# 2001–02 New York Islanders season

The 2001–02 New York Islanders season was the 30th season of the professional ice hockey team. This season saw the Islanders finish in second place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 42 wins, 28 losses, eight ties and four overtime losses for 96 points. They qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1994 as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, but lost their first-round playoff series to the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games.

## Off-season

Newly acquired forward Michael Peca was named team captain.

## Regular season

The Islanders scored the most shorthanded goals during the regular season, with 17.

### Final standings

Atlantic Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 42 | 27 | 10 | 3 | 234 | 192 | 97 |
| 2 | 5 | New York Islanders | 82 | 42 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 239 | 220 | 96 |
| 3 | 6 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 41 | 28 | 9 | 4 | 205 | 187 | 95 |
| 4 | 11 | New York Rangers | 82 | 36 | 38 | 4 | 4 | 227 | 258 | 80 |
| 5 | 12 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 28 | 41 | 8 | 5 | 198 | 249 | 69 |
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
### Regular season

2001–02 regular season :
October: 9–0–1–1 (home: 3–0–1–1; road: 6–0–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 5, 20013–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)1–0–0–0Recap
2WOctober 6, 20013–0@ Florida Panthers (2001–02)2–0–0–0Recap
3WOctober 10, 20016–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)3–0–0–0Recap
4WOctober 11, 20016–4@ New Jersey Devils (2001–02)4–0–0–0Recap
5OTLOctober 13, 20014–5 OTDetroit Red Wings (2001–02)4–0–0–1Recap
6WOctober 17, 20014–0@ Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)5–0–0–1Recap
7WOctober 18, 20012–1 OTCarolina Hurricanes (2001–02)6–0–0–1Recap
8TOctober 20, 20012–2 OTSan Jose Sharks (2001–02)6–0–1–1Recap
9WOctober 26, 20013–2 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)7–0–1–1Recap
10WOctober 28, 20013–2 OTDallas Stars (2001–02)8–0–1–1Recap
11WOctober 30, 20013–2Florida Panthers (2001–02)9–0–1–1Recap :
November: 6–5–3–0 (home: 4–1–2–0; road: 2–4–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
12LNovember 2, 20011–2@ Detroit Red Wings (2001–02)9–1–1–1Recap
13WNovember 3, 20012–1@ Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)10–1–1–1Recap
14WNovember 6, 20013–0Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)11–1–1–1Recap
15LNovember 8, 20012–6New York Rangers (2001–02)11–2–1–1Recap
16LNovember 10, 20012–3@ Montreal Canadiens (2001–02)11–3–1–1Recap
17TNovember 14, 20013–3 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)11–3–2–1Recap
18LNovember 16, 20010–1@ Colorado Avalanche (2001–02)11–4–2–1Recap
19LNovember 17, 20011–6@ Phoenix Coyotes (2001–02)11–5–2–1Recap
20WNovember 19, 20013–2@ Dallas Stars (2001–02)12–5–2–1Recap
21WNovember 21, 20015–4Colorado Avalanche (2001–02)13–5–2–1Recap
22WNovember 23, 20013–1Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)14–5–2–1Recap
23WNovember 24, 20015–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2001–02)15–5–2–1Recap
24TNovember 27, 20015–5 OTWashington Capitals (2001–02)15–5–3–1Recap
25TNovember 29, 20011–1 OTMontreal Canadiens (2001–02)15–5–4–1Recap :
December: 4–6–1–1 (home: 2–4–1–0; road: 2–2–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26LDecember 1, 20012–4Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)15–6–4–1Recap
27LDecember 4, 20012–3Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)15–7–4–1Recap
28WDecember 6, 20012–0@ Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)16–7–4–1Recap
29LDecember 7, 20013–4@ Chicago Blackhawks (2001–02)16–8–4–1Recap
30TDecember 11, 20012–2 OTOttawa Senators (2001–02)16–8–5–1Recap
31OTLDecember 12, 20012–3 OT@ New Jersey Devils (2001–02)16–8–5–2Recap
32LDecember 15, 20011–3Florida Panthers (2001–02)16–9–5–2Recap
33WDecember 18, 20014–1Edmonton Oilers (2001–02)17–9–5–2Recap
34WDecember 21, 20012–1@ New York Rangers (2001–02)18–9–5–2Recap
35LDecember 22, 20012–4Boston Bruins (2001–02)18–10–5–2Recap
36LDecember 27, 20012–5@ Ottawa Senators (2001–02)18–11–5–2Recap
37WDecember 29, 20016–5 OTMontreal Canadiens (2001–02)19–11–5–2Recap :
January: 7–7–0–1 (home: 2–4–0–1; road: 5–3–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38LJanuary 1, 20022–3@ Washington Capitals (2001–02)19–12–5–2Recap
39WJanuary 3, 20024–2Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)20–12–5–2Recap
40LJanuary 5, 20020–3Los Angeles Kings (2001–02)20–13–5–2Recap
41WJanuary 6, 20023–2@ Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02)21–13–5–2Recap
42LJanuary 8, 20022–5Calgary Flames (2001–02)21–14–5–2Recap
43LJanuary 10, 20020–4@ Montreal Canadiens (2001–02)21–15–5–2Recap
44WJanuary 12, 20025–4@ Boston Bruins (2001–02)22–15–5–2Recap
45WJanuary 15, 20023–1@ Calgary Flames (2001–02)23–15–5–2Recap
46LJanuary 17, 20022–3@ San Jose Sharks (2001–02)23–16–5–2Recap
47WJanuary 19, 20023–2@ Los Angeles Kings (2001–02)24–16–5–2Recap
48LJanuary 22, 20024–5New York Rangers (2001–02)24–17–5–2Recap
49OTLJanuary 24, 20024–5 OTPittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)24–17–5–3Recap
50WJanuary 26, 20026–2Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)25–17–5–3Recap
51LJanuary 29, 20021–3New Jersey Devils (2001–02)25–18–5–3Recap
52WJanuary 30, 20026–3@ New York Rangers (2001–02)26–18–5–3Recap :
February: 3–1–2–0 (home: 2–0–1–0; road: 1–1–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53TFebruary 4, 20026–6 OT@ Florida Panthers (2001–02)26–18–6–3Recap
54WFebruary 5, 20024–3St. Louis Blues (2001–02)27–18–6–3Recap
55WFebruary 7, 20024–1Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)28–18–6–3Recap
56LFebruary 10, 20023–4@ Minnesota Wild (2001–02)28–19–6–3Recap
57WFebruary 12, 20021–0 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)29–19–6–3Recap
58TFebruary 26, 20023–3 OTBoston Bruins (2001–02)29–19–7–3Recap :
March: 7–8–0–1 (home: 5–3–0–0; road: 2–5–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
59LMarch 1, 20023–4@ Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02)29–20–7–3Recap
60WMarch 2, 20024–1Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02)30–20–7–3Recap
61LMarch 4, 20022–4Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)30–21–7–3Recap
62LMarch 7, 20020–5Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)30–22–7–3Recap
63LMarch 8, 20022–4@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2001–02)30–23–7–3Recap
64WMarch 10, 20026–1Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02)31–23–7–3Recap
65WMarch 12, 20023–0@ Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)32–23–7–3Recap
66LMarch 13, 20022–3@ New Jersey Devils (2001–02)32–24–7–3Recap
67LMarch 16, 20023–4@ Ottawa Senators (2001–02)32–25–7–3Recap
68OTLMarch 19, 20022–3 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)32–25–7–4Recap
69WMarch 21, 20023–2Vancouver Canucks (2001–02)33–25–7–4Recap
70WMarch 23, 20022–1Minnesota Wild (2001–02)34–25–7–4Recap
71WMarch 25, 20024–2New York Rangers (2001–02)35–25–7–4Recap
72LMarch 27, 20021–4Ottawa Senators (2001–02)35–26–7–4Recap
73WMarch 28, 20025–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)36–26–7–4Recap
74LMarch 30, 20022–4@ Washington Capitals (2001–02)36–27–7–4Recap :
April: 6–1–1–0 (home: 3–1–0–0; road: 3–0–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
75WApril 1, 20024–2New Jersey Devils (2001–02)37–27–7–4Recap
76TApril 3, 20021–1 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)37–27–8–4Recap
77WApril 4, 20022–1 OT@ Boston Bruins (2001–02)38–27–8–4Recap
78WApril 6, 20025–4Washington Capitals (2001–02)39–27–8–4Recap
79LApril 8, 20021–2Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)39–28–8–4Recap
80WApril 11, 20025–2@ Nashville Predators (2001–02)40–28–8–4Recap
81WApril 12, 20023–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)41–28–8–4Recap
82WApril 14, 20023–1Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)42–28–8–4Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point)
  Overtime loss (1 point) :

### Playoffs

2002 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (4) Toronto Maple Leafs – Maple Leafs win 4–3
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LApril 18, 20021–3@ Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leafs lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 20, 20020–2@ Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leafs lead 2–0Recap
3WApril 23, 20026–1Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leafs lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 24, 20024–3Toronto Maple LeafsSeries tied 2–2Recap
5LApril 26, 20023–6@ Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leafs lead 3–2Recap
6WApril 28, 20025–3Toronto Maple LeafsSeries tied 3–3Recap
7LApril 30, 20022–4@ Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leafs win 4–3Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## 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 Islanders only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 79 | Alexei Yashin | C | 78 | 32 | 43 | 75 | −3 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −2 | 2 |
| 37 | Mark Parrish | RW | 78 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 10 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −6 | 6 |
| 27 | Michael Peca | C | 80 | 25 | 35 | 60 | 19 | 62 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −5 | 2 |
| 17 | Shawn Bates | C | 71 | 17 | 35 | 52 | 18 | 30 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −5 | 11 |
| 21 | Mariusz Czerkawski | RW | 82 | 22 | 29 | 51 | −8 | 48 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −3 | 4 |
| 15 | Brad Isbister | LW | 79 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 1 | 113 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| 12 | Oleg Kvasha | LW | 71 | 13 | 25 | 38 | −4 | 80 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Roman Hamrlik | D | 70 | 11 | 26 | 37 | 7 | 78 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −6 | 6 |
| 3 | Adrian Aucoin | D | 81 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 23 | 62 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −1 | 4 |
| 29 | Kenny Jonsson | D | 76 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 15 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −2 | 4 |
| 38 | Dave Scatchard | C | 80 | 12 | 15 | 27 | −4 | 111 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −2 | 22 |
| 11 | Kip Miller† | C | 37 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | −2 | 2 |
| 13 | Claude Lapointe | C | 80 | 9 | 12 | 21 | −9 | 60 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 14 |
| 8 | Dick Tarnstrom | D | 62 | 3 | 16 | 19 | −12 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
| 55 | Jason Blake | C | 82 | 8 | 10 | 18 | −11 | 36 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 13 |
| 10 | Mats Lindgren | LW | 59 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33 | Eric Cairns | D | 74 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 176 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 15 |
| 20 | Steve Webb | RW | 60 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 104 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 45 | Marko Kiprusoff‡ | D | 27 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | Radek Martinek | D | 23 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35 | Chris Osgood | G | 66 | 0 | 4 | 4 | | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 |
| 28 | Darren Van Impe† | D | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −5 | 8 |
| 25 | Juraj Kolnik | RW | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 36 | Evgeny Korolev | D | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Branislav Mezei | D | 24 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Ken Sutton | D | 21 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −5 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Raffi Torres | LW | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | Jim Cummins† | RW | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −5 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 14 | Ted Donato†‡ | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 41 | Ray Giroux | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Kevin Haller | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Alexander Kharitonov | LW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28 | Jason Krog | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 56 | Jason Podollan | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 51 | Dave Roche‡† | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | Ray Schultz | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 30 | Garth Snow | G | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 46 | Marko Tuomainen | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 43 | Trent Hunter | RW | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 35 | Chris Osgood | 66 | 32 | 25 | 6 | 1727 | 156 | 2.50 | .910 | 4 | 3743 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 193 | 17 | 2.60 | .912 | 0 | 392 |
| 30 | Garth Snow | 25 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 549 | 55 | 2.71 | .900 | 2 | 1217 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 4.62 | .895 | 0 | 26 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Frank J. Selke Trophy | Michael Peca |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Mark Parrish |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Alexei Yashin |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Month | Chris Osgood (October) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Mark Parrish (October 15) |
| Team | Bob Nystrom Award | Steve Webb |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Radek Martinek | October 5, 2001 |
| First game | Dick Tarnstrom | October 30, 2001 |
| First game | Raffi Torres | November 24, 2001 |
| First game | Trent Hunter | April 24, 2002 |

## Transactions

The Islanders 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 22, 2001 (2001-06-22) | To New York Islanders Adrian AucoinAlexander Kharitonov | To Tampa Bay Lightning Mathieu Biron2nd-round pick in 2002 |
| June 23, 2001 (2001-06-23) | To New York Islanders Alexei Yashin | To Ottawa Senators Zdeno CharaBill Muckalt1st-round pick in 2001 |
| June 23, 2001 (2001-06-23) | To New York Islanders 4th-round pick in 20013rd-round pick in 2002 | To Florida Panthers 3rd-round pick in 2001 |
| June 24, 2001 (2001-06-24) | To New York Islanders Rights to Michael Peca | To Buffalo Sabres Tim ConnollyTaylor Pyatt |
| January 14, 2002 (2002-01-14) | To New York Islanders Jim Cummins | To Anaheim Mighty Ducks Dave Roche |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | To New York Islanders Darren Van Impe | To Florida Panthers 5th-round pick in 2003 |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | To New York Islanders Dave Roche | To Anaheim Mighty Ducks Ben GuiteRights to Bjorn Melin |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| June 15, 2001 (2001-06-15) | Marko Kiprusoff | Kloten Flyers (NLA) | multi-year | Free agency |
| July 1, 2001 (2001-07-01) | Garth Snow | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2-year | Free agency |
| July 5, 2001 (2001-07-05) | Ken Sutton | New Jersey Devils | 2-year | Free agency |
| July 6, 2001 (2001-07-06) | Shawn Bates | Boston Bruins | 2-year | Free agency |
| July 18, 2001 (2001-07-18) | Marko Tuomainen | Los Angeles Kings | | Free agency |
| August 1, 2001 (2001-08-01) | Chris Armstrong | Minnesota Wild | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 1, 2001 (2001-08-01) | Ben Guite | Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (ECHL) | | Free agency |
| August 16, 2001 (2001-08-16) | Dave Roche | Calgary Flames | | Free agency |
| August 24, 2001 (2001-08-24) | Jason Podollan | Tampa Bay Lightning | | Free agency |
| September 28, 2001 (2001-09-28) | Chris Osgood | Detroit Red Wings | | Waiver draft |
| January 16, 2002 (2002-01-16) | Ted Donato | Manchester Monarchs (AHL) | | Free agency |
| January 16, 2002 (2002-01-16) | Kip Miller | Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) | 1-year | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| August 1, 2001 (2001-08-01) | Aris Brimanis | Anaheim Mighty Ducks | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 3, 2001 (2001-08-03) | Chris Terreri | | Retirement (III) |
| August 30, 2001 (2001-08-30) | Steve Martins | Ottawa Senators | Free agency (UFA) |
| September 18, 2001 (2001-09-18) | Craig Berube | Calgary Flames | Free agency (III) |
| September 25, 2001 (2001-09-25) | Mark Lawrence | Kalamazoo Wings (UHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| October 2001 (2001-10) | Anders Myrvold | Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) | Free agency (VI) |
| December 22, 2001 (2001-12-22) | Garry Galley | | Retirement (III) |
| January 30, 2002 (2002-01-30) | Ted Donato | Los Angeles Kings | Waivers |
| January 30, 2002 (2002-01-30) | Marko Kiprusoff | HC TPS (Liiga) | Mutual release |
| April 17, 2002 (2002-04-17) | Marko Tuomainen | Espoo Blues (Liiga) | Free agency |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| June 15, 2001 (2001-06-15) | Mats Lindgren | | Re-signing |
| June 15, 2001 (2001-06-15) | Radek Martinek | multi-year | Entry-level |
| June 15, 2001 (2001-06-15) | Dick Tarnstrom | multi-year | Entry-level |
| July 6, 2001 (2001-07-06) | Dusan Salficky | 1-year | Entry-level |
| July 10, 2001 (2001-07-10) | Mariusz Czerkawski | 3-year | Re-signing |
| July 11, 2001 (2001-07-11) | Brad Isbister | 2-year | Re-signing |
| July 26, 2001 (2001-07-26) | Steve Valiquette | 2-year | Re-signing |
| July 30, 2001 (2001-07-30) | Ray Schultz | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 31, 2001 (2001-07-31) | Evgeny Korolev | 2-year | Re-signing |
| August 2, 2001 (2001-08-02) | Adrian Aucoin | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 2, 2001 (2001-08-02) | Jason Krog | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 7, 2001 (2001-08-07) | Jason Blake | 3-year | Extension |
| August 9, 2001 (2001-08-09) | Mark Parrish | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 13, 2001 (2001-08-13) | Kenny Jonsson | 2-year | Re-signing |
| August 15, 2001 (2001-08-15) | Alexander Kharitonov | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 29, 2001 (2001-08-29) | Michael Peca | 5-year | Re-signing |
| September 5, 2001 (2001-09-05) | Alexei Yashin | 10-year | Re-signing |

## Draft picks

New York'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) |
| 4 | 101 | Cory Stillman | Canada | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) |
| 5 | 132 | Dusan Salficky | Czech Republic | HC Plzeň (Czech Republic) |
| 6 | 166 | Andy Chiodo | Canada | Toronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL) |
| 7 | 197 | Jan Holub | Czech Republic | HC Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czech Republic) |
| 8 | 228 | Mike Bray | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 260 | Brian Perez | United States | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) |
| 9 | 280 | Roman Kuhtinov | Russia | Metallurg Novokuznetsk (Russia) |
| 9 | 287 | Juha-Pekka Ketola | Finland | Lukko (Finland) |