The 2002–03 Washington Capitals season was the Washington Capitals 29th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Off-season

Head coach Ron Wilson was fired on May 10. The Capitals named Bruce Cassidy their new head coach on June 25. Steve Konowalchuk was named the team’s lone captain while Brendan Witt, who was co-captain of the team in 2001–02 with Konowalchuk, remained one of four alternate captains.

Regular season

The Capitals tied the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils for the fewest short-handed goals allowed, with just four. On January 11, 2003, the Capitals defeated the Florida Panthers at home by a score of 12–2. Jaromir Jagr had seven points in the game (three goals, four assists). It was the first time that an NHL team had scored ten goals in a game since March 30, 2002, when the San Jose Sharks defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets at home by a score of 10–2. Furthermore, it was the first time that the Capitals had scored ten goals in a regular-season game since February 3, 1999, when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning at home by a score of 10–1.

Final standings

Playoffs

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

The Capitals 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

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 2002 NHL entry draft held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario.