The 2001–02 NHL season was the 85th regular season of the National Hockey League. Thirty teams competed in an 82-game regular season. The regular season began on October 3, and the playoffs concluded on June 13, with the Detroit Red Wings defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Finals in five games, winning their tenth Stanley Cup in franchise history.

This season wasn't without tragedy however, as it was marred by the death of Brittanie Cecil, a 13-year old fan who died after getting struck in the head by a puck during a match between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Calgary Flames on March 16, 2002 at the Nationwide Arena, she died two days later. As a result of the tragedy, the NHL made it mandatory to install protective nylon mesh nets above the glass behind both goals.

The cash-strapped Pittsburgh Penguins, desperate to dump payroll, could no longer afford perennial superstar Jaromir Jagr.^[1] He would be traded, along with Frantisek Kucera, to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Kris Beech, Ross Lupaschuk, Michal Sivek, and $4.9 million. Despite Mario Lemieux's return the previous season, the absence of Jagr proved devastating to the Penguins, and they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1990. The Penguins did not return to the playoffs until they drafted Sidney Crosby in 2005.

The Dallas Stars moved their home games from Reunion Arena to American Airlines Center.

The NHL honored the victims of September 11 attacks by having all players wear a patch on their jerseys, a ribbon sticker on the back of their helmet, and placed a red, white, and blue ribbon painted on the ice behind each net, with the Canadian teams having a red and white ribbon painted on the ice behind either net. On September 20, 2001, in the middle of a pre-season game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers with both teams tied up 2–2, nine days after the attacks, the game was stopped so that a national television address by U.S. President George W. Bush about the September 11 attacks could be broadcast on the arena video screen. After the end of the television address, the game did not resume and was declared a 2–2 tie.^[2]

The NHL honored the victims of the September 11 attacks by having all players wear a patch on their jerseys, a ribbon sticker on the back of their helmet, as well as a red, white and blue ribbon painted on the ice behind each net, (with the Canadian teams having a red and white ribbon painted on the ice behind either net).

• Buffalo Sabres: In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the Sabres, in a sign of solidarity, took to the ice at Madison Square Garden on October 7 wearing jerseys reading "New York" on the front. Like the New York Rangers, their opponents in that game, the Sabres, play their home games in the state of New York.

• Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche introduce a third jersey, with the word "Colorado" slanted across the front of the jersey.

• Columbus Blue Jackets: The numbers become more narrow and the names on the back shrink slightly.

• Edmonton Oilers: The team introduces an alternate jersey, featuring silver in place of bronze and red. The crest is their new Alternate logo with an oil bolt with 5 rivets for the team's 5 Stanley Cup titles.

• Los Angeles Kings: The Kings wore two patches. On the upper right chest was the All-Star Game patch, as the Kings were the hosts of the 2002 All-Star Game. On the upper left chest is a patch with the letters "AM," for director of scouting Garnet "Ace" Bailey and scout Mark Bavis, who were killed aboard United Airlines Flight 175 in the September 11 attacks.

• Nashville Predators: The Predators unveil a mustard yellow alternate jersey.

• New York Rangers: In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the Rangers wore ribbons on their uniforms in memory of the victims. Also in their October 7 game at Madison Square Garden against the Buffalo Sabres, both teams wore "New York" on their jerseys. For the Rangers, it was a return of sorts to the blue jerseys they wore from 1978 to 1987.

• Ottawa Senators: The Senators wore special stickers on their helmets marking their 10th season in the NHL.

• Philadelphia Flyers: The orange jersey is retired, leaving the black jersey to be worn on the road full time. In a "spooky" kind of way, the Philadelphia Flyers took to (what was then known as) the First Union Center ice on Halloween night 2001 wearing the orange jerseys that were thought to have been retired in the offseason. The jerseys brought good luck to the Flyers that night, as they shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3–0. In a show of support for New York's finest and bravest, the Flyers wore three special patches at the bottom of the back of the jersey. From left to right, they were "FDNY," the American flag, and "NYPD." The jerseys were auctioned off after the game to benefit the NHL's Twin Towers fund.

• San Jose Sharks: The Sharks introduce a new black alternate jersey.

• Tampa Bay Lightning: Team has a font change due to fan complaints deeming them unreadable. Also, the Lightning wore a patch to celebrate their 10th NHL season.

• Toronto Maple Leafs: In honor of the 75th anniversary of the St. Pats becoming the Maple Leafs, the team wears vintage St. Pats jerseys in their game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 2. During the rest of the season, they wore special stickers on their helmets celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Maple Leafs.

• Vancouver Canucks: A new alternate jersey is introduced, featuring a torso that changes from navy blue to maroon. The jersey features a redesigned Canuck Place patch.

• Washington Capitals: The Capitals wore a patch in memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks.

For the second time in three seasons, no player reached the 100-point plateau.^[3] In addition, for the first time since 1980, the Art Ross Trophy was not won by either Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, or Jaromir Jagr. Instead, the award went to Jarome Iginla, who scored 96 points.

The NHL Awards presentation took place in Toronto.

• List of Stanley Cup champions
• 2001 NHL Entry Draft
• 2001-02 NHL transactions
• 52nd National Hockey League All-Star Game
• NHL All-Star Game
• NHL All-Rookie Team
• Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics
• 2001 in sports
• 2002 in sports