The 2003–04 Atlanta Thrashers season was the Thrashers' fifth season.
Off-season
Regular season
Final standings
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.
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast
Z – Clinched Conference ; Y – Clinched Division ; X – Clinched Playoff spot
Schedule and results
2003–04 regular season[ 3]
October: 5–3–2–1 (home: 3–1–1–0; road: 2–2–1–1)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
1
W
October 9, 2003
2–1
Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04 )
1–0–0–0
Recap
2
W
October 11, 2003
4–3
@ Washington Capitals (2003–04 )
2–0–0–0
Recap
3
T
October 14, 2003
2–2 OT
New York Islanders (2003–04 )
2–0–1–0
Recap
4
T
October 16, 2003
0–0 OT
@ New York Rangers (2003–04 )
2–0–2–0
Recap
5
W
October 18, 2003
7–2
Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04 )
3–0–2–0
Recap
6
OTL
October 21, 2003
2–3 OT
@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04 )
3–0–2–1
Recap
7
W
October 23, 2003
4–2
Nashville Predators (2003–04 )
4–0–2–1
Recap
8
L
October 25, 2003
2–3
Florida Panthers (2003–04 )
4–1–2–1
Recap
9
W
October 27, 2003
3–2 OT
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04 )
5–1–2–1
Recap
10
L
October 30, 2003
2–3
@ Minnesota Wild (2003–04 )
5–2–2–1
Recap
11
L
October 31, 2003
1–2
@ Washington Capitals (2003–04 )
5–3–2–1
Recap
November: 7–6–1–0 (home: 4–3–1–0; road: 3–3–0–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
12
T
November 2, 2003
2–2 OT
San Jose Sharks (2003–04 )
5–3–3–1
Recap
13
W
November 5, 2003
7–4
@ Buffalo Sabres (2003–04 )
6–3–3–1
Recap
14
L
November 7, 2003
2–4
@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04 )
6–4–3–1
Recap
15
W
November 8, 2003
4–3
@ New York Islanders (2003–04 )
7–4–3–1
Recap
16
L
November 11, 2003
3–5
Ottawa Senators (2003–04 )
7–5–3–1
Recap
17
L
November 13, 2003
1–5
@ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04 )
7–6–3–1
Recap
18
L
November 15, 2003
0–4
@ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04 )
7–7–3–1
Recap
19
W
November 16, 2003
5–2
Florida Panthers (2003–04 )
8–7–3–1
Recap
20
W
November 19, 2003
5–4 OT
Boston Bruins (2003–04 )
9–7–3–1
Recap
21
W
November 21, 2003
6–3
@ Florida Panthers (2003–04 )
10–7–3–1
Recap
22
W
November 23, 2003
1–0
Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04 )
11–7–3–1
Recap
23
L
November 25, 2003
3–6
Ottawa Senators (2003–04 )
11–8–3–1
Recap
24
L
November 27, 2003
1–3
Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04 )
11–9–3–1
Recap
25
W
November 29, 2003
2–1
Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04 )
12–9–3–1
Recap
December: 7–7–0–1 (home: 5–4–0–0; road: 2–3–0–1)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
26
L
December 1, 2003
3–4
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04 )
12–10–3–1
Recap
27
L
December 3, 2003
4–6
Boston Bruins (2003–04 )
12–11–3–1
Recap
28
W
December 5, 2003
6–2
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04 )
13–11–3–1
Recap
29
W
December 6, 2003
4–3 OT
@ Florida Panthers (2003–04 )
14–11–3–1
Recap
30
W
December 10, 2003
4–3 OT
Los Angeles Kings (2003–04 )
15–11–3–1
Recap
31
W
December 12, 2003
6–3
Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04 )
16–11–3–1
Recap
32
L
December 13, 2003
0–4
@ New York Islanders (2003–04 )
16–12–3–1
Recap
33
L
December 16, 2003
0–5
Washington Capitals (2003–04 )
16–13–3–1
Recap
34
L
December 18, 2003
0–3
New Jersey Devils (2003–04 )
16–14–3–1
Recap
35
W
December 20, 2003
7–4
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04 )
17–14–3–1
Recap
36
W
December 21, 2003
4–1
Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04 )
18–14–3–1
Recap
37
W
December 26, 2003
3–1
Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04 )
19–14–3–1
Recap
38
L
December 28, 2003
2–5
@ Ottawa Senators (2003–04 )
19–15–3–1
Recap
39
L
December 29, 2003
1–2
Montreal Canadiens (2003–04 )
19–16–3–1
Recap
40
OTL
December 31, 2003
5–6 OT
@ Detroit Red Wings (2003–04 )
19–16–3–2
Recap
January: 2–9–3–0 (home: 1–4–2–0; road: 1–5–1–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
41
L
January 3, 2004
1–5
@ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04 )
19–17–3–2
Recap
42
L
January 8, 2004
1–2
@ Dallas Stars (2003–04 )
19–18–3–2
Recap
43
L
January 10, 2004
2–5
@ San Jose Sharks (2003–04 )
19–19–3–2
Recap
44
T
January 11, 2004
1–1 OT
@ Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04 )
19–19–4–2
Recap
45
L
January 14, 2004
1–2
Montreal Canadiens (2003–04 )
19–20–4–2
Recap
46
L
January 16, 2004
3–4
Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04 )
19–21–4–2
Recap
47
W
January 18, 2004
5–2
@ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04 )
20–21–4–2
Recap
48
W
January 20, 2004
4–1
Buffalo Sabres (2003–04 )
21–21–4–2
Recap
49
T
January 22, 2004
1–1 OT
Colorado Avalanche (2003–04 )
21–21–5–2
Recap
50
L
January 24, 2004
0–3
New York Islanders (2003–04 )
21–22–5–2
Recap
51
L
January 25, 2004
2–3
@ New Jersey Devils (2003–04 )
21–23–5–2
Recap
52
T
January 28, 2004
1–1 OT
St. Louis Blues (2003–04 )
21–23–6–2
Recap
53
L
January 30, 2004
1–4
Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04 )
21–24–6–2
Recap
54
L
January 31, 2004
2–5
@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04 )
21–25–6–2
Recap
February: 5–7–0–0 (home: 1–2–0–0; road: 4–5–0–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
55
L
February 3, 2004
4–5
@ Boston Bruins (2003–04 )
21–26–6–2
Recap
56
L
February 5, 2004
1–5
Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04 )
21–27–6–2
Recap
57
L
February 10, 2004
2–5
@ Calgary Flames (2003–04 )
21–28–6–2
Recap
58
L
February 11, 2004
1–5
@ Edmonton Oilers (2003–04 )
21–29–6–2
Recap
59
W
February 13, 2004
4–1
@ Vancouver Canucks (2003–04 )
22–29–6–2
Recap
60
L
February 16, 2004
2–7
@ Buffalo Sabres (2003–04 )
22–30–6–2
Recap
61
W
February 17, 2004
4–1
@ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04 )
23–30–6–2
Recap
62
W
February 19, 2004
3–2 OT
@ Ottawa Senators (2003–04 )
24–30–6–2
Recap
63
L
February 21, 2004
4–5
@ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04 )
24–31–6–2
Recap
64
L
February 25, 2004
2–4
Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04 )
24–32–6–2
Recap
65
W
February 27, 2004
3–2
@ New Jersey Devils (2003–04 )
25–32–6–2
Recap
66
W
February 29, 2004
3–2
New York Rangers (2003–04 )
26–32–6–2
Recap
March: 6–4–2–2 (home: 4–2–0–2; road: 2–2–2–0)
Game
Result
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
Recap
67
W
March 2, 2004
4–3
@ New York Rangers (2003–04 )
27–32–6–2
Recap
68
OTL
March 5, 2004
2–3 OT
Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04 )
27–32–6–3
Recap
69
T
March 6, 2004
2–2 OT
@ Boston Bruins (2003–04 )
27–32–7–3
Recap
70
L
March 9, 2004
0–2
New York Rangers (2003–04 )
27–33–7–3
Recap
71
L
March 12, 2004
2–4
@ Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04 )
27–34–7–3
Recap
72
W
March 13, 2004
5–2
Washington Capitals (2003–04 )
28–34–7–3
Recap
73
W
March 15, 2004
1–0 OT
Carolina Hurricanes (2003–04 )
29–34–7–3
Recap
74
OTL
March 17, 2004
3–4 OT
Buffalo Sabres (2003–04 )
29–34–7–4
Recap
75
W
March 19, 2004
3–2
Florida Panthers (2003–04 )
30–34–7–4
Recap
76
T
March 20, 2004
2–2 OT
@ Washington Capitals (2003–04 )
30–34–8–4
Recap
77
W
March 24, 2004
3–2
Washington Capitals (2003–04 )
31–34–8–4
Recap
78
L
March 26, 2004
0–5
New Jersey Devils (2003–04 )
31–35–8–4
Recap
79
W
March 27, 2004
3–0
@ Florida Panthers (2003–04 )
32–35–8–4
Recap
80
L
March 29, 2004
2–4
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04 )
32–36–8–4
Recap
April: 1–1–0–0 (home: 0–1–0–0; road: 1–0–0–0)
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 Thrashers only.
‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Thrashers only.
Goaltending
Awards and records
Awards
Milestones
Transactions
The Thrashers 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 .[ 18]
Trades
Players acquired
Players lost
Signings
Draft picks
Atlanta's draft picks at the 2003 NHL entry draft held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee .[ 61]
Notes
↑ Shared with Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames and Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets
↑ Kovalchuk was voted to the starting lineup, receiving more votes than any other player.[ 6]
↑ Exelby did not play and was replaced by Matt Stajan of the Toronto Maple Leafs .[ 11]
↑ In parentheses is the player's free agency group on July 1 if applicable.[ 32]
↑ The Thrashers retained Butsayev’s NHL rights through the 2006–07 season.[ 33]
↑ Hartigan signed with Columbus on July 15.[ 35]
↑ Rhodes retired.[ 37]
↑ Claim rescinded due to the severity of the throat injury Lindsay suffered during a January 3 game.[ 47] [ 48]
↑ Club option for a second year.
References
↑ "2003-2004 Division Standings" . National Hockey League. Retrieved March 26, 2012 .
↑ "2003–2004 Standings by Conference" . National Hockey League. Retrieved March 26, 2012 .
↑ "2003-04 Atlanta Thrashers Schedule and Results" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 10, 2022 .
↑ "Postseason All-Star Teams" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved August 8, 2022 .
↑ "Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved August 8, 2022 .
↑ "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)" . NHL.com . Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2024 .
↑ "2004 NHL All-Star Game Rosters" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 29, 2024 .
↑ "Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk Named NHL Offensive Player Of The Month" . Atlanta Thrashers . November 4, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved August 11, 2022 .
↑ "Atlanta's Kovalchuk Named NHL Offensive Player Of The Week" . Atlanta Thrashers . October 20, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved August 11, 2022 .
↑ "Atlanta's Kovalchuk Wins Consecutive Offensive Player Of The Week Honors" . Atlanta Thrashers . October 27, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved August 11, 2022 .
↑ Shoalts, David (February 7, 2004). "Late shuffle puts Stajan into all-star festivities" . The Globe and Mail . Retrieved August 11, 2022 .
↑ "2004 YoungStars Game rosters" . ESPN.com . January 24, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2022 .
↑ "Defenseman Andy Sutton Receives 2004 Gilner-Reeves Community Service Award" . Atlanta Thrashers . March 19, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved August 8, 2022 .
↑ "Garnet Exelby Awarded The Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy" . Atlanta Thrashers . April 2, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved August 8, 2022 .
↑ 15.0 15.1 "Thrashers Forward Ilya Kovalchuk Wins Bud Light Three Stars Award; Goaltender Pasi Nurminen Wins Players' Player Award" . Atlanta Thrashers . March 26, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved August 8, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Present Chevrolet Colorado, KB Home, Awards At Final Home Game, As Part of Fan Appreciation Day" . Atlanta Thrashers . April 2, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved August 8, 2022 .
↑ "2003-04 NHL Debuts" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved October 13, 2024 .
↑ "Hockey Transactions Search Results" . Pro Sports Transactions . Retrieved May 8, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Select Defenseman Braydon Coburn Eighth Overall in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft; Acquire Defenseman Ivan Majesky from Florida" . Atlanta Thrashers . June 21, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Trade Milan Hnilicka to Los Angeles" . Atlanta Thrashers . September 15, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 "Thrashers Acquire Jani Hurme from Carolina for a 2004 Fourth Round Draft Pick; Claim Serge Aubin, Ronald Petrovicky and Shawn Heins in 2003 NHL Waiver Draft" . Atlanta Thrashers . October 3, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ "Atlanta Thrashers Acquire Tomas Kloucek and Ben Simon from Nashville Predators for Simon Gamache and Kirill Safronov" . Atlanta Thrashers . December 2, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Acquire Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre from Columbus for Future Considerations; Place Jeff Cowan on Injured Reserve Retroactive to Dec. 30" . Atlanta Thrashers . December 31, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ "SENATORS ACQUIRE TAPPER FROM ATLANTA ORGANIZATION FOR CORSO" . Ottawa Senators . January 6, 2004. Archived from the original on August 8, 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Acquire Defenseman Kyle Rossiter from Florida for Forward Kamil Piros" . Atlanta Thrashers . March 8, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Atlanta Thrashers Acquire Kip Brennan from Los Angeles for Jeff Cowan; Activate J.P. Vigier from Injured Reserve" . Atlanta Thrashers . March 9, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ 27.0 27.1 "Thrashers Agree to Terms with Free Agent Forwards Kamil Piros, Brian Swanson" . Atlanta Thrashers . July 24, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
↑ 28.0 28.1 "Tuesday roundup: Thrashers sign Randy Robitaille, Healey" . ESPN.com . August 12, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Agree to Terms with Unrestricted Free Agent Forward Bill Lindsay" . Atlanta Thrashers . August 25, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Agree to Terms with Unrestricted Free Agent Defenseman Shawn Heins" . Atlanta Thrashers . September 10, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ "Atlanta Thrashers Claim Forward Brad Larsen Off Waivers from Colorado" . Atlanta Thrashers . February 25, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ 32.0 32.1 "2003 NHL free agent list" . ESPN.com . July 1, 2003. Retrieved May 8, 2022 .
↑ "NHL Releases Free Agent List" . NHL.com . July 1, 2007. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2023 .
↑ Yuri Butsayev at Hockey-Reference.com , retrieved May 9, 2022
↑ "Columbus Signs Center Mark Hartigan" . OurSports Central . July 15, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ "MARK HARTIGAN" . TSN.ca . Archived from the original on August 19, 2004. Retrieved May 10, 2022 . 01-Jul-03: Contract bought out by the Atlanta Thrashers.
↑ Damian Rhodes career statistics at EliteProspects.com , retrieved April 16, 2023
↑ "Predators Add Simon and Farrell" . OurSports Central . July 14, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ "Andreas Karlsson" . EHC Basel (in German). July 18, 2003. Archived from the original on July 28, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link )
↑ "Per Svartvadet åter till MODO Hockey" . MODO Hockey (in Swedish). July 21, 2003. Archived from the original on August 7, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link )
↑ Jeff Farkas at Hockey-Reference.com , retrieved May 9, 2022
↑ "TRANSACTIONS" . The New York Times . August 7, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2022 . VANCOUVER CANUCKS--Signed D Dallas Eakins.
↑ Jeff Odgers at Hockey-Reference.com , retrieved May 9, 2022
↑ "Rangers claim Heerema, Heins" . TSN.ca . September 30, 2003. Archived from the original on November 17, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ Lubos Bartecko at Hockey-Reference.com , retrieved May 9, 2022
↑ "Predators Transactions" . Nashville Predators . Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ La Canfora, Jason (March 11, 2004). "New Capitals Have Starting Point" . Washington Post . Retrieved May 10, 2022 . Forward Bill Lindsay, who was also claimed from Atlanta, is out for the season with a throat injury and thus his waiver claim was rescinded.
↑ Russo, Michael (March 19, 2004). "LINDSAY GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE" . Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2021 .
↑ Brian Swanson at Hockey-Reference.com , retrieved May 9, 2022
↑ "Neuverpflichtungen Saison 04/05" . ZSC Lions (in German). April 26, 2004. Archived from the original on June 2, 2004. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link )
↑ "Byron Dafoe Exercises Option and Remains with Atlanta for the 2003-04 Season" . Atlanta Thrashers . June 12, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Agree to Terms with Forward Tommi Santala" . Atlanta Thrashers . July 11, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
↑ 53.0 53.1 "Thrashers Re-sign Restricted Free Agent Defensemen Andy Sutton and Ivan Majesky" . Atlanta Thrashers . July 17, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Re-sign Unrestricted Free Agent Forward Vyacheslav Kozlov" . Atlanta Thrashers . July 26, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Re-sign Goalie Pasi Nurminen" . Atlanta Thrashers . August 11, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
↑ 56.0 56.1 Wheatley, Tom (July 31, 2003). "NHL arbitration scoresheet" . ESPN.com . Archived from the original on October 22, 2003. Retrieved May 25, 2022 .
↑ "Thrashers Agree to Terms With Restricted Free Agent Center Marc Savard" . Atlanta Thrashers . August 13, 2003. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
↑ "Transactions" . Deseret News . August 21, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2022 . ATLANTA THRASHERS—Agreed to terms with F Steve Baby.
↑ "JOE DIPENTA" . TSN.ca . Archived from the original on October 19, 2003. Retrieved May 10, 2022 . 15-Sep-03: Re-signed by the Atlanta Thrashers.
↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 "Thrashers Agree to Terms with Lane Manson, Brad Schell and Brian Sipotz" . Atlanta Thrashers . June 2, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2006. Retrieved May 10, 2022 .
↑ "2003 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com" . www.hockeydb.com . Retrieved August 8, 2022 .
1990s
1990–91 . 1991–92 . 1992–93 . 1993–94 . 1994–95 . 1995–96 . 1996–97 . 1997–98 . 1998–99 . 1999–00
2000s 2010s
Atlantic Northeast Southeast Central Northwest Pacific See also