# 2003–04 Dallas Stars season

The 2003–04 Dallas Stars season was the Stars' 11th season, 37th overall of the franchise.

## Off-season

On July 3, defenseman Derian Hatcher signed a five-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Mike Modano was named his replacement as team captain later the same day.

## Regular season

Only 369 total goals (194 for Dallas, 175 for their opponents) were scored in the Stars' regular-season games: the lowest total of all 30 NHL teams. Twenty-one games of their 82 regular-season games ended in a shutout. They also tied the Columbus Blue Jackets for most times shut out, with 11.

### Final standings

Pacific Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 43 | 21 | 12 | 6 | 219 | 183 | 104 |
| 2 | 5 | Dallas Stars | 82 | 41 | 26 | 13 | 2 | 194 | 175 | 97 |
| 3 | 11 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 28 | 29 | 16 | 9 | 205 | 217 | 81 |
| 4 | 12 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 82 | 29 | 35 | 10 | 8 | 184 | 213 | 76 |
| 5 | 13 | Phoenix Coyotes | 82 | 22 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 188 | 245 | 68 |
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 | P- Detroit Red Wings | CE | 82 | 48 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 255 | 189 | 109 |
| 2 | Y- San Jose Sharks | PA | 82 | 43 | 21 | 12 | 6 | 255 | 183 | 104 |
| 3 | Y- Vancouver Canucks | NW | 82 | 43 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 235 | 194 | 101 |
| 4 | X- Colorado Avalanche | NW | 82 | 40 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 236 | 198 | 100 |
| 5 | X- Dallas Stars | PA | 82 | 41 | 26 | 13 | 2 | 194 | 175 | 97 |
| 6 | X- Calgary Flames | NW | 82 | 42 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 200 | 176 | 94 |
| 7 | X- St. Louis Blues | CE | 82 | 39 | 30 | 11 | 2 | 191 | 198 | 91 |
| 8 | X- Nashville Predators | CE | 82 | 38 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 216 | 217 | 91 |
| 8.5 |||||||||||
| 9 | Edmonton Oilers | NW | 82 | 36 | 29 | 12 | 5 | 221 | 208 | 89 |
| 10 | Minnesota Wild | NW | 82 | 30 | 29 | 20 | 3 | 188 | 183 | 83 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Kings | PA | 82 | 28 | 29 | 16 | 9 | 205 | 217 | 81 |
| 12 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PA | 82 | 29 | 35 | 10 | 8 | 184 | 213 | 76 |
| 13 | Phoenix Coyotes | PA | 82 | 22 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 188 | 245 | 68 |
| 14 | Columbus Blue Jackets | CE | 82 | 25 | 45 | 8 | 4 | 177 | 238 | 62 |
| 15 | Chicago Blackhawks | CE | 82 | 20 | 43 | 11 | 8 | 188 | 259 | 59 |
Divisions: CE – Central, PA – Pacific, NW – Northwest
P – Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

## Playoffs
### Round 1: (4) Colorado Avalanche vs. (5) Dallas Stars

The series began in Colorado. The Avalanche won the first two games; game 1 was by a score of 3-1 and game 2 was a 5-2 victory. Games 3 & 4 shifted to Dallas. Game 3 was won by Dallas 4-3 in overtime. However, in game 4, the Avalanche responded with a 3-2 double overtime win. Back in Denver for game 5, Colorado would go on to win 5-1 and clinch the series 4-1.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

2003–04 regular season :
October: 6–4–0–0 (home: 4–2–0–0; road: 2–2–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 8, 20034–1Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)1–0–0–0Recap
2WOctober 11, 20033–1@ Nashville Predators (2003–04)2–0–0–0Recap
3LOctober 13, 20033–4@ Buffalo Sabres (2003–04)2–1–0–0Recap
4LOctober 15, 20030–2Boston Bruins (2003–04)2–2–0–0Recap
5WOctober 17, 20034–2Washington Capitals (2003–04)3–2–0–0Recap
6WOctober 19, 20033–1Minnesota Wild (2003–04)4–2–0–0Recap
7LOctober 22, 20031–3Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04)4–3–0–0Recap
8LOctober 24, 20030–4@ Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)4–4–0–0Recap
9WOctober 25, 20033–2@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)5–4–0–0Recap
10WOctober 29, 20034–3 OTCalgary Flames (2003–04)6–4–0–0Recap :
November: 5–7–3–0 (home: 4–2–2–0; road: 1–5–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11TNovember 1, 20031–1 OT@ Nashville Predators (2003–04)6–4–1–0Recap
12WNovember 2, 20037–3Nashville Predators (2003–04)7–4–1–0Recap
13LNovember 4, 20030–3@ New York Rangers (2003–04)7–5–1–0Recap
14LNovember 6, 20031–4@ New York Islanders (2003–04)7–6–1–0Recap
15LNovember 8, 20031–4@ Boston Bruins (2003–04)7–7–1–0Recap
16LNovember 12, 20032–6Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)7–8–1–0Recap
17TNovember 14, 20033–3 OTPhoenix Coyotes (2003–04)7–8–2–0Recap
18LNovember 15, 20030–3@ Colorado Avalanche (2003–04)7–9–2–0Recap
19TNovember 19, 20033–3 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)7–9–3–0Recap
20WNovember 21, 20033–1Los Angeles Kings (2003–04)8–9–3–0Recap
21LNovember 22, 20031–2@ St. Louis Blues (2003–04)8–10–3–0Recap
22WNovember 24, 20035–2Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)9–10–3–0Recap
23WNovember 26, 20033–1@ Minnesota Wild (2003–04)10–10–3–0Recap
24WNovember 28, 20032–0New Jersey Devils (2003–04)11–10–3–0Recap
25LNovember 30, 20031–2Los Angeles Kings (2003–04)11–11–3–0Recap :
December: 6–5–3–0 (home: 3–0–2–0; road: 3–5–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26LDecember 4, 20030–3@ Los Angeles Kings (2003–04)11–12–3–0Recap
27LDecember 6, 20031–2@ San Jose Sharks (2003–04)11–13–3–0Recap
28LDecember 7, 20030–4@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)11–14–3–0Recap
29LDecember 10, 20031–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)11–15–3–0Recap
30WDecember 12, 20031–0Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)12–15–3–0Recap
31TDecember 14, 20031–1 OT@ Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)12–15–4–0Recap
32WDecember 17, 20033–1Vancouver Canucks (2003–04)13–15–4–0Recap
33LDecember 19, 20030–1@ Florida Panthers (2003–04)13–16–4–0Recap
34WDecember 20, 20032–1@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04)14–16–4–0Recap
35WDecember 22, 20033–1@ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04)15–16–4–0Recap
36WDecember 26, 20032–1Nashville Predators (2003–04)16–16–4–0Recap
37WDecember 27, 20034–3@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)17–16–4–0Recap
38TDecember 29, 20032–2 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (2003–04)17–16–5–0Recap
39TDecember 31, 20031–1 OTMontreal Canadiens (2003–04)17–16–6–0Recap :
January: 9–4–3–0 (home: 4–2–1–0; road: 5–2–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
40LJanuary 2, 20040–6Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)17–17–6–0Recap
41TJanuary 3, 20042–2 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (2003–04)17–17–7–0Recap
42TJanuary 5, 20042–2 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)17–17–8–0Recap
43WJanuary 8, 20042–1Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04)18–17–8–0Recap
44LJanuary 10, 20042–4Colorado Avalanche (2003–04)18–18–8–0Recap
45WJanuary 13, 20043–0@ San Jose Sharks (2003–04)19–18–8–0Recap
46LJanuary 15, 20041–4@ Colorado Avalanche (2003–04)19–19–8–0Recap
47WJanuary 17, 20043–2@ Calgary Flames (2003–04)20–19–8–0Recap
48WJanuary 19, 20043–2@ Vancouver Canucks (2003–04)21–19–8–0Recap
49LJanuary 20, 20040–3@ Edmonton Oilers (2003–04)21–20–8–0Recap
50WJanuary 23, 20042–0St. Louis Blues (2003–04)22–20–8–0Recap
51WJanuary 24, 20043–2@ St. Louis Blues (2003–04)23–20–8–0Recap
52TJanuary 26, 20042–2 OTDetroit Red Wings (2003–04)23–20–9–0Recap
53WJanuary 28, 20045–3Ottawa Senators (2003–04)24–20–9–0Recap
54WJanuary 30, 20043–1San Jose Sharks (2003–04)25–20–9–0Recap
55WJanuary 31, 20045–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)26–20–9–0Recap :
February: 6–2–2–0 (home: 5–0–2–0; road: 1–2–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
56WFebruary 4, 20041–0Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)27–20–9–0Recap
57TFebruary 11, 20044–4 OTNew York Islanders (2003–04)27–20–10–0Recap
58LFebruary 14, 20042–3@ Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)27–21–10–0Recap
59LFebruary 16, 20041–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)27–22–10–0Recap
60WFebruary 18, 20044–3@ Los Angeles Kings (2003–04)28–22–10–0Recap
61WFebruary 20, 20045–1Colorado Avalanche (2003–04)29–22–10–0Recap
62WFebruary 22, 20044–0Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)30–22–10–0Recap
63TFebruary 25, 20041–1 OTLos Angeles Kings (2003–04)30–22–11–0Recap
64WFebruary 27, 20043–1Minnesota Wild (2003–04)31–22–11–0Recap
65WFebruary 29, 20045–4 OTEdmonton Oilers (2003–04)32–22–11–0Recap :
March: 8–3–2–2 (home: 5–1–1–0; road: 3–2–1–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
66WMarch 3, 20044–2Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)33–22–11–0Recap
67WMarch 5, 20045–1Calgary Flames (2003–04)34–22–11–0Recap
68WMarch 7, 20044–0San Jose Sharks (2003–04)35–22–11–0Recap
69LMarch 9, 20040–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04)35–23–11–0Recap
70TMarch 11, 20042–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04)35–23–12–0Recap
71LMarch 13, 20040–3@ Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)35–24–12–0Recap
72WMarch 14, 20044–0@ Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)36–24–12–0Recap
73TMarch 16, 20043–3 OTSan Jose Sharks (2003–04)36–24–13–0Recap
74WMarch 18, 20043–0Vancouver Canucks (2003–04)37–24–13–0Recap
75WMarch 20, 20043–1St. Louis Blues (2003–04)38–24–13–0Recap
76WMarch 22, 20044–0@ Calgary Flames (2003–04)39–24–13–0Recap
77WMarch 24, 20044–3 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (2003–04)40–24–13–0Recap
78OTLMarch 27, 20042–3 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (2003–04)40–24–13–1Recap
79OTLMarch 28, 20041–2 OT@ San Jose Sharks (2003–04)40–24–13–2Recap
80LMarch 31, 20041–3Edmonton Oilers (2003–04)40–25–13–2Recap :
April: 1–1–0–0 (home: 1–0–0–0; road: 0–1–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
81LApril 2, 20042–4@ Minnesota Wild (2003–04)40–26–13–2Recap
82WApril 4, 20045–2Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)41–26–13–2Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point)
  Overtime loss (1 point) :

### Playoffs

2004 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (4) Colorado Avalanche: Avalanche win 4–1
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 7Dallas1–3ColoradoTurco18,007Avalanche lead 1–0Recap
2April 9Dallas2–5ColoradoTurco18,007Avalanche lead 2–0Recap
3April 12Colorado3–4DallasOTTurco18,532Avalanche lead 2–1Recap
4April 14Colorado3–2Dallas2OTTurco18,532Avalanche lead 3–1Recap
5April 17Dallas1–5ColoradoTurco18,007Avalanche win 4–1Recap :
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 Stars only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Stars 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 |
| 13 | Bill Guerin | RW | 82 | 34 | 35 | 69 | 14 | 109 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 4 |
| 44 | Jason Arnott | C | 73 | 21 | 36 | 57 | 23 | 66 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
| 10 | Brenden Morrow | LW | 81 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 10 | 121 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | Mike Modano | C | 76 | 14 | 30 | 44 | −21 | 46 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −4 | 8 |
| 56 | Sergei Zubov | D | 77 | 7 | 35 | 42 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −5 | 0 |
| 77 | Pierre Turgeon | C | 76 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 17 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −2 | 2 |
| 14 | Stu Barnes | C | 77 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 7 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −6 | 0 |
| 26 | Jere Lehtinen | RW | 58 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 |
| 18 | Rob DiMaio | RW | 69 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 2 | 52 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 2 |
| 43 | Philippe Boucher | D | 70 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 15 | 64 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 6 |
| 24 | Richard Matvichuk | D | 75 | 1 | 20 | 21 | 0 | 36 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −4 | 8 |
| 27 | Teppo Numminen | D | 62 | 3 | 14 | 17 | −5 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 48 | Scott Young | RW | 53 | 8 | 8 | 16 | −15 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 28 | David Oliver | RW | 36 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Steve Ott | C | 73 | 2 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 152 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Don Sweeney | D | 63 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
| 72 | Shayne Corson† | LW | 17 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −5 | 12 |
| 17 | Valeri Bure† | RW | 13 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −1 | 0 |
| 42 | Jon Klemm† | D | 58 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Trevor Daley | D | 27 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −6 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Niko Kapanen | C | 67 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −15 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 47 | Aaron Downey | RW | 37 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37 | Lubomir Sekeras† | D | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Mathias Tjarnqvist | RW | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Antti Miettinen | RW | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Stephane Robidas‡ | D | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 55 | John Erskine | D | 32 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −9 | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 35 | Marty Turco | G | 73 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 32 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 1 | Dan Ellis | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 36 | Steve Gainey‡ | LW | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37 | Jeff MacMillan | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Manny Malhotra‡ | C | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40 | Gavin Morgan | C | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Blake Sloan† | RW | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Chris Therien† | D | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | Ron Tugnutt | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Rob Valicevic | RW | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### 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 |
| 35 | Marty Turco | 73 | 37 | 21 | 13 | 1648 | 144 | 1.98 | .913 | 9 | 4359 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 119 | 18 | 3.32 | .849 | 0 | 325 |
| 31 | Ron Tugnutt | 11 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 220 | 22 | 2.41 | .900 | 1 | 548 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | Dan Ellis | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 3.00 | .893 | 0 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Bill Guerin |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Mike Modano |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Marty Turco |
| League (in-season) | NHL Offensive Player of the Week | Bill Guerin (November 3) |
| Team | Star of the Game Award | Brenden Morrow |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Antti Miettinen | October 8, 2003 |
| First game | Trevor Daley | October 25, 2003 |
| First game | Mathias Tjarnqvist | November 12, 2003 |
| First game | Gavin Morgan | December 4, 2003 |
| First game | Jeff MacMillan | December 7, 2003 |
| First game | Dan Ellis | February 18, 2004 |

## Transactions

The Stars 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 Anaheim Mighty Ducks 1st-round pick in 2003 | To Dallas Stars 2nd-round pick in 2003San Jose’s 2nd-round pick in 2003 |
| June 22, 2003 (2003-06-22) | To Phoenix Coyotes 9th-round pick in 2003 | To Dallas Stars 8th-round pick in 2004 |
| July 22, 2003 (2003-07-22) | To Columbus Blue Jackets Darryl Sydor | To Dallas Stars Mike Sillinger2nd-round pick in 2004 |
| July 22, 2003 (2003-07-22) | To Phoenix Coyotes Mike SillingerConditional draft pick | To Dallas Stars Teppo Numminen |
| November 17, 2003 (2003-11-17) | To Chicago Blackhawks Stephane Robidas2nd-round pick in 2004 | To Dallas Stars Jon Klemm4th-round pick in 2004 |
| February 16, 2004 (2004-02-16) | To Philadelphia Flyers Steve Gainey | To Dallas Stars Mike Siklenka |
| March 8, 2004 (2004-03-08) | To Philadelphia Flyers Phoenix’s 8th-round pick in 20043rd-round pick in 2005 | To Dallas Stars Chris Therien |
| March 8, 2004 (2004-03-08) | To Florida Panthers Rights to Drew Bagnall2nd-round pick in 2004 | To Dallas Stars Valeri Bure |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| July 14, 2003 (2003-07-14) | Don Sweeney | Boston Bruins | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 17, 2003 (2003-07-17) | Jarrod Skalde | Lausanne HC (NLA) | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 28, 2003 (2003-08-28) | Rob Valicevic | Anaheim Mighty Ducks | 1-year | Free agency |
| December 3, 2003 (2003-12-03) | Blake Sloan | Detroit Red Wings | | Waivers |
| February 18, 2004 (2004-02-18) | Shayne Corson | Toronto Maple Leafs | 1-year | Free agency |
| March 9, 2004 (2004-03-09) | Lubomir Sekeras | Sodertalje SK (SHL) | 1-year | Free agency |
| April 16, 2004 (2004-04-16) | Junior Lessard | University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA) | 1-year | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| July 3, 2003 (2003-07-03) | Derian Hatcher | Detroit Red Wings | Free agency (III) |
| July 3, 2003 (2003-07-03) | Alexei Komarov | HC Spartak Moscow (RUS-2) | Free agency (II) |
| August 23, 2003 (2003-08-23) | Jim Montgomery | Salavat Yulaev Ufa (RSL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 25, 2003 (2003-08-25) | Greg Hawgood | Chicago Wolves (AHL) | Free agency (III) |
| September 1, 2003 (2003-09-01) | David Gosselin | Frankfurt Lions (DEL) | Free agency (VI) |
| September 2, 2003 (2003-09-02) | Kirk Muller | | Retirement (III) |
| September 9, 2003 (2003-09-09) | Lyle Odelein | Florida Panthers | Free agency (III) |
| September 21, 2003 (2003-09-21) | Ulf Dahlen | | Retirement (III) |
| October 7, 2003 (2003-10-07) | Claude Lemieux | EV Zug (NLA) | Buyout |
| October 14, 2003 (2003-10-14) | Marcus Kristoffersson | Djurgardens IF (SHL) | Free agency |
| November 21, 2003 (2003-11-21) | Manny Malhotra | Columbus Blue Jackets | Waivers |
| December 16, 2003 (2003-12-16) | Corey Hirsch | Timra IK (SHL) | Free agency (UFA) |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| June 26, 2003 (2003-06-26) | Aaron Downey | 1-year | Option exercised |
| July 15, 2003 (2003-07-15) | Antti Miettinen | 2-year | Entry-level |
| July 15, 2003 (2003-07-15) | Mathias Tjarnqvist | 1-year | Entry-level |
| July 17, 2003 (2003-07-17) | Andrew Berenzweig | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 17, 2003 (2003-07-17) | Jeff MacMillan | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 17, 2003 (2003-07-17) | David Oliver | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 24, 2003 (2003-07-24) | Stephane Robidas | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 30, 2003 (2003-07-30) | John Erskine | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 14, 2003 (2003-08-14) | Richard Matvichuk | 1-year | Arbitration award |
| August 18, 2003 (2003-08-18) | Dan Ellis | 3-year | Entry-level |
| August 26, 2003 (2003-08-26) | Niko Kapanen | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 27, 2003 (2003-08-27) | Mike Modano | 1-year | Extension |
| September 4, 2003 (2003-09-04) | Jere Lehtinen | 4-year | Extension |
| September 15, 2003 (2003-09-15) | Steve Gainey | 1-year | Re-signing |
| September 15, 2003 (2003-09-15) | Marcus Kristoffersson | 1-year | Re-signing |
| September 18, 2003 (2003-09-18) | Marty Turco | 3-year | Re-signing |
| May 3, 2004 (2004-05-03) | Matt Nickerson | 3-year | Entry-level |
| May 21, 2004 (2004-05-21) | Marius Holtet | 3-year | Entry-level |

## Draft picks

Dallas'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) |
| 2 | 33 | Loui Eriksson | Sweden | Frölunda HC (Sweden) |
| 2 | 36 | Vojtech Polak | Czech Republic | Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic) |
| 2 | 54 | B. J. Crombeen | United States | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
| 3 | 99 | Matt Nickerson | United States | Texas Tornado (NAHL) |
| 4 | 134 | Alexander Naurov | Russia | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia) |
| 5 | 144 | Eero Kilpelainen | Finland | KalPa (Finland) |
| 5 | 165 | Gino Guyer | United States | University of Minnesota (NCAA) |
| 6 | 185 | Francis Wathier | Canada | Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 195 | Drew Bagnall | Canada | Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) |
| 6 | 196 | Elias Granath | Sweden | Leksands IF (Sweden) |
| 8 | 259 | Niko Vainio | Finland | Jokerit (Finland) |