 Clayton Crooks of "AllGame" gave the PC version four-and-a-half stars out of five and said, "Hockey fans are sure to enjoy "NHL 2001".It offers impressive (albeit repetitive) audio, superb graphics and animation to go along with exciting gameplay and fans of both arcade and simulation-style sports games should be able to find some aspect to enjoy.Online play, customizable rosters that are available for download from the Internet and multiple season modes make this a game that should occupy the hard drive for a long time, at least until the next version is released."