2003–04 Carolina Hurricanes season

The 2003–04 Carolina Hurricanes season was the franchise's 25th season in the National Hockey League and seventh as the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Regular season On December 15, 2003, head coach Paul Maurice was fired after an 8–12–8–2 start to the season and replaced by former New York Islanders head coach Peter Laviolette.

The Hurricanes season finale against the Florida Panthers on April 4, 2004 was the final tie in NHL history. The Hurricane player who scored the final game-tying goal to make it 6–6 was defenseman Brad Fast, who was playing in his first and what proved to be his only NHL game. Fast is one of only five NHL one-gamers to score a goal in their lone NHL appearance. Ties were eliminated after the 2004–05 NHL lockout when the shootout was adopted.

The Hurricanes finished 30th overall in the NHL in scoring for the second consecutive season, with just 172 goals for. The top goal scorer for the team, Josef Vasicek, only scored 19 goals. They also struggled on the power-play, finishing 30th overall in power-play goals scored, with 41, and 30th overall in power-play percentage, at 10.68% (41 for 384).

Final standings

Schedule and results

|1||October 9, 2003||1–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||0–1–0–0 ||

|2||October 11, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (2003–04) ||0–2–0–0 ||

|3||October 13, 2003||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||0–2–1–0 ||

|4||October 18, 2003||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2003–04) ||0–2–2–0 ||

|5||October 22, 2003||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04) ||0–2–3–0 ||

|6||October 23, 2003||2–0 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||1–2–3–0 ||

|7||October 25, 2003||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04) ||1–2–4–0 ||

|8||October 28, 2003||3–0 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (2003–04) ||2–2–4–0 ||

|9||October 30, 2003||1–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2003–04) ||2–3–4–0 ||

|10||November 1, 2003||3–4 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||2–4–4–0 ||

|11||November 2, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||2–5–4–0 ||

|12||November 6, 2003||6–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2003–04) ||3–5–4–0 ||

|13||November 8, 2003||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (2003–04) ||4–5–4–0 ||

|14||November 9, 2003||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||4–5–5–0 ||

|15||November 12, 2003||1–7 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||4–6–5–0 ||

|16||November 13, 2003||5–1 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||5–6–5–0 ||

|17||November 15, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||5–7–5–0 ||

|18||November 18, 2003||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04) ||5–7–6–0 ||

|19||November 20, 2003||1–6 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||5–8–6–0 ||

|20||November 21, 2003||0–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2003–04) ||5–9–6–0 ||

|21||November 23, 2003||0–0 OT|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||5–9–7–0 ||

|22||November 26, 2003||2–0 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2003–04) ||6–9–7–0 ||

|23||November 28, 2003||2–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04) ||6–10–7–0 ||

|24||November 29, 2003||4–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04) ||7–10–7–0 ||

|25||December 3, 2003||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Nashville Predators (2003–04) ||7–10–7–1 ||

|26||December 5, 2003||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||7–10–8–1 ||

|27||December 6, 2003||1–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||7–11–8–1 ||

|28||December 9, 2003||3–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (2003–04) ||8–11–8–1 ||

|29||December 11, 2003||0–1 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (2003–04) ||8–12–8–1 ||

|30||December 14, 2003||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (2003–04) ||8–12–8–2 ||

|31||December 18, 2003||2–1 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04) ||9–12–8–2 ||

|32||December 20, 2003||2–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||10–12–8–2 ||

|33||December 22, 2003||1–3 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (2003–04) ||10–13–8–2 ||

|34||December 26, 2003||1–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2003–04) ||10–14–8–2 ||

|35||December 27, 2003||2–1 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||11–14–8–2 ||

|36||December 29, 2003||2–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2003–04) ||12–14–8–2 ||

|37||December 31, 2003||1–3 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04) ||12–15–8–2 ||

|38||January 2, 2004||1–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (2003–04) ||12–16–8–2 ||

|39||January 4, 2004||0–3 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (2003–04) ||12–17–8–2 ||

|40||January 6, 2004||2–0 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (2003–04) ||13–17–8–2 ||

|41||January 8, 2004||3–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2003–04) ||14–17–8–2 ||

|42||January 9, 2004||1–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||14–18–8–2 ||

|43||January 11, 2004||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||14–18–9–2 ||

|44||January 15, 2004||4–5 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||14–19–9–2 ||

|45||January 16, 2004||4–3 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||15–19–9–2 ||

|46||January 18, 2004||2–5 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||15–20–9–2 ||

|47||January 20, 2004||1–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||15–21–9–2 ||

|48||January 21, 2004||2–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2003–04) ||16–21–9–2 ||

|49||January 23, 2004||2–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2003–04) ||16–22–9–2 ||

|50||January 25, 2004||2–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2003–04) ||16–23–9–2 ||

|51||January 27, 2004||2–0 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||17–23–9–2 ||

|52||January 29, 2004||3–5 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||17–24–9–2 ||

|53||January 31, 2004||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (2003–04) ||17–24–10–2 ||

|54||February 3, 2004||1–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (2003–04) ||17–25–10–2 ||

|55||February 4, 2004||2–3 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2003–04) ||17–26–10–2 ||

|56||February 12, 2004||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||17–26–11–2 ||

|57||February 14, 2004||1–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2003–04) ||17–27–11–2 ||

|58||February 16, 2004||3–1 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||18–27–11–2 ||

|59||February 19, 2004||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||18–27–11–3 ||

|60||February 21, 2004||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||18–27–12–3 ||

|61||February 23, 2004||2–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2003–04) ||19–27–12–3 ||

|62||February 25, 2004||2–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2003–04) ||20–27–12–3 ||

|63||February 28, 2004||0–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2003–04) ||20–27–12–4 ||

|64||February 29, 2004||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Minnesota Wild (2003–04) ||20–27–13–4 ||

|65||March 2, 2004||0–3 || align="left"| Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04) ||20–28–13–4 ||

|66||March 5, 2004||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||21–28–13–4 ||

|67||March 6, 2004||1–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (2003–04) ||21–29–13–4 ||

|68||March 8, 2004||4–1 || align="left"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2003–04) ||22–29–13–4 ||

|69||March 10, 2004||2–4 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||22–30–13–4 ||

|70||March 12, 2004||4–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||23–30–13–4 ||

|71||March 13, 2004||5–1 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2003–04) ||24–30–13–4 ||

|72||March 15, 2004||0–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2003–04) ||24–30–13–5 ||

|73||March 17, 2004||3–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (2003–04) ||25–30–13–5 ||

|74||March 19, 2004||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2003–04) ||25–30–13–6 ||

|75||March 20, 2004||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2003–04) ||26–30–13–6 ||

|76||March 23, 2004||2–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2003–04) ||26–31–13–6 ||

|77||March 25, 2004||3–2 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||27–31–13–6 ||

|78||March 27, 2004||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2003–04) ||28–31–13–6 ||

|79||March 29, 2004||1–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||28–32–13–6 ||

|80||March 30, 2004||2–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (2003–04) ||28–33–13–6 ||

|81||April 2, 2004||4–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2003–04) ||28–34–13–6 ||

|82||April 4, 2004||6–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2003–04) ||28–34–14–6 ||

Legend:

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 Hurricanes only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Hurricanes only. Player Regular season 63 LW 82 19 26 45 −3 60 26 RW 80 18 24 42 −4 93 22 D 80 13 26 39 −2 84 17 C 78 12 26 38 0 28 92 RW 67 14 20 34 −12 60 12 C 81 11 20 31 −6 40 10 C 68 10 20 30 −12 14 19 RW 80 12 13 25 −10 24 6 D 81 7 17 24 −10 64 14 C 73 10 12 22 6 43 11 RW 32 5 13 18 2 32 27 LW 80 7 10 17 −5 69 55 D 44 4 10 14 −6 37 15 C 66 5 7 12 6 8 7 D 57 3 7 10 −8 51 23 RW 18 5 3 8 0 8 4 D 49 3 5 8 1 37 36 RW 76 6 1 7 −5 127 16 LW 44 3 3 6 −14 22 2 D 74 0 6 6 18 32 8 D 43 0 5 5 −9 80 62 LW 33 3 1 4 3 6 38 D 25 1 2 3 4 22 18 C 17 0 3 3 −1 2 25 D 35 0 2 2 −7 31 47 D 1 1 0 1 1 0 52 LW 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 G 10 0 0 0 2 37 LW 3 0 0 0 0 0 56 C 2 0 0 0 0 2 71 D 2 0 0 0 −1 2 1 G 14 0 0 0 0 33 RW 2 0 0 0 0 0 80 G 66 0 0 0 6

Goaltending Player Regular season 80 Kevin Weekes 66 23 30 5 1652 146 2.33 .912 6 3765 1 Arturs Irbe 10 5 2 0 228 23 2.45 .899 0 564 1 Jamie Storr 14 0 8 1 262 32 2.91 .878 0 660

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL YoungStars Game selection Eric Staal Team Good Guy Award Kevyn Adams Most Valuable Player Sean Hill Steve Chiasson Award Sean Hill

Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Eric Staal October 9, 2003 Allan Rourke October 28, 2003 Brett Lysak March 19, 2004 Brad Fast April 4, 2004

Transactions The Hurricanes 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 Ref To Phoenix Coyotes To Carolina Hurricanes To Philadelphia Flyers To Carolina Hurricanes To Columbus Blue Jackets To Carolina Hurricanes To Calgary Flames To Carolina Hurricanes To Atlanta Thrashers To Carolina Hurricanes To Philadelphia Flyers To Carolina Hurricanes To Colorado Avalanche To Carolina Hurricanes To Toronto Maple Leafs To Carolina Hurricanes

Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Joey Tetarenko Ottawa Senators 1-year Free agency Glen Wesley Toronto Maple Leafs 1-year Free agency Chad LaRose Plymouth Whalers (OHL) 3-year Free agency Jani Hurme Florida Panthers Waiver draft Jamie Storr Los Angeles Kings 1-year Free agency

Players lost Date Player New team Via Ref Steven Halko Contract expiration (UFA) Mike Watt SKA Saint Petersburg (RSL) Free agency (UFA) Nikos Tselios Phoenix Coyotes Free agency (UFA) Ryan Murphy New Jersey Devils Free agency (UFA) Craig MacDonald Florida Panthers Free agency (VI) Jan Hlavac New York Rangers Free agency (UFA) Kaspars Astasenko HK Riga 2000 (LHL) Free agency (VI) , retrieved May 13, 2022 Jeff Heerema New York Rangers Waivers Brent McDonald Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) Free agency (UFA) Shaun Fisher Texas Wildcatters (ECHL) Free agency (UFA) Jeff Daniels Retirement

Signings