2001–02 Columbus Blue Jackets season

The 2001–02 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the Blue Jackets' 2nd season in the NHL, as the team was coming off a 28–39–9–6 record in their expansion season, earning 71 points, and missing the playoffs.
==Regular season==
Columbus would get off to a rough start, winning only 1 out of 13 games to open the season, and sit in the basement of the Western Conference. While the Blue Jackets would play better as the season went on, they were long out of the playoff picture, and eventually would trade team captain Lyle Odelein to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jaroslav Spacek at the trade deadline. Columbus would finish the season with a 22–47–8–5 record, earning 57 points, which was 14 fewer points than in their previous season, and 37 points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Columbus would score a league low 164 goals, and their 255 goals against was the highest total in the Western Conference, and 3rd highest in the entire NHL. The 57 points the Jackets earned was the 2nd fewest in the league, only ahead of the Atlanta Thrashers, who finished with 54.
Ray Whitney would lead Columbus offensively, scoring a team high 21 goals and 40 assists for 61 points, which broke the team record for points in a season. Mike Sillinger would be the only other Blue Jacket to score 20 goals, as he scored 20 and added 23 assists for 43 points. Deron Quint led the Jackets defense, earning 25 points, while Rostislav Klesla scored 8 goals and earned 16 points in his 1st full season. Jody Shelley had a team high and club record 206 penalty minutes in only 52 games.
In goal, Ron Tugnutt and Marc Denis would split time, with Tugnutt winning a team high 12 games and posting a team best 2.85 GAA.
Tragedy struck at Nationwide Arena during a game on March 16, 2002, against the Calgary Flames, when a shot by Jackets forward Espen Knutsen was deflected off the stick of Flames defenceman Derek Morris, and sailed into the stands, hitting 13 year old Brittanie Cecil in the head. Cecil would pass away on March 18 due to the injury.
===Season standings===
===Game log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 4 	St. Louis Blues 	3–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–0–1–0 	1
2 	October 6 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–3 	Philadelphia Flyers 	0–0–2–0 	2
3 	October 8 	Philadelphia Flyers 	2–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–0–3–0 	3
4 	October 12 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–1–3–0 	3
5 	October 14 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–2 	Chicago Blackhawks 	0–1–4–0 	4
6 	October 16 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	0–2–4–0 	4
7 	October 19 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–1 	Buffalo Sabres 	1–2–4–0 	6
8 	October 20 	Colorado Avalanche 	5–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–3–4–0 	6
9 	October 23 	Los Angeles Kings 	7–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–4–4–0 	6
10	October 25 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–5–4–0 	6
11	October 27 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–2 	San Jose Sharks 	1–6–4–0 	6
12	October 30 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–3 	Vancouver Canucks 	1–7–4–0 	6
13	November 1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–2 	Calgary Flames 	1–8–4–0 	6
14	November 2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–1 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–8–4–0 	8
15	November 6 	Vancouver Canucks 	3–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–9–4–0 	8
16	November 9 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–10–4–0 	8
17	November 10	Columbus Blue Jackets 	5–1 	Boston Bruins 	3–10–4–0 	10
18	November 13	St. Louis Blues 	2–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	4–10–4–0 	12
19	November 16	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	2–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	5–10–4–0 	14
20	November 17	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–3 	Nashville Predators 	5–11–4–0 	14
21	November 19	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–5 	Carolina Hurricanes 	5–12–4–0 	14
22	November 21	Detroit Red Wings 	1–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	5–12–4–1 	15
23	November 23	Chicago Blackhawks 	2–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	5–12–5–1 	16
24	November 25	Calgary Flames 	3–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	6–12–5–1 	18
25	November 27	Phoenix Coyotes 	0–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	7–12–5–1 	20
26	November 29	St. Louis Blues 	3–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	7–13–5–1 	20
27	December 1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–4 	St. Louis Blues 	7–14–5–1 	20
28	December 5 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–2 	Florida Panthers 	7–15–5–1 	20
29	December 6 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–1 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	7–16–5–1 	20
30	December 8 	Colorado Avalanche 	2–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	7–17–5–1 	20
31	December 10	New Jersey Devils 	1–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	8–17–5–1 	22
32	December 12	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–5 	Colorado Avalanche 	8–18–5–1 	22
33	December 14	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–2 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	9–18–5–1 	24
34	December 15	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–3 	Los Angeles Kings 	9–19–5–1 	24
35	December 17	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–4 	Phoenix Coyotes 	9–20–5–1 	24
36	December 22	Dallas Stars 	4–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	9–21–5–1 	24
37	December 27	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–5 	Detroit Red Wings 	9–22–5–1 	24
38	December 29	Buffalo Sabres 	2–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	9–22–6–1 	25
39	December 31	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	1–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	10–22–6–1	27
40	January 3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–4 	St. Louis Blues 	10–23–6–1	27
41	January 6 	Nashville Predators 	3–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	11–23–6–1	29
42	January 9 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–6 	Washington Capitals 	11–24–6–1	29
43	January 10 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–2 	Chicago Blackhawks 	11–25–6–1	29
44	January 12 	Chicago Blackhawks 	4–5 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	12–25–6–1	31
45	January 14 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–2 	New York Rangers 	12–25–7–1	32
46	January 16 	New York Rangers 	0–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	13–25–7–1	34
47	January 18 	Minnesota Wild 	3–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	13–26–7–1	34
48	January 19 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–2 	Nashville Predators 	13–27–7–1	34
49	January 21 	Dallas Stars 	5–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	13–28–7–1	34
50	January 24 	San Jose Sharks 	2–6 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	14–28–7–1	36
51	January 26 	Phoenix Coyotes 	3–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	14–29–7–1	36
52	January 28 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–4 	Dallas Stars 	14–30–7–1	36
53	January 30 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–3 	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	14–31–7–1	36
54	February 4 	Boston Bruins 	8–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	14–32–7–1	36
55	February 6 	Ottawa Senators 	6–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	14–33–7–1	36
56	February 8 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	15–33–7–1	38
57	February 9 	Nashville Predators 	1–0 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	15–33–7–2	39
58	February 12	Minnesota Wild 	3–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	15–33–8–2	40
59	February 26	Los Angeles Kings 	5–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	15–34–8–2	40
60	February 28	Pittsburgh Penguins 	4–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	15–34–8–3	41
61	March 2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–0 	Los Angeles Kings 	16–34–8–3	43
62	March 3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–2 	Phoenix Coyotes 	16–35–8–3	43
63	March 6 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–4 	Colorado Avalanche 	16–36–8–3	43
64	March 8 	New York Islanders 	2–4 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	17–36–8–3	45
65	March 10 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–5 	Minnesota Wild 	17–37–8–3	45
66	March 11 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	4–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	18–37–8–3	47
67	March 14 	Vancouver Canucks 	5–1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	18–38–8–3	47
68	March 16 	Calgary Flames 	1–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	19–38–8–3	49
69	March 20 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–1 	Minnesota Wild 	20–38–8–3	51
70	March 21 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	20–38–8–4	52
71	March 23 	Washington Capitals 	5–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	20–39–8–4	52
72	March 25 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–6 	Calgary Flames 	20–40–8–4	52
73	March 26 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	20–41–8–4	52
74	March 28 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	3–4 	Vancouver Canucks 	20–41–8–5	53
75	March 30 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	2–10 	San Jose Sharks 	20–42–8–5	53
76	April 1 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–3 	Dallas Stars 	20–43–8–5	53
77	April 4 	Nashville Predators 	1–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	21–43–8–5	55
78	April 6 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	21–44–8–5	55
79	April 8 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	1–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	21–45–8–5	55
80	April 10 	San Jose Sharks 	5–3 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	21–46–8–5	55
81	April 12 	Atlanta Thrashers 	4–5 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	22–46–8–5	57
82	April 14 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	0–2 	Chicago Blackhawks 	22–47–8–5	57
*Green background indicates a win. 
*Red background indicates a regulation loss. 
*Yellow background indicates an overtime loss. 
*White background indicates a tie.
==Player stats==
===Regular season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	LW 	67	21	40	61 	12 	-22	6 	0 	3
 	C 	80	20	23	43 	54 	-35	8 	0 	5
 	C 	77	11	31	42 	47 	-28	5 	2 	1
 	RW 	81	15	18	33 	86 	-20	6 	0 	4
 	RW 	75	13	18	31 	6 	-14	6 	0 	2
 	D 	75	7 	18	25 	26 	-34	3 	0 	1
 	C 	77	13	11	24 	100	-40	4 	0 	1
 	LW 	42	11	5 	16 	12 	-15	5 	0 	2
 	LW 	71	8 	8 	16 	32 	-20	1 	0 	1
 	D 	75	8 	8 	16 	74 	-6 	1 	0 	0
 	D 	65	2 	14	16 	89 	-28	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	59	4 	11	15 	4 	-14	1 	0 	0
 	LW 	25	2 	12	14 	8 	-5 	2 	0 	0
 	RW 	59	5 	8 	13 	62 	-6 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	78	4 	7 	11 	44 	-34	1 	0 	0
 	RW 	60	2 	7 	9 	46 	-18	0 	0 	0
 	D 	81	2 	6 	8 	90 	-28	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	52	3 	3 	6 	206	1 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	60	1 	5 	6 	34 	-15	0 	0 	0
 	D 	61	0 	6 	6 	54 	-10	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	23	2 	3 	5 	4 	-3 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	14	2 	3 	5 	24 	-9 	1 	1 	1
 	C 	26	3 	1 	4 	4 	-4 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	17	1 	2 	3 	10 	-11	0 	0 	0
 	D 	28	1 	2 	3 	7 	-9 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	14	1 	1 	2 	6 	-5 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	7 	0 	2 	2 	2 	-3 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	4 	1 	0 	1 	2 	-2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	2 	1 	0 	1 	0 	-2 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	2 	0 	1 	1 	0 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	42	0 	1 	1 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	44	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	7 	0 	0 	0 	28 	-4 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	5 	0 	0 	0 	7 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	4 	0 	0 	0 	2 	-2 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T/OT	GA 	GAA 	SO	SA 	SV 	SV%
 	2502	44	12	27	3 	119	2.85	2 	1195	1076	.900
 	2335	42	9 	24	5 	121	3.11	1 	1197	1076	.899
 	117 	3 	1 	1 	0 	6 	3.08	0 	68 	62 	.912
Team: 	4954	82	22	52	8 	246	2.98	3 	2460	2214	.900
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes; PPG=Power-play goals; SHG=Short-handed goals; GWG=Game-winning goals
      MIN=Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T/OT = Ties/Overtime Losses; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots Against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save Percentage; 
==Draft picks==
Columubus' draft picks at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	8 	Pascal Leclaire 	 	Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
2 	38 	Tim Jackman 	 	Minnesota State University Mavericks (NCAA)
2 	53 	Kiel McLeod 	 	Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
3 	85 	Aaron Johnson 	 	Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
3 	87 	Per Mars 	 	Brynäs IF (Sweden)
5 	141	Cole Jarrett 	 	Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
6 	173	Justin Aikins 	 	Langley Hornets (BCHL)
6 	187	Artem Vostrikov 	 	Tolyatti-2 (Russia)
7 	204	Raffaele Sannitz	 	Lugano (Swiss)
8 	236	Ryan Bowness 	 	Brampton Battalion (OHL)
8 	242	Andrew Murray 	 	Selkirk Steelers (MJHL)
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets seasons
Category:2001 in hockey
Category:2002 in hockey