The 2002–03 Florida Panthers season was their tenth season in the National Hockey League. The Panthers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season, but did host the 53rd All-Star Game.
Offseason
Rick Dudley was named the team’s new general manager.
Regular season
All-Star Game
The 53rd National Hockey League All-Star Game was held during the 2002–03 NHL season, and took place at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise, Florida, the home of the Florida Panthers, on February 2, 2003. It was the first All-Star Game since the 1997 All-Star Game to use the Eastern Conference – Western Conference format.
Final standings
Schedule and results
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |1||OTL||October 10, 2002||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) ||0–0–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |2||W||October 12, 2002||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) ||1–0–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |3||L||October 15, 2002||1–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Wild (2002–03) ||1–1–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |4||L||October 17, 2002||1–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03) ||1–2–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |5||L||October 19, 2002||1–4 || align="left"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) ||1–3–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |6||W||October 21, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) ||2–3–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7||W||October 23, 2002||4–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) ||3–3–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |8||L||October 24, 2002||3–5 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2002–03) ||3–4–0–1 || |- align="center" |9||T||October 26, 2002||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Washington Capitals (2002–03) ||3–4–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |10||L||October 28, 2002||1–6 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) ||3–5–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |11||W||October 30, 2002||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (2002–03) ||4–5–1–1 || |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |12||L||November 2, 2002||1–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) ||4–6–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |13||W||November 6, 2002||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) ||5–6–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |14||OTL||November 7, 2002||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2002–03) ||5–6–1–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |15||W||November 9, 2002||3–0 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (2002–03) ||6–6–1–2 || |- align="center" |16||T||November 11, 2002||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03) ||6–6–2–2 || |- align="center" |17||T||November 13, 2002||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) ||6–6–3–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |18||OTL||November 14, 2002||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2002–03) ||6–6–3–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |19||L||November 16, 2002||3–7 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (2002–03) ||6–7–3–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |20||OTL||November 19, 2002||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) ||6–7–3–4 || |- align="center" |21||T||November 20, 2002||3–3 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (2002–03) ||6–7–4–4 || |- align="center" |22||T||November 22, 2002||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) ||6–7–5–4 || |- align="center" |23||T||November 24, 2002||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) ||6–7–6–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |24||W||November 27, 2002||5–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) ||7–7–6–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |25||L||November 30, 2002||2–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) ||7–8–6–4 || |-