2006–07 Nashville Predators season

The 2006–07 Nashville Predators season was the ninth National Hockey League season in Nashville, Tennessee.

2006–07 Nashville Predators
Division2nd Central
Conference4th Western
2006–07 record51–23–8
Home record28–8–5
Road record23–15–3
Goals for272
Goals against212
Team information
General managerDavid Poile
CoachBarry Trotz
CaptainKimmo Timonen
Alternate captainsPaul Kariya
Steve Sullivan
ArenaNashville Arena
Average attendance15,259
Team leaders
GoalsJason Arnott and Jean-Pierre Dumont (27)
AssistsPaul Kariya (52)
PointsPaul Kariya (76)
Penalty minutesJordin Tootoo (104)
WinsTomas Vokoun (27)
Goals against averageChris Mason(2.38)

The Predators, looking to get past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in franchise history, bulked up their roster by signing star forward Jason Arnott, whose 76 points in 2005–06 was second on the Dallas Stars. With returning forwards Paul Kariya and Steve Sullivan, and the acquisition of Arnott and Jean-Pierre Dumont, the Predators were predicted to challenge the Detroit Red Wings for top spot in the Central Division.[1]

Although the Predators were leading the Central when the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game was played in Dallas, Texas, only one Predator player was named to the Western Conference team, defenseman and team captain Kimmo Timonen, who played in his second All-Star Game. Head Coach Barry Trotz served as an assistant coach for the Western Conference.[2]

The attendance in Nashville had been a topic of much media debate all season long, with the Predators' attendance being in the bottom third of the league despite the team leading its division for most of the season. There had been much speculation in February about a clause in the Predators lease with the city that could force the city of Nashville to buy $2 million worth of tickets for the Predators in the 2007–08 season if the team failed to reach a paid average attendance of 14,000. After 21 home games, the Predators were only averaging 12,766 in paid attendance.[3] Team owner Craig Leipold had also announced that he was looking to sell up to 40% of the team to local interests; however, he found no immediate takers.[4]

In February, the Predators acquired forward Peter Forsberg from the Philadelphia Flyers for Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and two draft picks.[5] The deal paid immediate dividends at the gate: the Predators announced they had sold 3,500 tickets for their games in the first day after the trade was announced.[6]

The Predators finished the season with a franchise-record 110 points, with 51 wins, and earned a fourth place seed in the Western Conference quarter-finals in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They then lost to the San Jose Sharks in five games in the Quarter-finals.

On May 23, 2007, Craig Leipold was reported to have reached a tentative agreement to sell the team to Research In Motion Chairman and Co-CEO Jim Balsillie.[7] According to Leipold, the team were likely to play the 2007–08 season in Nashville, but the future of the team after that had not been clear.[8] Balsillie had been rumored to be interested in placing another team in Southern Ontario.[7] The sale was later not approved, and the Predators stayed in their city.

Regular season

The Predators finished the regular season having allowed the fewest shorthanded goals, with two.[9]

Season standings
Central Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
11Detroit Red Wings82501913254199113
24Nashville Predators8251238272212110
310St. Louis Blues8234351321425481
411Columbus Blue Jackets823342720124973
513Chicago Blackhawks823142920125871

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime/shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PIM = Penalties in minutes; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs. For complete final standings, see 2006–07 NHL season

October
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
1October 5Chicago8 – 6NashvilleVokoun17,1130–1–00
2October 7Nashville5 – 6MinnesotaVokoun18,5680–2–00
3October 12Nashville1 – 3ChicagoMason8,0080–3–00
4October 14Phoenix1 – 4NashvilleVokoun13,7701–3–02
5October 16Nashville2 – 1NY IslandersSOVokoun9,4312–3–04
6October 18Nashville3 – 0NY RangersVokoun18,2003–3–06
7October 19Nashville4 – 3New JerseySOMason11,2744–3–08
8October 21Vancouver4 – 3NashvilleOTVokoun16,0734–3–19
9October 26San Jose3 – 4NashvilleVokoun13,4365–3–111
10October 28Nashville3 – 2CalgaryVokoun19,2896–3–113
11October 31Nashville3 – 2VancouverVokoun18,6307–3–115

November
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
12November 1Nashville5 – 3EdmontonMason16,8398–3–117
13November 4Nashville4 – 3MinnesotaVokoun18,5689–3–119
14November 10Nashville0 – 3DetroitVokoun20,0669–4–119
15November 11Colorado0 – 1NashvilleMason17,11310–4–121
16November 15Nashville5 – 4ColumbusVokoun16,28311–4–123
17November 16Minnesota7 – 6NashvilleSOMason12,75911–4–224
18November 18Columbus2 – 4NashvilleVokoun13,20912–4–226
19November 20Nashville3 – 1ColumbusVokoun16,17413–4–228
20November 22Nashville0 – 1DallasVokoun17,85313–5–228
21November 23Vancouver0 – 6NashvilleVokoun15,39614–5–230
22November 25Detroit2 – 6NashvilleMason16,83515–5–232
23November 29Nashville3 – 2PhiladelphiaMason18,78916–5–234
24November 30Nashville5 – 4St. LouisMason5,41017–5–236

December
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
25December 2Chicago4 – 3NashvilleOTMason15,53017–5–337
26December 4Nashville2 – 3PhoenixMason11,73517–6–337
27December 6Nashville0 – 4AnaheimMason15,36217–7–337
28December 7Nashville4 – 1Los AngelesMason15,11918–7–339
29December 9Nashville1 – 3San JoseMason17,49618–8–339
30December 12Edmonton2 – 3NashvilleMason12,03219–8–341
31December 14Ottawa0 – 6NashvilleMason12,71820–8–343
32December 16St. Louis2 – 3NashvilleSOMason13,30921–8–345
33December 17Nashville2 – 1St. LouisOTMason9,31822–8–347
34December 20Nashville2 – 1ChicagoMason10,20123–8–349
35December 21Buffalo7 – 2NashvilleMason16,61623–9–349
36December 23Los Angeles0 – 7NashvilleMason14,73924–9–351
37December 26St. Louis2 – 3NashvilleSOMason14,80725–9–353
38December 29Nashville1 – 4DallasMason18,53225–10–353
39December 30Boston0 – 5NashvilleMason16,61226–10–355

January
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
40January 1Colorado5 – 3NashvilleMason15,87826–11–355
41January 5Nashville8 – 3ChicagoMason13,18627–11–357
42January 6St. Louis2 – 3NashvilleMason14,43828–11–359
43January 9Anaheim4 – 5NashvilleOTVokoun11,82129–11–361
44January 12Columbus0 – 2NashvilleVokoun14,13630–11–363
45January 13Nashville4 – 1ColumbusMason16,82531–11–365
46January 15Calgary3 – 5NashvilleVokoun12,01132–11–367
47January 17Nashville3 – 5DetroitMason20,06632–12–367
48January 18Columbus0 – 4NashvilleMason10,92733–12–369
49January 20Chicago3 – 6NashvilleMason17,11334–12–371
50January 26Nashville3 – 1ChicagoVokoun11,16235–12–373
51January 27Nashville6 – 3St. LouisMason16,34636–12–375
52January 30Nashville3 – 4ColoradoVokoun17,11936–13–375

February
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
53February 1Nashville2 – 3PhoenixVokoun14,04736–14–375
54February 3Anaheim0 – 3NashvilleVokoun17,11337–14–377
55February 6Nashville1 – 4PittsburghMason16,33337–15–377
56February 8Toronto2 – 4NashvilleVokoun15,01838–15–379
57February 10Los Angeles4 – 1NashvilleVokoun17,11338–16–379
58February 14San Jose0 – 5NashvilleVokoun13,83639–16–381
59February 16Nashville0 – 1St. LouisMason15,66039–17–381
60February 17Minnesota4 – 1NashvilleVokoun17,11339–18–381
61February 19Phoenix1 – 4NashvilleVokoun15,86240–18–383
62February 22Montreal6 – 5NashvilleSOVokoun15,80840–18–484
63February 24Detroit3 – 4NashvilleOTVokoun17,11341–18–486
64February 25Nashville4 – 3ColumbusOTMason16,22042–18–488
65February 28Nashville4 – 3San JoseSOVokoun17,49643–18–490

March
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
66March 3Nashville6 – 3Los AngelesMason16,85444–18–492
67March 4Nashville2 – 3AnaheimSOVokoun17,17444–18–593
68March 6Nashville3 – 4DetroitVokoun20,06644–18–694
69March 8Calgary3 – 6NashvilleMason15,51545–18–696
70March 10Columbus1 – 2NashvilleVokoun17,11346–18–698
71March 13Detroit5 – 2NashvilleVokoun17,11346–19–698
72March 14Nashville2 – 4DetroitMason20,06646–20–698
73March 17Dallas2 – 3NashvilleVokoun17,11347–20–6100
74March 21Nashville0 – 2VancouverVokoun18,63047–21–6100
75March 22Nashville2 – 3CalgaryOTMason19,28947–21–7101
76March 24Nashville4 – 0EdmontonVokoun16,83948–21–7103
77March 27Edmonton3 – 4NashvilleVokoun16,83249–21–7105
78March 29Detroit2 – 1NashvilleVokoun16,64649–22–7105
79March 31Dallas4 – 2NashvilleVokoun17,11349–23–7105

April
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
80April 3Chicago3 – 2NashvilleSOMason14,66349–23–8106
81April 5St. Louis1 – 4NashvilleVokoun16,62450–23–8108
82April 7Nashville4 – 2ColoradoVokoun17,46251–23–8110
  • Green background indicates win.
  • Red background indicates regulation loss.
  • White background indicates overtime/shootout loss.

Playoffs

The Nashville Predators ended the 2006–07 regular season as the Western Conference's fourth seed.

Western Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (5) San Jose Sharks

San Jose wins series 4–1

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1April 11San Jose5 – 4Nashville2OTVokoun17,1130 – 1
2April 13San Jose2 – 5NashvilleVokoun17,1131 – 1
3April 16Nashville1 – 3San JoseVokoun17,4961 – 2
4April 18Nashville2 – 3San JoseVokoun17,4961 – 3
5April 20San Jose3 – 2NashvilleVokoun17,1131 – 4

Player stats

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Paul KariyaLW82245276366502
Jean-Pierre DumontRW822145662814503
David LegwandC782736634423317
Steve SullivanRW572238602016634
Martin EratRW681641575013513
Kimmo TimonenD801342554220802
Jason ArnottC6827275448151206
Shea WeberD791723406013602
Scott HartnellLW6422173996191002
Alexander RadulovRW641819372619504
Marek ZidlickyD7942630728201
Vernon FiddlerC721115264011011
Ryan SuterD82816245410100
Dan HamhuisD8161420668001
Peter ForsbergC1721315165101
Scott NicholC597613797112
Josef VasicekC384913291000
Jerred SmithsonC64571242-8112
Jordin TootooRW65369116-11000
Greg ZanonD663583216000
Ramzi AbidLW1314513-3000
Darcy HordichukLW5313490-2000
Scottie UpshallLW1421318-1002
Mikko LehtonenD1512380000
Tomas VokounG4402240000
Kevin KleinD310103000
Sheldon BrookbankD3011120000
Chris MasonG4001140000
Rich PeverleyC130110-1000
Vitaly VishnevskiD15011101000
Patrick LeahyRW100000000
Michael LeightonG100000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T/OT GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Tomas Vokoun260144271241042.40512991195.920
Chris Mason23424024114932.38512441151.925
Michael Leighton20100026.000108.800
Team:496382512381992.411025532354.922

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Jean-Pierre DumontRW542604111
Alexander RadulovRW4314191000
Peter ForsbergC5224122000
Jason ArnottC521320100
David LegwandC50332-2000
Shea WeberD503320000
Vernon FiddlerC51124-3000
Scott HartnellLW511228-1100
Paul KariyaLW50222-4000
Kimmo TimonenD50224-1000
Greg ZanonD50222-2000
Marek ZidlickyD50224-1000
Ryan SuterD510180000
Martin EratRW30110-1000
Dan HamhuisD50112-3000
Jordin TootooRW401121-2000
Ramzi AbidLW20000-1000
Darcy HordichukLW200000000
Scott NicholC5000171000
Jerred SmithsonC500017-2000
Tomas VokounG500020000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Tomas Vokoun324514162.960163147.902
Team:324514162.960163147.902

[10]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Olus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T/OT = Ties/overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Transactions

The Predators have been involved in the following transactions during the 2006–07 season.[11][12]

Trades
July 18, 2006 To Nashville Predators
Josef Vasicek		 To Carolina Hurricanes
Scott Walker
July 19, 2006 To Nashville Predators
Dominic Moore		 To New York Rangers
Adam Hall
July 19, 2006 To Nashville Predators
3rd round pick in 2007 (Ryan Thang)		 To Pittsburgh Penguins
Dominic Moore
Libor Pivko
February 9, 2007 To Nashville Predators
Eric Belanger		 To Carolina Hurricanes
Josef Vasicek
February 10, 2007 To Nashville Predators
Vitaly Vishnevski		 To Atlanta Thrashers
Eric Belanger
February 15, 2007 To Nashville Predators
Peter Forsberg		 To Philadelphia Flyers
Scottie Upshall
Ryan Parent
1st round pick in 2007 (Jonathon Blum)
3rd round pick in 2007 (Phil DeSimone)
February 27, 2007 To Nashville Predators
4th round pick in 2007 (Mark Santorelli)		 To Buffalo Sabres
Mikko Lehtonen

Free agents acquired
Player signedFormer team
F Jason ArnottDallas Stars
F Ramzi AbidAtlanta Thrashers
D Alex HenryMinnesota Wild
F Jean-Pierre DumontBuffalo Sabres

Free agents lost
Player lostNew team
F Mike SillingerNew York Islanders
D Mark EatonPittsburgh Penguins
D Brendan WittNew York Islanders
F Denis ArkhipovChicago Blackhawks
D Danny MarkovDetroit Red Wings
F Greg JohnsonDetroit Red Wings
F Yanic PerreaultPhoenix Coyotes

Claimed on waivers
Player claimedFormer team
G Michael LeightonAnaheim Ducks

Placed on waivers
Player lostNew team
G Michael LeightonPhiladelphia Flyers

Draft picks

Nashville's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.[13] The Predators traded their first round pick, thus their first selection was in the 2nd round, 56th overall.

Round # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team (League)
2 56 Blake Geoffrion (LW)  United States Nashville Predators U.S. National Team Development Program (NAHL)
4 105 Niko Snellman (W)  Finland Nashville Predators (from Atlanta) Ilves (SM-liiga)
5 146 Mark Dekanich (G)  Canada Nashville Predators Colgate University (ECAC)
6 176 Ryan Flynn (RW)  United States Nashville Predators U.S. National Team Development Program (NAHL)
7 206 Viktor Sjodin (W)  Sweden Nashville Predators VIK Västerås HK Jr. (Sweden)

Minor league affiliates

The Milwaukee Admirals are Nashville's top affiliate in the American Hockey League in 2006–07, and the New Mexico Scorpions are the Central Hockey League affiliate.

See also

References
  1. burnside, Scott, Nashville Predators season preview, espn.com, October 2, 2006, accessed February 17, 2007
  2. 2007 NHL Allstar Game rosters, nhl.com, accessed February 17, 2007
  3. Mullen, Bryan, Empty Preds seats could cost city $2M, The Tennessean, February 10, 2007, accessed February 17, 2007
  4. Glennon, John, Leipold: No bites on buyers, the Tennessean, January 24, 2007, accessed February 17, 2007
  5. Flyers deal Forsberg to Predators, tsn.ca, February 15, 2007
  6. Kuharsky, Paul, Forsberg scores early for Predators in ticket sales, The Tennessean, February 17, 2007
  7. Balsillie attempting to buy Predators Archived 2007-10-16 at the Wayback Machine, tsn.ca, May 23, 2007
  8. Nashville Predators Being Sold Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine, newschannel5.com, May 23, 2007
  9. "2006-07 NHL Summary".
  10. "2006-07 Nashville Predators Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
  11. NHL Insider - Offseason Trades, nhl.com, accessed December 2, 2006
  12. NHL Insider - Free Agent Signings, nhl.com, accessed December 2, 2006,
  13. 2006 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com - accessed November 20, 2006
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