EA Sports has sent over the latest build of NHL 2001. NHL 2001 offers a number of improvements over previous games in the series. The graphics have received a major overhaul with much more complex character models and enhanced details, like facial expressions and reflective surfaces. The level of customization has also been significantly improved with a team-building mode that lets players edit jerseys, city and team names, and logos, and a player-creation mode lets players scan their own pictures into the game to place on created players. The biggest addition to the NHL series is the new online service, where players can connect to a central server to chat with other players, set up multiplayer games, and receive rankings based on their records.
NHL 2001 is scheduled for release this fall.