The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[3] Evan Shamoon of NextGen said, "If you're a hockey fan and [you] own a Dreamcast, you definitely need this game. Otherwise, you may want to wait 'til next year."[14]
The Freshman of GamePro in one review called it "a sight to behold, but once you play it you might not want to be holding it for long. Gamers weaned on the speed and control of NHL 2000 and its series might find NHL 2K a bit slow and odd for their liking. Gamers looking for a graphical spectacular, however, won't find any better."[16][c] In another GamePro review, however, Air Hendrix said, "For its first season, NHL 2K puts out a respectabe but middling effort. Hockey fans may be willing to cut the rookie some slack, but next year they'll be expecting a lot more. In the meantime, Dreamcast gamers will have an okay time with NHL 2K, but pros will stick with this year's uncontested champ, NHL 2000."[17][d]
^Marrin, John (February 11, 2000). "NHL 2K". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
^Zuniga, Todd; Leahy, Dan; Hager, Dean; Ricciardi, John (April 2000). "NHL 2K"(PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 129. Ziff Davis. p. 160. Archived(PDF) from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2023.