2003–04 Philadelphia Flyers season


The 2003–04 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 37th season in the National Hockey League. The Flyers reached the Eastern Conference Finals but lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Regular season

Free-agent goaltender Jeff Hackett was signed from the Boston Bruins to replace Roman Cechmanek and challenge backup Robert Esche for the number one spot in 2003–04, but Hackett was forced to retire in February due to vertigo. During the course of the season, serious injuries suffered by both Jeremy Roenick and Keith Primeau in February forced the Flyers to trade for the Chicago Blackhawks' Alexei Zhamnov, who filled in well and kept the Flyers afloat. Esche entrenched himself as starter and remained in that position even after the Flyers re-acquired Sean Burke from the Phoenix Coyotes, as the Flyers clinched the Atlantic Division title over the New Jersey Devils on the last day of the season.

Season standings

Playoffs

Though solid in net, Esche's performance was over-shadowed by the play of captain Keith Primeau in the playoffs. Primeau led the Flyers past the defending Stanley Cup champion Devils in five, and the Toronto Maple Leafs in six on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals and a match-up with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite winning Game 6 on the late-game heroics of Primeau and winger Simon Gagne, the Flyers would come up short once again losing Game 7 in Tampa, 2–1.

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Awards

Records

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers 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

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerPrevious team TermRef
July 1, 2003Jeff HackettBoston Bruins2-year
July 14, 2003Joey Hope Portland Winter Hawks *
July 14, 2003Boyd KaneTampa Bay Lightning*
July 24, 2003Randy Jones Clarkson Golden Knights 2-year*
July 24, 2003Mark MurphyWashington Capitals1-year*
July 24, 2003Mike PelusoChicago Blackhawks1-year*
October 21, 2003Steve WebbNew York Islanders1-year*
March 20, 2004Stephen Wood Providence College *

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to entry level contracts. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerTermRef
June 10, 2003Eric Chouinard2-year
June 10, 2003Sami Kapanen2-year
June 30, 2003Eric Desjardins3-year
June 30, 2003Claude Lapointe2-year
July 14, 2003Mathieu Brunelle *
July 14, 2003Mike Siklenka*
July 14, 2003Peter Vandermeer*
July 14, 2003Peter White*
July 15, 2003Joni Pitkanen 3-year*
July 30, 2003Radovan Somik2-year
July 30, 2003Justin Williams1-year
December 19, 2003Mike Comrie1-year
April 7, 2004Ben Eager 3-year*

Waivers

The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions. They were involved in one selection during the 2003 NHL Waiver Draft, which was held on October 3, 2003. The Flyers protected the following players: goaltenders Robert Esche and Jeff Hackett; defensemen Eric Desjardins, Kim Johnsson, Marcus Ragnarsson, John Slaney and Eric Weinrich; and forwards Tony Amonte, Donald Brashear, Eric Chouinard, Todd Fedoruk, Simon Gagne, Michal Handzus, Sami Kapanen, Claude Lapointe, John LeClair, Keith Primeau, Mark Recchi, Jeremy Roenick and Justin Williams. The Flyers left the following players unprotected: goaltender Neil Little; defenseman Chris Therien; and forwards Boyd Kane, Kirby Law, Ian MacNeil, Mark Murphy, Mike Peluso, Andre Savage, Mike Siklenka, Pete Vandermeer and Peter White.
DatePlayerTeamRef
October 3, 2003Mike Siklenkato New York Rangers
October 22, 2003Steve Webbto Pittsburgh Penguins
November 5, 2003Mike Siklenkafrom New York Rangers

Departures

The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerNew team ViaRef
August 8, 2003Jamie WrightEdmonton OilersFree agency
October 3, 2003Ryan BastAlaska Aces Free agency
N/ADavid Harlock—Retirement
N/AJoe Sacco—Retirement
October 22, 2003Brad TileyMilwaukee Admirals Free agency
February 9, 2004Jeff Hackett*—Retirement

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 21–22, 2003. The Flyers traded their originally allotted second, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth-round draft picks in five different trades.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam Notes
111Jeff CarterCenterCanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
124Mike RichardsCenterCanadaKitchener Rangers
369Colin FraserCenterCanadaRed Deer Rebels
381Stefan RuzickaRight WingSlovakiaMHC Nitra
385Alexandre PicardDefenseCanadaHalifax Mooseheads
387Ryan PotulnyCenterUnited StatesLincoln Stars
395Rick KozakRight WingCanadaBrandon Wheat Kings
4108Kevin RomyCenterSwitzerlandGeneve-Servette HC
5140David TremblayGoaltenderCanadaHull Olympiques
6191Rejean BeaucheminGoaltenderCanadaPrince Albert Raiders
6193Ville HostikkaGoaltenderFinlandSaiPa Jrs.

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL and the Trenton Titans of the ECHL.