it can make all the difference in the world for trickier plays, as well as allowing that character to cover plenty of ground in a short span of time, which helps a lot with more range-based attacking styles.
It's worth noting here that Wheels is most effective when utilized by characters who are already on the faster side, though this isn't a necessity.
7 Unstoppable Force
The fan favorite Superstar Ability, Unstoppable Force does more or less what the name suggests and turns the character using it into, more or less, a freight train moving along the ice. Having great offensive pressure is one of NHL 23's best strategies, and Unstoppable Force is the ideal complement to this.
Especially effective when used by a power forward, Unstoppable Force helps the character keep the puck closer to themselves as they break through the opposing team's defensive line. The Ability provides an alternative to the notion that attacking players should ideally be small and speedy and is considered so OP by some that it's banned in certain tournaments.
6 Shnipe
If players want to give their attackers the best chance of shooting goals with a settled puck, then Shnipe is a fantastic Superstar Ability to use. Combine it with one of the title's best teams, and players are basically guaranteed to have a winning combination as far as offense is concerned.
At first, Shnipe can be a little tricky to use. Players need to make sure that the puck is fully settled before attempting to shoot and not rushing into making a shot at goal. Failing to do so can mean the Ability doesn't actually activate at all. However, when implemented properly, Shnipe can absolutely transform a player's shooting skills and make them an absolute offensive asset.
5 Truculance
Truculence is such a formidable Superstar Ability that players have actually been calling for it to be nerfed for a while now. In particular, it's a pretty surefire way to turn any of the game's best wing players into absolute forces of nature.
Put simply, Truculence, when used properly, can turn an athlete into a steam roller that more or less wipes out everything in their path. The Ability enhances a character's hitting or checking to the extent that they'll often knock over opposing players. This is a fantastic attribute for players with an especially aggressive style who rely on being able to cover lots of ground reliably with a single player.
4 Shutdown
Easily one of the best and most underrated defensive Superstar Abilities in NHL 23 is Shutdown. Shutdown is an Ability that enhances a character's rush defense and can be an absolute lifesaver in situations where the opposing team's attackers are able to swarm the goal suddenly and with little warning. It's the perfect cherry on top of a great goalie build, too.
While offensive Superstar Abilities can often seem more exciting to players, it's equally important, if not more so, to have a good understanding of the different defensive Abilities that NHL 23 has to offer, too. Shutdown can be the difference between saving a goal and losing the game.
3 Send It
There are few skills more useful in NHL 23 than long passing. It makes it possible to have more or less unrivalled agility on the ice, as well as allowing players to implement a much wider array of tactics to overwhelm and outsmart their opposition.
This is where Send It comes in. Send It is a Superstar Ability that enhances players' long passing ability pretty dramatically. Having at least one character on the team with this Superstar Ability is pretty much always a good idea, and players who are yet to use Send It should definitely start experimenting with it (hint: it's especially effective when combined with the title's best centermen).
2 Butterfly Effect
Players with a preference for butterfly-style goalies will definitely want to make use of the Butterfly Effect Superstar Ability. It basically supercharges all the attributes of this goalie style, making them more effective across the board.
To take this effect to the next level, players can combine Butterfly Effect with Post to Post to make their butterfly goalie even more effective. With the right build and these Abilities in play, gamers can rely on their butterfly goalie to stop just about any shot that's coming their way, and then some; it's a great way to make even the best goalies even more effective in their position.
1 Contortionist
If players want to maximise their chances at making big saves on awkward or harder-to-stop shots, then Contortionist is the way to go. While it doesn't activate every time players go for a save, the Ability comes into play more often than not at Gold level and enhances the player's ability to make Wild Saves. Beginners to NHL 23 in particular can combine this Superstar Ability, along with some other best practice for the game, if they want to see their team's defensive performance improve rapidly.
While this might seem like a less useful ability to have compared to something that might be in play more often, it's often the wildest or least predictable shots that will get past a goalie. Contortionist can be a lifesaver in plays like these.
NHL 23 is out now on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S and X.