2k hockey's namesake was their vintage component.
I mean a TON of vintage jerseys back to the 1920's through the 90's 3rd jerseys.(Except 2K10 and 11.) EA never came close in any hockey game they ever created compared to 2K.
Their were a ton of wrong font/letter templates and white helmets where they didn't belong-see 2K8.
But historic rosters, that had to be edited, was a huge logical reason for vintage uniforms to be in those games.
Until EA decides to go that route, I'm afraid we get the 06/07 jerseys, some vintage that was added in NHL 09, and just a couple more since then.