The 2003 NHL draft was held on June 21, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2003 NHL Entry Draft is considered by many to be the best draft of the modern NHL and even one of the best drafts in the history of the league. Marc-Andre Fleury was drafted #1 overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Carolina Hurricanes drafted Eric Staal #2 overall.
Notable 2003 draft picks were defenceman Shea Weber being drafted in the second round at #49 overall and Patrice Bergeron also being drafted in the second round at #45 overall. The San Jose Sharks drafted Joe Pavelski in round seven at #205 overall.
NHL Draft 2003 Round One Results
| # | Player | Nationality | NHL Team | College/Junior/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marc-Andre Fleury (G) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins (from Florida) | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) |
| 2 | Eric Staal (C) | Canada | Carolina Hurricanes | Peterborough Petes (OHL) |
| 3 | Nathan Horton (RW) | Canada | Florida Panthers (from Pittsburgh) | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 4 | Nikolay Zherdev (RW) | Russia | Columbus Blue Jackets | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| 5 | Thomas Vanek (LW) | Austria | Buffalo Sabres | University of Minnesota (NCAA) |
| 6 | Milan Michalek (LW) | Czech Republic | San Jose Sharks | HC Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic) |
| 7 | Ryan Suter (D) | United States | Nashville Predators | US Nat’l U-18 (NAHL) |
| 8 | Braydon Coburn (D) | Canada | Atlanta Thrashers | Portland Winterhawks (WHL) |
| 9 | Dion Phaneuf (D) | Canada | Calgary Flames | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) |
| 10 | Andrei Kostitsyn (RW) | Belarus | Montreal Canadiens | CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
| 11 | Jeff Carter (C) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers (from Phoenix) | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 12 | Hugh Jessiman (RW) | United States | New York Rangers | Dartmouth College (NCAA) |
| 13 | Dustin Brown (RW) | United States | Los Angeles Kings | Guelph Storm (OHL) |
| 14 | Brent Seabrook (D) | Canada | Chicago Blackhawks | Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) |
| 15 | Robert Nilsson (RW) | Sweden | New York Islanders | Leksands IF (Sweden) |
| 16 | Steve Bernier (RW) | Canada | San Jose Sharks (from Boston) | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) |
| 17 | Zach Parise (LW) | United States | New Jersey Devils (from Edmonton) | University of North Dakota (NCAA) |
| 18 | Eric Fehr (RW) | Canada | Washington Capitals | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 19 | Ryan Getzlaf (C) | Canada | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 20 | Brent Burns (RW) | Canada | Minnesota Wild | Brampton Battalion (OHL) |
| 21 | Mark Stuart (D) | United States | Boston Bruins (from Toronto via San Jose) | Colorado College (NCAA) |
| 22 | Marc-Antoine Pouliot (C) | Canada | Edmonton Oilers (from St. Louis via New Jersey) | Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) |
| 23 | Ryan Kesler (C) | United States | Vancouver Canucks | Ohio State University (NCAA) |
| 24 | Mike Richards (C) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 25 | Anthony Stewart (RW) | Canada | Florida Panthers (from Tampa Bay) | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) |
| 26 | Brian Boyle (C) | United States | Los Angeles Kings (from Colorado) | Saint Sebastian’s School (USHS-MA) |
| 27 | Jeff Tambellini (LW) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings (from Detroit) | University of Michigan (NCAA) |
| 28 | Corey Perry (RW) | Canada | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (from Dallas) | London Knights (OHL) |
| 29 | Patrick Eaves (RW) | United States | Ottawa Senators | Boston College (NCAA) |
| 30 | Shawn Belle (D) | Canada | St. Louis Blues (from New Jersey) | Tri-City Americans (WHL) |