On December 17, the NLL and PLPA announced that the previous CBA had been extended by one year, guaranteeing that the 2004 season would be played without strikes or lockouts.
[3] 2004 was a season of turmoil for the NLL – two franchises disappeared while three others moved cross-country, causing a division realignment.
The Ottawa Rebel and New York Saints franchises both folded, and the following teams moved: These three joined Colorado, Calgary, and Vancouver in the West division, while perennial rivals Toronto, Buffalo, Rochester, and Philadelphia were left to fight over three playoff spots in the East.
Reference: [6] x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games PlayedW: Wins; L: Losses; GB: Games back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowedDifferential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game The 2004 All-Star Game was held at Pepsi Center in Denver on February 22, 2004.
The East division defeated the West 19–15, and Buffalo's Mark Steenhuis was named game MVP.