The 2003 NHL entry draft was the 41st draft for the National Hockey League. It was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 21 and 22, 2003.
Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was only the third time a goaltender was selected first overall in the draft, after Michel Plasse in 1968 and Rick DiPietro in 2000. Eric Staal was selected second by the Carolina Hurricanes, and Nathan Horton was the third selection by the Florida Panthers.
Many analysts rate this draft as having one of the most talented groups of players, some say even better than the 1979 NHL draft. Every first-round pick went on to play in a regular season NHL game. Among those, two played only a handful of games: Hugh Jessiman (2 games) and Shawn Belle (20). All other first-round picks had much more substantial NHL careers: the third-fewest games was Marc-Antoine Pouliot with 192. Fleury, Staal, Horton, Nikolay Zherdev, and Patrice Bergeron all became NHL regulars immediately after they were drafted. Milan Michalek was expected to do the same, and was selected for the San Jose Sharks' NHL roster after training camp, but suffered a serious knee injury that ruled him out for the season. All of the top ten selections played at least nine games in the NHL in the 2005–06 season. Calgary Flames' first round selection Dion Phaneuf scored 20 goals in his rookie campaign, becoming the third defenceman to do so, after Brian Leetch and Barry Beck. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter (Flyers), Zach Parise (Devils), Ryan Getzlaf (Ducks), and Eric Staal (Hurricanes) all led their teams in scoring in the 2007–08 regular season, and Dustin Brown (Kings) went on to break the record for most Stanley Cups won by an American team captain (two, in 2012 and 2014).
Later rounds of the draft also featured more players than usual that went on to have substantial NHL careers. These included Shea Weber (49th overall pick), Corey Crawford (52nd), David Backes (62nd), Jimmy Howard (64th), Clarke MacArthur (74th), Jan Hejda (106th), Paul Bissonnette (121st), Kyle Quincey (132nd), Lee Stempniak (148th), Nigel Dawes (149th), Marc Methot (168th), Nate Thompson (183rd), Drew Miller (186th), Joe Pavelski (205th), Kyle Brodziak (214th), Tobias Enstrom (239th), Dustin Byfuglien (245th), Shane O'Brien (250th), Matt Moulson (263rd), Jaroslav Halak (271st), David Jones (288th), and Brian Elliott (291st).
The Florida Panthers attempted to draft Alexander Ovechkin (the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL entry draft), who was born September 17, 1985 - two days later than the cutoff for the 2003 draft - four times during the draft (including a formal submission in writing in the ninth round), arguing that if not due to leap years, he would have been born four days earlier, but were denied.
As of 2026, the remaining active players in the NHL from this draft are Brent Burns, Corey Perry, and Ryan Suter.
Draft day trades The following trades were made on the day of the draft: The Pittsburgh Penguins traded the third overall pick (Nathan Horton), the 55th pick (Stefan Meyer), and Mikael Samuelsson to the Florida Panthers for the first overall pick (Marc-Andre Fleury) and the 73rd pick (Daniel Carcillo) The St. Louis Blues traded Cory Stillman to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 62nd pick (David Backes). The New Jersey Devils traded Mike Danton and the 101st pick (Konstantin Zakharov) to the St. Louis Blues for the 93rd pick (Ivan Khomutov). The Chicago Blackhawks traded Andrei Nikolishin to the Colorado Avalanche for the 120th pick (Mitch Maunu) The St. Louis Blues traded Tyson Nash to the Phoenix Coyotes for the 148th pick (Lee Stempniak)
Final central scouting rankings
Skaters North American European 1 Eric Staal (C) Nikolay Zherdev (RW) 2 Dustin Brown (RW) Milan Michalek (LW) 3 Thomas Vanek (LW) Andrei Kostitsyn (RW) 4 Nathan Horton (C) Dmitri Chernykh (RW) 5 Ryan Getzlaf (C) Konstantin Glazachev (LW) 6 Braydon Coburn (D) Igor Mirnov (C) 7 Ryan Suter (D) Grigory Shafigulin (C) 8 Dion Phaneuf (D) Yevgeni Tunik (C) 9 Zach Parise (C) Robert Nilsson (RW) 10 Dan Fritsche (C) Michal Barinka (D)
Goaltenders North American European 1 Marc-Andre Fleury Konstantin Barulin 2 Jimmy Howard Teemu Lassila 3 Ryan Munce Patrick Ehelechner
Selections by round
Round one # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 1Marc-Andre Fleury (G) Pittsburgh Penguins (from Florida) Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) 2Eric Staal (C) Carolina Hurricanes Peterborough Petes (OHL) 3 Nathan Horton (RW) Florida Panthers (from Pittsburgh) Oshawa Generals (OHL) 4 Nikolay Zherdev (RW) Columbus Blue Jackets CSKA Moscow (Russia) 5Thomas Vanek (LW) Buffalo Sabres University of Minnesota (NCAA) 6Milan Michalek (LW) San Jose Sharks HC Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic) 7Ryan Suter (D) Nashville Predators US Nat'l U-18 (NAHL) 8 Braydon Coburn (D) Atlanta Thrashers Portland Winterhawks (WHL) 9 Dion Phaneuf (D) Calgary Flames Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 10 Andrei Kostitsyn (RW) Montreal Canadiens CSKA Moscow (Russia) 11Jeff Carter (C) Philadelphia Flyers (from Phoenix) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) 12Hugh Jessiman (RW) New York Rangers Dartmouth College (NCAA) 13Dustin Brown (RW) Los Angeles Kings Guelph Storm (OHL) 14Brent Seabrook (D) Chicago Blackhawks Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) 15 Robert Nilsson (RW) New York Islanders Leksands IF (Sweden) 16 Steve Bernier (RW) San Jose Sharks (from Boston) Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 17Zach Parise (LW) New Jersey Devils (from Edmonton) University of North Dakota (NCAA) 18 Eric Fehr (RW) Washington Capitals Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 19Ryan Getzlaf (C) Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 20Brent Burns (RW) Minnesota Wild Brampton Battalion (OHL) 21 Mark Stuart (D) Boston Bruins (from Toronto via San Jose) Colorado College (NCAA) 22 Marc-Antoine Pouliot (C) Edmonton Oilers (from St. Louis via New Jersey) Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) 23Ryan Kesler (C) Vancouver Canucks Ohio State University (NCAA) 24Mike Richards (C) Philadelphia Flyers Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 25 Anthony Stewart (RW) Florida Panthers (from Tampa Bay) Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 26 Brian Boyle (C) Los Angeles Kings (from Colorado) Saint Sebastian's School (USHS-MA) 27 Jeff Tambellini (LW) Los Angeles Kings (from Detroit) University of Michigan (NCAA) 28Corey Perry (RW) Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (from Dallas) London Knights (OHL) 29 Patrick Eaves (RW) Ottawa Senators Boston College (NCAA) 30 Shawn Belle (D) St. Louis Blues (from New Jersey) Tri-City Americans (WHL)
Round two # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 31 Danny Richmond (RW) Carolina Hurricanes University of Michigan (NCAA) 32 Ryan Stone (C) Pittsburgh Penguins Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 33Loui Eriksson (LW) Dallas Stars (from Columbus) Frolunda HC (Sweden) 34 Mike Egener (D) Tampa Bay Lightning (from Florida) Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 35 Konstantin Glazachev (LW) Nashville Predators (from Buffalo) Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia) 36 Vojtech Polak (RW) Dallas Stars (from San Jose via Anaheim) Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic) 37 Kevin Klein (D) Nashville Predators Toronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL) 38 Kamil Kreps (C) Florida Panthers (from Atlanta) Brampton Battalion (OHL) 39 Tim Ramholt (D) Calgary Flames ZSC Lions (Switzerland) 40 Cory Urquhart (C) Montreal Canadiens Montreal Rocket (QMJHL) 41 Matt Smaby (D) Tampa Bay Lightning (from Phoenix via Florida) Shattuck-Saint Mary's (Midget Major AAA) 42 Petr Vrana (LW) New Jersey Devils (compensatory) Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 43 Josh Hennessy (C) San Jose Sharks (from New York Rangers) Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 44 Konstantin Pushkaryov (LW) Los Angeles Kings Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kazakhstan) 45Patrice Bergeron (C) Boston Bruins (compensatory) Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL) 46 Dan Fritsche (C) Columbus Blue Jackets (from Chicago) Sarnia Sting (OHL) 47 Matt Carle (D) San Jose Sharks (from Calgary; compensatory) River City Lancers (USHL) 48 Dmitri Chernykh (RW) New York Islanders Khimik Moscow Oblast (Russia) 49Shea Weber (D) Nashville Predators (compensatory) Kelowna Rockets (WHL) 50 Ivan Baranka (D) New York Rangers (from Boston via San Jose) Dubnica Spartak (Slovakia) 51 Colin McDonald (RW) Edmonton Oilers New England Jr. Coyotes (EJHL) 52Corey Crawford (G) Chicago Blackhawks (compensatory) Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 53 Yevgeni Tunik (C) New York Islanders (from Washington via Edmonton) Kristall Elektrostal (Russia) 54 B. J. Crombeen (RW) Dallas Stars (from Anaheim) Barrie Colts (OHL) 55 Stefan Meyer (LW) Florida Panthers (from Pittsburgh; compensatory) Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) 56 Patrick O'Sullivan (C) Minnesota Wild Mississauga IceDogs (OHL) 57 John Doherty (D) Toronto Maple Leafs Phillips Academy (USHS-MA) 58 Jeremy Colliton (C) New York Islanders (from St. Louis) Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) 59 Michal Barinka (D) Chicago Blackhawks (compensatory) HC Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic) 60 Marc-Andre Bernier (RW) Vancouver Canucks Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 61 Maxim Lapierre (C) Montreal Canadiens (from Philadelphia) Montreal Rocket (QMJHL) 62David Backes (RW) St. Louis Blues (from Tampa Bay) Lincoln Stars (USHL) 63 David Liffiton (D) Colorado Avalanche Plymouth Whalers (OHL) 64Jimmy Howard (G) Detroit Red Wings University of Maine (NCAA) 65 Branislav Fabry (RW) Buffalo Sabres (from Dallas) Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) 66 Masi Marjamaki (LW) Boston Bruins (from San Jose; compensatory) Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 67 Igor Mirnov (C) Ottawa Senators Dynamo Moscow (Russia) 68 Jean-Francois Jacques (LW) Edmonton Oilers (from New Jersey) Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Round three