 Emmett Schkloven of "X-Play" gave the PS2 version four stars out of five and stated, "EA has spent a lot of effort making "NHL 2001" accessible to newcomers and non-hockey fanatics.Easier controls, clean gameplay and a fast, slick interface all contribute to the company's success in this endeavor.Fortunately, the depth and realism that make hockey lovers like myself such fans of the franchise have not been sacrificed.