2002–03 Philadelphia Flyers season

Updated on Dec 07, 2024

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Division 2nd Atlantic 2002–03 record 45–20–13–4 Road record 24–10–5–2		Conference 4th Eastern Home record 21–10–8–2 Goals for 211

The 2002–03 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 36th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the second round of the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs to the Ottawa Senators in six games.

Off-season

The Flyers hired former Dallas Stars and Stanley Cup-winning head coach Ken Hitchcock to replace the fired Bill Barber.

Regular season

In 2002–03, Roman Cechmanek had a club record 1.83 goals against average (GAA) and the Flyers acquired Sami Kapanen and Tony Amonte prior to the trade deadline; however, they fell one point short of a second straight Atlantic Division title.

The Flyers had reliable goaltending. They tied the New Jersey Devils for the fewest goals allowed with just 166 and Roman Cechmanek and Robert Esche combined for eight shutouts.

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

P- Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y- Clinched Division; X- Clinched Playoff spot

Playoffs

The Flyers endured a very long and brutal seven game first round match-up with the Toronto Maple Leafs that featured three multiple overtime games, all in Toronto. After winning Game 7, 6–1, the Flyers fought the Ottawa Senators in the second round with equal vigor as they split the first four games of the series, Cechmanek earning shutouts in both wins. Cechmanek's inconsistency showed through, however, as he allowed ten goals in the final two games and Ottawa advanced in six games. Cechmanek was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a 2004 second round draft pick during the off-season despite having the second-best GAA in the NHL over his three years in Philadelphia.

Skaters

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 Flyers only.

= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.

Transactions

The Flyers 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

Trade notes

^a Condition not met. The Flyers would have received the Oilers' 2004 fifth-round pick if Dopita re-signed with Edmonton for the 2003–04 season. Dopita returned to Europe after being released by Edmonton on February 3, 2003.

^b Condition not met. The Flyers would have received a late round draft pick (sixth-to-eighth-round pick) if the Coyotes re-signed Ranheim for the 2003–04 season.

^c Condition not met.

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk (*).

Re-signed

The following players were re-signed by the Flyers. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk (*).

Entry level contracts

The following players — Flyers draft picks, undrafted free agents, and the unsigned draft picks of other teams — were signed by the Flyers to entry level contracts.

NHL Waiver Draft

The 2002 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 4, 2002. Each NHL team placed 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders on a protected list from which the other teams could not select. First-year professional players were exempt. The Flyers were not involved in any selections during the draft.

The Flyers protected the following players: goaltenders Roman Cechmanek and Neil Little, defensemen Eric Desjardins, Kim Johnsson, Chris McAllister, Dan McGillis, Chris Therien, and Eric Weinrich, and forwards Donald Brashear, Todd Fedoruk, Simon Gagne, Mark Greig, Michal Handzus, Kirby Law, John LeClair, Marty Murray, Keith Primeau, Paul Ranheim, Mark Recchi, and Jeremy Roenick.

The Flyers left the following players unprotected: defensemen David Harlock, John Slaney, and Brad Tiley, and forwards Tomas Divisek, Ian MacNeil, Andre Savage, and Pete Vandermeer.

Waivers

The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions.

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 (*).

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario on June 22–23, 2002.

Draft notes

^a The Flyers acquired the 4th overall pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning for Ruslan Fedotenko, the Lightning's second-round pick and the Phoenix Coyotes' second-round pick on June 21, 2002.

The Flyers traded Maxime Ouellet, their first, 26th overall, second, 59th overall, and third-round picks, 92nd overall, to the Washington Capitals for Adam Oates on March 19, 2002.

The Flyers traded their 2001 fourth and seventh-round picks as well as a 2001 fifth-round compensatory pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Lightning's third-round pick, 68th overall, on June 24, 2001. The Flyers traded the Lightning's pick and Jan Hlavac to the Vancouver Canucks for Donald Brashear and the Canucks' sixth-round pick, 184th overall, on December 17, 2001. The Flyers traded the Canucks' pick and their seventh-round pick, 225th overall, to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the Blue Jackets' 2003 fifth-round pick on June 23, 2002.

The Flyers traded Andy Delmore to the Nashville Predators for the Predators' third-round pick, 70th overall, on July 31, 2001. The Flyers traded the Predators' pick and Brian Boucher to the Phoenix Coyotes for Robert Esche and Michal Handzus on June 12, 2002.

^b The Flyers traded their 2001 fourth-round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for the Hurricanes' third-round pick, 91st overall, on June 24, 2001. The Flyers traded the Hurricanes' pick back to Carolina for the Hurricanes' sixth-round pick, 192nd overall, and the Hurricanes' 2003 third-round pick on June 22, 2002.

^c The Flyers traded Dean McAmmond to the Calgary Flames for the Flames' fourth-round pick, 105th overall, on June 24, 2001.

^d The Flyers traded their ninth-round pick, 287th overall, and their 2001 eighth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Lightning's seventh-round pick, 201st overall, on June 24, 2001.

The Flyers traded their eighth-round pick, 256th overall, to the Carolina Hurricanes for Paul Ranheim on May 31, 2000.

Farm teams

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

References

2002–03 Philadelphia Flyers season Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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