# 2001–02 Atlanta Thrashers season

The 2001–02 Atlanta Thrashers season was the Thrashers' third season of competition. For the second time in three seasons, the team finished the season with the worst record in the whole NHL, and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

## Off-season

With Steve Staios departing to the Edmonton Oilers via free agency, Ray Ferraro was named the team’s new captain.

## Regular season

The Thrashers struggled defensively, finishing 30th overall in goaltending, with 288 goals allowed, and on the power play, with only 37 power-play goals scored. They also allowed the most-short-handed goals of all 30 teams, with 12.

### Final standings

Southeast Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 3 | Carolina Hurricanes | 82 | 35 | 26 | 16 | 5 | 217 | 217 | 91 |
| 2 | 9 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 36 | 33 | 11 | 2 | 228 | 240 | 85 |
| 3 | 13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 27 | 40 | 11 | 4 | 178 | 219 | 69 |
| 4 | 14 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 22 | 44 | 10 | 6 | 180 | 250 | 60 |
| 5 | 15 | Atlanta Thrashers | 82 | 19 | 47 | 11 | 5 | 187 | 288 | 54 |
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.
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Z- Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 43 | 24 | 6 | 9 | 236 | 201 | 101 |
| 2 | Y- Philadelphia Flyers | AT | 82 | 42 | 27 | 10 | 3 | 234 | 192 | 97 |
| 3 | Y- Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 82 | 35 | 26 | 16 | 5 | 217 | 217 | 91 |
| 4 | X- Toronto Maple Leafs | NE | 82 | 43 | 25 | 10 | 4 | 249 | 207 | 100 |
| 5 | X- New York Islanders | AT | 82 | 42 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 239 | 220 | 96 |
| 6 | X- New Jersey Devils | AT | 82 | 41 | 28 | 9 | 4 | 205 | 187 | 95 |
| 7 | X- Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 39 | 27 | 9 | 7 | 243 | 208 | 94 |
| 8 | X- Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 36 | 31 | 12 | 3 | 207 | 209 | 87 |
| 8.5 |||||||||||
| 9 | Washington Capitals | SE | 82 | 36 | 33 | 11 | 2 | 228 | 240 | 85 |
| 10 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 35 | 35 | 11 | 1 | 213 | 200 | 82 |
| 11 | New York Rangers | AT | 82 | 36 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 227 | 258 | 80 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh Penguins | AT | 82 | 28 | 41 | 8 | 5 | 198 | 249 | 69 |
| 13 | Tampa Bay Lightning | SE | 82 | 27 | 40 | 11 | 4 | 178 | 219 | 69 |
| 14 | Florida Panthers | SE | 82 | 22 | 44 | 10 | 6 | 180 | 250 | 60 |
| 15 | Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 82 | 19 | 47 | 11 | 5 | 187 | 288 | 54 |
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast
Z – Clinched Conference; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

## Schedule and results

2001–02 regular season :
October: 3–4–1–2 (home: 2–4–1–0; road: 1–0–0–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober, 4, 20012–1@ Buffalo Sabres (2001-02)1–0–0–0Recap
2OTLOctober, 6, 20013–4 OT@ Boston Bruins (2001-02)1–0–0–1Recap
3LOctober 13, 20015–2Carolina Hurricanes (2001-02)1–1–0–1Recap
4TOctober 16, 20013–3Philadelphia Flyers (2001-02)1–1–1–1Recap
5LOctober 19, 20013–4New York Rangers (2001–02)1–2–1–1Recap
6OTLOctober 20, 20011–2 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)1–2–1–2Recap
7LOctober 23, 20012–4Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)1–3–1–2Recap
8WOctober 26, 20011–0Washington Capitals (2001–02)2–3–1–2Recap
9WOctober 27, 20014–3Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)3–3–1–2Recap
10LOctober 30, 20013–6Ottawa Senators (2001–02)3–4–1–2Recap :
November: 2–11–1–0 (home: 1–1–1–0; road: 1–10–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11LNovember 1, 20012–5@ San Jose Sharks (2001–02)3–5–1–2Recap
12LNovember 3, 20011–4@ Los Angeles Kings (2001–02)3–6–1–2Recap
13LNovember 4, 20010–5@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2001–02)3–7–1–2Recap
14LNovember 7, 20012–3@ New Jersey Devils (2001–02)3–8–1–2Recap
15LNovember 8, 20010–8@ Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)3–9–1–2Recap
16LNovember 10, 20010–3@ Washington Capitals (2001–02)3–10–1–2Recap
17LNovember 13, 20012–4@ Minnesota Wild (2001–02)3–11–1–2Recap
18TNovember 16, 20014–4 OTNashville Predators (2001–02)3–11–2–2Recap
19LNovember 18, 20012–6@ New York Rangers (2001–02)3–12–2–2Recap
20WNovember 19, 20013–2Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)4–12–2–2Recap
21LNovember 22, 20012–5Montreal Canadiens (2001–02)4–13–2–2Recap
22WNovember 24, 20016–3@ Ottawa Senators (2001–02)5–13–2–2Recap
23LNovember 27, 20011–5@ Montreal Canadiens (2001–02)5–14–2–2Recap
24LNovember 29, 20012–5@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)5–15–2–2Recap :
December: 3–8–3–1 (home: 1–5–3–0; road: 2–3–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
25WDecember 1, 20015–2@ Florida Panthers (2001–02)6–15–2–2Recap
26LDecember 4, 20012–3Boston Bruins (2001–02)6–16–2–2Recap
27TDecember 6, 20013–3 OTWashington Capitals (2001–02)6–16–3–2Recap
28LDecember 8, 20013–6@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)6–17–3–2Recap
29LDecember 10, 20011–3Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)6–18–3–2Recap
30TDecember 12, 20013–3 OTMontreal Canadiens (2001–02)6–18–4–2Recap
31LDecember 14, 20011–3Chicago Blackhawks (2001–02)6–19–4–2Recap
32LDecember 15, 20012–5@ Washington Capitals (2001–02)6–20–4–2Recap
33WDecember 18, 20013–2 OT@ Boston Bruins (2001–02)7–20–4–2Recap
34LDecember 19, 20012–4San Jose Sharks (2001–02)7–21–4–2Recap
35OTLDecember 21, 20014–5 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)7–21–4–3Recap
36LDecember 23, 20011–4Dallas Stars (2001–02)7–22–4–3Recap
37TDecember 26, 20013–3 OTFlorida Panthers (2001–02)7–22–5–3Recap
38WDecember 28, 20015–4Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)8–22–5–3Recap
39LDecember 31, 20013–4@ Florida Panthers (2001–02)8–23–5–3Recap :
January: 5–8–1–1 (home: 3–4–1–0; road: 2–4–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
40LJanuary 2, 20021–2@ Dallas Stars (2001–02)8–24–5–3Recap
41LJanuary 3, 20021–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (2001–02)8–25–5–3Recap
42LJanuary 6, 20022–3New York Islanders (2001–02)8–26–5–3Recap
43LJanuary 8, 20024–7@ Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)8–27–5–3Recap
44WJanuary 9, 20024–3 OTOttawa Senators (2001–02)9–27–5–3Recap
45WJanuary 11, 20021–0Calgary Flames (2001–02)10–27–5–3Recap
46TJanuary 13, 20022–2 OTTampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)10–27–6–3Recap
47WJanuary 15, 20023–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)11–27–6–3Recap
48LJanuary 17, 20023–6@ Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)11–28–6–3Recap
49WJanuary 19, 20026–1@ Florida Panthers (2001–02)12–28–6–3Recap
50LJanuary 22, 20020–3Washington Capitals (2001–02)12–29–6–3Recap
51WJanuary 24, 20024–2New Jersey Devils (2001–02)13–29–6–3Recap
52OTLJanuary 26, 20022–3 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)13–29–6–4Recap
53LJanuary 28, 20022–4Phoenix Coyotes (2001–02)13–30–6–4Recap
54LJanuary 30, 20020–6Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)13–31–6–4Recap :
February: 2–3–1–0 (home: 2–1–0–0; road: 0–2–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
55WFebruary 5, 20023–2Edmonton Oilers (2001–02)14–31–6–4Recap
56TFebruary 7, 20023–3 OT@ New Jersey Devils (2001–02)14–31–7–4Recap
57LFebruary 8, 20021–2New York Rangers (2001–02)14–32–7–4Recap
58LFebruary 11, 20024–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)14–33–7–4Recap
59LFebruary 12, 20020–3@ St. Louis Blues (2001–02)14–34–7–4Recap
60WFebruary 26, 20022–1Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)15–34–7–4Recap :
March: 4–10–1–0 (home: 2–5–1–0; road: 2–5–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
61WMarch 1, 20024–3New York Islanders (2001–02)16–34–7–4Recap
62LMarch 2, 20021–4@ New York Islanders (2001–02)16–35–7–4Recap
63LMarch 4, 20023–5@ Montreal Canadiens (2001–02)16–36–7–4Recap
64LMarch 6, 20021–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2001–02)16–37–7–4Recap
65LMarch 8, 20020–3Boston Bruins (2001–02)16–38–7–4Recap
66LMarch 10, 20021–6@ New York Islanders (2001–02)16–39–7–4Recap
67TMarch 12, 20024–4 OTTampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)16–39–8–4Recap
68WMarch 14, 20022–0Colorado Avalanche (2001–02)17–39–8–4Recap
69LMarch 16, 20022–4Vancouver Canucks (2001–02)17–40–8–4Recap
70LMarch 18, 20022–4Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)17–41–8–4Recap
71LMarch 20, 20022–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)17–42–8–4Recap
72WMarch 22, 20025–2@ New York Rangers (2001–02)18–42–8–4Recap
73WMarch 23, 20023–2 OT@ Ottawa Senators (2001–02)19–42–8–4Recap
74LMarch 27, 20022–4Minnesota Wild (2001–02)19–43–8–4Recap
75LMarch 30, 20021–4@ Detroit Red Wings (2001–02)19–44–8–4Recap :
April: 0–3–3–1 (home: 0–1–2–0; road: 0–2–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
76LApril 2, 20022–4@ Calgary Flames (2001–02)19–45–8–4Recap
77LApril 3, 20020–6@ Colorado Avalanche (2001–02)19–46–8–4Recap
78LApril 5, 20021–3New Jersey Devils (2001–02)19–47–8–4Recap
79TApril 7, 20021–1 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)19–47–9–4Recap
80TApril 10, 20024–4 OTFlorida Panthers (2001–02)19–47–10–4Recap
81OTLApril 12, 20024–5 OT@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2001–02)19–47–10–5Recap
82TApril 14, 20022–2 OTCarolina Hurricanes (2001–02)19–47–11–5Recap :
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 Thrashers only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Thrashers only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 15 | Dany Heatley | LW | 82 | 26 | 41 | 67 | −19 | 56 |
| 17 | Ilya Kovalchuk | LW | 65 | 29 | 22 | 51 | −19 | 28 |
| 12 | Tony Hrkac | C | 80 | 18 | 26 | 44 | −12 | 12 |
| 18 | Lubos Bartecko | LW | 71 | 13 | 14 | 27 | −15 | 30 |
| 21 | Ray Ferraro‡ | C | 61 | 8 | 19 | 27 | −32 | 66 |
| 8 | Frantisek Kaberle | D | 61 | 5 | 20 | 25 | −11 | 24 |
| 38 | Yannick Tremblay | D | 66 | 9 | 15 | 24 | −15 | 47 |
| 13 | Patrik Stefan | C | 59 | 7 | 16 | 23 | −4 | 22 |
| 14 | Tomi Kallio | LW | 60 | 8 | 14 | 22 | −8 | 12 |
| 26 | Pascal Rheaume† | C | 42 | 11 | 9 | 20 | −3 | 25 |
| 9 | Hnat Domenichelli‡ | LW | 40 | 8 | 11 | 19 | −18 | 34 |
| 36 | Daniel Tjarnqvist | D | 75 | 2 | 16 | 18 | −22 | 14 |
| 39 | Per Svartvadet | C | 78 | 3 | 12 | 15 | −12 | 24 |
| 22 | Shean Donovan‡ | RW | 48 | 6 | 6 | 12 | −16 | 40 |
| 3 | Brian Pothier | D | 33 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −19 | 22 |
| 20 | Jeff Odgers | RW | 46 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −3 | 135 |
| 28 | Todd Reirden | D | 65 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −25 | 82 |
| 71 | Jiri Slegr‡ | D | 38 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −21 | 51 |
| 24 | Andreas Karlsson | C | 42 | 1 | 7 | 8 | −8 | 20 |
| 27 | Bob Corkum‡ | C | 65 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −30 | 16 |
| 4 | Chris Tamer | D | 78 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −11 | 111 |
| 19 | Brad Tapper | RW | 20 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −3 | 43 |
| 16 | Jeff Cowan† | LW | 38 | 4 | 1 | 5 | −11 | 50 |
| 47 | J. P. Vigier | RW | 15 | 4 | 1 | 5 | −5 | 4 |
| 25 | Andy Sutton† | D | 24 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 46 |
| 10 | Yuri Butsayev† | LW | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 29 | Darcy Hordichuk‡ | LW | 33 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −5 | 127 |
| 37 | Dan Snyder | C | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −3 | 30 |
| 33 | Milan Hnilicka | G | 60 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 8 |
| 6 | David Harlock‡ | D | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 18 |
| 22 | Kamil Piros | C | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 4 |
| 43 | Mike Weaver | D | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | Petr Buzek‡ | D | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 13 |
| 35 | Frederic Cassivi† | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 23 | Brett Clark‡ | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 |
| 9 | Mark Hartigan† | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
| 6 | Francis Lessard† | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| 23 | Derek MacKenzie | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 34 | Norm Maracle | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 31 | Pasi Nurminen | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 1 | Damian Rhodes | G | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 29 | Kirill Safronov† | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 2 |
| 40 | Luke Sellars | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 45 | Ben Simon | LW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Thrashers only.
| 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 |
| 33 | Milan Hnilicka | 60 | 13 | 33 | 10 | 1956 | 179 | 3.19 | .908 | 3 | 3367 |
| 35 | Frederic Cassivi† | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 207 | 17 | 3.32 | .918 | 0 | 307 |
| 31 | Pasi Nurminen | 9 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 275 | 28 | 3.61 | .898 | 0 | 465 |
| 1 | Damian Rhodes | 15 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 439 | 47 | 3.67 | .893 | 0 | 769 |
| 34 | Norm Maracle | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 3.00 | .850 | 0 | 60 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Calder Memorial Trophy | Dany Heatley |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Dany Heatley (Forward) |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Ilya Kovalchuk (Forward) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Dany Heatley & Ilya Kovalchuk (December) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Ilya Kovalchuk (January) |
| League (in-season) | NHL YoungStars Game selection | Dany Heatley |
| League (in-season) | NHL YoungStars Game selection | Ilya Kovalchuk |
| Team | Community Service Award | Jeff Odgers |
| Team | Players' Player Award | Jeff Odgers |
| Team | Team MVP | Dany Heatley |
| Team | Team MVP | Ilya Kovalchuk |
| Team | Three Stars of the Game Award | Dany Heatley |
| Team | Three Stars of the Game Award | Milan Hnilicka |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Dany Heatley | October 4, 2001 |
| First game | Ilya Kovalchuk | October 4, 2001 |
| First game | Kamil Piros | October 4, 2001 |
| First game | Daniel Tjarnqvist | October 4, 2001 |
| First game | Ben Simon | November 10, 2001 |
| First game | Mike Weaver | November 27, 2001 |
| First game | Pasi Nurminen | January 30, 2002 |
| First game | Frederic Cassivi | March 20, 2002 |
| First game | Luke Sellars | March 23, 2002 |
| First game | Francis Lessard | March 27, 2002 |
| First game | Mark Hartigan | April 2, 2002 |
| First game | Derek MacKenzie | April 12, 2002 |
| 400th goal scored | Ray Ferraro | December 28, 2001 |

## Transactions

The Thrashers were involved in the following transactions from June 10, 2001, the day after the deciding game of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 13, 2002, the day of the deciding game of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| June 24, 2001 (2001-06-24) | To Atlanta Thrashers4th-round pick in 20017th-round pick in 2002 | To New Jersey Devils3rd-round pick in 2002 |
| June 24, 2001 (2001-06-24) | To Atlanta ThrashersLubos Bartecko | To St. Louis Blues4th-round pick in 2001 |
| June 24, 2001 (2001-06-24) | To Atlanta ThrashersJeff Dessner | To New York Rangers8th-round pick in 2001 |
| July 2, 2001 (2001-07-02) | To Atlanta ThrashersFuture considerations | To Anaheim Mighty DucksDenny Lambert |
| December 18, 2001 (2001-12-18) | To Atlanta ThrashersJeff CowanRights to Kurtis Foster | To Calgary FlamesPetr BuzekConditional draft pick in 2003 |
| January 22, 2002 (2002-01-22) | To Atlanta ThrashersAndy Sutton | To Minnesota WildHnat Domenichelli |
| January 24, 2002 (2002-01-24) | To Atlanta ThrashersFrederic Cassivi | To Colorado AvalancheBrett Clark |
| March 6, 2002 (2002-03-06) | To Atlanta ThrashersJoe DiPenta | To Philadelphia FlyersJarrod Skalde |
| March 16, 2002 (2002-03-16) | To Atlanta ThrashersFrancis Lessard | To Philadelphia FlyersDavid Harlock3rd-round pick in 20037th-round pick in 2003 |
| March 18, 2002 (2002-03-18) | To Atlanta Thrashers4th-round pick in 2002 | To St. Louis BluesRay Ferraro |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | To Atlanta Thrashers5th-round pick in 2002 | To Buffalo SabresBob Corkum |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | To Atlanta ThrashersKirill SafronovRights to Ruslan Zainullin4th-round pick in 2002 | To Phoenix CoyotesDarcy Hordichuk4th-round pick in 20025th round pick in 2002 |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | To Atlanta ThrashersYuri Butsayev3rd-round pick in 2002 | To Detroit Red WingsJiri Slegr |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Via |
| July 16, 2001 (2001-07-16) | Bob Corkum | New Jersey Devils | Free agency |
| July 16, 2001 (2001-07-16) | Tony Hrkac | Anaheim Mighty Ducks | Free agency |
| July 16, 2001 (2001-07-16) | Todd Reirden | St. Louis Blues | Free agency |
| September 28, 2001 (2001-09-28) | Karl Stewart | Plymouth Whalers (OHL) | Free agency |
| November 14, 2001 (2001-11-14) | Pascal Rheaume | Chicago Blackhawks | Waivers |
| March 27, 2002 (2002-03-27) | Mark Hartigan | St. Cloud State University (WCHA) | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| June 19, 2001 (2001-06-19) | Yves Sarault | Nashville Predators | Waivers |
| June 25, 2001 (2001-06-25) | Dean Sylvester | | Retirement (UFA) |
| July 1, 2001 (2001-07-01) | Brian Wesenberg | | Contract expiration (UFA) |
| July 2, 2001 (2001-07-02) | Andrei Skopintsev | HC Dynamo Moscow (RSL) | Free agency (VI) |
| July 6, 2001 (2001-07-06) | Andrew Brunette | Minnesota Wild | Free agency (UFA) |
| July 12, 2001 (2001-07-12) | Steve Staios | Edmonton Oilers | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 7, 2001 (2001-08-07) | Rumun Ndur | Chicago Blackhawks | Free agency (VI) |
| August 10, 2001 (2001-08-10) | Herbert Vasiljevs | Vancouver Canucks | Free agency (VI) |
| August 23, 2001 (2001-08-23) | Wes Mason | Augusta Lynx (ECHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 29, 2001 (2001-08-29) | Hugo Boisvert | Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| September 8, 2001 (2001-09-08) | Sean Ritchlin | Reading Royals (ECHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| October 10, 2001 (2001-10-10) | Ladislav Kohn | Detroit Red Wings | Free agency (UFA) |
| October 18, 2001 (2001-10-18) | Chris Joseph | HC TPS (Liiga) | Free agency (III) |
| October 21, 2001 (2001-10-21) | Steve Guolla | New Jersey Devils | Free agency (UFA) |
| January 29, 2002 (2002-01-29) | Gord Murphy | Boston Bruins | Free agency (III) |
| March 15, 2002 (2002-03-15) | Shean Donovan | Pittsburgh Penguins | Waivers |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Contract type |
| June 19, 2001 (2001-06-19) | J. P. Vigier | Re-signing |
| July 2, 2001 (2001-07-02) | Hnat Domenichelli | Re-signing |
| July 3, 2001 (2001-07-03) | Jeff Dessner | Entry-level |
| July 3, 2001 (2001-07-03) | Libor Ustrnul | Entry-level |
| July 12, 2001 (2001-07-12) | Norm Maracle | Re-signing |
| July 12, 2001 (2001-07-12) | Pasi Nurminen | Entry-level |
| July 17, 2001 (2001-07-17) | Frantisek Kaberle | Re-signing |
| July 18, 2001 (2001-07-18) | Brett Clark | Re-signing |
| July 18, 2001 (2001-07-18) | Per Svartvadet | Re-signing |
| July 27, 2001 (2001-07-27) | Jiri Slegr | Re-signing |
| July 30, 2001 (2001-07-30) | Bryan Adams | Re-signing |
| July 30, 2001 (2001-07-30) | Lubos Bartecko | Re-signing |
| July 30, 2001 (2001-07-30) | Daniel Tjarnqvist | Entry-level |
| July 31, 2001 (2001-07-31) | Shean Donovan | Re-signing |
| August 14, 2001 (2001-08-14) | Ilya Kovalchuk | Entry-level |
| August 27, 2001 (2001-08-27) | Simon Gamache | Entry-level |
| December 19, 2001 (2001-12-19) | Kurtis Foster | Entry-level |
| May 6, 2002 (2002-05-06) | Jeff Odgers | Extension |
| May 23, 2002 (2002-05-23) | Frederic Cassivi | Extension |

## Draft picks

Atlanta's draft picks at the 2001 NHL entry draft held at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 1 | Ilya Kovalchuk | Russia | Spartak Moscow (Russia) |
| 3 | 80 | Michael Garnett | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 4 | 100 | Brian Sipotz | United States | Miami University (NCAA) |
| 4 | 112 | Milan Gajic | Canada | Burnaby Express (BCJHL) |
| 5 | 135 | Colin Stuart | United States | Colorado College (NCAA) |
| 6 | 189 | Pasi Nurminen | Finland | Jokerit (Finland) |
| 7 | 199 | Matt Suderman | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 7 | 201 | Colin FitzRandolph | United States | Phillips Exeter Academy (NH) |
| 9 | 262 | Mario Cartelli | Czech Republic | Ocelari Trinec (Czech Republic) |