The 2002–03 San Jose Sharks season was the Sharks' twelfth season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Sharks placed 14th in the conference and did not qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 1996–97 season, thus ending their five-year playoff streak. This would also be the last time the Sharks missed the playoffs until the 2014–15 season. Offseason Regular season After 24 games and an 8–12–2–2 record, Darryl Sutter was fired. One game was coached by Cap Raeder before Ron Wilson, the former coach of the Washington Capitals was hired. Wilson was not able to guide the team to the playoffs and finished with a 19–25–7–6 record for the season. General manager Dean Lombardi was fired on March 18. Captain Owen Nolan was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sharks' penalty kill struggled, as they finished 30th overall in penalty-kill percentage, at 81.01%. Final standings Schedule and results |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |1||L||October 10, 2002||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) ||Kiprusoff ||0–1–0–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |2||L||October 12, 2002||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) ||Kiprusoff ||0–2–0–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" |3||W||October 17, 2002||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) ||Toskala ||1–2–0–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |4||L||October 19, 2002||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (2002–03) ||Toskala ||1–3–0–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |5||L||October 21, 2002||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) ||Kiprusoff ||1–4–0–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" |6||W||October 24, 2002||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Nashville Predators (2002–03) ||Kiprusoff ||2–4–0–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" |7||W||October 25, 2002||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) ||Kiprusoff ||3–4–0–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |8||L||October 27, 2002||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03) ||Nabokov ||3–5–0–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |9||L||October 29, 2002||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) ||Nabokov ||3–6–0–0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#FF6F6F;" |10||OTL||October 31, 2002||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Minnesota Wild (2002–03) ||Nabokov ||3–6–0–1 || |- |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" |11||W||November 3, 2002||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) ||Nabokov ||4–6–0–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;" |12||W||November 5, 2002||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) ||Nabokov ||5–6–0–1 || |- style="text-align:center;" |13||T||November 7, 2002||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Nashville Predators (2002–03) ||Nabokov ||5–6–1–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |14||L||November 9, 2002||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Minnesota Wild (2002–03) ||Nabokov ||5–7–1–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |15||L||November 11, 2002||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (2002–03) ||Kiprusoff ||5–8–1–1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#FF6F6F;" |16||OTL||November 13, 2002||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) ||Nabokov ||5–8–1–2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" |17||L||November 15, 2002||2–4