# 2002–03 Nashville Predators season

The 2002–03 Nashville Predators season was the Nashville Predators' 5th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Predators missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.

## Off-season

Greg Johnson was named team captain on October 8. In addition to being an alternate captain for home games, Scott Walker was briefly interim captain during Johnson's absence due to injury during the season.

## Regular season

The Predators tied the Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild and Pittsburgh Penguins for most times shut out, with 10, and tied the Montreal Canadiens for fewest short-handed goals scored, with 2.

### Final standings

Central Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 2 | Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 48 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 269 | 203 | 110 |
| 2 | 5 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 41 | 24 | 11 | 6 | 253 | 222 | 99 |
| 3 | 9 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 30 | 33 | 13 | 6 | 207 | 226 | 79 |
| 4 | 13 | Nashville Predators | 82 | 27 | 35 | 13 | 7 | 183 | 206 | 74 |
| 5 | 15 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 82 | 29 | 42 | 8 | 3 | 213 | 263 | 69 |
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

2002–03 regular season :
October: 1–5–1–2 (home: 1–3–0–0; road: 0–2–1–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 11, 20024–5@ Washington Capitals (2002–03)0–1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 12, 20022–3Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)0–2–0–0Recap
3OTLOctober 15, 20023–4 OT@ New York Islanders (2002–03)0–2–0–1Recap
4OTLOctober 18, 20022–3 OT@ New Jersey Devils (2002–03)0–2–0–2Recap
5TOctober 19, 20022–2 OT@ New York Rangers (2002–03)0–2–1–2Recap
6LOctober 22, 20021–2Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03)0–3–1–2Recap
7LOctober 24, 20021–2San Jose Sharks (2002–03)0–4–1–2Recap
8WOctober 26, 20023–1Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)1–4–1–2Recap
9LOctober 30, 20020–7@ St. Louis Blues (2002–03)1–5–1–2Recap :
November: 3–6–3–2 (home: 2–2–1–0; road: 1–4–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
10OTLNovember 2, 20025–6 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03)1–5–1–3Recap
11OTLNovember 3, 20021–2 OT@ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03)1–5–1–4Recap
12LNovember 6, 20021–2@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)1–6–1–4Recap
13TNovember 7, 20022–2 OT@ San Jose Sharks (2002–03)1–6–2–4Recap
14WNovember 10, 20024–3@ Colorado Avalanche (2002–03)2–6–2–4Recap
15LNovember 12, 20021–4@ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)2–7–2–4Recap
16LNovember 14, 20021–3Colorado Avalanche (2002–03)2–8–2–4Recap
17TNovember 16, 20021–1 OTColumbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)2–8–3–4Recap
18LNovember 17, 20022–4@ Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03)2–9–3–4Recap
19TNovember 21, 20021–1 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (2002–03)2–9–4–4Recap
20LNovember 23, 20022–4@ Minnesota Wild (2002–03)2–10–4–4Recap
21WNovember 27, 20024–2San Jose Sharks (2002–03)3–10–4–4Recap
22LNovember 29, 20021–2New Jersey Devils (2002–03)3–11–4–4Recap
23WNovember 30, 20025–2Dallas Stars (2002–03)4–11–4–4Recap :
December: 6–6–2–0 (home: 3–5–1–0; road: 3–1–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
24LDecember 3, 20021–2Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03)4–12–4–4Recap
25WDecember 5, 20023–2@ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03)5–12–4–4Recap
26WDecember 7, 20024–2@ San Jose Sharks (2002–03)6–12–4–4Recap
27LDecember 8, 20020–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)6–13–4–4Recap
28LDecember 10, 20020–3Los Angeles Kings (2002–03)6–14–4–4Recap
29TDecember 12, 20022–2 OTSt. Louis Blues (2002–03)6–14–5–4Recap
30WDecember 14, 20023–1Minnesota Wild (2002–03)7–14–5–4Recap
31LDecember 17, 20020–3Calgary Flames (2002–03)7–15–5–4Recap
32LDecember 19, 20021–3Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)7–16–5–4Recap
33TDecember 21, 20022–2 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03)7–16–6–4Recap
34WDecember 23, 20023–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (2002–03)8–16–6–4Recap
35WDecember 26, 20023–1Dallas Stars (2002–03)9–16–6–4Recap
36LDecember 28, 20022–4Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)9–17–6–4Recap
37WDecember 30, 20023–2Ottawa Senators (2002–03)10–17–6–4Recap :
January: 7–6–2–0 (home: 4–2–1–0; road: 3–4–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38LJanuary 1, 20033–7Colorado Avalanche (2002–03)10–18–6–4Recap
39TJanuary 4, 20033–3 OTChicago Blackhawks (2002–03)10–18–7–4Recap
40WJanuary 6, 20035–1@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)11–18–7–4Recap
41WJanuary 7, 20032–1 OTSt. Louis Blues (2002–03)12–18–7–4Recap
42WJanuary 11, 20034–3 OTPhoenix Coyotes (2002–03)13–18–7–4Recap
43LJanuary 12, 20030–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03)13–19–7–4Recap
44LJanuary 14, 20033–4@ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)13–20–7–4Recap
45TJanuary 16, 20032–2 OT@ Calgary Flames (2002–03)13–20–8–4Recap
46WJanuary 18, 20033–2 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)14–20–8–4Recap
47WJanuary 21, 20033–2Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)15–20–8–4Recap
48LJanuary 23, 20032–4New York Rangers (2002–03)15–21–8–4Recap
49WJanuary 25, 20033–2Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03)16–21–8–4Recap
50WJanuary 27, 20035–1@ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03)17–21–8–4Recap
51LJanuary 28, 20031–2@ Boston Bruins (2002–03)17–22–8–4Recap
52LJanuary 30, 20031–2@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)17–23–8–4Recap :
February: 8–2–1–0 (home: 7–1–0–0; road: 1–1–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53TFebruary 4, 20035–5 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)17–23–9–4Recap
54WFebruary 8, 20033–2Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)18–23–9–4Recap
55LFebruary 11, 20032–3Los Angeles Kings (2002–03)18–24–9–4Recap
56WFebruary 13, 20032–0New York Islanders (2002–03)19–24–9–4Recap
57WFebruary 15, 20032–1Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)20–24–9–4Recap
58WFebruary 17, 20035–1Boston Bruins (2002–03)21–24–9–4Recap
59WFebruary 20, 20034–1Calgary Flames (2002–03)22–24–9–4Recap
60LFebruary 22, 20030–4@ Ottawa Senators (2002–03)22–25–9–4Recap
61WFebruary 23, 20035–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03)23–25–9–4Recap
62WFebruary 25, 20035–0Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)24–25–9–4Recap
63WFebruary 27, 20036–0Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03)25–25–9–4Recap :
March: 2–8–4–2 (home: 1–4–2–0; road: 1–4–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
64WMarch 1, 20035–4 OTChicago Blackhawks (2002–03)26–25–9–4Recap
65OTLMarch 4, 20031–2 OT@ St. Louis Blues (2002–03)26–25–9–5Recap
66TMarch 6, 20032–2 OTMinnesota Wild (2002–03)26–25–10–5Recap
67WMarch 7, 20032–1@ Dallas Stars (2002–03)27–25–10–5Recap
68LMarch 10, 20031–3Montreal Canadiens (2002–03)27–26–10–5Recap
69TMarch 12, 20032–2 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03)27–26–11–5Recap
70LMarch 14, 20031–3@ Minnesota Wild (2002–03)27–27–11–5Recap
71LMarch 15, 20030–1St. Louis Blues (2002–03)27–28–11–5Recap
72LMarch 17, 20033–5Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)27–29–11–5Recap
73LMarch 20, 20033–7@ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)27–30–11–5Recap
74TMarch 22, 20031–1 OT@ Calgary Flames (2002–03)27–30–12–5Recap
75OTLMarch 23, 20032–3 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)27–30–12–6Recap
76TMarch 25, 20031–1 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (2002–03)27–30–13–6Recap
77LMarch 27, 20031–4@ Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03)27–31–13–6Recap
78LMarch 29, 20032–3Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03)27–32–13–6Recap
79LMarch 31, 20030–3@ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)27–33–13–6Recap :
April: 0–2–0–1 (home: 0–0–0–1; road: 0–2–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
80OTLApril 1, 20031–2 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)27–33–13–7Recap
81LApril 4, 20030–1@ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03)27–34–13–7Recap
82LApril 6, 20030–2@ Dallas Stars (2002–03)27–35–13–7Recap :
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 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 |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 11 | David Legwand | C | 64 | 17 | 31 | 48 | −2 | 34 |
| 44 | Kimmo Timonen | D | 72 | 6 | 34 | 40 | −3 | 46 |
| 21 | Andreas Johansson | C | 56 | 20 | 17 | 37 | −4 | 22 |
| 25 | Denis Arkhipov | C | 79 | 11 | 24 | 35 | −18 | 32 |
| 5 | Andy Delmore | D | 71 | 18 | 16 | 34 | −17 | 28 |
| 17 | Scott Hartnell | LW | 82 | 12 | 22 | 34 | −3 | 101 |
| 24 | Scott Walker | RW | 60 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 2 | 58 |
| 33 | Vladimir Orszagh | RW | 78 | 16 | 16 | 32 | −1 | 38 |
| 18 | Adam Hall | RW | 79 | 16 | 12 | 28 | −8 | 31 |
| 43 | Vitali Yachmenev | LW | 62 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 7 | 12 |
| 15 | Rem Murray† | LW | 53 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 1 | 18 |
| 27 | Jason York† | D | 74 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 52 |
| 22 | Greg Johnson | C | 38 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 7 | 22 |
| 10 | Clarke Wilm | C | 82 | 5 | 11 | 16 | −11 | 36 |
| 3 | Karlis Skrastins | D | 82 | 3 | 10 | 13 | −18 | 44 |
| 16 | Denis Pederson | RW | 43 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 39 |
| 4 | Mark Eaton | D | 50 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 22 |
| 32 | Cale Hulse | D | 80 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −11 | 121 |
| 19 | Martin Erat | RW | 27 | 1 | 7 | 8 | −9 | 14 |
| 38 | Vernon Fiddler | C | 19 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 14 |
| 23 | Bill Houlder | D | 82 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 46 |
| 14 | Oleg Petrov† | RW | 17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −4 | 2 |
| 41 | Brent Gilchrist | LW | 41 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −11 | 14 |
| 14 | Jon Sim†‡ | LW | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 46 | Wyatt Smith | C | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 7 | Scottie Upshall | LW | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 34 | Wade Flaherty† | G | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 0 |
| 12 | Reid Simpson† | LW | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −4 | 56 |
| 29 | Tomas Vokoun | G | 69 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 28 |
| 20 | Todd Warriner† | LW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 4 |
| 26 | Andrew Berenzweig‡ | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | Francis Bouillon‡ | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 9 | Greg Classen | C | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 4 |
| 1 | Mike Dunham‡ | G | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 31 | Brian Finley | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 54 | Darren Haydar | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 28 | Tomas Kloucek† | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 35 | Jan Lasak | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 28 | Cameron Mann | RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| 20 | Nathan Perrott‡ | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 39 | Domenic Pittis | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Robert Schnabel | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Pascal Trepanier‡ | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

* † = 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 | 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 |
| 29 | Tomas Vokoun | 69 | 25 | 31 | 11 | 1771 | 146 | 2.20 | .918 | 3 | 3974 |
| 1 | Mike Dunham‡ | 15 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 397 | 43 | 3.15 | .892 | 0 | 819 |
| 35 | Jan Lasak | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 5 | 3.33 | .872 | 0 | 90 |
| 31 | Brian Finley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 3.83 | .769 | 0 | 47 |
| 34 | Wade Flaherty† | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 4 | 4.71 | .852 | 0 | 51 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
| League (in-season) | NHL YoungStars Game selection | Adam Hall | |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Scottie Upshall | October 15, 2002 |
| First game | Vernon Fiddler | November 2, 2002 |
| First game | Darren Haydar | November 17, 2002 |
| First game | Brian Finley | January 1, 2003 |

## Transactions

The Predators 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 |
| June 22, 2002 (2002-06-22) | To Nashville Predators Boston's 3rd-round pick in 2002 | To Anaheim Mighty Ducks Future considerations |
| June 22, 2002 (2002-06-22) | To Nashville Predators 3rd-round pick in 20022nd-round pick in 2003 | To Buffalo Sabres 2nd-round pick in 2002 |
| June 22, 2002 (2002-06-22) | To Nashville Predators Conditional 3rd-round pick in 2003 | To Toronto Maple Leafs Buffalo's 3rd-round pick in 2002 |
| June 22, 2002 (2002-06-22) | To Nashville Predators 3rd-round pick in 2003 | To Detroit Red Wings Boston's 3rd-round pick in 2002 |
| June 22, 2002 (2002-06-22) | To Nashville Predators Conditional 3rd-round pick in 2003 | To Washington Capitals Rights to Petr Sykora |
| June 29, 2002 (2002-06-29) | To Nashville Predators Rights to Ed BelfourRights to Cameron Mann | To Dallas Stars David Gosselin5th-round pick in 2003 |
| June 30, 2002 (2002-06-30) | To Nashville Predators Rights to Tie Domi | To Toronto Maple Leafs 8th-round pick in 2003 |
| October 23, 2002 (2002-10-23) | To Nashville Predators Jason York | To Anaheim Mighty Ducks Future considerations |
| December 12, 2002 (2002-12-12) | To Nashville Predators Tomas KloucekRem MurrayRights to Marek Zidlicky | To New York Rangers Mike Dunham |
| December 31, 2002 (2002-12-31) | To Nashville Predators Bob Wren | To Toronto Maple Leafs Nathan Perrott |
| February 4, 2003 (2003-02-04) | To Nashville Predators Future considerations | To Los Angeles Kings Greg Koehler |
| February 17, 2003 (2003-02-17) | To Nashville Predators Jon Sim | To Dallas Stars Andrew BerenzweigConditional draft pick in 2004 |
| March 3, 2003 (2003-03-03) | To Nashville Predators Oleg Petrov | To Montreal Canadiens 4th-round pick in 2003 |
| March 9, 2003 (2003-03-09) | To Nashville Predators Wade Flaherty | To Florida Panthers Pascal Trepanier |
| March 10, 2003 (2003-03-10) | To Nashville Predators Future considerations | To Ottawa Senators Bob Wren |
| March 11, 2003 (2003-03-11) | To Nashville Predators Alexander Riazantsev | To Colorado Avalanche 7th-round pick in 2003 |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| July 11, 2002 (2002-07-11) | Brent Gilchrist | Dallas Stars | | Free agency |
| July 11, 2002 (2002-07-11) | Clarke Wilm | Calgary Flames | | Free agency |
| July 15, 2002 (2002-07-15) | Greg Koehler | Philadelphia Flyers | | Free agency |
| July 15, 2002 (2002-07-15) | Wyatt Smith | Phoenix Coyotes | | Free agency |
| July 16, 2002 (2002-07-16) | Pascal Trepanier | Colorado Avalanche | | Free agency |
| July 24, 2002 (2002-07-24) | Denis Pederson | Phoenix Coyotes | | Free agency |
| July 24, 2002 (2002-07-24) | Domenic Pittis | Edmonton Oilers | 2-year | Free agency |
| September 6, 2002 (2002-09-06) | Andreas Johansson | New York Rangers | | Free agency |
| October 4, 2002 (2002-10-04) | Francis Bouillon | Montreal Canadiens | | Waiver draft |
| December 3, 2002 (2002-12-03) | Reid Simpson | Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) | | Free agency |
| March 11, 2003 (2003-03-11) | Todd Warriner | Philadelphia Flyers | | Waivers |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| June 20, 2002 (2002-06-20) | Pavel Skrbek | Lulea HF (SHL) | Free agency (II) |
| July 1, 2002 (2002-07-01) | Jay Legault | | Contract expiration (UFA) |
| July 2, 2002 (2002-07-02) | Ed Belfour | Toronto Maple Leafs | Free agency (III) |
| July 12, 2002 (2002-07-12) | Tie Domi | Toronto Maple Leafs | Free agency (III) |
| July 16, 2002 (2002-07-16) | Steve Dubinsky | St. Louis Blues | Free agency (III) |
| July 18, 2002 (2002-07-18) | Bill Bowler | Boston Bruins | Free agency (UFA) |
| July 19, 2002 (2002-07-19) | Petr Sachl | Porin Assat (Liiga) | Free agency (UFA) |
| July 20, 2002 (2002-07-20) | Brett Hauer | Geneve-Servette HC (NLA) | Free agency |
| July 22, 2002 (2002-07-22) | Marian Cisar | HC Znojemsti Orli (ELH) | Free agency (II) |
| August 4, 2002 (2002-08-04) | Petr Hubacek | HC Zlin (ELH) | Free agency |
| August 5, 2002 (2002-08-05) | Mark Mowers | Detroit Red Wings | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 13, 2002 (2002-08-13) | Jukka Hentunen | Jokerit (Liiga) | Free agency (II) |
| August 22, 2002 (2002-08-22) | Chris Mason | Florida Panthers | Free agency (VI) |
| August 22, 2002 (2002-08-22) | Steve Parsons | Providence Bruins (AHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 28, 2002 (2002-08-28) | Jeremy Stevenson | Houston Aeros (AHL) | Free agency (VI) |
| October 4, 2002 (2002-10-04) | Petr Tenkrat | Florida Panthers | Waiver draft |
| October 9, 2002 (2002-10-09) | Marty Wilford | Norfolk Admirals (AHL) | Free agency (VI) |
| October 25, 2002 (2002-10-25) | Francis Bouillon | Montreal Canadiens | Waivers |
| November 15, 2002 (2002-11-15) | Reid Simpson | Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) | Free agency (III) |
| March 8, 2003 (2003-03-08) | Jon Sim | Los Angeles Kings | Waivers |
| March 18, 2003 (2003-03-18) | Cameron Mann | ERC Ingolstadt (DEL) | Free agency |
| March 27, 2003 (2003-03-27) | Jere Karalahti | HIFK (Liiga) | Free agency |
| June 1, 2003 (2003-06-01) | Stu Grimson | | Retirement |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| June 30, 2002 (2002-06-30) | Mike Dunham | 1-year | Extension |
| June 30, 2002 (2002-06-30) | Vladimir Orszagh | 1-year | Option exercised |
| June 30, 2002 (2002-06-30) | Robert Schnabel | | Extension |
| June 30, 2002 (2002-06-30) | Kimmo Timonen | 1-year | Option exercised |
| June 30, 2002 (2002-06-30) | Vitali Yachmenev | 1-year | Option exercised |
| July 7, 2002 (2002-07-07) | Dan Hamhuis | | Entry-level |
| July 15, 2002 (2002-07-15) | Cameron Mann | | Re-signing |
| July 17, 2002 (2002-07-17) | Andy Delmore | | Re-signing |
| July 18, 2002 (2002-07-18) | Cale Hulse | | Re-signing |
| July 30, 2002 (2002-07-30) | Greg Classen | | Re-signing |
| July 31, 2002 (2002-07-31) | David Legwand | | Re-signing |
| July 31, 2002 (2002-07-31) | Bryan Lundbohm | | Re-signing |
| August 1, 2002 (2002-08-01) | Vladimir Orszagh | | Extension |
| September 5, 2002 (2002-09-05) | Jan Lasak | | Re-signing |
| September 5, 2002 (2002-09-05) | Peter Smrek | | Re-signing |
| September 10, 2002 (2002-09-10) | Darren Haydar | | Entry-level |
| October 7, 2002 (2002-10-07) | Scottie Upshall | | Entry-level |
| May 29, 2003 (2003-05-29) | Jordin Tootoo | | Entry-level |
| May 30, 2003 (2003-05-30) | Oleg Petrov | 1-year | Option exercised |

## Draft picks

Nashville'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 | 6 | Scottie Upshall | Canada | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) |
| 4 | 102 | Brandon Segal | Canada | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 5 | 138 | Patrick Jarrett | Canada | Owen Sound Attack (OHL) |
| 6 | 172 | Mike McKenna | United States | St. Lawrence University (ECAC) |
| 7 | 203 | Josh Morrow | Canada | Tri-City Americans (WHL) |
| 8 | 235 | Kaleb Betts | Canada | Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) |
| 9 | 264 | Matthew Davis | Canada | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 266 | Steven Spencer | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) |