2003–04 Carolina Hurricanes season

The 2003–04 Carolina Hurricanes season was the franchise's 25th season in the National Hockey League and seventh as the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Regular season
On December 15, 2003, head coach Paul Maurice was fired after an 8–12–8–2 start to the season and replaced by former New York Islanders head coach Peter Laviolette.

The Hurricanes season finale against the Florida Panthers on April 4, 2004 was the final tie in NHL history. The Hurricane player who scored the final game-tying goal to make it 6–6 was defenseman Brad Fast, who was playing in his first and what proved to be his only NHL game. Fast is one of only five NHL one-gamers to score a goal in their lone NHL appearance. Ties were eliminated after the 2004–05 NHL lockout when the shootout was adopted.

The Hurricanes finished 30th overall in the NHL in scoring for the second consecutive season, with just 172 goals for. They also struggled on the power-play, finishing 30th overall in power-play goals scored, with 41, and 30th overall in power-play percentage, at 10.68% (41 for 384).

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.

Transactions
The Hurricanes 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.

Draft picks
Carolina's draft picks at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

American Hockey League
The Lowell Lock Monsters are the Hurricanes American Hockey League affiliate for the 2003–04 AHL season.

ECHL
The Florida Everblades are the Hurricanes ECHL affiliate.