Expected to be the last Dreamcast game to arrive n the U.S., Sega promises new gameplay modes, a revamped graphics engine, and improved A.I. among other things.

From www.sega.com:

"-New, revamped gameplay modes including Franchise Mode and added options such as season length, game length, and series length controls.
-Advanced IK technology allows smoother animations than ever before.
-Smarter commentary and responsive crowds -- Situational play-by-play commentary and frantic crowds react directly to game events.
-Improved AI -- Each player will perform as he does in the real game, so make sure you have a balanced line on the ice. Too many offensive players and you could get smoked on a breakout. And don’t expect anything cheap against the best netminders in the world.
-More Strategy -- Choose the best offenses and defenses for your talent.
-Updated rosters, team attributes, and player attributes -- All trades and rookies are updated for the 2001-2002 NHL Season.
-All the drama of real hockey -- Tense face offs, player celebrations, and heated tangles between players gives gamers the most realistic hockey experience available."

Sounds nice.

Also expect a lot of the problems the original NHL2k to be gone. No more "magic puck" that zips to the goalies hand, oh-so pretty graphics, smooter controls, and improved A.I. that rarely does the same thing twice, so smart-thinking will be your key to survival.

Sega’s NHL series skipped a year, but it will only makes NHL2k2 that much better. Chances are, NHL2k2 will offer a smooth, strategic expirience that’ll take hockey games to the next level, and those of us who haven’t yet abandoned our Dreamcast’s will be the first to expirience it.