# 2003–04 Florida Panthers season

The 2003–04 Florida Panthers season was their eleventh season in the National Hockey League. The Panthers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

## Offseason

Olli Jokinen was named team captain on October 7, 2003.

## Regular season

On November 9, 2003, head coach Mike Keenan was fired after leading the Panthers to a 5–8–2–0 start. General manager Rick Dudley assumed coaching duties on an interim basis through February 9, 2004, when assistant coach John Torchetti was named interim head coach.
The Panthers season finale against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 4, 2004, was the final tie in NHL history. Ties were eliminated after the 2004–05 NHL lockout when the shootout was adopted.

### Final standings

Southeast Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | 1 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 46 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 245 | 192 | 106 |
| 2 | 10 | Atlanta Thrashers | 82 | 33 | 37 | 8 | 4 | 214 | 243 | 78 |
| 3 | 11 | Carolina Hurricanes | 82 | 28 | 34 | 14 | 6 | 172 | 209 | 76 |
| 4 | 12 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 28 | 35 | 15 | 4 | 188 | 221 | 75 |
| 5 | 14 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 23 | 46 | 10 | 3 | 186 | 253 | 59 |
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- Tampa Bay Lightning | SE | 82 | 46 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 245 | 192 | 106 |
| 2 | Y- Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 41 | 19 | 15 | 7 | 209 | 188 | 104 |
| 3 | Y- Philadelphia Flyers | AT | 82 | 40 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 209 | 188 | 101 |
| 4 | X- Toronto Maple Leafs | NE | 82 | 45 | 24 | 10 | 3 | 242 | 204 | 103 |
| 5 | X- Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 43 | 23 | 10 | 6 | 262 | 189 | 102 |
| 6 | X- New Jersey Devils | AT | 82 | 43 | 25 | 12 | 2 | 213 | 164 | 100 |
| 7 | X- Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 41 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 208 | 192 | 93 |
| 8 | X- New York Islanders | AT | 82 | 38 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 237 | 210 | 91 |
| 8.5 |||||||||||
| 9 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 37 | 34 | 7 | 4 | 220 | 221 | 85 |
| 10 | Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 82 | 33 | 37 | 8 | 4 | 214 | 243 | 78 |
| 11 | Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 82 | 28 | 34 | 14 | 6 | 172 | 209 | 76 |
| 12 | Florida Panthers | SE | 82 | 28 | 35 | 15 | 4 | 188 | 221 | 75 |
| 13 | New York Rangers | AT | 82 | 27 | 40 | 7 | 8 | 206 | 250 | 69 |
| 14 | Washington Capitals | SE | 82 | 23 | 46 | 10 | 3 | 186 | 253 | 59 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Penguins | AT | 82 | 23 | 47 | 8 | 4 | 190 | 303 | 58 |
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast
Z – Clinched Conference; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

## Schedule and results

2003–04 regular season :
October: 4–5–2–0 (home: 1–2–1–0; road: 3–3–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 9, 20033–1Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04)1–0–0–0Recap
2TOctober 11, 20031–1 OTBoston Bruins (2003–04)1–0–1–0Recap
3TOctober 13, 20032–2 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04)1–0–2–0Recap
4LOctober 15, 20031–2Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)1–1–2–0Recap
5LOctober 18, 20031–2@ New York Islanders (2003–04)1–2–2–0Recap
6LOctober 20, 20031–3@ New York Rangers (2003–04)1–3–2–0Recap
7WOctober 22, 20032–1@ New Jersey Devils (2003–04)2–3–2–0Recap
8LOctober 24, 20033–4Minnesota Wild (2003–04)2–4–2–0Recap
9WOctober 25, 20033–2@ Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04)3–4–2–0Recap
10LOctober 29, 20031–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04)3–5–2–0Recap
11WOctober 30, 20033–2@ Ottawa Senators (2003–04)4–5–2–0Recap :
November: 5–8–2–0 (home: 3–4–1–0; road: 2–4–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
12LNovember 1, 20032–6San Jose Sharks (2003–04)4–6–2–0Recap
13LNovember 5, 20032–3Los Angeles Kings (2003–04)4–7–2–0Recap
14WNovember 7, 20036–3Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04)5–7–2–0Recap
15LNovember 8, 20030–2@ St. Louis Blues (2003–04)5–8–2–0Recap
16WNovember 11, 20034–0Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04)6–8–2–0Recap
17LNovember 13, 20031–3@ New Jersey Devils (2003–04)6–9–2–0Recap
18WNovember 15, 20033–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04)7–9–2–0Recap
19LNovember 16, 20032–5@ Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04)7–10–2–0Recap
20LNovember 19, 20031–4New York Islanders (2003–04)7–11–2–0Recap
21LNovember 21, 20033–6Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04)7–12–2–0Recap
22WNovember 22, 20033–2 OT@ Washington Capitals (2003–04)8–12–2–0Recap
23WNovember 24, 20032–1Buffalo Sabres (2003–04)9–12–2–0Recap
24TNovember 26, 20033–3 OTNew York Rangers (2003–04)9–12–3–0Recap
25LNovember 28, 20033–4@ Buffalo Sabres (2003–04)9–13–3–0Recap
26TNovember 29, 20031–1 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04)9–13–4–0Recap :
December: 3–3–5–2 (home: 3–1–3–1; road: 0–2–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
27LDecember 3, 20030–4Ottawa Senators (2003–04)9–14–4–0Recap
28OTLDecember 6, 20033–4 OTAtlanta Thrashers (2003–04)9–14–4–1Recap
29TDecember 10, 20031–1 OTBoston Bruins (2003–04)9–14–5–1Recap
30WDecember 12, 20034–2Montreal Canadiens (2003–04)10–14–5–1Recap
31TDecember 13, 20032–2 OT@ Nashville Predators (2003–04)10–14–6–1Recap
32LDecember 15, 20031–4@ Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)10–15–6–1Recap
33TDecember 17, 20032–2 OTWashington Capitals (2003–04)10–15–7–1Recap
34WDecember 19, 20031–0Dallas Stars (2003–04)11–15–7–1Recap
35OTLDecember 22, 20032–3 OT@ Ottawa Senators (2003–04)11–15–7–2Recap
36LDecember 23, 20032–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04)11–16–7–2Recap
37WDecember 27, 20033–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)12–16–7–2Recap
38TDecember 29, 20034–4 OTToronto Maple Leafs (2003–04)12–16–8–2Recap
39TDecember 31, 20032–2 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04)12–16–9–2Recap :
January: 5–6–2–1 (home: 3–2–1–1; road: 2–4–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
40LJanuary 2, 20041–2Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04)12–17–9–2Recap
41WJanuary 3, 20041–0Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)13–17–9–2Recap
42WJanuary 8, 20044–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04)14–17–9–2Recap
43LJanuary 10, 20042–4@ Calgary Flames (2003–04)14–18–9–2Recap
44TJanuary 11, 20042–2 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (2003–04)14–18–10–2Recap
45LJanuary 13, 20042–4@ Edmonton Oilers (2003–04)14–19–10–2Recap
46WJanuary 17, 20042–1Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04)15–19–10–2Recap
47OTLJanuary 19, 20041–2 OTSt. Louis Blues (2003–04)15–19–10–3Recap
48LJanuary 21, 20045–6Colorado Avalanche (2003–04)15–20–10–3Recap
49WJanuary 23, 20044–1Washington Capitals (2003–04)16–20–10–3Recap
50WJanuary 24, 20042–1@ Boston Bruins (2003–04)17–20–10–3Recap
51LJanuary 26, 20042–5@ New York Rangers (2003–04)17–21–10–3Recap
52TJanuary 28, 20043–3 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (2003–04)17–21–11–3Recap
53LJanuary 31, 20042–4@ New York Islanders (2003–04)17–22–11–3Recap :
February: 6–4–3–0 (home: 3–1–0–0; road: 3–3–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
54LFebruary 3, 20040–3@ San Jose Sharks (2003–04)17–23–11–3Recap
55WFebruary 4, 20045–4 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)18–23–11–3Recap
56WFebruary 10, 20042–1Montreal Canadiens (2003–04)19–23–11–3Recap
57WFebruary 12, 20045–1Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04)20–23–11–3Recap
58LFebruary 14, 20042–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04)20–24–11–3Recap
59LFebruary 16, 20041–3@ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04)20–25–11–3Recap
60TFebruary 18, 20041–1 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (2003–04)20–25–12–3Recap
61WFebruary 20, 20042–0@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04)21–25–12–3Recap
62TFebruary 21, 20042–2 OT@ Washington Capitals (2003–04)21–25–13–3Recap
63WFebruary 23, 20042–0@ Boston Bruins (2003–04)22–25–13–3Recap
64WFebruary 25, 20044–0Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04)23–25–13–3Recap
65LFebruary 27, 20041–4Washington Capitals (2003–04)23–26–13–3Recap
66TFebruary 29, 20042–2 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)23–26–14–3Recap :
March: 5–8–0–1 (home: 3–5–0–1; road: 2–3–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
67WMarch 2, 20041–0@ Washington Capitals (2003–04)24–26–14–3Recap
68LMarch 3, 20042–5New Jersey Devils (2003–04)24–27–14–3Recap
69LMarch 6, 20043–5Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04)24–28–14–3Recap
70LMarch 9, 20040–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04)24–29–14–3Recap
71WMarch 11, 20043–2 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04)25–29–14–3Recap
72WMarch 13, 20043–2 OTNew York Rangers (2003–04)26–29–14–3Recap
73WMarch 17, 20046–4New York Islanders (2003–04)27–29–14–3Recap
74LMarch 19, 20042–3@ Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04)27–30–14–3Recap
75LMarch 20, 20041–2Buffalo Sabres (2003–04)27–31–14–3Recap
76OTLMarch 23, 20043–4 OTNew Jersey Devils (2003–04)27–31–14–4Recap
77LMarch 25, 20042–3@ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04)27–32–14–4Recap
78LMarch 27, 20040–3Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04)27–33–14–4Recap
79WMarch 29, 20043–1Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04)28–33–14–4Recap
80LMarch 31, 20044–5Ottawa Senators (2003–04)28–34–14–4Recap :
April: 0–1–1–0 (home: 0–0–1–0; road: 0–1–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
81LApril 1, 20043–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04)28–35–14–4Recap
82TApril 4, 20046–6 OTCarolina Hurricanes (2003–04)28–35–15–4Recap :
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 |
| 12 | Olli Jokinen | C | 82 | 26 | 32 | 58 | −16 | 81 |
| 8 | Valeri Bure‡ | RW | 55 | 20 | 25 | 45 | 0 | 20 |
| 26 | Mike Van Ryn | D | 79 | 13 | 24 | 37 | −16 | 52 |
| 22 | Kristian Huselius | LW | 76 | 10 | 21 | 31 | −6 | 24 |
| 9 | Stephen Weiss | C | 50 | 12 | 17 | 29 | −10 | 10 |
| 25 | Viktor Kozlov‡ | C | 48 | 11 | 16 | 27 | −4 | 16 |
| 13 | Juraj Kolnik | RW | 53 | 14 | 11 | 25 | −7 | 14 |
| 14 | Niklas Hagman | LW | 75 | 10 | 13 | 23 | −5 | 22 |
| 16 | Nathan Horton | C | 55 | 14 | 8 | 22 | −5 | 57 |
| 4 | Jay Bouwmeester | D | 61 | 2 | 18 | 20 | −15 | 30 |
| 17 | Matt Cullen | C | 56 | 6 | 13 | 19 | −2 | 24 |
| 18 | Marcus Nilson‡ | LW | 69 | 6 | 13 | 19 | −9 | 26 |
| 2 | Lyle Odelein | D | 82 | 4 | 12 | 16 | −7 | 88 |
| 7 | Pavel Trnka | D | 67 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 2 | 51 |
| 28 | Donald Audette† | RW | 28 | 6 | 7 | 13 | −9 | 22 |
| 34 | Mathieu Biron | D | 57 | 3 | 10 | 13 | −13 | 51 |
| 19 | Byron Ritchie | C | 50 | 5 | 6 | 11 | −10 | 84 |
| 11 | Mikael Samuelsson | RW | 37 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 35 |
| 40 | Vaclav Nedorost | C | 32 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −6 | 12 |
| 6 | Andreas Lilja | D | 79 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −8 | 90 |
| 23 | Lukas Krajicek | D | 18 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −2 | 12 |
| 5 | Branislav Mezei | D | 45 | 0 | 7 | 7 | −4 | 80 |
| 38 | Eric Beaudoin | LW | 30 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −6 | 12 |
| 39 | Ivan Novoseltsev‡ | RW | 17 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −6 | 8 |
| 27 | Christian Berglund† | LW | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −2 | 10 |
| 24 | Darcy Hordichuk | LW | 57 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −10 | 158 |
| 1 | Roberto Luongo | G | 72 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 2 |
| 20 | Craig MacDonald‡ | LW | 34 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −5 | 25 |
| 15 | Eric Messier | LW | 21 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −2 | 16 |
| 27 | Jaroslav Bednar‡ | RW | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 20 | Josh Olson | LW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | Kamil Piros† | C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 23 | Lee Goren | RW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −4 | 0 |
| 41 | Mike Green‡ | C | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 44 | Gregory Campbell | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 5 |
| 15 | Ty Jones† | RW | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 33 | Kristian Kudroc | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 32 | Grant McNeill | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 36 | Kyle Rossiter‡ | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 7 |
| 31 | Steve Shields | G | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 6 |
| 21 | Denis Shvidki | RW | 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 |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 1 | Roberto Luongo | 72 | 25 | 33 | 14 | 2475 | 172 | 2.43 | .931 | 7 | 4252 |
| 31 | Steve Shields | 16 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 346 | 42 | 3.44 | .879 | 0 | 732 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
| League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star Team | Roberto Luongo (Goaltender) | |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Roberto Luongo | |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Nathan Horton | October 9, 2003 |
| First game | Gregory Campbell | October 18, 2003 |
| First game | Grant McNeill | November 22, 2003 |
| First game | Mike Green | February 3, 2004 |
| First game | Josh Olson | March 11, 2004 |
| 1,000th game played | Lyle Odelein | January 31, 2004 |

## Transactions

The Panthers were involved in the following transactions from June 10, 2003, the day after the deciding game of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 7, 2004, the day of the deciding game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| June 21, 2003 (2003-06-21) | To Pittsburgh Penguins1st-round pick in 20033rd-round pick in 2003 | To Florida PanthersMikael Samuelsson1st-round pick in 20032nd-round pick in 2003 |
| June 21, 2003 (2003-06-21) | To Tampa Bay Lightning2nd-round pick in 20032nd-round pick in 20036th-round pick in 2003 | To Florida Panthers1st-round pick in 2003 |
| June 21, 2003 (2003-06-21) | To Atlanta ThrashersIvan Majesky | To Florida Panthers2nd-round pick in 2003 |
| June 22, 2003 (2003-06-22) | To Philadelphia Flyers6th-round pick in 2004 | To Florida Panthers7th-round pick in 2003 |
| June 22, 2003 (2003-06-22) | To Chicago Blackhawks 9th-round pick in 2003 | To Florida Panthers Dmytro Tolkunov |
| July 19, 2003 (2003-07-19) | To Colorado AvalanchePeter Worrell2nd-round pick in 2004 | To Florida PanthersEric MessierVaclav Nedorost |
| September 11, 2003 (2003-09-11) | To Ottawa SenatorsSerge Payer | To Florida Panthers9th-round pick in 2004 |
| October 5, 2003 (2003-10-05) | To Boston BruinsFuture considerations | To Florida PanthersSteve Shields |
| December 29, 2003 (2003-12-29) | To Ottawa SenatorsFuture considerations | To Florida PanthersWade Brookbank |
| December 30, 2003 (2003-12-30) | To Phoenix CoyotesIvan Novoseltsev | To Florida PanthersFuture considerations |
| March 1, 2004 (2004-03-01) | To New Jersey DevilsViktor Kozlov | To Florida PanthersChristian BerglundVictor Uchevatov |
| March 2, 2004 (2004-03-02) | To Chicago BlackhawksFuture considerations | To Florida PanthersRights to Ty Jones |
| March 8, 2004 (2004-03-08) | To Calgary FlamesMarcus Nilsson | To Florida Panthers2nd-round pick in 2004 |
| March 8, 2004 (2004-03-08) | To Dallas StarsValeri Bure | To Florida PanthersRights to Drew Bagnall2nd-round pick in 2004 |
| March 8, 2004 (2004-03-08) | To Atlanta ThrashersKyle Rossiter | To Florida PanthersKamil Piros |
| March 9, 2004 (2004-03-09) | To New York RangersJeff Paul | To Florida PanthersPaul Healey |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| June 25, 2003 (2003-06-25) | Valeri Bure | St. Louis Blues | | Waivers |
| July 3, 2003 (2003-07-03) | Kristian Kudroc | Tampa Bay Lightning | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 11, 2003 (2003-07-11) | Max Birbraer | New Jersey Devils | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 24, 2003 (2003-07-24) | Lee Goren | Boston Bruins | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 12, 2003 (2003-08-12) | Travis Scott | Los Angeles Kings | 2-year | Free agency |
| August 14, 2003 (2003-08-14) | Kent Huskins | Chicago Blackhawks | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 14, 2003 (2003-08-14) | Craig MacDonald | Carolina Hurricanes | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 19, 2003 (2003-08-19) | Jeff Paul | Colorado Avalanche | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 20, 2003 (2003-08-20) | Todd Gill | Chicago Blackhawks | 1-year | Free agency |
| September 4, 2003 (2003-09-04) | Jonas Hoglund | Toronto Maple Leafs | 1-year | Free agency |
| September 9, 2003 (2003-09-09) | Lyle Odelein | Dallas Stars | 1-year | Free agency |
| October 3, 2003 (2003-10-03) | Steve Valiquette | Edmonton Oilers | | Waiver draft |
| January 16, 2004 (2004-01-16) | Donald Audette | Montreal Canadiens | 1-year | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| July 1, 2003 (2003-07-01) | Igor Kravchuk | | Contract expiration (III) |
| July 1, 2003 (2003-07-01) | Andy Lundbohm | | Contract expiration (VI) |
| July 4, 2003 (2003-07-04) | Pierre Dagenais | Montreal Canadiens | Free agency (VI) |
| July 15, 2003 (2003-07-15) | Rocky Thompson | Edmonton Oilers | Free agency (VI) |
| July 16, 2003 (2003-07-16) | Pascal Trepanier | Tampa Bay Lightning | Release (II) |
| July 29, 2003 (2003-07-29) | Stephane Matteau | | Retirement (III) |
| July 29, 2003 (2003-07-29) | Jamie Rivers | Detroit Red Wings | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 6, 2003 (2003-08-06) | Tyrone Garner | Stuttgart Wizards (GER-3) | Free agency (UFA) |
| September 8, 2003 (2003-09-08) | Dmytro Tolkunov | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (RSL) | Free agency (II) |
| September 20, 2003 (2003-09-20) | Paul Laus | | Retirement |
| September 25, 2003 (2003-09-25) | Petr Kadlec | HC Slavia Praha (ELH) | Release |
| N/A | Jim Campbell | HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (RSL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| October 3, 2003 (2003-10-03) | Todd Gill | Lausitzer Fuchse (GER-3) | Release |
| October 3, 2003 (2003-10-03) | Jani Hurme | Carolina Hurricanes | Waiver draft |
| October 3, 2003 (2003-10-03) | Chris Mason | Nashville Predators | Waiver draft |
| October 4, 2003 (2003-10-04) | Jonas Hoglund | HC Davos (NLA) | Release |
| October 8, 2003 (2003-10-08) | Steve Valiquette | Edmonton Oilers | Waivers |
| November 11, 2003 (2003-11-11) | Jeff Toms | EHC Basel (NLA) | Free agency |
| December 1, 2003 (2003-12-01) | Jaroslav Bednar | Avangard Omsk (RSL) | Release |
| December 13, 2003 (2003-12-13) | Igor Ulanov | Toronto Roadrunners (AHL) | Free agency |
| January 20, 2004 (2004-01-20) | Craig MacDonald | Boston Bruins | Waivers |
| March 9, 2004 (2004-03-09) | Mike Green | New York Rangers | Waivers |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| June 11, 2003 (2003-06-11) | Branislav Mezei | 3-year | Re-signing |
| June 13, 2003 (2003-06-13) | Mathieu Biron | 3-year | Re-signing |
| July 3, 2003 (2003-07-03) | Chris Mason | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 15, 2003 (2003-07-15) | Petr Kadlec | 1-year | Entry-level |
| July 16, 2003 (2003-07-16) | Olli Jokinen | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 16, 2003 (2003-07-16) | Viktor Kozlov | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 24, 2003 (2003-07-24) | Darcy Hordichuk | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 24, 2003 (2003-07-24) | Denis Shvidki | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 30, 2003 (2003-07-30) | Jaroslav Bednar | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 5, 2003 (2003-08-05) | Eric Beaudoin | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 5, 2003 (2003-08-05) | Mike Green | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 5, 2003 (2003-08-05) | Kyle Rossiter | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 12, 2003 (2003-08-12) | Ryan Jardine | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 12, 2003 (2003-08-12) | Ivan Novoseltsev | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 19, 2003 (2003-08-19) | Mike Van Ryn | 1-year | Re-signing |
| September 3, 2003 (2003-09-03) | Kristian Huselius | 2-year | Re-signing |
| September 3, 2003 (2003-09-03) | Juraj Kolnik | 1-year | Re-signing |
| September 3, 2003 (2003-09-03) | Michel Periard | 1-year | Re-signing |
| October 6, 2003 (2003-10-06) | Nathan Horton | 3-year | Entry-level |
| October 14, 2003 (2003-10-14) | Petr Taticek | 3-year | Entry-level |
| June 1, 2004 (2004-06-01) | Rob Globke | | Entry-level |
| June 1, 2004 (2004-06-01) | Jeremy Swanson | | Entry-level |

## Draft picks

Florida's draft picks at the 2003 NHL entry draft held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 3 | Nathan Horton | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 1 | 25 | Anthony Stewart | Canada | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) |
| 2 | 38 | Kamil Kreps | Czech Republic | Brampton Battalion (OHL) |
| 2 | 55 | Stefan Meyer | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 4 | 105 | Martin Lojek | Czech Republic | Brampton Battalion (OHL) |
| 4 | 124 | James Pemberton | United States | Providence College (NCAA) |
| 5 | 141 | Dan Travis | United States | Deerfield Academy (USHS–MA) |
| 5 | 162 | Martin Tuma | Czech Republic | HC Litvínov Jr. (Czech Republic) |
| 6 | 171 | Denis Stasyuk | Russia | Metallurg Novokuznetsk (Russia) |
| 7 | 223 | Dany Roussin | Canada | Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 234 | Petr Kadlec | Czech Republic | Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) |
| 9 | 264 | John Hecimovic | Canada | Sarnia Sting (OHL) |
| 9 | 265 | Tanner Glass | Canada | Dartmouth College (ECAC) |