# 2000–01 Columbus Blue Jackets season

The 2000–01 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the Blue Jackets' first season in the National Hockey League (NHL) after the city of Columbus, Ohio, was awarded an expansion team in 1997. The Blue Jackets finished 13th in the Conference and fifth in the Division. Thus, they were unable to qualify for the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs.

## Off-season

The team would be named the Blue Jackets, as it was chosen to celebrate "patriotism, pride and the rich Civil War history in the state of Ohio and the city of Columbus". The Jackets would join the Central Division in the Western Conference.
The club would name Doug MacLean as general manager. MacLean had previously been the head coach of the Florida Panthers, leading the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996. MacLean hired Dave King as the head coach of the Jackets. King had previously been the head coach of the Calgary Flames from 1992 to 1995, and was an assistant on the Montreal Canadiens from 1997 to 1999.
On June 23, 2000, the Blue Jackets and their expansion cousins, the Minnesota Wild, participated in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft in Calgary. Columbus selected goaltender Rick Tabaracci with their first pick. The following day on June 24, Columbus would participate in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, and selected Rostislav Klesla with the fourth overall pick.
Defenseman Lyle Odelein was named the team’s first captain.

## Regular season

On October 7, 2000, Columbus would play in their first game ever, losing 5–3 to the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena. Bruce Gardiner scored the first goal in franchise history. On October 14, the Blue Jackets became part of hockey history. In a loss against the Colorado Avalanche, goaltender Patrick Roy tied Terry Sawchuk for most career wins by a goaltender. The Blue Jackets would win their first ever game on October 12, defeating the Calgary Flames 3–2 at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Columbus would win its first home game on October 27, defeating the visiting Washington Capitals 3–1.
The Blue Jackets, like most expansion teams, would struggle throughout the season, and would finish the year 11 games under .500, with a 28–39–9–6 record, earning 71 points, 19 points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Geoff Sanderson would lead the Jackets with 30 goals and 56 points, while Espen Knutsen would lead Columbus with 44 assists. Steve Heinze was having a solid season, scoring 22 goals and 42 points, before being dealt to the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline. Jamie Heward led the blue line, scoring 11 goals and 27 points, while Deron Quint would score 7 goals and 23 points. Tyler Wright led the club with 140 penalty minutes.
Ron Tugnutt would get the majority of action in the Blue Jackets net, playing in 53 games, and tying a career high with 22 wins. Tugnutt would record a 2.44 goals against average (GAA), .917 save percentage and four shutouts. Marc Denis backed up Tugnutt, winning six games and recording a 3.25 GAA.

### Season standings

Central Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 49 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 253 | 202 | 111 |
| 2 | 4 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 43 | 22 | 12 | 5 | 249 | 195 | 103 |
| 3 | 10 | Nashville Predators | 82 | 34 | 36 | 9 | 3 | 186 | 200 | 80 |
| 4 | 12 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 40 | 8 | 5 | 210 | 246 | 71 |
| 5 | 13 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 82 | 28 | 39 | 9 | 6 | 190 | 233 | 71 |
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Western Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Colorado Avalanche | NW | 82 | 52 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 270 | 192 | 118 |
| 2 | y – Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 49 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 253 | 202 | 111 |
| 3 | y – Dallas Stars | PAC | 82 | 48 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 241 | 187 | 106 |
| 4 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 43 | 22 | 12 | 5 | 249 | 195 | 103 |
| 5 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 40 | 27 | 12 | 3 | 217 | 192 | 95 |
| 6 | Edmonton Oilers | NW | 82 | 39 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 243 | 222 | 93 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 38 | 28 | 13 | 3 | 252 | 228 | 92 |
| 8 | Vancouver Canucks | NW | 82 | 36 | 28 | 11 | 7 | 239 | 238 | 90 |
| 8.5 |||||||||||
| 9 | Phoenix Coyotes | PAC | 82 | 35 | 27 | 17 | 3 | 214 | 212 | 90 |
| 10 | Nashville Predators | CEN | 82 | 34 | 36 | 9 | 3 | 186 | 200 | 80 |
| 11 | Calgary Flames | NW | 82 | 27 | 36 | 15 | 4 | 197 | 236 | 73 |
| 12 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 29 | 40 | 8 | 5 | 210 | 246 | 71 |
| 13 | Columbus Blue Jackets | CEN | 82 | 28 | 39 | 9 | 6 | 190 | 233 | 71 |
| 14 | Minnesota Wild | NW | 82 | 25 | 39 | 13 | 5 | 168 | 210 | 68 |
| 15 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 25 | 41 | 11 | 5 | 188 | 245 | 66 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific, NW – Northwest
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy; y – Won division

## Schedule and results

2000–01 regular season :
October: 3–8–0–1 (home: 2–4–0–1; road: 1–4–0–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPtsRecap
1October 7Chicago Blackhawks5–3Columbus Blue Jackets0–1–0–00Recap
2October 9Los Angeles Kings7–1Columbus Blue Jackets0–2–0–00Recap
3October 12Columbus Blue Jackets3–2Calgary Flames1–2–0–02Recap
4October 14Columbus Blue Jackets1–3Colorado Avalanche1–3–0–02Recap
5October 15Columbus Blue Jackets1–2Chicago Blackhawks1–4–0–02Recap
6October 18Colorado Avalanche5–1Columbus Blue Jackets1–5–0–02Recap
7October 21Columbus Blue Jackets2–5Pittsburgh Penguins1–6–0–02Recap
8October 22Detroit Red Wings2–1Columbus Blue Jackets1–6–0–13Recap
9October 25San Jose Sharks3–1Columbus Blue Jackets1–7–0–13Recap
10October 27Washington Capitals1–3Columbus Blue Jackets2–7–0–15Recap
11October 28Columbus Blue Jackets1–4Detroit Red Wings2–8–0–15Recap
12October 31Los Angeles Kings1–4Columbus Blue Jackets3–8–0–17Recap :
November: 4–8–1–0 (home: 3–5–0–0; road: 1–3–1–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPtsRecap
13November 1Columbus Blue Jackets0–4Dallas Stars3–9–0–17Recap
14November 4Columbus Blue Jackets2–2Ottawa Senators3–9–1–18Recap
15November 5Edmonton Oilers4–2Columbus Blue Jackets3–10–1–18Recap
16November 9San Jose Sharks2–5Columbus Blue Jackets4–10–1–110Recap
17November 11Phoenix Coyotes1–2Columbus Blue Jackets5–10–1–112Recap
18November 14Dallas Stars2–3Columbus Blue Jackets6–10–1–114Recap
19November 16Columbus Blue Jackets5–1Nashville Predators7–10–1–116Recap
20November 17Florida Panthers3–0Columbus Blue Jackets7–11–1–116Recap
21November 19Vancouver Canucks6–1Columbus Blue Jackets7–12–1–116Recap
22November 21Columbus Blue Jackets2–5Colorado Avalanche7–13–1–116Recap
23November 24Columbus Blue Jackets0–3Dallas Stars7–14–1–116Recap
24November 25Dallas Stars4–2Columbus Blue Jackets7–15–1–116Recap
25November 29Philadelphia Flyers4–3Columbus Blue Jackets7–16–1–116Recap :
December: 5–6–3–1 (home: 3–2–1–0; road: 2–4–2–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPtsRecap
26December 2Atlanta Thrashers2–1Columbus Blue Jackets7–17–1–116Recap
27December 3Columbus Blue Jackets0–5Chicago Blackhawks7–18–1–116Recap
28December 6Mighty Ducks of Anaheim2–5Columbus Blue Jackets8–18–1–118Recap
29December 8Boston Bruins2–3Columbus Blue Jackets9–18–1–120Recap
30December 10Columbus Blue Jackets1–1Phoenix Coyotes9–18–2–121Recap
31December 13Columbus Blue Jackets3–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim9–18–2–222Recap
32December 14Columbus Blue Jackets1–2San Jose Sharks9–19–2–222Recap
33December 16Columbus Blue Jackets3–4Vancouver Canucks9–20–2–222Recap
34December 18Columbus Blue Jackets2–0Montreal Canadiens10–20–2–224Recap
35December 21Ottawa Senators3–3Columbus Blue Jackets10–20–3–225Recap
36December 23Columbus Blue Jackets7–5New York Islanders11–20–3–227Recap
37December 26Columbus Blue Jackets0–5St. Louis Blues11–21–3–227Recap
38December 27Columbus Blue Jackets2–2New Jersey Devils11–21–4–228Recap
39December 29Carolina Hurricanes1–3Columbus Blue Jackets12–21–4–230Recap
40December 31New Jersey Devils6–3Columbus Blue Jackets12–22–4–230Recap :
January: 5–4–0–2 (home: 4–2–0–1; road: 1–2–0–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPtsRecap
41January 3Edmonton Oilers2–5Columbus Blue Jackets13–22–4–232Recap
42January 6Columbus Blue Jackets3–4Vancouver Canucks13–23–4–232Recap
43January 7Columbus Blue Jackets2–4Edmonton Oilers13–24–4–232Recap
44January 10Colorado Avalanche4–2Columbus Blue Jackets13–25–4–232Recap
45January 12Chicago Blackhawks3–1Columbus Blue Jackets13–26–4–232Recap
46January 15Minnesota Wild0–3Columbus Blue Jackets14–26–4–234Recap
47January 17Columbus Blue Jackets2–3Minnesota Wild14–26–4–335Recap
48January 21Tampa Bay Lightning1–3Columbus Blue Jackets15–26–4–337Recap
49January 23Columbus Blue Jackets2–1Buffalo Sabres16–26–4–339Recap
50January 27Mighty Ducks of Anaheim1–2Columbus Blue Jackets17–26–4–341Recap
51January 31Detroit Red Wings3–2Columbus Blue Jackets17–26–4–442Recap :
February: 3–5–3–2 (home: 2–1–1–1; road: 1–4–2–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPtsRecap
52February 1Columbus Blue Jackets2–2St. Louis Blues17–26–5–443Recap
53February 6St. Louis Blues2–2Columbus Blue Jackets17–26–6–444Recap
54February 8Columbus Blue Jackets1–3Nashville Predators17–27–6–444Recap
55February 10Nashville Predators2–3Columbus Blue Jackets18–27–6–446Recap
56February 12New York Rangers4–3Columbus Blue Jackets18–28–6–446Recap
57February 14Columbus Blue Jackets2–2Toronto Maple Leafs18–28–7–447Recap
58February 16Columbus Blue Jackets2–4Detroit Red Wings18–29–7–447Recap
59February 17Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Columbus Blue Jackets18–29–7–548Recap
60February 20Columbus Blue Jackets2–3San Jose Sharks18–29–7–649Recap
61February 21Columbus Blue Jackets2–3Phoenix Coyotes18–30–7–649Recap
62February 24Columbus Blue Jackets1–3Los Angeles Kings18–31–7–649Recap
63February 25Columbus Blue Jackets5–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim19–31–7–651Recap
64February 28Phoenix Coyotes2–5Columbus Blue Jackets20–31–7–653Recap :
March: 5–6–2–0 (home: 2–1–2–0; road: 3–5–0–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPtsRecap
65March 1Columbus Blue Jackets5–2Nashville Predators21–31–7–655Recap
66March 7Columbus Blue Jackets1–2Carolina Hurricanes21–32–7–655Recap
67March 9Columbus Blue Jackets7–6Florida Panthers22–32–7–657Recap
68March 10Columbus Blue Jackets1–4Tampa Bay Lightning22–33–7–657Recap
69March 14Calgary Flames0–3Columbus Blue Jackets23–33–7–659Recap
70March 16Columbus Blue Jackets3–0Atlanta Thrashers24–33–7–661Recap
71March 17New York Islanders3–3Columbus Blue Jackets24–33–8–662Recap
72March 19Nashville Predators2–1Columbus Blue Jackets24–34–8–662Recap
73March 21Vancouver Canucks1–1Columbus Blue Jackets24–34–9–663Recap
74March 24Calgary Flames4–6Columbus Blue Jackets25–34–9–665Recap
75March 26Columbus Blue Jackets2–4Edmonton Oilers25–35–9–665Recap
76March 27Columbus Blue Jackets0–3Calgary Flames25–36–9–665Recap
77March 29Columbus Blue Jackets0–3Los Angeles Kings25–37–9–665Recap :
April: 3–2–0–0 (home: 3–0–0–0; road: 0–2–0–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPtsRecap
78April 1St. Louis Blues1–2Columbus Blue Jackets26–37–9–667Recap
79April 3Detroit Red Wings1–2Columbus Blue Jackets27–37–9–669Recap
80April 5Columbus Blue Jackets1–4St. Louis Blues27–38–9–669Recap
81April 6Columbus Blue Jackets2–3Minnesota Wild27–39–9–669Recap
82April 8Chicago Blackhawks3–4Columbus Blue Jackets28–39–9–671Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point)
  Overtime loss (1 point) :

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 8 | Geoff Sanderson | LW | 68 | 30 | 26 | 56 | 4 | 46 |
| 21 | Espen Knutsen | C | 66 | 11 | 42 | 53 | −3 | 30 |
| 57 | Steve Heinze‡ | RW | 65 | 22 | 20 | 42 | −19 | 38 |
| 28 | Tyler Wright | C | 76 | 16 | 16 | 32 | −9 | 140 |
| 9 | David Vyborny | RW | 79 | 13 | 19 | 32 | −9 | 22 |
| 10 | Serge Aubin | LW | 81 | 13 | 17 | 30 | −20 | 107 |
| 6 | Jamie Heward | D | 69 | 11 | 16 | 27 | 3 | 33 |
| 7 | Deron Quint | D | 57 | 7 | 16 | 23 | −19 | 16 |
| 25 | Bruce Gardiner | RW | 73 | 7 | 15 | 22 | −1 | 78 |
| 42 | Kevyn Adams‡ | C | 66 | 8 | 12 | 20 | −4 | 52 |
| 18 | Robert Kron | LW | 59 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 4 | 10 |
| 29 | Alexander Selivanov | RW | 59 | 8 | 11 | 19 | −11 | 38 |
| 4 | Lyle Odelein | D | 81 | 3 | 14 | 17 | −16 | 118 |
| 33 | Petteri Nummelin | D | 61 | 4 | 12 | 16 | −11 | 10 |
| 11 | Kevin Dineen | RW | 66 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 126 |
| 5 | Jamie Pushor | D | 75 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 94 |
| 37 | Mattias Timander | D | 76 | 2 | 9 | 11 | −8 | 24 |
| 22 | Chris Nielsen | RW | 29 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | Frantisek Kucera‡ | D | 48 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −5 | 12 |
| 15 | Mike Maneluk | LW | 39 | 5 | 1 | 6 | −11 | 33 |
| 34 | Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre | D | 64 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −6 | 73 |
| 43 | Jan Caloun‡ | RW | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −8 | 2 |
| 17 | Steve Maltais | LW | 26 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −9 | 12 |
| 14 | Ray Whitney† | LW | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −1 | 2 |
| 44 | Rostislav Klesla | D | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −1 | 6 |
| 32 | Radim Bicanek | D | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 40 | Bill Bowler | C | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −3 | 8 |
| 29 | Krzysztof Oliwa‡ | LW | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 34 |
| 27 | Blake Sloan† | RW | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 13 |
| 20 | Martin Spanhel | LW | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 2 |
| 31 | Ron Tugnutt | G | 53 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 2 |
| 23 | Kevin Dahl | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 19 | Mathieu Darche | LW | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 |
| 41 | Matt Davidson | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 30 | Marc Denis | G | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 12 | Ted Drury | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 |
| 24 | Michael Gaul | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 36 | Sean Selmser | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Jody Shelley† | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 31 | Ron Tugnutt | 53 | 22 | 25 | 5 | 1528 | 127 | 2.44 | .917 | 4 | 3129 |
| 30 | Marc Denis | 32 | 6 | 20 | 4 | 940 | 99 | 3.25 | .895 | 0 | 1830 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Marc Denis (December 11) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Ron Tugnutt (March 19) |
| Team | Three Stars Award | Ron Tugnutt |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Rostislav Klesla | October 7, 2000 |
| First game | Petteri Nummelin | October 7, 2000 |
| First game | David Vyborny | October 7, 2000 |
| First game | Matt Davidson | December 2, 2000 |
| First game | Chris Nielsen | December 14, 2000 |
| First game | Bill Bowler | December 27, 2000 |
| First game | Jody Shelley | February 17, 2001 |
| First game | Mathieu Darche | February 21, 2001 |
| First game | Martin Spanhel | March 16, 2001 |
| First game | Sean Selmser | March 27, 2001 |

## Transactions

The Blue Jackets were involved in the following transactions through June 9, 2001, the day of the deciding game of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| May 11, 2000 (2000-05-11) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Chris Nielsen | To New York Islanders 4th-round pick in 20009th-round pick in 2000 |
| May 25, 2000 (2000-05-25) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Rights to Espen Knutsen | To Anaheim Mighty Ducks 4th-round pick in 2001 |
| June 7, 2000 (2000-06-07) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Marc Denis | To Colorado Avalanche 2nd-round pick in 2000 |
| June 11, 2000 (2000-06-11) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Jan Caloun9th-round pick in 2000Future considerations | To San Jose Sharks Future considerations |
| June 12, 2000 (2000-06-12) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Krzysztof OliwaFuture considerations | To New Jersey Devils 3rd-round pick in 2001Future considerations |
| June 23, 2000 (2000-06-23) | To Columbus Blue Jackets 5th-round pick in 2000 | To Boston Bruins Future considerations |
| June 23, 2000 (2000-06-23) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Matt DavidsonJean-Luc Grand-Pierre5th-round pick in 20005th-round pick in 2001 | To Buffalo Sabres Past considerations |
| June 23, 2000 (2000-06-23) | To Columbus Blue Jackets 2nd-round pick in 2001 | To Montreal Canadiens Future considerations |
| June 25, 2000 (2000-06-25) | To Columbus Blue Jackets 9th-round pick in 2000 | To Florida Panthers 9th-round pick in 2001 |
| June 25, 2000 (2000-06-25) | To Columbus Blue Jackets 9th-round pick in 2000 | To Detroit Red Wings 9th-round pick in 2002 |
| August 17, 2000 (2000-08-17) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Kent McDonell | To Detroit Red Wings 6th-round pick in 2003 |
| November 9, 2000 (2000-11-09) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Jean-Francois Labbe | To New York Rangers Bert Robertsson |
| January 15, 2001 (2001-01-15) | To Columbus Blue Jackets 3rd-round pick in 2001 | To Pittsburgh Penguins Krzysztof Oliwa |
| March 13, 2001 (2001-03-13) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Ray WhitneyFuture considerations | To Florida Panthers Kevyn Adams4th-round pick in 2001 |
| March 13, 2001 (2001-03-13) | To Columbus Blue Jackets 3rd-round pick in 2001 | To Buffalo Sabres Steve Heinze |
| March 13, 2001 (2001-03-13) | To Columbus Blue Jackets 6th-round pick in 2001 | To Pittsburgh Penguins Frantisek Kucera |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| May 4, 2000 (2000-05-04) | Greg Gardner | Niagara University (CHA) | 1-year | Free agency |
| May 8, 2000 (2000-05-08) | Mathieu Darche | McGill University (CIAU) | | Free agency |
| May 8, 2000 (2000-05-08) | Jonathan Schill | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) | | Free agency |
| May 16, 2000 (2000-05-16) | Jeremy Reich | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | | Free agency |
| May 16, 2000 (2000-05-16) | Dan Watson | Sarnia Sting (OHL) | | Free agency |
| May 26, 2000 (2000-05-26) | Jamie Heward | New York Islanders | | Waivers |
| May 31, 2000 (2000-05-31) | Blake Bellefeuille | Boston College (HE) | | Free agency |
| June 1, 2000 (2000-06-01) | Reggie Savage | Syracuse Crunch (AHL) | | Free agency |
| June 5, 2000 (2000-06-05) | Brad Moran | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) | multi-year | Free agency |
| June 7, 2000 (2000-06-07) | Martin Spanhel | HC Plzen (ELH) | 2-year | Free agency |
| June 7, 2000 (2000-06-07) | David Vyborny | HC Sparta Praha (ELH) | 2-year | Free agency |
| July 4, 2000 (2000-07-04) | Ron Tugnutt | Pittsburgh Penguins | multi-year | Free agency |
| July 7, 2000 (2000-07-07) | Frantisek Kucera | HC Sparta Praha (ELH) | | Free agency |
| July 20, 2000 (2000-07-20) | Serge Aubin | Colorado Avalanche | | Free agency |
| August 3, 2000 (2000-08-03) | Bill Bowler | Manitoba Moose (IHL) | | Free agency |
| August 3, 2000 (2000-08-03) | Sean Selmser | Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) | | Free agency |
| August 3, 2000 (2000-08-03) | Andrei Sryubko | Grand Rapids Griffins (IHL) | | Free agency |
| August 8, 2000 (2000-08-08) | Sergei Klimentiev | Ak Bars Kazan (RSL) | | Free agency |
| August 24, 2000 (2000-08-24) | Kevin Dahl | Chicago Wolves (IHL) | | Free agency |
| August 24, 2000 (2000-08-24) | Michael Gaul | Colorado Avalanche | | Free agency |
| August 24, 2000 (2000-08-24) | Mike Maneluk | Philadelphia Flyers | | Free agency |
| September 24, 2000 (2000-09-24) | Tyler Sloan | Calgary Royals (AJHL) | | Free agency |
| October 10, 2000 (2000-10-10) | Steve Maltais | Chicago Wolves (IHL) | 1-year | Free agency |
| November 22, 2000 (2000-11-22) | Alexander Selivanov | Edmonton Oilers | 1-year | Free agency |
| February 1, 2001 (2001-02-01) | Jody Shelley | Syracuse Crunch (AHL) | | Free agency |
| March 13, 2001 (2001-03-13) | Blake Sloan | Dallas Stars | | Waivers |
| May 7, 2001 (2001-05-07) | Karl Goehring | University of North Dakota (WCHA) | | Free agency |
| May 7, 2001 (2001-05-07) | Duvie Westcott | St. Cloud State University (WCHA) | | Free agency |
| May 18, 2001 (2001-05-18) | Sean Pronger | New York Islanders | | Waivers |
| May 19, 2001 (2001-05-19) | Brett Harkins | Houston Aeros (IHL) | | Free agency |
| May 31, 2001 (2001-05-31) | Jeff Ware | Syracuse Crunch (AHL) | | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| July 1, 2000 (2000-07-01) | Dallas Drake | St. Louis Blues | Free agency (III) |
| July 12, 2000 (2000-07-12) | Rick Tabaracci | Dallas Stars | Free agency (III) |
| July 14, 2000 (2000-07-14) | Dwayne Roloson | St. Louis Blues | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 13, 2000 (2000-08-13) | Mathieu Schneider | Los Angeles Kings | Free agency (III) |
| September 11, 2000 (2000-09-11) | Barrie Moore | Manitoba Moose (IHL) | Free agency (VI) |
| November 22, 2000 (2000-11-22) | Jan Caloun | HIFK (Liiga) | Release |
| May 16, 2001 (2001-05-16) | Frederic Chabot | Nurnberg Ice Tigers (DEL) | Free agency |
| June 1, 2001 (2001-06-01) | Bill Bowler | Nashville Predators | Waivers |
| June 1, 2001 (2001-06-01) | Kevin Dahl | Nurnberg Ice Tigers (DEL) | Free agency |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| May 25, 2000 (2000-05-25) | Espen Knutsen | multi-year | Re-signing |
| June 29, 2000 (2000-06-29) | Lyle Odelein | multi-year | Re-signing |
| July 25, 2000 (2000-07-25) | Jan Caloun | multi-year | Re-signing |
| July 25, 2000 (2000-07-25) | Petteri Nummelin | multi-year | Entry-level |
| July 25, 2000 (2000-07-25) | Geoff Sanderson | | Re-signing |
| July 31, 2000 (2000-07-31) | Matt Davidson | | Re-signing |
| July 31, 2000 (2000-07-31) | Steve Heinze | | Re-signing |
| July 31, 2000 (2000-07-31) | Krzysztof Oliwa | | Re-signing |
| August 8, 2000 (2000-08-08) | Jonas Junkka | | Entry-level |
| August 10, 2000 (2000-08-10) | Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre | | Re-signing |
| August 31, 2000 (2000-08-31) | Marc Denis | multi-year | Re-signing |
| October 2, 2000 (2000-10-02) | Rostislav Klesla | 3-year | Entry-level |
| March 14, 2001 (2001-03-14) | Radim Bicanek | multi-year | Extension |

## Draft picks
### NHL expansion draft

Columbus' expansion draft picks at the 2000 NHL expansion draft.
| # | Player | Drafted from |
| 1. | Rick Tabaracci (G) | Colorado Avalanche |
| 2. | Frederic Chabot (G) | Montreal Canadiens |
| 3. | Dwayne Roloson (G) | Buffalo Sabres |
| 4. | Mattias Timander (D) | Boston Bruins |
| 5. | Bert Robertsson (D) | Edmonton Oilers |
| 6. | Tommi Rajamaki (D) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 7. | Jamie Pushor (D) | Dallas Stars |
| 8. | Lyle Odelein (D) | Phoenix Coyotes |
| 9. | Radim Bicanek (D) | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 10. | Mathieu Schneider (D) | New York Rangers |
| 11. | Jonas Junkka (D) | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 12. | Geoff Sanderson (LW) | Buffalo Sabres |
| 13. | Turner Stevenson (RW) | Montreal Canadiens |
| 14. | Robert Kron (C) | Carolina Hurricanes |
| 15. | Steve Heinze (RW) | Boston Bruins |
| 16. | Tyler Wright (C) | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 17. | Kevyn Adams (C) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 18. | Dmitri Subbotin (F) | New York Rangers |
| 19. | Dallas Drake (RW) | Phoenix Coyotes |
| 20. | Bruce Gardiner (C) | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 21. | Barrie Moore (LW) | Washington Capitals |
| 22. | Martin Streit (F) | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 23. | Kevin Dineen (RW) | Ottawa Senators |
| 24. | Jeff Williams (LW) | New Jersey Devils |
| 25. | Sergei Luchinkin (RW) | Dallas Stars |
| 26. | Ted Drury (C) | New York Islanders |

### NHL entry draft

Columbus' draft picks at the 2000 NHL entry draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team (league) |
| 1 | 4 | Rostislav Klesla | Czech Republic | Brampton Battalion (OHL) |
| 3 | 69 | Ben Knopp | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |
| 5 | 133 | Petteri Nummelin | Finland | HC Davos (Switzerland) |
| 5 | 138 | Scott Heffernan | Canada | Sarnia Sting (OHL) |
| 5 | 150 | Tyler Kolarik | United States | Deerfield Academy (USHS-MA) |
| 6 | 169 | Shane Bendera | Canada | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) |
| 7 | 200 | Janne Jokila | Finland | TPS (Finland) |
| 8 | 231 | Peter Zingoni | United States | New England Jr. Coyotes (EJHL) |
| 9 | 278 | Martin Paroulek | Czech Republic | HC Vsetín (Czech Republic) |
| 9 | 286 | Andrej Nedorost | Slovakia | Essen Mosquitoes (DEL) |
| 9 | 292 | Louis Mandeville | Canada | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) |