After 2009, PC players had no official way to play new NHL seasons.
Released in 2008, it introduced the first "Be A Pro" mode.
Mod groups like RHL (Russia), WasserLasser (Germany), and NHL 04 Rebuilt (International) began rewriting the game's files. The RHL 13 Transformation
NHL 09 was the final EA hockey title released for Windows. For years, it served as the "engine" for global modders who wanted to play with updated teams, even as the official graphics and physics became dated.