Franchise Mode Frustration

Is anyone else having an issue where your team gets worse year after year even though you’ve built a strong team and should be making Stanley Cup finals ? Unfortunately I have no proof because I’m super frustrated and deleted my save file but I’ve built championship contender teams. My coaching is solid too. Has EA nerfed something is it a new update ? Or am I getting EA’d im so confused cause a month ago I could build an exact team from today and they would be a dynasty, now Im getting bumped out of the first round to not even making the playoffs is it just me or is it the game I’m grateful for any input and replies!