# 2002–03 Colorado Avalanche season

The 2002–03 Colorado Avalanche season was the Avalanche's eighth season. It involved winning their fifth Northwest Division and a record ninth consecutive division title.

## Regular season

* Head coach Bob Hartley was fired on December 18 and replaced by assistant coach Tony Granato.
* January 20, 2003: In a game against the Dallas Stars, Patrick Roy became the first goaltender to appear in 1,000 regular season games. At the end of the game, Marty Turco raised his mask to praise Patrick. Prior to the game, Rogatien Vachon presented Roy with a silver goalie stick. Jim Gregory, vice-president of operations for the NHL presented Roy with a crystal sculpture.
* April 6, 2003: In a game against the St. Louis Blues, Patrick Roy played the last regular season game of his career. The Avalanche won the game by a score of 5–2. It was Roy's 1,029th game, and his 551st victory.

### Final standings

Northwest Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 3 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 42 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 251 | 194 | 105 |
| 2 | 4 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 45 | 23 | 13 | 1 | 264 | 208 | 104 |
| 3 | 6 | Minnesota Wild | 82 | 42 | 29 | 10 | 1 | 198 | 178 | 95 |
| 4 | 8 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 36 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 231 | 230 | 92 |
| 5 | 12 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 29 | 36 | 13 | 4 | 186 | 228 | 75 |
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 | Z- Dallas Stars | PA | 82 | 46 | 17 | 15 | 4 | 245 | 169 | 111 |
| 2 | Y- Detroit Red Wings | CE | 82 | 48 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 269 | 203 | 110 |
| 3 | Y- Colorado Avalanche | NW | 82 | 42 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 251 | 194 | 105 |
| 4 | X- Vancouver Canucks | NW | 82 | 45 | 23 | 13 | 1 | 264 | 208 | 104 |
| 5 | X- St. Louis Blues | CE | 82 | 41 | 24 | 11 | 6 | 253 | 222 | 99 |
| 6 | X- Minnesota Wild | NW | 82 | 42 | 29 | 10 | 1 | 198 | 178 | 95 |
| 7 | X- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PA | 82 | 40 | 27 | 9 | 6 | 203 | 193 | 95 |
| 8 | X- Edmonton Oilers | NW | 82 | 36 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 231 | 230 | 92 |
| 8.5 |||||||||||
| 9 | Chicago Blackhawks | CE | 82 | 30 | 33 | 13 | 6 | 207 | 226 | 79 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Kings | PA | 82 | 33 | 37 | 6 | 6 | 203 | 221 | 78 |
| 11 | Phoenix Coyotes | PA | 82 | 31 | 35 | 11 | 5 | 204 | 230 | 78 |
| 12 | Calgary Flames | NW | 82 | 29 | 36 | 13 | 4 | 186 | 228 | 75 |
| 13 | Nashville Predators | CE | 82 | 27 | 35 | 13 | 7 | 183 | 206 | 74 |
| 14 | San Jose Sharks | PA | 82 | 28 | 37 | 9 | 8 | 214 | 239 | 73 |
| 15 | Columbus Blue Jackets | CE | 82 | 29 | 42 | 8 | 3 | 213 | 263 | 69 |
Divisions: PA – Pacific, CE – Central, NW – Northwest
Z – Clinched Conference; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

2002–03 regular season :
October: 4–1–3–2 (home: 0–1–3–0; road: 4–0–0–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1TOctober 9, 20021–1 OTDallas Stars (2002–03)0–0–1–0Recap
2LOctober 14, 20021–2Boston Bruins (2002–03)0–1–1–0Recap
3WOctober 17, 20024–1@ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03)1–1–1–0Recap
4WOctober 19, 20023–1@ San Jose Sharks (2002–03)2–1–1–0Recap
5OTLOctober 20, 20022–3 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)2–1–1–1Recap
6TOctober 22, 20023–3 OTEdmonton Oilers (2002–03)2–1–2–1Recap
7WOctober 24, 20023–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03)3–1–2–1Recap
8TOctober 27, 20023–3 OTMinnesota Wild (2002–03)3–1–3–1Recap
9OTLOctober 29, 20022–3 OT@ Minnesota Wild (2002–03)3–1–3–2Recap
10WOctober 31, 20025–1@ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)4–1–3–2Recap :
November: 4–5–5–1 (home: 2–3–2–1; road: 2–2–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11TNovember 2, 20024–4 OT@ Calgary Flames (2002–03)4–1–4–2Recap
12LNovember 4, 20022–4Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)4–2–4–2Recap
13LNovember 6, 20022–5Ottawa Senators (2002–03)4–3–4–2Recap
14OTLNovember 8, 20022–3 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)4–3–4–3Recap
15LNovember 10, 20023–4Nashville Predators (2002–03)4–4–4–3Recap
16WNovember 12, 20025–4Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)5–4–4–3Recap
17WNovember 14, 20023–1@ Nashville Predators (2002–03)6–4–4–3Recap
18LNovember 15, 20022–4@ Dallas Stars (2002–03)6–5–4–3Recap
19TNovember 17, 20024–4 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03)6–5–5–3Recap
20TNovember 21, 20021–1 OTNashville Predators (2002–03)6–5–6–3Recap
21WNovember 23, 20023–1@ St. Louis Blues (2002–03)7–5–6–3Recap
22WNovember 25, 20021–0Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03)8–5–6–3Recap
23TNovember 27, 20024–4 OTSt. Louis Blues (2002–03)8–5–7–3Recap
24TNovember 29, 20022–2 OT@ Minnesota Wild (2002–03)8–5–8–3Recap
25LNovember 30, 20020–1@ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)8–6–8–3Recap :
December: 6–3–1–2 (home: 5–1–1–1; road: 1–2–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26LDecember 3, 20021–2Calgary Flames (2002–03)8–7–8–3Recap
27WDecember 6, 20027–6 OTMontreal Canadiens (2002–03)9–7–8–3Recap
28LDecember 11, 20021–3@ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)9–8–8–3Recap
29OTLDecember 13, 20023–4 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)9–8–8–4Recap
30WDecember 14, 20023–1@ Calgary Flames (2002–03)10–8–8–4Recap
31TDecember 16, 20022–2 OTWashington Capitals (2002–03)10–8–9–4Recap
32WDecember 19, 20022–1Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)11–8–9–4Recap
33WDecember 21, 20024–2Minnesota Wild (2002–03)12–8–9–4Recap
34WDecember 23, 20025–3Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)13–8–9–4Recap
35LDecember 26, 20022–3@ St. Louis Blues (2002–03)13–9–9–4Recap
36OTLDecember 27, 20021–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (2002–03)13–9–9–5Recap
37WDecember 29, 20026–1Los Angeles Kings (2002–03)14–9–9–5Recap :
January: 6–5–2–0 (home: 1–4–1–0; road: 5–1–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38WJanuary 1, 20037–3@ Nashville Predators (2002–03)15–9–9–5Recap
39LJanuary 2, 20031–4Florida Panthers (2002–03)15–10–9–5Recap
40WJanuary 4, 20036–1@ San Jose Sharks (2002–03)16–10–9–5Recap
41LJanuary 7, 20032–4Calgary Flames (2002–03)16–11–9–5Recap
42LJanuary 9, 20033–5Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)16–12–9–5Recap
43LJanuary 11, 20033–6@ Dallas Stars (2002–03)16–13–9–5Recap
44WJanuary 12, 20033–2 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03)17–13–9–5Recap
45LJanuary 16, 20032–4Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)17–14–9–5Recap
46TJanuary 20, 20031–1 OTDallas Stars (2002–03)17–14–10–5Recap
47WJanuary 23, 20035–0Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)18–14–10–5Recap
48WJanuary 25, 20033–0@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03)19–14–10–5Recap
49TJanuary 28, 20032–2 OT@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)19–14–11–5Recap
50WJanuary 30, 20034–3 OT@ New York Rangers (2002–03)20–14–11–5Recap :
February: 10–1–0–2 (home: 6–0–0–1; road: 4–1–0–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
51WFebruary 4, 20033–2 OT@ Boston Bruins (2002–03)21–14–11–5Recap
52WFebruary 6, 20031–0@ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)22–14–11–5Recap
53WFebruary 8, 20035–3Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)23–14–11–5Recap
54WFebruary 9, 20034–2Calgary Flames (2002–03)24–14–11–5Recap
55WFebruary 11, 20033–1New Jersey Devils (2002–03)25–14–11–5Recap
56OTLFebruary 13, 20031–2 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)25–14–11–6Recap
57WFebruary 15, 20033–2Minnesota Wild (2002–03)26–14–11–6Recap
58WFebruary 17, 20035–4@ Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03)27–14–11–6Recap
59WFebruary 20, 20035–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03)28–14–11–6Recap
60LFebruary 21, 20031–4@ New York Islanders (2002–03)28–15–11–6Recap
61WFebruary 23, 20034–1New York Rangers (2002–03)29–15–11–6Recap
62WFebruary 25, 20034–2Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)30–15–11–6Recap
63OTLFebruary 27, 20033–4 OTAtlanta Thrashers (2002–03)30–15–11–7Recap :
March: 10–3–2–1 (home: 6–0–1–0; road: 4–3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
64WMarch 1, 20034–1Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03)31–15–11–7Recap
65WMarch 2, 20033–2 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03)32–15–11–7Recap
66WMarch 5, 20033–1@ Florida Panthers (2002–03)33–15–11–7Recap
67LMarch 7, 20033–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03)33–16–11–7Recap
68WMarch 8, 20032–1 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03)34–16–11–7Recap
69TMarch 10, 20032–2 OTPhoenix Coyotes (2002–03)34–16–12–7Recap
70WMarch 13, 20035–1@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)35–16–12–7Recap
71LMarch 15, 20033–5@ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)35–17–12–7Recap
72LMarch 16, 20031–2@ Washington Capitals (2002–03)35–18–12–7Recap
73WMarch 20, 20032–0San Jose Sharks (2002–03)36–18–12–7Recap
74WMarch 22, 20038–1Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03)37–18–12–7Recap
75OTLMarch 24, 20033–4 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03)37–18–12–8Recap
76TMarch 25, 20032–2 OT@ Ottawa Senators (2002–03)37–18–13–8Recap
77WMarch 27, 20033–0Los Angeles Kings (2002–03)38–18–13–8Recap
78WMarch 29, 20036–1Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03)39–18–13–8Recap
79WMarch 31, 20033–1San Jose Sharks (2002–03)40–18–13–8Recap :
April: 2–1–0–0 (home: 1–0–0–0; road: 1–1–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
80LApril 2, 20033–5@ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03)40–19–13–8Recap
81WApril 4, 20034–3 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)41–19–13–8Recap
82WApril 6, 20035–2St. Louis Blues (2002–03)42–19–13–8Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point)
  Overtime loss (1 point) :

### Playoffs

2003 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (6) Minnesota Wild – Wild win 4–3
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LApril 10, 20032–4Minnesota WildWild lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 12, 20033–2Minnesota WildSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WApril 14, 20033–0@ Minnesota WildAvalanche lead 2–1Recap
4WApril 16, 20033–1@ Minnesota WildAvalanche lead 3–1Recap
5LApril 19, 20032–3Minnesota WildAvalanche lead 3–2Recap
6LApril 21, 20032–3 OT@ Minnesota WildSeries tied 3–3Recap
7LApril 22, 20032–3 OTMinnesota WildWild 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 Avalanche only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche 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 |
| 21 | Peter Forsberg | C | 75 | 29 | 77 | 106 | 52 | 70 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 6 |
| 23 | Milan Hejduk | RW | 82 | 50 | 48 | 98 | 52 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 40 | Alex Tanguay | LW | 82 | 26 | 41 | 67 | 34 | 36 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −2 | 4 |
| 19 | Joe Sakic | C | 58 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 4 | 24 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 28 | Steve Reinprecht | C | 77 | 18 | 33 | 51 | −6 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 53 | Derek Morris | D | 75 | 11 | 37 | 48 | 16 | 68 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Rob Blake | D | 79 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 20 | 57 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 7 | Greg de Vries | D | 82 | 6 | 26 | 32 | 15 | 70 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 52 | Adam Foote | D | 78 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 30 | 88 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 17 | Radim Vrbata‡ | RW | 66 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 0 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 41 | Martin Skoula | D | 81 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 11 | 68 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 4 |
| 37 | Dean McAmmond‡ | C | 41 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Eric Messier | LW | 72 | 4 | 10 | 14 | −2 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Dan Hinote | RW | 60 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 49 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Mike Keane | RW | 65 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Serge Aubin | LW | 66 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −2 | 64 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 22 | Vaclav Nedorost | C | 42 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Jeff Shantz | C | 74 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −12 | 35 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 32 | Riku Hahl | C | 42 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 44 | Bates Battaglia† | LW | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −2 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 27 | Scott Parker | RW | 43 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 82 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | Brad Larsen | LW | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Bryan Marchment† | D | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | Bryan Muir | D | 32 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | D. J. Smith | D | 34 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | Chris McAllister† | D | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 | Brian Willsie | RW | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1 | David Aebischer | G | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 45 | Steve Brule | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 36 | Steve Moore | C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | Jeff Paul | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33 | Patrick Roy | G | 63 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 38 | Charlie Stephens | C | 2 | 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 | 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 |
| 33 | Patrick Roy | 63 | 35 | 15 | 13 | 1723 | 137 | 2.18 | .920 | 5 | 3769 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 177 | 16 | 2.27 | .910 | 1 | 423 |
| 1 | David Aebischer | 22 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 593 | 50 | 2.43 | .916 | 1 | 1235 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Art Ross Trophy | Peter Forsberg |
| League (annual) | Hart Memorial Trophy | Peter Forsberg |
| League (annual) | Lester Patrick Trophy | Ray Bourque |
| League (annual) | Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy | Milan Hejduk |
| League (annual) | NHL First All-Star Team | Peter Forsberg (Center) |
| League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star Team | Milan Hejduk (Right wing) |
| League (annual) | NHL Plus-Minus Award | Peter Forsberg |
| League (annual) | NHL Plus-Minus Award | Milan Hejduk |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Rob Blake |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Peter Forsberg |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Patrick Roy |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Month | Peter Forsberg (February) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Joe Sakic (November 4) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Patrick Roy (January 27) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Patrick Roy (February 10) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Milan Hejduk (April 7) |
| League (in-season) | NHL YoungStars Game selection | David Aebischer |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Jeff Paul | October 9, 2002 |
| First game | Charlie Stephens | December 27, 2002 |
| 1,000th game played | Patrick Roy | January 20, 2003 |

## Transactions

The Avalanche were involved in the following transactions from June 14, 2002, the day after the deciding game of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 9, 2003, the day of the deciding game of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| October 1, 2002 (2002-10-01) | To Colorado Avalanche Dean McAmmondDerek MorrisJeff Shantz | To Calgary Flames Chris DruryStephane Yelle |
| December 5, 2002 (2002-12-05) | To Colorado Avalanche Dale Clarke | To St. Louis Blues Conditional draft pick |
| February 5, 2003 (2003-02-05) | To Colorado Avalanche Chris McAllister | To Philadelphia Flyers 6th-round pick in 2003 |
| March 8, 2003 (2003-03-08) | To Colorado Avalanche Bryan Marchment | To San Jose Sharks 3rd-round pick in 20035th-round pick in 2003 |
| March 11, 2003 (2003-03-11) | To Colorado Avalanche Bates Battaglia | To Carolina Hurricanes Radim Vrbata |
| March 11, 2003 (2003-03-11) | To Colorado Avalanche 5th-round pick in 2003 or 2004 | To Calgary Flames Dean McAmmond |
| March 11, 2003 (2003-03-11) | To Colorado Avalanche 7th-round pick in 2003 | To Nashville Predators Alexander Riazantsev |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| July 22, 2002 (2002-07-22) | Steve Brule | Detroit Red Wings | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 27, 2002 (2002-08-27) | Serge Aubin | Columbus Blue Jackets | | Free agency |
| August 27, 2002 (2002-08-27) | Lance Pitlick | Florida Panthers | | Free agency |
| June 3, 2003 (2003-06-03) | Tom Lawson | Fort Wayne Komets (UHL) | | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| July 1, 2002 (2002-07-01) | Matt Scorsune | | Contract expiration (UFA) |
| July 2, 2002 (2002-07-02) | Darius Kasparaitis | New York Rangers | Free agency (V) |
| July 9, 2002 (2002-07-09) | Yuri Babenko | HC Dynamo Moscow (RSL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| July 10, 2002 (2002-07-10) | Jaroslav Obsut | Vancouver Canucks | Free agency (VI) |
| July 12, 2002 (2002-07-12) | Sanny Lindstrom | Timra IK (SHL) | Free agency (II) |
| July 16, 2002 (2002-07-16) | Pascal Trepanier | Nashville Predators | Free agency (UFA) |
| July 27, 2002 (2002-07-27) | Kelly Fairchild | Eisbaren Berlin (DEL) | Free agency (VI) |
| August 24, 2002 (2002-08-24) | Jeff Daw | Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) | Free agency (VI) |
| September 30, 2002 (2002-09-30) | Lance Pitlick | | Retirement |
| May 28, 2003 (2003-05-28) | Patrick Roy | | Retirement |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| July 23, 2002 (2002-07-23) | Peter Budaj | | Entry-level |
| July 23, 2002 (2002-07-23) | Dan Hinote | | Re-signing |
| July 23, 2002 (2002-07-23) | Sergei Klyazmin | | Entry-level |
| July 23, 2002 (2002-07-23) | Brad Larsen | | Re-signing |
| July 23, 2002 (2002-07-23) | Bryan Muir | | Re-signing |
| July 23, 2002 (2002-07-23) | Agris Saviels | | Entry-level |
| July 23, 2002 (2002-07-23) | D. J. Smith | | Re-signing |
| July 23, 2002 (2002-07-23) | Charlie Stephens | | Entry-level |
| September 5, 2002 (2002-09-05) | Martin Skoula | 3-year | Re-signing |
| September 9, 2002 (2002-09-09) | Alex Tanguay | 1-year | Re-signing |
| March 14, 2003 (2003-03-14) | Johnny Boychuk | multi-year | Entry-level |
| March 29, 2003 (2003-03-29) | John-Michael Liles | multi-year | Entry-level |
| June 3, 2003 (2003-06-03) | Cody McCormick | | Entry-level |

## Draft picks

Colorado's draft picks at the 2002 NHL entry draft held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 28 | Jonas Johansson | Sweden | HV71 (Sweden) |
| 2 | 61 | Johnny Boychuk | Canada | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 3 | 94 | Eric Lundberg | United States | Providence College (Hockey East) |
| 4 | 107 | Mikko Kalteva | Finland | Jokerit Jr. (Finland) |
| 4 | 129 | Tom Gilbert | United States | Chicago Steel (USHL) |
| 5 | 164 | Tyler Weiman | Canada | Tri-City Americans (WHL) |
| 6 | 195 | Taylor Christie | Canada | Bowling Green State University (WCHA) |
| 7 | 227 | Ryan Steeves | Canada | Yale University (ECAC) |
| 8 | 258 | Sergei Shemetov | Russia | Elemash Elektrostal (Russia) |
| 9 | 289 | Sean Collins | United States | University of New Hampshire (Hockey East) |