# 2001–02 Edmonton Oilers season

The 2001–02 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 23rd season in the National Hockey League, and they were coming off a 39–28–12–3 record in 2000–01, earning 93 points, the highest point total the Oilers had achieved since the 1987–88 season, when they earned 99 points. The Oilers would meet the Dallas Stars in the opening round of the playoffs, and lose in six games.
During the off-season, Edmonton traded Doug Weight to the St. Louis Blues, along with Michel Riesen for Marty Reasoner, Jochen Hecht and Jan Horacek. With the trading of the captain, the Oilers named defenceman Jason Smith the new captain of the club.
Despite the loss of Weight, the Oilers got off to a great start, and on December 16, they sat at the top of the Northwest Division with 43 points. Edmonton would then slump, going 9–16–7–1 in their next 33 games to drop them out of the playoff picture. The club would then go on a 9-game unbeaten streak, and despite finishing the year with a 38–28–12–4 record, good for 90 points, they would miss the playoffs for the first time since 1996, finishing two points behind the eighth place Vancouver Canucks.
Offensively, Edmonton-born Mike Comrie led the club with 33 goals and 60 points, while Anson Carter scored 28 goals and also earn 60 points. Ryan Smyth earned 50 points in only 61 games. Janne Niinimaa led the club with 39 assists, and led the defense with 44 points. Georges Laraque provided the club toughness, earning 157 penalty minutes.
In goal, Tommy Salo would have arguably the best season ever by an Oilers goaltender, winning 30 games, posting a club record 2.22 goals against average (GAA) and earning five shutouts. The 182 goals the Oilers allowed was a club record for fewest in a season and the second lowest total in the NHL during the season.

## Season standings

Northwest Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 45 | 28 | 8 | 1 | 212 | 169 | 99 |
| 2 | 8 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 42 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 254 | 211 | 94 |
| 3 | 9 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 38 | 28 | 12 | 4 | 205 | 182 | 92 |
| 4 | 11 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 32 | 35 | 12 | 3 | 201 | 220 | 79 |
| 5 | 12 | Minnesota Wild | 82 | 26 | 35 | 12 | 9 | 195 | 238 | 73 |
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 – Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 51 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 251 | 187 | 116 |
| 2 | y – Colorado Avalanche | NW | 82 | 45 | 28 | 8 | 1 | 212 | 169 | 99 |
| 3 | y – San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 44 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 248 | 199 | 99 |
| 4 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 43 | 27 | 8 | 4 | 227 | 188 | 98 |
| 5 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 41 | 27 | 13 | 1 | 216 | 207 | 96 |
| 6 | Phoenix Coyotes | PAC | 82 | 40 | 27 | 9 | 6 | 228 | 210 | 95 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 40 | 27 | 11 | 4 | 214 | 190 | 95 |
| 8 | Vancouver Canucks | NW | 82 | 42 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 254 | 211 | 94 |
| 8.5 |||||||||||
| 9 | Edmonton Oilers | NW | 82 | 38 | 28 | 12 | 4 | 205 | 182 | 92 |
| 10 | Dallas Stars | PAC | 82 | 36 | 28 | 13 | 5 | 215 | 213 | 90 |
| 11 | Calgary Flames | NW | 82 | 32 | 35 | 12 | 3 | 201 | 220 | 79 |
| 12 | Minnesota Wild | NW | 82 | 26 | 35 | 12 | 9 | 195 | 238 | 73 |
| 13 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 29 | 42 | 8 | 3 | 175 | 198 | 69 |
| 14 | Nashville Predators | CEN | 82 | 28 | 41 | 13 | 0 | 196 | 230 | 69 |
| 15 | Columbus Blue Jackets | CEN | 82 | 22 | 47 | 8 | 5 | 164 | 255 | 57 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific, NW – Northwest
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy; y – Won division

## Schedule and results

2001–02 regular season :
October: 9–4–1–0 (home: 6–2–0–0; road: 3–2–1–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
1October 3Edmonton Oilers0 – 1Calgary FlamesSalo16,2420–1–0–00Recap
2October 6Phoenix Coyotes2 – 6Edmonton OilersSalo16,8391–1–0–02Recap
3October 9Chicago Blackhawks0 – 1Edmonton OilersSalo14,1912–1–0–04Recap
4October 11Colorado Avalanche3 – 5Edmonton OilersSalo15,8433–1–0–06Recap
5October 13Edmonton Oilers4 – 3Nashville PredatorsSalo13,1174–1–0–08Recap
6October 14Edmonton Oilers3 – 3Minnesota WildOTSalo18,0644–1–1–09Recap
7October 16Toronto Maple Leafs4 – 1Edmonton OilersSalo16,8394–2–1–09Recap
8October 18Edmonton Oilers4 – 1Colorado AvalancheSalo18,0075–2–1–011Recap
9October 20Florida Panthers2 – 6Edmonton OilersConklin16,8396–2–1–013Recap
10October 22Nashville Predators4 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo15,2816–3–1–013Recap
11October 24Edmonton Oilers1 – 4Detroit Red WingsSalo20,0586–4–1–013Recap
12October 25Edmonton Oilers5 – 2Columbus Blue JacketsConklin18,1367–4–1–015Recap
13October 27Vancouver Canucks2 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,8398–4–1–017Recap
14October 30Montreal Canadiens1 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,3679–4–1–019Recap :
November: 7–3–2–1 (home: 2–2–0–0; road: 5–1–2–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
15November 2Columbus Blue Jackets2 – 1Edmonton OilersSalo15,9449–5–1–019Recap
16November 4Edmonton Oilers2 – 0Minnesota WildSalo18,06410–5–1–021Recap
17November 6Edmonton Oilers0 – 1Boston BruinsOTSalo12,13410–5–1–122Recap
18November 9Edmonton Oilers3 – 0Columbus Blue JacketsSalo18,13611–5–1–124Recap
19November 11Edmonton Oilers1 – 1Carolina HurricanesOTSalo12,39011–5–2–125Recap
20November 13Edmonton Oilers5 – 4Phoenix CoyotesOTSalo10,51212–5–2–127Recap
21November 16Chicago Blackhawks1 – 7Edmonton OilersSalo16,83913–5–2–129Recap
22November 17Edmonton Oilers2 – 2Vancouver CanucksOTSalo18,42213–5–3–130Recap
23November 20St. Louis Blues0 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo16,83914–5–3–132Recap
24November 22Los Angeles Kings4 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo16,43414–6–3–132Recap
25November 24Edmonton Oilers0 – 2Colorado AvalancheSalo18,00714–7–3–132Recap
26November 28Edmonton Oilers2 – 0Mighty Ducks of AnaheimMarkkanen9,52715–7–3–134Recap
27November 29Edmonton Oilers3 – 1Los Angeles KingsSalo15,64316–7–3–136Recap :
December: 5–6–3–1 (home: 4–3–0–0; road: 1–3–3–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
28December 1Dallas Stars6 – 4Edmonton OilersSalo16,83916–8–3–136Recap
29December 5Mighty Ducks of Anaheim2 – 3Edmonton OilersOTSalo15,54517–8–3–138Recap
30December 7Edmonton Oilers0 – 5Dallas StarsSalo18,53217–9–3–138Recap
31December 8Edmonton Oilers2 – 2Nashville PredatorsOTSalo14,15817–9–4–139Recap
32December 11Edmonton Oilers4 – 5San Jose SharksOTSalo17,49617–9–4–240Recap
33December 13Detroit Red Wings2 – 1Edmonton OilersSalo16,83917–10–4–240Recap
34December 14Tampa Bay Lightning1 – 2Edmonton OilersMarkkanen16,27218–10–4–242Recap
35December 16Edmonton Oilers3 – 2Philadelphia FlyersSalo19,34319–10–4–244Recap
36December 18Edmonton Oilers1 – 4New York IslandersSalo10,55119–11–4–244Recap
37December 20Edmonton Oilers3 – 3New Jersey DevilsOTSalo14,15019–11–5–245Recap
38December 21Edmonton Oilers1 – 5Chicago BlackhawksSalo14,32619–12–5–245Recap
39December 26Calgary Flames2 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,83920–12–5–247Recap
40December 28Minnesota Wild2 – 3Edmonton OilersMarkkanen16,83921–12–5–249Recap
41December 30New Jersey Devils2 – 1Edmonton OilersSalo16,83921–13–5–249Recap
42December 31Edmonton Oilers2 – 2Calgary FlamesOTSalo17,40921–13–6–250Recap :
January: 4–7–3–0 (home: 4–4–2–0; road: 0–3–1–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
43January 2New York Rangers1 – 4Edmonton OilersSalo16,83922–13–6–252Recap
44January 5Vancouver Canucks4 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,83922–14–6–252Recap
45January 6Montreal Canadiens6 – 7Edmonton OilersSalo16,83923–14–6–254Recap
46January 10Carolina Hurricanes4 – 1Edmonton OilersSalo16,32223–15–6–254Recap
47January 12Colorado Avalanche2 – 2Edmonton OilersOTSalo16,83923–15–7–255Recap
48January 14Edmonton Oilers1 – 2Chicago BlackhawksSalo12,88723–16–7–255Recap
49January 15Edmonton Oilers2 – 3St. Louis BluesMarkkanen19,72923–17–7–255Recap
50January 18Mighty Ducks of Anaheim1 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,55824–17–7–257Recap
51January 19Pittsburgh Penguins1 – 0Edmonton OilersSalo16,83924–18–7–257Recap
52January 21Edmonton Oilers3 – 4San Jose SharksSalo17,49624–19–7–257Recap
53January 23Colorado Avalanche4 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo16,63424–20–7–257Recap
54January 26Toronto Maple Leafs1 – 4Edmonton OilersSalo16,83925–20–7–259Recap
55January 28Detroit Red Wings1 – 1Edmonton OilersOTSalo16,83925–20–8–260Recap
56January 30Edmonton Oilers2 – 2Vancouver CanucksOTSalo18,42225–20–9–261Recap :
February: 1–4–1–0 (home: 0–2–0–0; road: 1–2–1–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
57February 5Edmonton Oilers2 – 3Atlanta ThrashersMarkkanen10,87525–21–9–261Recap
58February 7Edmonton Oilers1 – 3St. Louis BluesSalo18,63225–22–9–261Recap
59February 8Edmonton Oilers1 – 1Dallas StarsOTMarkkanen18,53225–22–10–262Recap
60February 10Edmonton Oilers4 – 3Phoenix CoyotesSalo12,14726–22–10–264Recap
61February 12San Jose Sharks3 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo16,83926–23–10–264Recap
62February 28Nashville Predators3 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo16,58526–24–10–264Recap :
March: 9–2–2–1 (home: 5–0–2–0; road: 4–2–0–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
63March 2St. Louis Blues1 – 1Edmonton OilersOTMarkkanen16,83926–24–11–265Recap
64March 4Edmonton Oilers3 – 0Buffalo SabresMarkkanen16,66127–24–11–267Recap
65March 6Edmonton Oilers3 – 2Tampa Bay LightningSalo13,25628–24–11–269Recap
66March 8Edmonton Oilers4 – 5Florida PanthersMarkkanen15,91428–25–11–269Recap
67March 10Edmonton Oilers2 – 4Washington CapitalsSalo18,67228–26–11–269Recap
68March 13Edmonton Oilers3 – 4Detroit Red WingsOTMarkkanen20,05828–26–11–370Recap
69March 14Edmonton Oilers4 – 1Ottawa SenatorsSalo18,39729–26–11–372Recap
70March 16Washington Capitals1 – 4Edmonton OilersSalo16,83930–26–11–374Recap
71March 20San Jose Sharks1 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo16,83931–26–11–376Recap
72March 23Calgary Flames1 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,83932–26–11–378Recap
73March 24Edmonton Oilers2 – 0Vancouver CanucksSalo18,42233–26–11–380Recap
74March 26Columbus Blue Jackets1 – 3Edmonton OilersMarkkanen16,63934–26–11–382Recap
75March 28Los Angeles Kings2 – 2Edmonton OilersOTSalo16,83934–26–12–383Recap
76March 30Dallas Stars1 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,83935–26–12–385Recap :
April: 3–2–0–1 (home: 2–1–0–0; road: 1–1–0–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
77April 2Minnesota Wild1 – 2Edmonton OilersOTSalo16,83936–26–12–387Recap
78April 5Edmonton Oilers0 – 2Mighty Ducks of AnaheimSalo13,36936–27–12–387Recap
79April 6Edmonton Oilers3 – 4Los Angeles KingsOTSalo18,31136–27–12–488Recap
80April 10Phoenix Coyotes0 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,83937–27–12–490Recap
81April 12Calgary Flames2 – 0Edmonton OilersSalo16,83937–28–12–490Recap
82April 14Edmonton Oilers4 – 2Minnesota WildMarkkanen18,56838–28–12–492Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point)
  Overtime loss (1 point) :

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; 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 Oilers only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 89 | Mike Comrie | C | 82 | 33 | 27 | 60 | 16 | 45 |
| 22 | Anson Carter | RW | 82 | 28 | 32 | 60 | 3 | 25 |
| 94 | Ryan Smyth | LW | 61 | 15 | 35 | 50 | 7 | 48 |
| 44 | Janne Niinimaa | D | 81 | 5 | 39 | 44 | 13 | 80 |
| 20 | Jochen Hecht | LW | 82 | 16 | 24 | 40 | 4 | 60 |
| 26 | Todd Marchant | C | 82 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 7 | 41 |
| 7 | Daniel Cleary | RW | 65 | 10 | 19 | 29 | −1 | 51 |
| 25 | Mike Grier | RW | 82 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 1 | 32 |
| 2 | Eric Brewer | D | 81 | 7 | 18 | 25 | −5 | 45 |
| 16 | Rem Murray‡ | C | 69 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 5 | 14 |
| 10 | Shawn Horcoff | LW | 61 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 3 | 18 |
| 27 | Georges Laraque | RW | 80 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 6 | 157 |
| 21 | Jason Smith | D | 74 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 103 |
| 5 | Tom Poti‡ | D | 55 | 1 | 16 | 17 | −6 | 42 |
| 18 | Ethan Moreau | LW | 80 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 4 | 81 |
| 12 | Josh Green | LW | 61 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 9 | 52 |
| 15 | Marty Reasoner | C | 52 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 41 |
| 23 | Sean Brown‡ | D | 61 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 127 |
| 24 | Steve Staios | D | 73 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 108 |
| 14 | Domenic Pittis | LW | 22 | 0 | 6 | 6 | −2 | 8 |
| 32 | Scott Ferguson | D | 50 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 75 |
| 16 | Mike York† | RW | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −1 | 0 |
| 37 | Brian Swanson | C | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 28 | Jason Chimera | C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 0 |
| 35 | Tommy Salo | G | 69 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 2 |
| 19 | Sven Butenschon | D | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1 | Ty Conklin | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 30 | Jussi Markkanen | G | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 45 | Ales Pisa | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 46 | Jani Rita | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### 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 |
| 35 | Tommy Salo | 69 | 30 | 28 | 10 | 1713 | 149 | 2.22 | .913 | 6 | 4035 |
| 30 | Jussi Markkanen | 14 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 336 | 24 | 1.84 | .929 | 2 | 784 |
| 1 | Ty Conklin | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 4 | 1.62 | .939 | 0 | 148 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honour | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Tommy Salo |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Tommy Salo (March 25) |
| League (in-season) | NHL YoungStars Game selection | Mike Comrie |
| Team | Community Service Award | Georges Laraque |
| Team | Defenceman of the Year | Janne Niinimaa |
| Team | Molson Cup | Tommy Salo |
| Team | Most Popular Player | Mike Comrie |
| Team | Top Defensive Forward | Todd Marchant |
| Team | Top First Year Oiler | Not awarded |
| Team | Unsung Hero | Steve Staios |
| Team | Zane Feldman Trophy | Tommy Salo |

### Records

* 15: A new Oilers record for most shutouts in a career by Tommy Salo on March 24, 2002.

### Milestones

Regular Season :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Janne Niinimaa | 400th NHL Game | October 6, 2001 |
| Anson Carter | 100th NHL PIM | October 9, 2001 |
| Tommy Salo | 25th shutout | October 9, 2001 |
| Scott Ferguson | 1st NHL Goal | October 11, 2001 |
| Steve Staios | 500th NHL PIM | October 11, 2001 |
| Georges Laraque | 400th NHL PIM | October 14, 2001 |
| Ty Conklin | 1st NHL Game | October 16, 2001 |
| Janne Niinimaa | 400th NHL PIM 200th NHL Point | October 18, 2001 |
| Anson Carter | 300th NHL Game 200th NHL Point 1st NHL Gordie Howe hat trick | October 20, 2001 |
| Ty Conklin | 1st NHL Win | October 20, 2001 |
| Marty Reasoner | 100th NHL Game | November 2, 2001 |
| Anson Carter | 100th NHL Goal | November 13, 2001 |
| Jochen Hecht | 100th NHL PIM | November 22, 2001 |
| Jussi Markkanen | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Win 1st NHL Shutout | November 28, 2001 |
| Sean Brown | 600th NHL PIM | November 29, 2001 |
| Josh Green | 100th NHL Game | December 8, 2001 |
| Ethan Moreau | 1st NHL Gordie Howe hat trick | December 8, 2001 |
| Eric Brewer | 200th NHL Game | December 14, 2001 |
| Mike Grier | 400th NHL Game | December 14, 2001 |
| Tom Poti | 100th NHL Point | December 16, 2001 |
| Jason Chimera | 1st NHL Goal | December 18, 2001 |
| Ethan Moreau | 400th NHL Game | December 20, 2001 |
| Jochen Hecht | 100th NHL Point | January 6, 2002 |
| Georges Laraque | 500th NHL PIM | January 18, 2002 |
| Rem Murray | 400th NHL Game | January 23, 2002 |
| Shawn Horcoff | 100th NHL Game | February 7, 2002 |
| Mike Comrie | 100th NHL Game | February 8, 2002 |
| Ethan Moreau | 500th NHL PIM | February 8, 2002 |
| Josh Green | 100th NHL PIM | February 12, 2002 |
| Jochen Hecht | 200th NHL Game | February 28, 2002 |
| Jani Rita | 1st NHL Game | March 2, 2002 |
| Daniel Cleary | 100th NHL PIM | March 8, 2002 |
| Tom Poti | 200th NHL PIM | March 8, 2002 |
| Ryan Smyth | 300th NHL Point | March 8, 2002 |
| Tommy Salo | 400th NHL Game | March 10, 2002 |
| Mike Grier | 100th NHL Assist | March 20, 2002 |
| Ales Pisa | 1st NHL Game | March 20, 2002 |
| Jason Smith | 600th NHL PIM | March 23, 2002 |
| Daniel Cleary | 200th NHL Game | April 5, 2002 |
| Janne Niinimaa | 200th NHL Assist | April 6, 2002 |
| Todd Marchant | 600th NHL Game | April 10, 2002 |
| Tommy Salo | 30th NHL Shutout | April 10, 2002 |

## Transactions

The Oilers 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 29, 2001 (2001-06-29) | To Minnesota WildSergei Zholtok | To Edmonton OilersFuture considerations |
| July 1, 2001 (2001-07-01) | To St. Louis BluesMichel RiesenDoug Weight | To Edmonton OilersJochen HechtJan HoracekMarty Reasoner |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | To Boston BruinsSean Brown | To Edmonton OilersBobby Allen |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | To New York RangersRem MurrayTom Poti | To Edmonton OilersMike York4th-round pick in 2002 |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| July 12, 2001 (2001-07-12) | Steve Staios | Atlanta Thrashers | multi-year | Free agency |
| July 17, 2001 (2001-07-17) | Jan Benda | Jokerit (Liiga) | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 17, 2001 (2001-07-17) | Greg Leeb | Dallas Stars | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 15, 2001 (2001-08-15) | Sean Selmser | Columbus Blue Jackets | | Free agency |
| August 16, 2001 (2001-08-16) | Marc Lamothe | Columbus Blue Jackets | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 16, 2001 (2001-08-16) | Jared Smyth | Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (ECHL) | | Free agency |
| May 28, 2002 (2002-05-28) | Mike Bishai | Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) | | Free agency |
| May 28, 2002 (2002-05-28) | Nate DiCasmirro | Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) | | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| N/A | Patrick Cote | Laval Chiefs (QSPHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| N/A | Frank Musil | HC Dukla Jihlava (ELH) | Free agency (III) |
| N/A | Dominic Roussel | LaSalle Rapides (QSPHL) | Free agency (III) |
| July 1, 2001 (2001-07-01) | Igor Ulanov | New York Rangers | Free agency (III) |
| July 1, 2001 (2001-07-01) | Brian Urick | | Contract expiration (UFA) |
| July 8, 2001 (2001-07-08) | Brett Hauer | Los Angeles Kings | Free agency (VI) |
| July 24, 2001 (2001-07-24) | Paul Healey | Toronto Maple Leafs | Free agency (VI) |
| July 27, 2001 (2001-07-27) | Brad Norton | Florida Panthers | Free agency (VI) |
| August 2, 2001 (2001-08-02) | Terran Sandwith | Belfast Giants (BISL) | Free agency (VI) |
| August 12, 2001 (2001-08-12) | Joaquin Gage | Ayr Scottish Eagles (BISL) | Free agency (VI) |
| August 14, 2001 (2001-08-14) | Rory Fitzpatrick | Buffalo Sabres | Free agency (VI) |
| August 31, 2001 (2001-08-31) | Paul Comrie | | Retirement |
| N/A | Eric Heffler | New Haven Knights (UHL) | Free agency (UFA) |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| June 12, 2001 (2001-06-12) | Fernando Pisani | | Entry-level |
| July 14, 2001 (2001-07-14) | Jani Rita | multi-year | Entry-level |
| July 16, 2001 (2001-07-16) | Kari Haakana | | Entry-level |
| July 16, 2001 (2001-07-16) | Jussi Markkanen | | Entry-level |
| July 16, 2001 (2001-07-16) | Ales Pisa | | Entry-level |
| July 17, 2001 (2001-07-17) | Alexander Lyubimov | 3-year | Entry-level |
| July 30, 2001 (2001-07-30) | Jochen Hecht | 3-year | Re-signing |
| July 31, 2001 (2001-07-31) | Daniel Cleary | 3-year | Re-signing |
| July 31, 2001 (2001-07-31) | Chris Hajt | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 1, 2001 (2001-08-01) | Sven Butenschon | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 1, 2001 (2001-08-01) | Josh Green | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 1, 2001 (2001-08-01) | Marty Reasoner | 2-year | Re-signing |
| August 3, 2001 (2001-08-03) | Janne Niinimaa | 3-year | Re-signing |
| August 9, 2001 (2001-08-09) | Alain Nasreddine | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 9, 2001 (2001-08-09) | Brian Swanson | 2-year | Re-signing |
| August 15, 2001 (2001-08-15) | Eric Brewer | 1-year | Re-signing |
| October 17, 2001 (2001-10-17) | Tom Poti | 1-year | Re-signing |
| June 5, 2002 (2002-06-05) | Jussi Markkanen | 1-year | Option exercised |

## Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 2001 NHL entry draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 13 | Ales Hemsky | Czech Republic | Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 43 | Doug Lynch | Canada | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) |
| 2 | 52 | Ed Caron | United States | Phillips Exeter Academy (USHS-NH) |
| 3 | 84 | Kenny Smith | United States | Harvard University (NCAA) |
| 5 | 133 | Jussi Markkanen | Finland | Tappara (SM-liiga) |
| 5 | 154 | Jake Brenk | United States | Breck School (USHS) |
| 6 | 185 | Mikael Svensk | Sweden | Frölunda HC (Sweden) |
| 7 | 215 | Dan Baum | Canada | Prince George Cougars (WHL) |
| 8 | 248 | Kari Haakana | Finland | Jokerit (SM-liiga) |
| 9 | 272 | Ales Pisa | Czech Republic | HC Pardubice (Czech.) |
| 9 | 278 | Shay Stephenson | Canada | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) |