I own 2k7 and 2007 with over 100hrs played on both, and i must say...
2001 - NHL 2001
2002 - NHL 2002
2003 - NHL 2003
2004 - NHL 2004
2005 - NHL 2k5
2006 - NHL 2k6
2007 - NHL 2k7 Now, after reading this pattern, you would infer the obvious trend of a decline in my favoritism of the EA sports brand hockey game. EA sports recently introduced controls in which you could totally control your players movements (whoop-dee-friggin-doo), what i found was a very lacklustre effort in game speed even when adjusted to 100%, with a slow game tempo and a very edgy style of game that involves a poorly developed A.I system with player placement and the player movements are choppy in all aspects, i DO however give kudos to EA for spending time on the graphics component of the game, the character models were excellent as well as the environment and it made me indeed feel i was amidst the crowd in whatever hockey arena i was playing in. In 2005 i was introduced to the 2k sports brand, a brand that i has left an impression of success in the console sports world in my mind, and for the past 3 years it has put out an amazingly solid effort to make the game better every year i have purchased it. The very uptempo style of play, from the bone-rattling hits to the amazing goals i have scored makes me wanna stop writing this and go play it. Flaws? well there is one minor thing about the game, about a split second before each period ends u can visibly notice the game freeze before the buzzer sounds, it has not affected me in anyway so far. Otherwise, it's a completely smooth and well rounded game. The online component of the game is definately one of the best for a sports game. If you don't own NHL 2k7 GO BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
in conclusion...........................................NHL 2k7 > NHL 2007