2002–03 Carolina Hurricanes season

The 2002–03 Carolina Hurricanes season was the franchise's 24th season in the National Hockey League and sixth as the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes missed the playoffs, despite making it to the Stanley Cup Finals the previous year, finishing the season with an NHL-worst record of 22–43–11–6 (61 points).

Regular season
The Hurricanes finished 30th in scoring, with just 171 goals for. They also had the most power-play opportunities of all 30 teams, with 420.

Schedule and results

 * Legend:
 * Legend:

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

Goaltending

 * † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Hurricanes only.

Transactions
The Hurricanes 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.

Draft picks
Carolina's picks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

American Hockey League
The Lowell Lock Monsters are the Hurricanes American Hockey League affiliate for the 2002–03 AHL season.

East Coast Hockey League
The Florida Everblades are the Hurricanes East Coast Hockey League affiliate.