# 2003–04 Nashville Predators season

The 2003–04 Nashville Predators season was the Nashville Predators' sixth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The team qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in franchise history, losing to the Detroit Red Wings in the first round.

## Regular season

The Predators had the most power-play opportunities of all 30 teams in the League, with 428.

### Final standings

Central Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 48 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 255 | 189 | 109 |
| 2 | 7 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 39 | 30 | 11 | 2 | 191 | 198 | 91 |
| 3 | 8 | Nashville Predators | 82 | 38 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 216 | 217 | 91 |
| 4 | 14 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 82 | 25 | 45 | 8 | 4 | 177 | 238 | 62 |
| 5 | 15 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 20 | 43 | 11 | 8 | 188 | 259 | 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.
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

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

2003–04 regular season :
October: 4–5–0–0 (home: 4–2–0–0; road: 0–3–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 9, 20033–1Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)1–0–0–0Recap
2LOctober 11, 20031–3Dallas Stars (2003–04)1–1–0–0Recap
3WOctober 16, 20034–1St. Louis Blues (2003–04)2–1–0–0Recap
4WOctober 18, 20033–2Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)3–1–0–0Recap
5LOctober 19, 20031–3@ Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)3–2–0–0Recap
6LOctober 23, 20032–4@ Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04)3–3–0–0Recap
7LOctober 25, 20033–5Colorado Avalanche (2003–04)3–4–0–0Recap
8LOctober 28, 20030–1@ St. Louis Blues (2003–04)3–5–0–0Recap
9WOctober 30, 20035–3Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)4–5–0–0Recap :
November: 8–5–1–0 (home: 4–2–1–0; road: 4–3–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
10TNovember 1, 20031–1 OTDallas Stars (2003–04)4–5–1–0Recap
11LNovember 2, 20033–7@ Dallas Stars (2003–04)4–6–1–0Recap
12LNovember 5, 20033–4Vancouver Canucks (2003–04)4–7–1–0Recap
13LNovember 7, 20031–2Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)4–8–1–0Recap
14WNovember 8, 20034–3@ Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)5–8–1–0Recap
15WNovember 13, 20034–1Calgary Flames (2003–04)6–8–1–0Recap
16WNovember 15, 20034–3New York Islanders (2003–04)7–8–1–0Recap
17LNovember 19, 20030–3@ Los Angeles Kings (2003–04)7–9–1–0Recap
18WNovember 21, 20034–3 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)8–9–1–0Recap
19LNovember 22, 20031–3@ San Jose Sharks (2003–04)8–10–1–0Recap
20WNovember 24, 20033–2@ Colorado Avalanche (2003–04)9–10–1–0Recap
21WNovember 26, 20034–2Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)10–10–1–0Recap
22WNovember 28, 20032–1@ Boston Bruins (2003–04)11–10–1–0Recap
23WNovember 29, 20034–1Buffalo Sabres (2003–04)12–10–1–0Recap :
December: 4–4–3–2 (home: 1–1–2–1; road: 3–3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
24WDecember 3, 20032–1 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04)13–10–1–0Recap
25WDecember 4, 20034–2@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)14–10–1–0Recap
26LDecember 6, 20031–4@ St. Louis Blues (2003–04)14–11–1–0Recap
27LDecember 11, 20031–4Los Angeles Kings (2003–04)14–12–1–0Recap
28TDecember 13, 20032–2 OTFlorida Panthers (2003–04)14–12–2–0Recap
29OTLDecember 16, 20031–2 OTVancouver Canucks (2003–04)14–12–2–1Recap
30OTLDecember 18, 20034–5 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04)14–12–2–2Recap
31WDecember 20, 20031–0Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)15–12–2–2Recap
32TDecember 22, 20033–3 OTPhoenix Coyotes (2003–04)15–12–3–2Recap
33TDecember 23, 20033–3 OT@ Minnesota Wild (2003–04)15–12–4–2Recap
34LDecember 26, 20031–2@ Dallas Stars (2003–04)15–13–4–2Recap
35WDecember 27, 20033–1@ Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)16–13–4–2Recap
36LDecember 29, 20032–5@ San Jose Sharks (2003–04)16–14–4–2Recap :
January: 10–4–2–0 (home: 8–0–1–0; road: 2–4–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
37WJanuary 1, 20043–2Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04)17–14–4–2Recap
38WJanuary 3, 20043–2New Jersey Devils (2003–04)18–14–4–2Recap
39LJanuary 5, 20040–6@ Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)18–15–4–2Recap
40LJanuary 6, 20041–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04)18–16–4–2Recap
41WJanuary 8, 20044–3 OTColorado Avalanche (2003–04)19–16–4–2Recap
42WJanuary 10, 20043–1St. Louis Blues (2003–04)20–16–4–2Recap
43TJanuary 12, 20043–3 OT@ Minnesota Wild (2003–04)20–16–5–2Recap
44TJanuary 13, 20040–0 OTLos Angeles Kings (2003–04)20–16–6–2Recap
45WJanuary 15, 20044–3Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)21–16–6–2Recap
46WJanuary 17, 20042–1Edmonton Oilers (2003–04)22–16–6–2Recap
47WJanuary 19, 20042–0Minnesota Wild (2003–04)23–16–6–2Recap
48LJanuary 22, 20040–4@ Calgary Flames (2003–04)23–17–6–2Recap
49WJanuary 24, 20044–3@ Edmonton Oilers (2003–04)24–17–6–2Recap
50LJanuary 25, 20041–4@ Vancouver Canucks (2003–04)24–18–6–2Recap
51WJanuary 29, 20046–4@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)25–18–6–2Recap
52WJanuary 31, 20043–2 OTSan Jose Sharks (2003–04)26–18–6–2Recap :
February: 6–5–1–0 (home: 4–2–1–0; road: 2–3–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53LFebruary 3, 20041–4Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)26–19–6–2Recap
54LFebruary 5, 20042–5Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04)26–20–6–2Recap
55LFebruary 11, 20042–5@ Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)26–21–6–2Recap
56WFebruary 13, 20045–2Washington Capitals (2003–04)27–21–6–2Recap
57TFebruary 15, 20042–2 OTEdmonton Oilers (2003–04)27–21–7–2Recap
58LFebruary 16, 20042–4@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)27–22–7–2Recap
59WFebruary 18, 20047–3San Jose Sharks (2003–04)28–22–7–2Recap
60WFebruary 20, 20043–2 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)29–22–7–2Recap
61WFebruary 21, 20048–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04)30–22–7–2Recap
62LFebruary 23, 20040–3@ Los Angeles Kings (2003–04)30–23–7–2Recap
63WFebruary 26, 20044–0Minnesota Wild (2003–04)31–23–7–2Recap
64WFebruary 28, 20042–1 OTNew York Rangers (2003–04)32–23–7–2Recap :
March: 4–5–4–2 (home: 1–2–2–1; road: 3–3–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
65TMarch 1, 20042–2 OTChicago Blackhawks (2003–04)32–23–8–2Recap
66LMarch 3, 20042–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04)32–24–8–2Recap
67WMarch 4, 20049–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04)33–24–8–2Recap
68LMarch 6, 20042–4@ Ottawa Senators (2003–04)33–25–8–2Recap
69LMarch 9, 20042–3Boston Bruins (2003–04)33–26–8–2Recap
70TMarch 11, 20041–1 OT@ St. Louis Blues (2003–04)33–26–9–2Recap
71TMarch 13, 20044–4 OTCalgary Flames (2003–04)33–26–10–2Recap
72OTLMarch 14, 20042–3 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (2003–04)33–26–10–3Recap
73TMarch 16, 20042–2 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (2003–04)33–26–11–3Recap
74LMarch 19, 20044–5@ Edmonton Oilers (2003–04)33–27–11–3Recap
75WMarch 20, 20043–1@ Calgary Flames (2003–04)34–27–11–3Recap
76LMarch 23, 20041–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04)34–28–11–3Recap
77WMarch 25, 20044–2@ New York Rangers (2003–04)35–28–11–3Recap
78OTLMarch 27, 20042–3 OTColumbus Blue Jackets (2003–04)35–28–11–4Recap
79WMarch 30, 20045–2Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)36–28–11–4Recap :
April: 2–1–0–0 (home: 0–1–0–0; road: 2–0–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
80WApril 1, 20043–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04)37–28–11–4Recap
81LApril 3, 20041–4St. Louis Blues (2003–04)37–29–11–4Recap
82WApril 4, 20042–1 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (2003–04)38–29–11–4Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point)
  Overtime loss (1 point) :

### Playoffs

2004 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Western Conference Quarterfinals: vs. (1) Detroit Red Wings — Detroit wins 4–2
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 7Nashville1–3DetroitLegace20,066Red Wings lead 1–0Recap
2April 10Nashville1–2DetroitLegace20,066Red Wings lead 2–0Recap
3April 11Detroit1–3NashvilleLegace17,113Red Wings lead 2–1Recap
4April 13Detroit0–3NashvilleLegace17,113Series tied 2–2Recap
5April 15Nashville1–4DetroitJoseph20,066Red Wings lead 3–2Recap
6April 17Detroit2–0NashvilleJoseph17,329Red Wings win 4–2Recap :
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 Predators only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Predators 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 |
| 24 | Scott Walker | RW | 75 | 25 | 42 | 67 | 4 | 94 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 6 |
| 3 | Marek Zidlicky | D | 82 | 14 | 39 | 53 | −16 | 82 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Martin Erat | RW | 76 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 10 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 6 |
| 11 | David Legwand | C | 82 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 9 | 46 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 44 | Kimmo Timonen | D | 77 | 12 | 32 | 44 | −7 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 10 |
| 33 | Vladimir Orszagh | RW | 82 | 16 | 21 | 37 | −4 | 74 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 4 |
| 17 | Scott Hartnell | LW | 59 | 18 | 15 | 33 | −5 | 87 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 22 | Greg Johnson | C | 82 | 14 | 18 | 32 | −21 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 26 | Steve Sullivan† | RW | 24 | 9 | 21 | 30 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −4 | 6 |
| 18 | Adam Hall | RW | 79 | 13 | 14 | 27 | −8 | 37 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 21 | Andreas Johansson | C | 47 | 12 | 15 | 27 | −2 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 |
| 2 | Dan Hamhuis | D | 80 | 7 | 19 | 26 | −12 | 57 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −2 | 6 |
| 25 | Denis Arkhipov | C | 72 | 9 | 12 | 21 | −2 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Rem Murray | LW | 39 | 8 | 9 | 17 | −1 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27 | Jason York | D | 67 | 2 | 13 | 15 | −4 | 64 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Mark Eaton | D | 75 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
| 28 | Jeremy Stevenson† | LW | 53 | 5 | 4 | 9 | −2 | 103 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 8 |
| 42 | Andrew Hutchinson | D | 18 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 55 | Jordin Tootoo | RW | 70 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −6 | 137 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 46 | Wyatt Smith | C | 18 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | Jim McKenzie | LW | 61 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −13 | 88 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Jamie Allison | D | 47 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −7 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 36 | Robert Schnabel | D | 20 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | Sergei Zholtok† | C | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 0 |
| 34 | Shane Hnidy† | D | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 45 | Jason Morgan†‡ | C | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Tomas Vokoun | G | 73 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 35 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 20 | Simon Gamache† | C | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Tomas Kloucek‡ | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Stan Neckar†‡ | D | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Scottie Upshall | LW | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Brad Bombardir† | D | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 26 | Wade Brookbank‡ | LW | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 32 | Mathieu Darche | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40 | Mike Farrell | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 38 | Vernon Fiddler | C | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −6 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Chris Mason | G | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 47 | Libor Pivko | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Timofei Shishkanov | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 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 |
| 29 | Tomas Vokoun | 73 | 34 | 29 | 10 | 1958 | 178 | 2.53 | .909 | 3 | 4221 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 197 | 12 | 2.02 | .939 | 1 | 356 |
| 30 | Chris Mason | 17 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 365 | 27 | 2.18 | .926 | 1 | 744 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Kimmo Timonen |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Tomas Vokoun |
| League (in-season) | NHL Defensive Player of the Week | Tomas Vokoun (December 1) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Offensive Player of the Week | Scott Walker (December 30) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Offensive Player of the Week | Steve Sullivan (February 23) |
| League (in-season) | NHL YoungStars Game selection | Dan Hamhuis |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Wade Brookbank | October 9, 2003 |
| First game | Dan Hamhuis | October 9, 2003 |
| First game | Jordin Tootoo | October 9, 2003 |
| First game | Marek Zidlicky | October 9, 2003 |
| First game | Andrew Hutchinson | October 18, 2003 |
| First game | Libor Pivko | November 24, 2003 |
| First game | Timofei Shishkanov | December 23, 2003 |

## Transactions

The Predators 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 Colorado Avalanche Rights to Tomas Slovak | To Nashville Predators Rights to Sergei Soin |
| June 22, 2003 (2003-06-22) | To Anaheim Mighty Ducks 4th-round pick in 2003 | To Nashville Predators 4th-round pick in 20045th-round pick in 2004 |
| June 22, 2003 (2003-06-22) | To Los Angeles Kings 6th-round pick in 2003 | To Nashville Predators 7th-round pick in 20037th-round pick in 2003 |
| June 26, 2003 (2003-06-26) | To Minnesota Wild Peter Smrek | To Nashville Predators Curtis Murphy |
| June 27, 2003 (2003-06-27) | To Buffalo Sabres Andy Delmore | To Nashville Predators 3rd-round pick in 2004 |
| June 30, 2003 (2003-06-30) | To Colorado Avalanche Karlis Skrastins | To Nashville Predators Future considerations |
| July 14, 2003 (2003-07-14) | To Washington Capitals Alex Riazantsev | To Nashville Predators Mike Farrell |
| December 2, 2003 (2003-12-02) | To Atlanta Thrashers Tomas KloucekBen Simon | To Nashville Predators Simon GamacheKirill Safronov |
| December 17, 2003 (2003-12-17) | To Vancouver Canucks Wade Brookbank | To Nashville Predators Future considerations |
| February 16, 2004 (2004-02-16) | To Chicago Blackhawks 2nd-round pick in 20042nd-round pick in 2005 | To Nashville Predators Steve Sullivan |
| February 25, 2004 (2004-02-25) | To Tampa Bay Lightning Timo Helbling | To Nashville Predators 8th-round pick in 2004 |
| March 5, 2004 (2004-03-05) | To Minnesota Wild Buffalo’s 3rd-round pick in 20044th-round pick in 2004 | To Nashville Predators Brad BombardirSergei Zholtok |
| March 9, 2004 (2004-03-09) | To Ottawa Senators Colorado’s 3rd-round pick in 2004 | To Nashville Predators Shane Hnidy |
| March 9, 2004 (2004-03-09) | To Tampa Bay Lightning Stanislav Neckar | To Nashville Predators 6th-round pick in 2004 |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Via |
| July 14, 2003 (2003-07-14) | Ben Simon | Atlanta Thrashers | Free agency |
| July 17, 2003 (2003-07-17) | Ray Schultz | New York Islanders | Free agency |
| July 22, 2003 (2003-07-22) | Jim McKenzie | New Jersey Devils | Free agency |
| September 10, 2003 (2003-09-10) | Jamie Allison | Calgary Flames | Free agency |
| September 10, 2003 (2003-09-10) | Mathieu Darche | Columbus Blue Jackets | Free agency |
| October 3, 2003 (2003-10-03) | Wade Brookbank | Ottawa Senators | Waiver draft |
| October 3, 2003 (2003-10-03) | Chris Mason | Florida Panthers | Waiver draft |
| October 22, 2003 (2003-10-22) | Jeremy Stevenson | Minnesota Wild | Waivers |
| November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) | Tony Hrkac | Atlanta Thrashers | Free agency |
| November 26, 2003 (2003-11-26) | Stanislav Neckar | Tampa Bay Lightning | Free agency |
| December 31, 2003 (2003-12-31) | Jason Morgan | Calgary Flames | Waivers |
| January 30, 2004 (2004-01-30) | Jeremy Yablonski | St. Louis Blues | Waivers |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| June 30, 2003 (2003-06-30) | Oleg Petrov | Geneve-Servette HC (NLA) | Buyout |
| July 1, 2003 (2003-07-01) | Brent Gilchrist | | Contract expiration (III) |
| July 1, 2003 (2003-07-01) | Bill Houlder | | Contract expiration (III) |
| July 10, 2003 (2003-07-10) | Cale Hulse | Phoenix Coyotes | Free agency (UFA) |
| July 14, 2003 (2003-07-14) | Domenic Pittis | Buffalo Sabres | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 6, 2003 (2003-08-06) | Jason Beckett | Minnesota Wild | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 29, 2003 (2003-08-29) | Reid Simpson | Pittsburgh Penguins | Free agency (III) |
| September 5, 2003 (2003-09-05) | Erik Anderson | Sheffield Steelers (EIHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| September 5, 2003 (2003-09-05) | Bryan Lundbohm | HC Sierre (NLB) | Free agency (UFA) |
| September 5, 2003 (2003-09-05) | Vitali Yachmenev | Amur Khabarovsk (RSL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| September 8, 2003 (2003-09-08) | Denis Pederson | Eisbaren Berlin (DEL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| October 20, 2003 (2003-10-20) | Todd Warriner | Jokerit (Liiga) | Free agency (UFA) |
| October 28, 2003 (2003-10-28) | Clarke Wilm | Toronto Maple Leafs | Free agency (UFA) |
| November 10, 2003 (2003-11-10) | Jan Lasak | SKA Saint Petersburg (RSL) | Free agency |
| February 19, 2004 (2004-02-19) | Jason Morgan | Calgary Flames | Waivers |
| April 28, 2004 (2004-04-28) | Jonas Andersson | Sodertalje SK (SHL) | Free agency |
| May 19, 2004 (2004-05-19) | Robert Schnabel | HC Sparta Praha (ELH) | Free agency |
| May 28, 2004 (2004-05-28) | Curtis Murphy | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (RSL) | Free agency |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| June 25, 2003 (2003-06-25) | Mark Eaton | | Re-signing |
| June 25, 2003 (2003-06-25) | Tomas Kloucek | | Re-signing |
| June 25, 2003 (2003-06-25) | Libor Pivko | | Entry-level |
| June 25, 2003 (2003-06-25) | Timofei Shishkanov | | Entry-level |
| June 30, 2003 (2003-06-30) | Andreas Johansson | | Re-signing |
| July 1, 2003 (2003-07-01) | Rem Murray | | Re-signing |
| July 8, 2003 (2003-07-08) | Curtis Murphy | | Re-signing |
| July 8, 2003 (2003-07-08) | Marek Zidlicky | | Entry-level |
| July 10, 2003 (2003-07-10) | Scott Hartnell | | Re-signing |
| July 15, 2003 (2003-07-15) | Denis Platonov | | Entry-level |
| July 17, 2003 (2003-07-17) | Denis Arkhipov | | Re-signing |
| July 17, 2003 (2003-07-17) | Wade Flaherty | | Re-signing |
| July 17, 2003 (2003-07-17) | Robert Schnabel | | Re-signing |
| July 22, 2003 (2003-07-22) | Andrei Mukhachev | | Entry-level |
| July 24, 2003 (2003-07-24) | Mike Farrell | | Re-signing |
| August 15, 2003 (2003-08-15) | Kimmo Timonen | 4-year | Re-signing |
| September 10, 2003 (2003-09-10) | David Legwand | | Re-signing |
| December 24, 2003 (2003-12-24) | Brandon Segal | | Entry-level |
| February 17, 2004 (2004-02-17) | Scott Walker | 3-year | Extension |
| June 3, 2004 (2004-06-03) | Chris Mason | | Extension |

## Draft picks

Nashville'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 | 7 | Ryan Suter | United States | US Nat'l U-18 (NAHL) |
| 2 | 35 | Konstantin Glazachev | Russia | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia) |
| 2 | 37 | Kevin Klein | Canada | Toronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL) |
| 2 | 49 | Shea Weber | Canada | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) |
| 3 | 76 | Richard Stehlik | Slovakia | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 89 | Paul Brown | Canada | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) |
| 3 | 92 | Alexander Sulzer | Germany | Hamburg Freezers (Germany) |
| 3 | 98 | Grigory Shafigulin | Russia | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia) |
| 4 | 117 | Teemu Lassila | Finland | TPS (Finland) |
| 4 | 133 | Rustam Sidikov | Russia | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| 7 | 210 | Andrei Mukhachyov | Russia | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| 7 | 213 | Miroslav Hanuljak | Czech Republic | HC Litvinov Jr. (Czech Republic) |
| 9 | 268 | Lauris Darzins | Latvia | Lukko Jr. (Finland) |

## Farm teams

* Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
* Toledo Storm (ECHL)