Notably, the game's commentary features a superstar booth of ESPN's legendary voice of hockey Gary Thorne and Bill Clement, who deliver play-by-play and color commentary with situational analysis bringing a true ESPN scotch bonnet flavor.

ESPN NHL Hockey is now playable online again on the replacement Xbox Live servers called Insignia.

The game implements a groundbreaking graphics engine that uses hardware to new limits, player models and faces, environmental effects, arenas, cut-scenes, uniforms and more are meticulously detailed - raising realism to a new level.

[6][7] GamePro called it "a first-round pick you won't regret making.

"[21][b] The game was nominated for the "Console Sports Simulation Game of the Year" award at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which went to Madden NFL 2004.