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2003–04 Edmonton Oilers season

NHL team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2003–04 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 25th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a 36–26–11–9 record in 2002–03, earning 92 points, and returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Oilers were then defeated by the Dallas Stars in six games in the opening round.

Division4th Northwest
Conference9th Western
2003–04 record36–29–12–5
Home record22–12–4–3
Quick facts Edmonton Oilers, Division ...
2003–04 Edmonton Oilers
Division4th Northwest
Conference9th Western
2003–04 record36–29–12–5
Home record22–12–4–3
Road record14–17–8–2
Goals for221
Goals against208
Team information
General managerKevin Lowe
CoachCraig MacTavish
CaptainJason Smith
Alternate captainsEthan Moreau
Ryan Smyth
ArenaRexall Place[a]
Commonwealth Stadium (1 game)
Average attendance17,677 (105.0%)
Minor league affiliatesToronto Roadrunners (AHL)
Columbus Cottonmouths (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsRyan Smyth (23)
AssistsRyan Smyth (36)
PointsRyan Smyth (59)
Penalty minutesGeorges Laraque (99)
Plus/minusIgor Ulanov (+19)
WinsTy Conklin (17)
Tommy Salo (17)
Goals against averageTy Conklin (2.42)
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During the off-season, the Oilers and Mike Comrie could not come to a contract agreement, and Comrie would not start the season with the team. Comrie would eventually be traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in December for Jeff Woywitka and the Flyers' first-round draft pick in 2004.

The club would start off the season on the right foot, having a record of 10–7–2–0 in the first 19 games. However, Edmonton would go into a slump and have a 10–17–6–1 in their next 34 games, falling to 12th place in the Western Conference. The Oilers would later emerge from the slump and finish the season with a 16–5–4–4 in their remaining 29 games. Despite the season turnaround, the Oilers would finish in ninth in the West, two points behind the eighth-placed Nashville Predators for the final playoff spot, thereby failing to qualify for the post-season for the first time since the 2001–02 season and the second time in three seasons.

Offensively, Ryan Smyth would lead the club with 23 goals, 36 assists and 59 points. Radek Dvorak would finish just behind Smyth with 50 points, while Ethan Moreau and Raffi Torres would each score 20 goals. Marc-Andre Bergeron would lead the defense with 9 goals and 26 points, while Eric Brewer would finish just behind him with seven goals and 25 points. Georges Laraque would lead the club in penalty minutes, with 99.

In goal, Tommy Salo would begin the season as the starter. However, he would lose his job and eventually be traded to the Colorado Avalanche before the season was over. He won 17 games and had a 2.58 goals against average (GAA), along with three shutouts, with Edmonton. Ty Conklin took over the starting duties, where he would win 17 games, attain a 2.42 GAA and earn a shutout along the way.

Heritage Classic

The Heritage Classic[1] was an outdoor ice hockey game played on November 22, 2003, in Edmonton between the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens. It was the second NHL outdoor game and the first regular season outdoor game in the history of the NHL, and was modeled after the success of the "cold war" game between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University in 2001. The first NHL game to be played outdoors was in 1991 when the Los Angeles Kings played the New York Rangers in an exhibition game outside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.[2] The event took place in Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium in front of a crowd of 57,167, the largest number of people to ever watch a live NHL game, despite temperatures of close to −18 °C, −30 °C (−22 °F) with wind chill. It was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Edmonton Oilers joining the NHL in 1979. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television broadcast also set the record for most viewers of a single NHL game with 2.747 million nationwide. This was the first NHL game broadcast in HDTV on CBC. Montreal won the game 4–3.

Season standings

More information No., CR ...
Northwest Division[3]
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA PTS
13Vancouver Canucks824324105235194101
24Colorado Avalanche824022137235198100
36Calgary Flames8242307320017694
49Edmonton Oilers82362912522120889
510Minnesota Wild82302920318818383
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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.

More information R, Div ...
Western Conference[4]
R Div GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 P- Detroit Red WingsCE824821112255189109
2 Y- San Jose SharksPA824321126255183104
3 Y- Vancouver CanucksNW824324105235194101
4 X- Colorado AvalancheNW824022137236198100
5 X- Dallas StarsPA82412613219417597
6 X- Calgary FlamesNW8242307320017694
7 X- St. Louis BluesCE82393011219119891
8 X- Nashville PredatorsCE82382911421621791
8.5
9 Edmonton OilersNW82362912522120889
10 Minnesota WildNW82302920318818383
11 Los Angeles KingsPA82282916920521781
12 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPA82293510818421376
13 Phoenix CoyotesPA82223618618824568
14 Columbus Blue JacketsCE8225458417723862
15 Chicago BlackhawksCE82204311818825959
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Divisions: CE – Central, PA – Pacific, NW – Northwest

P – Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y – Clinched division; X – Clinched playoff spot

Schedule and results

More information Game, Date ...
2003–04 regular season[5]
October: 4–5–0–0 (home: 4–2–0–0; road: 0–3–0–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
1October 9San Jose Sharks2 – 5Edmonton OilersSalo16,8391–0–0–02W
2October 11Edmonton Oilers0 – 3Vancouver CanucksSalo18,6301–1–0–02L
3October 14Edmonton Oilers0 – 1Calgary FlamesSalo16,0091–2–0–02L
4October 16Buffalo Sabres1 – 4Edmonton OilersConklin15,5022–2–0–04W
5October 18Colorado Avalanche3 – 6Edmonton OilersSalo16,8393–2–0–06W
6October 21St. Louis Blues6 – 4Edmonton OilersSalo16,0433–3–0–06L
7October 23Edmonton Oilers1 – 6Colorado AvalancheConklin18,0073–4–0–06L
8October 25Calgary Flames4 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo16,8393–5–0–06L
9October 30Columbus Blue Jackets3 – 4Edmonton OilersOTSalo15,9464–5–0–08W
November: 6–6–3–0 (home: 3–3–1–0; road: 3–3–2–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
10November 1Detroit Red Wings4 – 4Edmonton OilersOTSalo16,8394–5–1–09T
11November 4Edmonton Oilers4 – 2Montreal CanadiensSalo18,2185–5–1–011W
12November 6Edmonton Oilers3 – 3Ottawa SenatorsOTSalo15,2165–5–2–012T
13November 8Edmonton Oilers1 – 4Toronto Maple LeafsSalo19,3405–6–2–012L
14November 10Edmonton Oilers5 – 4New York RangersConklin17,8876–6–2–014W
15November 11Edmonton Oilers3 – 4Boston BruinsConklin12,4566–7–2–014L
16November 13Edmonton Oilers2 – 0Minnesota WildConklin18,5687–7–2–016W
17November 15Calgary Flames1 – 2Edmonton OilersOTConklin16,8398–7–2–018W
18November 18Chicago Blackhawks2 – 5Edmonton OilersConklin16,8399–7–2–020W
19November 20Toronto Maple Leafs2 – 3Edmonton OilersConklin16,83910–7–2–022W
20November 22Montreal Canadiens4 – 3Edmonton OilersConklin57,16710–8–2–022L
21November 25Edmonton Oilers3 – 3Columbus Blue JacketsOTConklin16,46510–8–3–023T
22November 26Edmonton Oilers1 – 7Detroit Red WingsConklin20,06610–9–3–023L
23November 28Colorado Avalanche4 – 1Edmonton OilersConklin16,83910–10–3–023L
24November 30San Jose Sharks2 – 1Edmonton OilersConklin16,83910–11–3–023L
December: 3–6–4–0 (home: 1–4–2–0; road: 2–2–2–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
25December 3Minnesota Wild1 – 0Edmonton OilersConklin16,19810–12–3–023L
26December 6Pittsburgh Penguins3 – 4Edmonton OilersConklin16,83911–12–3–025W
27December 9Carolina Hurricanes3 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo16,17911–13–3–025L
28December 11Edmonton Oilers2 – 2San Jose SharksOTConklin14,85311–13–4–026T
29December 12Edmonton Oilers3 – 3Phoenix CoyotesOTSalo13,60911–13–5–027T
30December 14Edmonton Oilers3 – 2Mighty Ducks of AnaheimConklin12,42612–13–5–029W
31December 16Edmonton Oilers2 – 4Los Angeles KingsSalo18,11812–14–5–029L
32December 18Minnesota Wild1 – 1Edmonton OilersOTConklin16,14512–14–6–030T
33December 20Vancouver Canucks3 – 0Edmonton OilersConklin16,83912–15–6–030L
34December 23Edmonton Oilers1 – 2Calgary FlamesSalo18,38912–16–6–030L
35December 27Edmonton Oilers6 – 2Vancouver CanucksSalo18,63013–16–6–032W
36December 28Calgary Flames2 – 1Edmonton OilersSalo16,83913–17–6–032L
37December 30Minnesota Wild2 – 2Edmonton OilersOTSalo16,83913–17–7–033T
January: 7–7–1–1 (home: 4–3–0–0; road: 3–4–1–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
38January 2Edmonton Oilers2 – 1Minnesota WildSalo18,56814–17–7–035W
39January 4Edmonton Oilers4 – 3Chicago BlackhawksSalo10,10115–17–7–037W
40January 5Edmonton Oilers2 – 3New Jersey DevilsOTSalo11,72415–17–7–138OTL
41January 8Edmonton Oilers2 – 3New York IslandersConklin11,08715–18–7–138L
42January 10Edmonton Oilers3 – 0Philadelphia FlyersSalo19,56116–18–7–140W
43January 11Edmonton Oilers0 – 1Washington CapitalsSalo12,70416–19–7–140L
44January 13Florida Panthers2 – 4Edmonton OilersSalo16,83917–19–7–142W
45January 15Mighty Ducks of Anaheim0 – 1Edmonton OilersSalo16,83918–19–7–144W
46January 17Edmonton Oilers1 – 2Nashville PredatorsSalo15,86118–20–7–144L
47January 18Edmonton Oilers4 – 4Columbus Blue JacketsOTConklin18,13618–20–8–145T
48January 20Dallas Stars0 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,83919–20–8–147W
49January 22Tampa Bay Lightning3 – 2Edmonton OilersSalo16,83919–21–8–147L
50January 24Nashville Predators4 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,83919–22–8–147L
51January 27Edmonton Oilers1 – 3Colorado AvalancheConklin18,00719–23–8–147L
52January 29Chicago Blackhawks2 – 5Edmonton OilersSalo16,83920–23–8–149W
53January 31Los Angeles Kings4 – 3Edmonton OilersSalo16,83920–24–8–149L
February: 6–3–2–1 (home: 4–0–1–0; road: 2–3–1–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
54February 2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim1 – 2Edmonton OilersOTConklin16,18321–24–8–151W
55February 4St. Louis Blues3 – 5Edmonton OilersConklin16,56922–24–8–153W
56February 11Atlanta Thrashers1 – 5Edmonton OilersConklin16,83923–24–8–155W
57February 13Edmonton Oilers0 – 3Minnesota WildConklin18,56823–25–8–155L
58February 15Edmonton Oilers2 – 2Nashville PredatorsSalo14,27623–25–9–156T
59February 16Edmonton Oilers1 – 2Detroit Red WingsSalo20,06623–26–9–156L
60February 18Edmonton Oilers5 – 1Colorado AvalancheSalo18,00724–26–9–158W
61February 21Vancouver Canucks3 – 4Edmonton OilersOTSalo16,83925–26–9–160W
62February 23Detroit Red Wings1 – 1Edmonton OilersOTSalo16,83925–26–10–161T
63February 25Edmonton Oilers2 – 4Mighty Ducks of AnaheimSalo15,23525–27–10–161L
64February 27Edmonton Oilers7 – 2Phoenix CoyotesSalo16,72126–27–10–163W
65February 29Edmonton Oilers4 – 5Dallas StarsOTSalo18,25726–27–10–264OTL
March: 10–1–2–3 (home: 6–0–0–3; road: 4–1–2–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
66March 2Phoenix Coyotes4 – 5Edmonton OilersOTSalo16,83927–27–10–266W
67March 4Edmonton Oilers1 – 1St. Louis BluesOTMarkkanen16,55927–27–11–267T
68March 7Edmonton Oilers4 – 3Chicago BlackhawksOTSalo12,83928–27–11–269W
69March 9Edmonton Oilers1 – 1Calgary FlamesOTMarkkanen18,47928–27–12–270T
70March 10Colorado Avalanche3 – 2Edmonton OilersOTConklin16,83928–27–12–371OTL
71March 12Vancouver Canucks4 – 3Edmonton OilersOTMarkkanen16,83928–27–12–472OTL
72March 14Ottawa Senators1 – 3Edmonton OilersConklin16,83929–27–12–474W
73March 16Columbus Blue Jackets2 – 3Edmonton OilersConklin16,83930–27–12–476W
74March 19Nashville Predators4 – 5Edmonton OilersConklin16,83931–27–12–478W
75March 21Edmonton Oilers5 – 2San Jose SharksMarkkanen16,17632–27–12–480W
76March 22Edmonton Oilers2 – 1Los Angeles KingsConklin18,11833–27–12–482W
77March 24Dallas Stars4 – 3Edmonton OilersOTConklin16,83933–27–12–583OTL
78March 26Los Angeles Kings1 – 3Edmonton OilersConklin16,83934–27–12–585W
79March 28Phoenix Coyotes2 – 4Edmonton OilersMarkkanen16,83935–27–12–587W
80March 30Edmonton Oilers0 – 1St. Louis BluesMarkkanen19,64635–28–12–587L
81March 31Edmonton Oilers3 – 1Dallas StarsMarkkanen18,53236–28–12–589W
April: 0–1–0–0 (home: 0–0–0–0; road: 0–1–0–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
82April 3Edmonton Oilers2 – 5Vancouver CanucksConklin18,68036–29–12–589L

Legend: W Win (2 points) L Loss (0 points) T Tie (1 point) OTL Overtime loss (1 point)

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Player statistics

Scoring

  • Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; 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 Oilers only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.
More information No., Player ...
No. Player Pos Regular season
GP G A Pts +/- PIM
94Ryan SmythLW822336591170
20Radek DvorakRW781535501826
16Mike YorkC611626421815
10Shawn HorcoffC80152540073
14Raffi TorresLW802014341265
83Ales HemskyRW71122234−714
18Ethan MoreauLW81201232796
34Fernando PisaniRW761614301446
24Steve StaiosD82622281786
47Marc-Andre BergeronD54917261326
2Eric BrewerD7771825−667
36Jarret StollC68101121842
23Cory CrossD6871421956
21Jason SmithD68712191398
15Brad IsbisterLW5110818−254
55Igor Ulanov†D42513181928
77Adam Oates†C602161808
27Georges LaraqueRW6661117799
93Petr Nedved†C165101514
28Jason ChimeraLW604812−157
19Marty ReasonerC17268510
32Scott FergusonD52156−580
5Alexei SemenovD46235832
12Mike BishaiC14022019
33Peter Sarno‡C610122
26Mikko LuomaD301100
42Tony SalmelainenLW13011−14
35Tommy Salo‡G440002
1Ty ConklinG3800017
44Doug LynchD200000
30Jussi Markkanen†G70002
22Jani RitaRW200000
40Steve Valiquette‡G10000
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Goaltending

  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.
More information No., Player ...
No. Player Regular season
GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
1Ty Conklin3917144959842.42.91212085
35Tommy Salo‡441718610241072.58.89632486
30Jussi Markkanen†7222182121.83.9340393
40Steve Valiquette‡1000729.23.714013
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Awards and records

Awards

More information Type, Award/honor ...
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Milestones

Regular Season
PlayerMilestoneReached
Raffi Torres1st NHL GoalOctober 9, 2003
Eric Brewer200th NHL PIMOctober 16, 2003
Tony Salmelainen1st NHL GameOctober 30, 2003
Radek Dvorak200th NHL Assist
200th NHL PIM
November 1, 2003
Mike York200th NHL Point
Tony Salmelainen1st NHL Assist
1st NHL Point
November 4, 2003
Peter Sarno1st NHL Game
1st NHL Goal
1st NHL Point
Steve Staios700th NHL PIM
Shawn Horcoff200th NHL GameNovember 6, 2003
Ryan Smyth200th NHL AssistNovember 10, 2003
Jarret Stoll1st NHL Goal
Ty Conklin1st NHL ShutoutNovember 13, 2003
Steve Staios100th NHL PointNovember 22, 2003
Jason Smith700th NHL PIMDecember 6, 2003
Cory Cross600th NHL PIMDecember 12, 2003
Jason Chimera100th NHL GameDecember 23, 2003
Georges Laraque700th NHL PIMDecember 30, 2003
Mikko Luoma1st NHL Game
1st NHL Assist
1st NHL Point
Doug Lynch1st NHL GameJanuary 2, 2004
Ryan Smyth600th NHL GameJanuary 5, 2004
Ales Hemsky100th NHL GameJanuary 10, 2004
Tommy Salo200th NHL Win
500th NHL Game
Adam Oates1,300th NHL GameJanuary 13, 2004
Steve Staios500th NHL GameJanuary 15, 2004
Brad Isbister500th NHL PIMJanuary 17, 2004
Igor Ulanov1,100th NHL PIMJanuary 22, 2004
Ryan Smyth400th NHL PointJanuary 24, 2004
Mike Bishai1st NHL GameJanuary 29, 2004
Eric Brewer100th NHL Point
Mike Bishai1st NHL Assist
1st NHL Point
January 31, 2004
Brad Isbister400th NHL Game
Ethan Moreau700th NHL PIM
Scott Ferguson200th NHL GameFebruary 16, 2004
Ryan Smyth500th NHL PIMFebruary 23, 2004
Shawn Horcoff100th NHL PointFebruary 25, 2004
Ethan Moreau100th NHL GoalFebruary 27, 2004
Georges Laraque400th NHL GameFebruary 29, 2004
Fernando Pisani100th NHL GameMarch 12, 2004
Raffi Torres
Jason Smith700th NHL GameMarch 14, 2004
Cory Cross600th NHL GameMarch 21, 2004
Eric Brewer400th NHL GameMarch 26, 2004
Ethan Moreau600th NHL Game
Petr Nedved300th NHL Goal
Igor Ulanov700th NHL GameMarch 30, 2004

Transactions

The Oilers 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.[10]

Trades

More information Date, Details ...
Date Details Ref
June 21, 2003 (2003-06-21) To New Jersey Devils
  • 1st-round pick in 2003
To Edmonton Oilers
  • 1st-round pick in 2003
  • 2nd-round pick in 2003
[11]
June 30, 2003 (2003-06-30) To New York Rangers
To Edmonton Oilers
[13]
December 16, 2003 (2003-12-16) To Philadelphia Flyers
To Edmonton Oilers
[14]
February 16, 2004 (2004-02-16) To Vancouver Canucks
To Edmonton Oilers
[15]
March 3, 2004 (2004-03-03) To New York Rangers
To Edmonton Oilers
[16]
March 9, 2004 (2004-03-09) To Colorado Avalanche
To Edmonton Oilers
[17]
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Players acquired

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerFormer teamTermViaRef
July 15, 2003 (2003-07-15) Rocky ThompsonFlorida Panthers2-yearFree agency[18]
Steve ValiquetteNew York Islanders1-yearFree agency[18]
August 21, 2003 (2003-08-21) Dan SmithSpringfield Falcons (AHL)1-yearFree agency[19]
September 2, 2003 (2003-09-02) Jamie WrightPhiladelphia Flyers2-yearFree agency[20]
October 8, 2003 (2003-10-08) Steve ValiquetteFlorida PanthersWaivers[21]
November 17, 2003 (2003-11-17) Adam OatesAnaheim Mighty Ducks1-yearFree agency[22]
January 5, 2004 (2004-01-05) Igor UlanovFlorida Panthers1-yearFree agency[23]
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Players lost

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerNew teamVia[c]Ref
June 30, 2003 (2003-06-30) Daniel ClearyPhoenix Coyotes[d]Buyout[26]
July 3, 2003 (2003-07-03) Todd MarchantColumbus Blue JacketsFree agency (V)[27]
July 24, 2003 (2003-07-24) Brian SwansonAtlanta ThrashersFree agency (VI)[28]
July 28, 2003 (2003-07-28) Kari HaakanaModo Hockey (SHL)Free agency (II)[e][30]
July 30, 2003 (2003-07-30) Brian LeetchNew York RangersFree agency (III)[12]
October 3, 2003 (2003-10-03) Steve ValiquetteFlorida PanthersWaiver draft[31]
April 3, 2004 (2004-04-03) Adam OatesRetirement[32]
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Signings

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerTermContract typeRef
June 30, 2003 (2003-06-30) Cory Cross3-yearRe-signing[26]
July 3, 2003 (2003-07-03) Jan Horacek1-yearRe-signing[33]
Mikko Luoma1-yearEntry-level[33]
Mathieu Roy3-yearEntry-level[33]
July 28, 2003 (2003-07-28) Chad Hinz1-yearRe-signing[34]
Jason Smith1-yearRe-signing[34]
July 29, 2003 (2003-07-29) Brad Isbister1-yearRe-signing[35]
August 1, 2003 (2003-08-01) Marty Reasoner2-yearRe-signing[36]
Raffi Torres2-yearRe-signing[36]
August 5, 2003 (2003-08-05) Bobby Allen1-yearRe-signing[37]
Michael Henrich1-yearRe-signing[37]
Shawn Horcoff2-yearRe-signing[37]
August 14, 2003 (2003-08-14) Ryan Smyth2-yearRe-signing[38]
August 21, 2003 (2003-08-21) Fernando Pisani3-yearRe-signing[39]
September 2, 2003 (2003-09-02) Peter Sarno2-yearRe-signing[20]
September 11, 2003 (2003-09-11) Joe Cullen2-yearEntry-level[40]
Georges Laraque3-yearRe-signing[40]
Ethan Moreau1-yearRe-signing[40]
Brad Winchester2-yearEntry-level[40]
September 29, 2003 (2003-09-29) Ethan Moreau4-yearRe-signing[41]
November 19, 2003 (2003-11-19) Steve Staios3-yearExtension[42]
May 31, 2004 (2004-05-31) Jeff Deslauriers3-yearEntry-level[43]
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Draft picks

Notes

  1. Renamed from Skyreach Centre in January
  2. 4th-round pick in 2004[12]
  3. In parentheses is the player's free agency group on July 1 if applicable.[24]
  4. Cleary signed with Phoenix on July 15.[25]
  5. Edmonton retained Haakana’s NHL rights through the 2005–06 season.[29]

References

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