 As in the 2002 off-season, Ed Belfour left via free agency to the Toronto Maple Leafs.To begin the 2002–03 season, the Stars awarded the starting goaltending position to Marty Turco, who went on to have one of the best seasons in NHL history, posting the lowest goals against average (GAA) since 1940, at 1.76.However, missing 18 games late in the season likely cost him a shot at the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the leagues's top regular season goaltender.