The 2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks season was the Chicago Blackhawks' 77th season of operation. Finishing ninth in the Western Conference, they failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Offseason Forward Alexei Zhamnov was named captain, following the departure of Tony Amonte.
Regular season January 8, 2003: Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Michael Leighton gained a shutout in his NHL debut in a 0-0 tie versus the Phoenix Coyotes. Coyotes goaltender Zac Bierk earned his first career shutout, although it was not his NHL debut. It was the first time that two goalies in the same game both earned their first career shutouts.Hockey's Book of Firsts, p.19, James Duplacey, JG Press,
Final standings
Schedule and results
|1||October 10, 2002||1–2 || align="left"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) ||0–1–0–0 ||
|2||October 13, 2002||3–0 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) ||1–1–0–0 ||
|3||October 17, 2002||4–1 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (2002–03) ||2–1–0–0 ||
|4||October 19, 2002||2–5 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (2002–03) ||2–2–0–0 ||
|5||October 24, 2002||2–3 || align="left"| Minnesota Wild (2002–03) ||2–3–0–0 ||
|6||October 26, 2002||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) ||2–3–1–0 ||
|7||October 27, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (2002–03) ||3–3–1–0 ||
|8||October 29, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) ||4–3–1–0 ||
|9||October 31, 2002||2–1 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) ||5–3–1–0 ||
|10||November 2, 2002||1–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2002–03) ||5–4–1–0 ||
|11||November 3, 2002||1–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) ||5–5–1–0 ||
|12||November 5, 2002||2–0 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) ||6–5–1–0 ||
|13||November 7, 2002||5–0 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) ||7–5–1–0 ||
|14||November 9, 2002||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) ||8–5–1–0 ||
|15||November 11, 2002||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2002–03) ||8–5–2–0 ||
|16||November 15, 2002||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (2002–03) ||8–5–3–0 ||
|17||November 17, 2002||4–2 || align="left"| Nashville Predators (2002–03) ||9–5–3–0 ||
|18||November 19, 2002||1–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) ||9–6–3–0 ||
|19||November 20, 2002||3–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) ||9–7–3–0 ||
|20||November 23, 2002||1–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (2002–03) ||9–8–3–0 ||
|21||November 25, 2002||0–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (2002–03) ||9–9–3–0 ||
|22||November 28, 2002||4–2 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) ||10–9–3–0 ||
|23||November 30, 2002||1–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) ||10–10–3–0 ||
|24||December 1, 2002||2–3 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) ||10–11–3–0 ||
|25||December 4, 2002||1–0 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2002–03) ||11–11–3–0 ||
|26||December 6, 2002||3–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) ||11–12–3–0 ||
|27||December 8, 2002||3–1 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) ||12–12–3–0 ||
|28||December 10, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2002–03) ||13–12–3–0 ||
|29||December 11, 2002||4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2002–03) ||14–12–3–0 ||
|30||December 13, 2002||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) ||14–12–4–0 ||
|31||December 15, 2002||0–5 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (2002–03) ||14–13–4–0 ||
|32||December 17, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) ||15–13–4–0 ||
|33||December 20, 2002||3–1 || align="left"| Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) ||16–13–4–0 ||
|34||December 22, 2002||3–1 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) ||17–13–4–0 ||
|35||December 26, 2002||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Minnesota Wild (2002–03) ||17–13–5–0 ||
|36||December 28, 2002||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (2002–03) ||17–13–6–0 ||
|37||December 30, 2002||2–0 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) ||18–13–6–0 ||
|38||January 2, 2003||4–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (2002–03) ||19–13–6–0 ||
|39||January 4, 2003||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Nashville Predators (2002–03) ||19–13–7–0 ||
|40||January 5, 2003||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) ||19–13–7–1 ||
|41||January 8, 2003||0–0 OT|| align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) ||19–13–8–1 ||
|42||January 9, 2003||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (2002–03) ||19–13–8–2 ||
|43||January 12, 2003||2–0 || align="left"| Nashville Predators (2002–03) ||20–13–8–2 ||
|44||January 13, 2003||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) ||20–13–8–3 ||
|45||January 15, 2003||4–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) ||21–13–8–3 ||
|46||January 17, 2003||2–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) ||21–14–8–3 ||
|47||January 18, 2003||2–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (2002–03) ||21–15–8–3 ||
|48||January 20, 2003||1–5 || align="left"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) ||21–16–8–3 ||
|49||January 23, 2003||3–3 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (2002–03) ||21–16–9–3 ||
|50||January 25, 2003||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) ||21–17–9–3 ||
|51||January 26, 2003||3–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) ||21–18–9–3 ||
|52||January 30, 2003||3–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2002–03) ||22–18–9–3 ||
|53||February 5, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Wild (2002–03) ||22–19–9–3 ||
|54||February 6, 2003||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (2002–03) ||22–19–10–3 ||
|55||February 8, 2003||3–0 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) ||23–19–10–3 ||
|56||February 10, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) ||23–20–10–3 ||
|57||February 12, 2003||1–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) ||23–21–10–3 ||
|58||February 14, 2003||2–4 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (2002–03) ||23–22–10–3 ||
|59||February 15, 2003||7–1 || align="left"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) ||24–22–10–3 ||
|60||February 17, 2003||4–5 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (2002–03) ||24–23–10–3 ||
|61||February 20, 2003||1–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) ||24–24–10–3 ||
|62||February 23, 2003||0–3 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (2002–03) ||24–25–10–3 ||
|63||February 25, 2003||0–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) ||24–26–10–3 ||
|64||February 27, 2003||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) ||24–27–10–3 ||
|65||March 1, 2003||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Nashville Predators (2002–03) ||24–27–10–4 ||
|66||March 2, 2003||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (2002–03) ||24–27–10–5 ||
|67||March 5, 2003||4–7 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (2002–03) ||24–28–10–5 ||
|68||March 7, 2003||0–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (2002–03) ||24–29–10–5 ||
|69||March 9, 2003||8–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (2002–03) ||25–29–10–5 ||
|70||March 12, 2003||2–5 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) ||25–30–10–5 ||
|71||March 14, 2003||4–0 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) ||26–30–10–5 ||
|72||March 17, 2003||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (2002–03) ||27–30–10–5 ||
|73||March 19, 2003||3–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) ||27–31–10–5 ||
|74||March 22, 2003||1–8 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (2002–03) ||27–32–10–5 ||
|75||March 23, 2003||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) ||27–32–11–5 ||
|76||March 25, 2003||2–9 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2002–03) ||27–33–11–5 ||
|77||March 27, 2003||4–1 || align="left"| Nashville Predators (2002–03) ||28–33–11–5 ||
|78||March 28, 2003||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Minnesota Wild (2002–03) ||28–33–11–6 ||
|79||March 30, 2003||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) ||28–33–12–6 ||
|80||April 3, 2003||6–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (2002–03) ||29–33–12–6 ||
|81||April 4, 2003||2–2 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (2002–03) ||29–33–13–6 ||
|82||April 6, 2003||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) ||30–33–13–6 ||
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 Blackhawks only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only. Player Regular season 26 RW 82 26 35 61 15 42 13 C 74 15 43 58 0 70 55 RW 54 22 22 44 10 14 19 LW 82 15 27 42 −6 40 39 C 82 19 20 39 7 20 14 RW 54 12 21 33 −7 77 94 LW 66 18 13 31 −3 8 28 C 82 14 15 29 0 113 6 D 57 6 23 29 7 24 43 D 67 5 23 28 −7 26 11 C 60 6 15 21 −3 26 17 LW 61 12 6 18 −4 125 32 LW 69 4 13 17 0 51 42 D 70 2 14 16 −9 44 25 D 40 4 10 14 −8 12 8 D 75 2 11 13 14 50 20 C 53 2 10 12 −6 24 7 D 65 7 4 11 7 76 22 C 48 4 5 9 −1 30 50 LW 7 5 0 5 −3 4 34 D 48 2 3 5 −4 87 5 D 57 1 4 5 −1 23 2 D 20 3 1 4 −1 22 92 C 9 0 4 4 0 4 49 RW 13 1 1 2 −4 31 44 D 16 0 2 2 −13 9 46 D 5 0 1 1 3 0 4 D 10 0 1 1 3 28 15 RW 16 0 1 1 0 6 16 C 6 0 1 1 0 0 31 G 6 0 0 0 0 33 LW 4 0 0 0 0 7 30 G 8 0 0 0 0 53 C 2 0 0 0 −1 0 29 G 11 0 0 0 4 41 G 62 0 0 0 4 23 RW 22 0 0 0 0 58
Goaltending Player Regular season 41 Jocelyn Thibault 62 26 28 7 1690 144 2.37 .915 8 3650 30 Michael Leighton 8 2 3 2 241 21 2.82 .913 1 447 29 Steve Passmore 11 2 5 2 284 38 3.70 .866 0 617 31 Craig Anderson 6 0 3 2 125 18 4.00 .856 0 270
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(annual) NHL All-Rookie Team Tyler Arnason (Forward) League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Jocelyn Thibault NHL Player of the Week Jocelyn Thibault (November 11) NHL Rookie of the Month Tyler Arnason (October) Tyler Arnason (December) NHL YoungStars Game selection Tyler Arnason
Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Shawn Thornton October 10, 2002 Craig Anderson November 30, 2002 Brett McLean December 10, 2002 Michael Leighton January 8, 2003 Burke Henry February 20, 2003 Igor Radulov March 23, 2003 500th game played Jocelyn Thibault January 17, 2003 400th goal Steve Thomas February 17, 2003
Transactions The Blackhawks 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 Date Details Ref To Chicago Blackhawks To San Jose Sharks To Chicago Blackhawks To Montreal Canadiens To Chicago Blackhawks To Washington Capitals To Chicago Blackhawks To New York Rangers To Chicago Blackhawks To Dallas Stars To Chicago Blackhawks To Anaheim Mighty Ducks To Chicago Blackhawks To Philadelphia Flyers To Chicago Blackhawks To Toronto Maple Leafs To Chicago Blackhawks To Washington Capitals
Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Nathan Dempsey Toronto Maple Leafs Free agency Jason Strudwick Vancouver Canucks Free agency Brett McLean Minnesota Wild Free agency Theoren Fleury San Jose Sharks Free agency Louie DeBrusk Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) Free agency Garry Valk Toronto Maple Leafs Free agency Travis Moen Kelowna Rockets (WHL) Free agency Mike Eastwood St. Louis Blues Waivers Burke Henry Norfolk Admirals (AHL) Free agency Todd Gill Springfield Falcons (AHL) Free agency Quintin Laing Norfolk Admirals (AHL) Free agency
Players lost Date Player New team Via Ref Chris Feil Contract expiration (UFA) Aaron Downey Dallas Stars Free agency (VI) Nolan Baumgartner Vancouver Canucks Free agency (VI) Tony Amonte Phoenix Coyotes Free agency (III) Tom Fitzgerald Toronto Maple Leafs Free agency (III) Vladimir Chebaturkin New York Rangers Free agency (VI) Jim Campbell Florida Panthers Free agency (UFA) Chris McAlpine Los Angeles Kings Free agency (UFA) Jean-Yves Leroux Saint-Georges Garaga (QSPHL) Free agency (UFA) Rumun Ndur Graz 99ers (EBEL) Free agency (VI) Joe Reekie Retirement (III) Ty Jones Anchorage Aces (ECHL) Free agency (II)
Signings