# 2001–02 Florida Panthers season

The 2001–02 Florida Panthers season was their ninth season in the National Hockey League. The Panthers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

## Offseason

Prior to the beginning of the regular season it was announced that Pavel Bure and Paul Laus would alternate the captaincy every five games. This was discontinued when Mike Keenan was named the team’s new head coach in early December.

## Regular season

On December 3, it was announced that Mike Keenan would replace Duane Sutter as head coach and Bill Torrey would step down as general manager. Assistant general manager Chuck Fletcher was named interim general manager.

### 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: 3–7–2–1 (home: 1–3–0–1; road: 2–4–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 4, 20012–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)0–1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 6, 20010–3New York Islanders (2001–02)0–2–0–0Recap
3WOctober 7, 20015–0@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)1–2–0–0Recap
4LOctober 10, 20010–2Ottawa Senators (2001–02)1–3–0–0Recap
5LOctober 13, 20012–5Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)1–4–0–0Recap
6TOctober 16, 20012–2 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (2001–02)1–4–1–0Recap
7LOctober 18, 20011–3@ Calgary Flames (2001–02)1–5–1–0Recap
8LOctober 20, 20012–6@ Edmonton Oilers (2001–02)1–6–1–0Recap
9OTLOctober 24, 20013–4 OTWashington Capitals (2001–02)1–6–1–1Recap
10WOctober 26, 20013–2Los Angeles Kings (2001–02)2–6–1–1Recap
11TOctober 28, 20012–2 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)2–6–2–1Recap
12LOctober 30, 20012–3@ New York Islanders (2001–02)2–7–2–1Recap
13WOctober 31, 20013–1@ New York Rangers (2001–02)3–7–2–1Recap :
November: 3–7–0–2 (home: 2–4–0–1; road: 1–3–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
14LNovember 3, 20013–5New York Rangers (2001–02)3–8–2–1Recap
15WNovember 7, 20012–0Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)4–8–2–1Recap
16OTLNovember 10, 20012–3 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (2001–02)4–8–2–2Recap
17LNovember 12, 20013–5Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)4–9–2–2Recap
18LNovember 14, 20012–3Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)4–10–2–2Recap
19WNovember 16, 20012–0@ Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)5–10–2–2Recap
20OTLNovember 17, 20010–1 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (2001–02)5–10–2–3Recap
21LNovember 19, 20011–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)5–11–2–3Recap
22WNovember 21, 20016–0Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2001–02)6–11–2–3Recap
23LNovember 24, 20011–5New Jersey Devils (2001–02)6–12–2–3Recap
24LNovember 27, 20011–4@ Colorado Avalanche (2001–02)6–13–2–3Recap
25LNovember 29, 20010–6@ Minnesota Wild (2001–02)6–14–2–3Recap :
December: 6–6–1–0 (home: 4–4–0–0; road: 2–2–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26LDecember 1, 20012–5Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02)6–15–2–3Recap
27WDecember 5, 20012–0Columbus Blue Jackets (2001–02)7–15–2–3Recap
28LDecember 8, 20012–3Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)7–16–2–3Recap
29LDecember 12, 20011–4@ Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)7–17–2–3Recap
30WDecember 14, 20013–2@ New Jersey Devils (2001–02)8–17–2–3Recap
31WDecember 15, 20013–1@ New York Islanders (2001–02)9–17–2–3Recap
32LDecember 17, 20012–4@ New York Rangers (2001–02)9–18–2–3Recap
33WDecember 19, 20015–2Washington Capitals (2001–02)10–18–2–3Recap
34LDecember 22, 20010–2St. Louis Blues (2001–02)10–19–2–3Recap
35TDecember 26, 20013–3 OT@ Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02)10–19–3–3Recap
36LDecember 28, 20011–7Boston Bruins (2001–02)10–20–3–3Recap
37WDecember 29, 20014–2Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)11–20–3–3Recap
38WDecember 31, 20014–3Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02)12–20–3–3Recap :
January: 4–10–1–0 (home: 1–7–0–0; road: 3–3–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
39LJanuary 2, 20021–3@ Los Angeles Kings (2001–02)12–21–3–3Recap
40WJanuary 4, 20022–1@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2001–02)13–21–3–3Recap
41LJanuary 5, 20020–6@ San Jose Sharks (2001–02)13–22–3–3Recap
42WJanuary 7, 20022–1@ Washington Capitals (2001–02)14–22–3–3Recap
43LJanuary 9, 20022–3Dallas Stars (2001–02)14–23–3–3Recap
44LJanuary 11, 20022–4Ottawa Senators (2001–02)14–24–3–3Recap
45LJanuary 12, 20020–1Washington Capitals (2001–02)14–25–3–3Recap
46LJanuary 16, 20020–3Chicago Blackhawks (2001–02)14–26–3–3Recap
47WJanuary 18, 20023–2@ Dallas Stars (2001–02)15–26–3–3Recap
48LJanuary 19, 20021–6Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02)15–27–3–3Recap
49WJanuary 21, 20027–5Montreal Canadiens (2001–02)16–27–3–3Recap
50LJanuary 23, 20021–3New Jersey Devils (2001–02)16–28–3–3Recap
51TJanuary 25, 20021–1 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)16–28–4–3Recap
52LJanuary 26, 20022–4@ Boston Bruins (2001–02)16–29–4–3Recap
53LJanuary 30, 20021–3Phoenix Coyotes (2001–02)16–30–4–3Recap :
February: 1–5–1–1 (home: 0–1–1–1; road: 1–4–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
54TFebruary 4, 20026–6 OTNew York Islanders (2001–02)16–30–5–3Recap
55LFebruary 6, 20022–3Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)16–31–5–3Recap
56WFebruary 7, 20023–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)17–31–5–3Recap
57LFebruary 9, 20021–4@ Boston Bruins (2001–02)17–32–5–3Recap
58LFebruary 12, 20020–1@ Nashville Predators (2001–02)17–33–5–3Recap
59LFebruary 13, 20024–5@ Chicago Blackhawks (2001–02)17–34–5–3Recap
60LFebruary 26, 20023–4@ Washington Capitals (2001–02)17–35–5–3Recap
61OTLFebruary 27, 20022–3 OTDetroit Red Wings (2001–02)17–35–5–4Recap :
March: 4–7–2–1 (home: 2–3–2–0; road: 2–4–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
62LMarch 2, 20022–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)17–36–5–4Recap
63OTLMarch 5, 20025–6 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)17–36–5–5Recap
64WMarch 8, 20025–4Edmonton Oilers (2001–02)18–36–5–5Recap
65TMarch 9, 20022–2 OTNashville Predators (2001–02)18–36–6–5Recap
66TMarch 13, 20023–3 OTCalgary Flames (2001–02)18–36–7–5Recap
67WMarch 15, 20025–2Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)19–36–7–5Recap
68LMarch 17, 20020–2@ Ottawa Senators (2001–02)19–37–7–5Recap
69LMarch 20, 20021–4Montreal Canadiens (2001–02)19–38–7–5Recap
70LMarch 21, 20022–3@ Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)19–39–7–5Recap
71LMarch 23, 20021–3Boston Bruins (2001–02)19–40–7–5Recap
72LMarch 25, 20021–3@ New Jersey Devils (2001–02)19–41–7–5Recap
73WMarch 26, 20022–1@ Montreal Canadiens (2001–02)20–41–7–5Recap
74WMarch 28, 20024–3@ Ottawa Senators (2001–02)21–41–7–5Recap
75LMarch 30, 20022–4New York Rangers (2001–02)21–42–7–5Recap :
April: 1–2–3–1 (home: 1–1–0–1; road: 0–1–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
76WApril 3, 20023–2Pittsburgh Penguins (2001–02)22–42–7–5Recap
77LApril 5, 20021–3@ Buffalo Sabres (2001–02)22–43–7–5Recap
78TApril 6, 20022–2 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2001–02)22–43–8–5Recap
79TApril 8, 20024–4 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (2001–02)22–43–9–5Recap
80TApril 10, 20024–4 OT@ Atlanta Thrashers (2001–02)22–43–10–5Recap
81LApril 12, 20021–3Carolina Hurricanes (2001–02)22–44–10–5Recap
82OTLApril 14, 20022–3 OTTampa Bay Lightning (2001–02)22–44–10–6Recap :
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 Panthers only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Panthers only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 10 | Pavel Bure‡ | RW | 56 | 22 | 27 | 49 | −14 | 56 |
| 22 | Kristian Huselius | LW | 79 | 23 | 22 | 45 | −4 | 14 |
| 18 | Marcus Nilson | LW | 81 | 14 | 19 | 33 | −14 | 55 |
| 28 | Jason Wiemer | C | 70 | 11 | 20 | 31 | −4 | 178 |
| 39 | Ivan Novoseltsev | RW | 70 | 13 | 16 | 29 | −10 | 44 |
| 44 | Sandis Ozolinsh† | D | 37 | 10 | 19 | 29 | −3 | 24 |
| 12 | Olli Jokinen | C | 80 | 9 | 20 | 29 | −16 | 98 |
| 24 | Robert Svehla | D | 82 | 7 | 22 | 29 | −19 | 87 |
| 14 | Niklas Hagman | LW | 78 | 10 | 18 | 28 | −6 | 8 |
| 25 | Viktor Kozlov | C | 50 | 9 | 18 | 27 | −16 | 20 |
| 20 | Valeri Bure | RW | 31 | 8 | 10 | 18 | −3 | 12 |
| 45 | Brad Ference | D | 80 | 2 | 15 | 17 | −13 | 254 |
| 16 | Kevyn Adams‡ | C | 44 | 4 | 8 | 12 | −3 | 28 |
| 43 | Byron Ritchie† | C | 31 | 5 | 6 | 11 | −2 | 34 |
| 11 | Bill Lindsay‡ | RW | 63 | 4 | 7 | 11 | −11 | 117 |
| 4 | Bret Hedican‡ | D | 31 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −4 | 12 |
| 8 | Peter Worrell | LW | 79 | 4 | 5 | 9 | −15 | 354 |
| 26 | Pierre Dagenais† | RW | 26 | 7 | 1 | 8 | −5 | 4 |
| 3 | Paul Laus | D | 45 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 157 |
| 29 | Darren Van Impe†‡ | D | 36 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| 26 | Dan Boyle‡ | D | 25 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −1 | 12 |
| 49 | Lance Ward | D | 68 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −20 | 131 |
| 38 | Eric Beaudoin | LW | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −2 | 4 |
| 17 | Ryan Johnson | C | 29 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −5 | 10 |
| 5 | Jeff Norton† | D | 29 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −5 | 8 |
| 55 | Igor Ulanov† | D | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −3 | 11 |
| 21 | Denis Shvidki | RW | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −4 | 2 |
| 2 | Lance Pitlick | D | 35 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −14 | 12 |
| 19 | Stephen Weiss | C | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Ryan Jardine | LW | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 42 | Brad Norton | D | 22 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −2 | 45 |
| 36 | Joey Tetarenko | RW | 38 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −5 | 123 |
| 37 | Trevor Kidd | G | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 |
| 1 | Roberto Luongo | G | 58 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 2 |
| 31 | Wade Flaherty | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 42 | Matt Herr | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| 29 | Lukas Krajicek | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | David Morisset | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −7 | 5 |
| 23 | Kyle Rossiter | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 41 | Nick Smith | C | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 23 | Rocky Thompson | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |

### 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 |
| 1 | Roberto Luongo | 58 | 16 | 33 | 4 | 1653 | 140 | 2.77 | .915 | 4 | 3030 |
| 37 | Trevor Kidd | 33 | 4 | 16 | 5 | 857 | 90 | 3.21 | .895 | 1 | 1683 |
| 31 | Wade Flaherty | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 148 | 12 | 2.94 | .919 | 0 | 245 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Kristian Huselius (Forward) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Sandis Ozolinsh |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Kristian Huselius (October) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Niklas Hagman (March) |
| League (in-season) | NHL YoungStars Game selection | Kristian Huselius |
| League (in-season) | NHL YoungStars Game selection | Roberto Luongo |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Niklas Hagman | October 4, 2001 |
| First game | Kristian Huselius | October 4, 2001 |
| First game | David Morisset | November 21, 2001 |
| First game | Nick Smith | December 1, 2001 |
| First game | Brad Norton | January 21, 2002 |
| First game | Ryan Jardine | March 17, 2002 |
| First game | Eric Beaudoin | March 20, 2002 |
| First game | Kyle Rossiter | April 3, 2002 |
| First game | Stephen Weiss | April 3, 2002 |
| First game | Lukas Krajicek | April 6, 2002 |
| 400th goal scored | Pavel Bure | January 26, 2002 |

## Transactions

The Panthers 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 23, 2001 (2001-06-23) | To Florida Panthers St. Louis’ 1st-round pick in 2001 | To New Jersey Devils Phoenix’s 2nd-round pick in 2001Vancouver’s 2nd-round pick in 2001 |
| June 23, 2001 (2001-06-23) | To Florida Panthers 2nd-round pick in 2001 | To Philadelphia Flyers Rights to Jiri Dopita |
| June 23, 2001 (2001-06-23) | To Florida Panthers Valeri BureJason Wiemer | To Calgary Flames Rob NiedermayerPhiladelphia’s 2nd-round pick in 2001 |
| June 23, 2001 (2001-06-23) | To Florida Panthers 3rd-round pick in 2001 | To New York Islanders 4th-round pick in 20013rd-round pick in 2002 |
| June 30, 2001 (2001-06-30) | To Florida Panthers Future considerations | To New York Rangers Dave Duerden |
| July 10, 2001 (2001-07-10) | To Florida Panthers Ryan Johnson6th-round pick in 2003 | To Tampa Bay Lightning Vaclav Prospal |
| January 7, 2002 (2002-01-07) | To Florida Panthers 5th-round pick in 2003 | To Tampa Bay Lightning Dan Boyle |
| January 16, 2002 (2002-01-16) | To Florida Panthers Sandis OzolinshByron Ritchie | To Carolina Hurricanes Kevyn AdamsBret HedicanRights to Tomas MalecConditional 2nd-round pick in 2003 |
| March 18, 2002 (2002-03-18) | To Florida Panthers Igor UlanovRights to Filip Novak1st-round pick in 20022nd-round pick in 20024th-round pick in 2003 | To New York Rangers Pavel Bure2nd-round pick in 2002 |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | To Florida Panthers 5th-round pick in 2003 | To New York Islanders Darren Van Impe |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | To Florida Panthers 6th-round pick in 2002 | To Boston Bruins Jeff Norton |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| July 5, 2001 (2001-07-05) | Paul Elliott | Regina Pats (WHL) | | Free agency |
| July 10, 2001 (2001-07-10) | Jeff Norton | San Jose Sharks | | Free agency |
| July 27, 2001 (2001-07-27) | Brad Norton | Edmonton Oilers | | Free agency |
| August 2, 2001 (2001-08-02) | Andrew Allen | Dayton Bombers (ECHL) | | Free agency |
| August 2, 2001 (2001-08-02) | Wade Flaherty | Tampa Bay Lightning | 2-year | Free agency |
| August 20, 2001 (2001-08-20) | Matt Herr | Philadelphia Flyers | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 23, 2001 (2001-08-23) | Bill Lindsay | San Jose Sharks | 2-year | Free agency |
| December 18, 2001 (2001-12-18) | Darren Van Impe | New York Rangers | | Waivers |
| January 12, 2002 (2002-01-12) | Pierre Dagenais | New Jersey Devils | | Waivers |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| N/A | Yan Golubovsky | Metallurg Magnitogorsk (RSL) | Free agency (VI) |
| July 1, 2001 (2001-07-01) | Greg Adams | | Contract expiration (III) |
| July 1, 2001 (2001-07-01) | Len Barrie | | Contract expiration (UFA) |
| July 4, 2001 (2001-07-04) | Anders Eriksson | Toronto Maple Leafs | Free agency (UFA) |
| July 5, 2001 (2001-07-05) | Mike Wilson | Pittsburgh Penguins | Free agency (UFA) |
| July 19, 2001 (2001-07-19) | Richard Shulmistra | Eisbaren Berlin (DEL) | Free agency (VI) |
| August 14, 2001 (2001-08-14) | Peter Ratchuk | Pittsburgh Penguins | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 15, 2001 (2001-08-15) | Andrej Podkonicky | HIFK (Liiga) | Free agency (UFA) |
| September 13, 2001 (2001-09-13) | Paul Brousseau | AIK (SHL) | Free agency (VI) |
| September 21, 2001 (2001-09-21) | Ryan Bach | Sheffield Steelers (BISL) | Free agency (VI) |
| N/A | Sean Gauthier | Reading Royals (ECHL) | Free agency (VI) |
| October 2, 2001 (2001-10-02) | Chris Allen | B.C. Icemen (UHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| October 2, 2001 (2001-10-02) | John Jakopin | Pittsburgh Penguins | Waivers |
| October 23, 2001 (2001-10-23) | Remi Royer | Pensacola Ice Pilots (ECHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| March 19, 2002 (2002-03-19) | Bill Lindsay | Montreal Canadiens | Waivers |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| June 30, 2001 (2001-06-30) | Vaclav Prospal | 1-year | Option exercised |
| July 5, 2001 (2001-07-05) | Niklas Hagman | | Entry-level |
| July 5, 2001 (2001-07-05) | Kristian Huselius | | Entry-level |
| July 16, 2001 (2001-07-16) | Dan Boyle | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 16, 2001 (2001-07-16) | Ivan Majesky | 1-year | Entry-level |
| July 18, 2001 (2001-07-18) | John Jakopin | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 20, 2001 (2001-07-20) | Olli Jokinen | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 27, 2001 (2001-07-27) | Joey Tetarenko | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 27, 2001 (2001-07-27) | Rocky Thompson | 2-year | Re-signing |
| August 14, 2001 (2001-08-14) | Marcus Nilson | 3-year | Re-signing |
| August 20, 2001 (2001-08-20) | David Morisset | 3-year | Entry-level |
| August 20, 2001 (2001-08-20) | Lance Ward | 2-year | Re-signing |
| September 13, 2001 (2001-09-13) | Roberto Luongo | 4-year | Extension |
| September 15, 2001 (2001-09-15) | Ryan Johnson | 2-year | Re-signing |
| September 20, 2001 (2001-09-20) | Valeri Bure | 3-year | Re-signing |
| April 16, 2002 (2002-04-16) | Lukas Krajicek | 3-year | Entry-level |
| April 16, 2002 (2002-04-16) | Stephen Weiss | 3-year | Entry-level |
| May 31, 2002 (2002-05-31) | Filip Novak | | Entry-level |
| May 31, 2002 (2002-05-31) | Byron Ritchie | multi-year | Extension |

## Draft picks

Florida'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 | 4 | Stephen Weiss | Canada | Plymouth Whalers (OHL) |
| 1 | 24 | Lukas Krajicek | Czech Republic | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 2 | 34 | Greg Watson | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |
| 3 | 64 | Tomas Malec | Slovakia | Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 68 | Grant McNeill | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |
| 4 | 117 | Michael Woodford | United States | Cushing Academy (USHS-MA) |
| 5 | 136 | Billy Thompson | Canada | Prince George Cougars (WHL) |
| 6 | 169 | Dustin Johner | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 7 | 200 | Toni Koivisto | Finland | Lukko (Finland) |
| 8 | 231 | Kyle Bruce | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |
| 9 | 263 | Jan Blanar | Slovakia | Dukla Trencin (Slovakia) |
| 9 | 267 | Ivan Majesky | Slovakia | Ilves (Finland) |