# 2002–03 Boston Bruins season

The 2002–03 Boston Bruins season was the team's 79th season of operation.

## Offseason

Joe Thornton was named the 17th captain in team history on October 8, 2002.

## Regular season

Head coach Robbie Ftorek was fired on March 19 and general manager Mike O'Connell assumed coaching duties on an interim basis through the end of the season.

### Final standings

Northeast Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 52 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 263 | 182 | 113 |
| 2 | 5 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 44 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 236 | 208 | 98 |
| 3 | 7 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 36 | 31 | 11 | 4 | 245 | 237 | 87 |
| 4 | 10 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 30 | 35 | 8 | 9 | 206 | 234 | 77 |
| 5 | 12 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 27 | 37 | 10 | 8 | 190 | 219 | 72 |
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 | P- Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 52 | 21 | 8 | 1 | 263 | 182 | 113 |
| 2 | Y- New Jersey Devils | AT | 82 | 46 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 216 | 166 | 108 |
| 3 | Y- Tampa Bay Lightning | SE | 82 | 36 | 25 | 16 | 5 | 219 | 210 | 93 |
| 4 | X- Philadelphia Flyers | AT | 82 | 45 | 20 | 13 | 4 | 211 | 166 | 107 |
| 5 | X- Toronto Maple Leafs | NE | 82 | 44 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 236 | 208 | 98 |
| 6 | X- Washington Capitals | SE | 82 | 39 | 29 | 8 | 6 | 224 | 220 | 92 |
| 7 | X- Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 36 | 31 | 11 | 4 | 245 | 237 | 87 |
| 8 | X- New York Islanders | AT | 82 | 35 | 34 | 11 | 2 | 224 | 231 | 83 |
| 8.5 |||||||||||
| 9 | New York Rangers | AT | 82 | 32 | 36 | 10 | 4 | 210 | 231 | 78 |
| 10 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 30 | 35 | 8 | 9 | 206 | 234 | 77 |
| 11 | Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 82 | 31 | 39 | 7 | 5 | 226 | 284 | 74 |
| 12 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 27 | 37 | 10 | 8 | 190 | 219 | 72 |
| 13 | Florida Panthers | SE | 82 | 24 | 36 | 13 | 9 | 176 | 237 | 70 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Penguins | AT | 82 | 27 | 44 | 6 | 5 | 189 | 255 | 65 |
| 15 | Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 82 | 22 | 43 | 11 | 6 | 171 | 240 | 61 |
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast
P – Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

2002–03 regular season :
October: 6–2–2–0 (home: 1–1–1–0; road: 5–1–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 11, 20021–5@ Minnesota Wild (2002–03)0–1–0–0Recap
2WOctober 14, 20022–1@ Colorado Avalanche (2002–03)1–1–0–0Recap
3WOctober 16, 20026–3@ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)2–1–0–0Recap
4TOctober 17, 20023–3 OT@ Calgary Flames (2002–03)2–1–1–0Recap
5WOctober 19, 20024–3@ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)3–1–1–0Recap
6WOctober 21, 20024–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03)4–1–1–0Recap
7TOctober 24, 20022–2 OTOttawa Senators (2002–03)4–1–2–0Recap
8WOctober 26, 20024–3Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03)5–1–2–0Recap
9WOctober 30, 20027–2@ Washington Capitals (2002–03)6–1–2–0Recap
10LOctober 31, 20021–4Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)6–2–2–0Recap :
November: 10–1–1–1 (home: 8–0–0–0; road: 2–1–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11WNovember 2, 20023–2New York Rangers (2002–03)7–2–2–0Recap
12OTLNovember 7, 20021–2 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03)7–2–2–1Recap
13WNovember 9, 20027–1Ottawa Senators (2002–03)8–2–2–1Recap
14WNovember 11, 20026–1Edmonton Oilers (2002–03)9–2–2–1Recap
15WNovember 12, 20024–3@ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03)10–2–2–1Recap
16WNovember 14, 20024–1New York Islanders (2002–03)11–2–2–1Recap
17TNovember 16, 20022–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03)11–2–3–1Recap
18LNovember 19, 20020–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03)11–3–3–1Recap
19WNovember 21, 20023–1Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03)12–3–3–1Recap
20WNovember 23, 20024–1Buffalo Sabres (2002–03)13–3–3–1Recap
21WNovember 26, 20027–2Calgary Flames (2002–03)14–3–3–1Recap
22WNovember 29, 20024–2Montreal Canadiens (2002–03)15–3–3–1Recap
23WNovember 30, 20023–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03)16–3–3–1Recap :
December: 5–8–1–0 (home: 3–4–1–0; road: 2–4–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
24LDecember 3, 20020–4St. Louis Blues (2002–03)16–4–3–1Recap
25WDecember 5, 20024–3 OTAtlanta Thrashers (2002–03)17–4–3–1Recap
26WDecember 7, 20023–2 OTTampa Bay Lightning (2002–03)18–4–3–1Recap
27WDecember 8, 20024–1@ New York Rangers (2002–03)19–4–3–1Recap
28LDecember 10, 20022–4Montreal Canadiens (2002–03)19–5–3–1Recap
29LDecember 12, 20022–5Ottawa Senators (2002–03)19–6–3–1Recap
30LDecember 14, 20022–4@ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03)19–7–3–1Recap
31LDecember 18, 20022–4@ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03)19–8–3–1Recap
32LDecember 19, 20023–5@ Washington Capitals (2002–03)19–9–3–1Recap
33TDecember 21, 20023–3 OTFlorida Panthers (2002–03)19–9–4–1Recap
34WDecember 23, 20025–2San Jose Sharks (2002–03)20–9–4–1Recap
35LDecember 27, 20022–5@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03)20–10–4–1Recap
36WDecember 28, 20021–0@ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03)21–10–4–1Recap
37LDecember 30, 20020–1New Jersey Devils (2002–03)21–11–4–1Recap :
January: 5–8–1–0 (home: 4–3–1–0; road: 1–5–0–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38LJanuary 3, 20034–8@ New York Islanders (2002–03)21–12–4–1Recap
39LJanuary 4, 20032–4Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03)21–13–4–1Recap
40LJanuary 7, 20032–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03)21–14–4–1Recap
41LJanuary 10, 20032–4@ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03)21–15–4–1Recap
42WJanuary 11, 20036–2Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03)22–15–4–1Recap
43LJanuary 13, 20031–2Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03)22–16–4–1Recap
44LJanuary 15, 20030–3@ Florida Panthers (2002–03)22–17–4–1Recap
45LJanuary 17, 20031–3@ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03)22–18–4–1Recap
46WJanuary 18, 20037–2Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03)23–18–4–1Recap
47TJanuary 20, 20033–3 OTWashington Capitals (2002–03)23–18–5–1Recap
48WJanuary 23, 20034–1@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03)24–18–5–1Recap
49WJanuary 25, 20031–0 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (2002–03)25–18–5–1Recap
50WJanuary 28, 20032–1Nashville Predators (2002–03)26–18–5–1Recap
51LJanuary 30, 20031–3Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03)26–19–5–1Recap :
February: 2–6–3–1 (home: 1–1–1–1; road: 1–5–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
52OTLFebruary 4, 20032–3 OTColorado Avalanche (2002–03)26–19–5–2Recap
53WFebruary 6, 20036–3Montreal Canadiens (2002–03)27–19–5–2Recap
54LFebruary 8, 20032–5Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03)27–20–5–2Recap
55LFebruary 11, 20031–3@ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03)27–21–5–2Recap
56WFebruary 14, 20036–5 OT@ Florida Panthers (2002–03)28–21–5–2Recap
57LFebruary 15, 20032–5@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03)28–22–5–2Recap
58LFebruary 17, 20031–5@ Nashville Predators (2002–03)28–23–5–2Recap
59TFebruary 19, 20031–1 OT@ Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03)28–23–6–2Recap
60LFebruary 21, 20032–3@ New Jersey Devils (2002–03)28–24–6–2Recap
61TFebruary 23, 20034–4 OT@ New York Islanders (2002–03)28–24–7–2Recap
62TFebruary 25, 20035–5 OTDallas Stars (2002–03)28–24–8–2Recap
63LFebruary 27, 20031–4@ New York Rangers (2002–03)28–25–8–2Recap :
March: 7–5–2–2 (home: 5–2–1–1; road: 2–3–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
64OTLMarch 1, 20032–3 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (2002–03)28–25–8–3Recap
65LMarch 3, 20034–6Vancouver Canucks (2002–03)28–26–8–3Recap
66WMarch 4, 20034–2@ Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03)29–26–8–3Recap
67WMarch 6, 20034–1New York Islanders (2002–03)30–26–8–3Recap
68WMarch 8, 20035–4 OTWashington Capitals (2002–03)31–26–8–3Recap
69LMarch 9, 20035–8@ Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03)31–27–8–3Recap
70OTLMarch 11, 20033–4 OT@ Ottawa Senators (2002–03)31–27–8–4Recap
71WMarch 13, 20034–3New Jersey Devils (2002–03)32–27–8–4Recap
72WMarch 15, 20034–1Florida Panthers (2002–03)33–27–8–4Recap
73LMarch 18, 20031–2@ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03)33–28–8–4Recap
74LMarch 21, 20032–3@ San Jose Sharks (2002–03)33–29–8–4Recap
75WMarch 22, 20034–3 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03)34–29–8–4Recap
76WMarch 24, 20033–2Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03)35–29–8–4Recap
77TMarch 27, 20032–2 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03)35–29–9–4Recap
78LMarch 29, 20031–3New York Rangers (2002–03)35–30–9–4Recap
79TMarch 31, 20032–2 OTTampa Bay Lightning (2002–03)35–30–10–4Recap :
April: 1–1–1–0 (home: 1–0–0–0; road: 0–1–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
80LApril 1, 20032–3@ Ottawa Senators (2002–03)35–31–10–4Recap
81TApril 3, 20031–1 OT@ New Jersey Devils (2002–03)35–31–11–4Recap
82WApril 5, 20038–5Buffalo Sabres (2002–03)36–31–11–4Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point)
  Overtime loss (1 point) :

### Playoffs

2003 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. (2) New Jersey Devils – Devils win 4–1
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1LApril 9, 20031–2@ New Jersey DevilsDevils lead 1–0Recap
2LApril 11, 20032–4@ New Jersey DevilsDevils lead 2–0Recap
3LApril 13, 20030–3New Jersey DevilsDevils lead 3–0Recap
4WApril 15, 20035–1New Jersey DevilsDevils lead 3–1Recap
5LApril 17, 20030–3@ New Jersey DevilsDevils 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 Bruins only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins 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 |
| 19 | Joe Thornton | C | 77 | 36 | 65 | 101 | 12 | 109 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −5 | 4 |
| 27 | Glen Murray | RW | 82 | 44 | 48 | 92 | 9 | 64 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −5 | 4 |
| 26 | Mike Knuble | RW | 75 | 30 | 29 | 59 | 18 | 45 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −2 | 2 |
| 12 | Brian Rolston | C | 81 | 27 | 32 | 59 | 1 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 16 | Jozef Stumpel | C | 78 | 14 | 37 | 51 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Bryan Berard | D | 80 | 10 | 28 | 38 | −4 | 64 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 2 |
| 11 | P. J. Axelsson | LW | 66 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 8 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 6 |
| 44 | Nick Boynton | D | 78 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 8 | 99 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 4 |
| 46 | Jonathan Girard | D | 73 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 4 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 22 | Michal Grosek | LW | 63 | 2 | 18 | 20 | 2 | 71 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 13 |
| 10 | Marty McInnis | RW | 77 | 9 | 10 | 19 | −11 | 38 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 20 | Martin Lapointe | RW | 59 | 8 | 10 | 18 | −19 | 87 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 14 |
| 36 | Ivan Huml | LW | 41 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 3 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Hal Gill | D | 76 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 21 | 56 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 |
| 17 | Rob Zamuner | LW | 55 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 21 | Sean O'Donnell | D | 70 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 8 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Sergei Samsonov | LW | 8 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 42 | P. J. Stock | C | 71 | 1 | 9 | 10 | −5 | 160 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 32 | Don Sweeney | D | 67 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −1 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Sean Brown | D | 69 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −6 | 117 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 37 | Lee Goren | RW | 14 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 5 |
| 29 | Andy Hilbert | C | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −1 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 47 | John Grahame‡ | G | 23 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | Zdenek Kutlak | D | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 76 | Kris Vernarsky | C | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 59 | Rich Brennan | D | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Dan McGillis† | D | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | −2 | 2 |
| 18 | Ian Moran† | D | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 4 |
| 43 | Martin Samuelsson | RW | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Jeff Hackett† | G | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 63 | Matt Herr | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 64 | Jarno Kultanen | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28 | Shaone Morrisonn | D | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 55 | Brantt Myhres | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33 | Krzysztof Oliwa† | LW | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 110 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | Andrew Raycroft | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | Steve Shields | G | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 70 | Tim Thomas | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Bruins only.
| 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 |
| 31 | Steve Shields | 36 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 930 | 97 | 2.76 | .896 | 0 | 2112 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 58 | 6 | 3.03 | .897 | 0 | 119 |
| 47 | John Grahame‡ | 23 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 625 | 61 | 2.71 | .902 | 1 | 1352 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Jeff Hackett† | 18 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 500 | 53 | 3.21 | .894 | 1 | 991 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 76 | 5 | 1.68 | .934 | 0 | 179 |
| 70 | Tim Thomas | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 118 | 11 | 3.00 | .907 | 0 | 220 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | Andrew Raycroft | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 146 | 12 | 2.40 | .918 | 0 | 300 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Lester Patrick Trophy | Ray Bourque |
| League (annual) | Lester Patrick Trophy | Willie O'Ree |
| League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star Team | Joe Thornton (Center) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Glen Murray |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Joe Thornton |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Joe Thornton (December 2) |
| Team | Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy | Joe Thornton |
| Team | John P. Bucyk Award | Nick Boynton |
| Team | Seventh Player Award | Mike Knuble |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Joe Thornton (1st) |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Glen Murray (2nd) |
| Team | Three Stars Awards | Mike Knuble (3rd) |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Tim Thomas | October 19, 2002 |
| First game | Shaone Morrisonn | November 19, 2002 |
| First game | Martin Samuelsson | January 15, 2003 |
| First game | Kris Vernarsky | January 20, 2003 |
| 1,000th game played | Don Sweeney | November 14, 2002 |

## Transactions

The Bruins 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 Boston Bruins 2nd-round pick in 2002 | To St. Louis Blues 2nd-round pick in 20025th-round pick in 2002 |
| June 25, 2002 (2002-06-25) | To Boston Bruins Steve Shields | To Anaheim Mighty Ducks 3rd-round pick in 2003 |
| January 6, 2003 (2003-01-06) | To Boston Bruins Krzysztof Oliwa | To New York Rangers 9th-round pick in 2004 |
| January 13, 2003 (2003-01-13) | To Boston Bruins 4th-round pick in 2004 | To Tampa Bay Lightning John Grahame |
| January 17, 2003 (2003-01-17) | To Boston Bruins Boston’s 9th-round pick in 2004 | To New York Rangers Jay Henderson |
| January 23, 2003 (2003-01-23) | To Boston Bruins Jeff HackettJeff Jillson | To San Jose Sharks Kyle McLaren4th-round pick in 2004 |
| March 11, 2003 (2003-03-11) | To Boston Bruins Dan McGillis | To San Jose Sharks 2nd-round pick in 2003 |
| March 11, 2003 (2003-03-11) | To Boston Bruins Ian Moran | To Pittsburgh Penguins 4th-round pick in 2003 |
| May 31, 2003 (2003-05-31) | To Boston Bruins 5th-round pick in 2004 | To Phoenix Coyotes Rights to Darren McLachlan |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| July 16, 2002 (2002-07-16) | Michal Grosek | New York Rangers | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 18, 2002 (2002-07-18) | Bill Bowler | Nashville Predators | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 18, 2002 (2002-07-18) | Rich Brennan | Los Angeles Kings | 2-year | Free agency |
| July 18, 2002 (2002-07-18) | Kevin Dallman | Guelph Storm (OHL) | 3-year | Free agency |
| July 18, 2002 (2002-07-18) | Matt Herr | Florida Panthers | 2-year | Free agency |
| July 18, 2002 (2002-07-18) | Martin Wilde | Providence Bruins (AHL) | 1-year | Free agency |
| July 29, 2002 (2002-07-29) | Darren Van Oene | Buffalo Sabres | 1-year | Free agency |
| August 6, 2002 (2002-08-06) | Chris Paradise | University of Denver (WCHA) | 2-year | Free agency |
| August 13, 2002 (2002-08-13) | Bryan Berard | New York Rangers | 1-year | Free agency |
| September 18, 2002 (2002-09-18) | Brantt Myhres | Washington Capitals | | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| N/A | Vratislav Cech | HC Havirov (ELH) | Free agency (UFA) |
| July 3, 2002 (2002-07-03) | Bill Guerin | Dallas Stars | Free agency (III) |
| July 9, 2002 (2002-07-09) | Tony Tuzzolino | Minnesota Wild | Free agency (VI) |
| July 19, 2002 (2002-07-19) | Eric Manlow | New York Islanders | Free agency (VI) |
| August 12, 2002 (2002-08-12) | Jeff Maund | Metallurg Magnitogorsk (RSL) | Free agency (VI) |
| August 23, 2002 (2002-08-23) | Pavel Kolarik | HC Slavia Praha (ELH) | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 26, 2002 (2002-08-26) | Dennis Bonvie | Ottawa Senators | Free agency (UFA) |
| August 26, 2002 (2002-08-26) | Jeff Norton | Frisk Asker (Eliteserien) | Free agency (III) |
| August 28, 2002 (2002-08-28) | Darryl Laplante | Augusta Lynx (ECHL) | Free agency (VI) |
| N/A | Jeff Zehr | Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| October 30, 2002 (2002-10-30) | Eric Van Acker | Greenville Grrrowl (ECHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| November 2, 2002 (2002-11-02) | Jamie Rivers | San Antonio Rampage (AHL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| November 19, 2002 (2002-11-19) | Byron Dafoe | Atlanta Thrashers | Free agency (III) |
| November 25, 2002 (2002-11-25) | John Emmons | Eisbaren Berlin (DEL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| May 19, 2003 (2003-05-19) | Jarno Kultanen | HIFK (Liiga) | Free agency |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| June 18, 2002 (2002-06-18) | Martin Samuelsson | 3-year | Entry-level |
| June 25, 2002 (2002-06-25) | Steve Shields | 2-year | Re-signing |
| June 30, 2002 (2002-06-30) | P. J. Stock | 1-year | Option exercised |
| June 30, 2002 (2002-06-30) | Tim Thomas | 1-year | Option exercised |
| July 8, 2002 (2002-07-08) | Shaone Morrisonn | 3-year | Entry-level |
| July 10, 2002 (2002-07-10) | Mike Knuble | 2-year | Re-signing |
| July 16, 2002 (2002-07-16) | Nick Boynton | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 16, 2002 (2002-07-16) | Sean Brown | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 16, 2002 (2002-07-16) | John Grahame | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 17, 2002 (2002-07-17) | Glen Murray | 2-year | Re-signing |
| July 29, 2002 (2002-07-29) | P. J. Axelsson | 1-year | Re-signing |
| July 30, 2002 (2002-07-30) | Jonathan Girard | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 1, 2002 (2002-08-01) | Jay Henderson | 1-year | Re-signing |
| August 24, 2002 (2002-08-24) | Lee Goren | | Re-signing |
| September 9, 2002 (2002-09-09) | Peter Hamerlik | 3-year | Entry-level |
| December 2, 2002 (2002-12-02) | Joe Thornton | 1-year | Extension |
| May 31, 2003 (2003-05-31) | Milan Jurcina | 3-year | Entry-level |

## Draft picks

Boston'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 | 29 | Hannu Toivonen | Finland | HPK (Finland) |
| 2 | 56 | Vladislav Evseev | Russia | CSKA Moscow Jr. (Russia) |
| 4 | 130 | Jan Kubista | Czech Republic | HC Pardubice Jr. (Czech Republic) |
| 5 | 153 | Peter Hamerlik | Slovakia | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) |
| 7 | 228 | Dmitri Utkin | Russia | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Jr. (Russia) |
| 8 | 259 | Yan Stastny | Canada | University of Notre Dame (Hockey East) |
| 9 | 290 | Pavel Frolov | Russia | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod Jrs. (Russia) |