NHL 2004 is an ice hockey simulator that builds on its predecessor with expanded league options. You control teams through full games, managing lines, executing plays, and competing across seasons. The game includes NHL rosters plus three European leagues—Germany's DEL, Sweden's Elitserien, and Finland's SM-liiga—with European teams rated comparably to NHL squads rather than as weaker alternatives. Standard hockey sim mechanics apply: you handle passing, shooting, checking, and goaltending across regulation periods. Franchise mode lets you draft, trade, and develop players over multiple seasons. The European addition gives you more teams and playstyles without leaving the core simulation framework. If you want period-accurate rosters from 2003 with broader geographic coverage than typical hockey games offer, this delivers that specific setup.
