In this article we want to address the topic of 2006–07 NHL season, which has been the subject of numerous studies, debates and controversies throughout history. 2006–07 NHL season has had a significant impact in various areas, from politics to the economy, to society in general. The relevance of 2006–07 NHL season has been such that it has aroused the interest of academics, experts and researchers, who have dedicated numerous efforts to trying to understand its influence and scope. Throughout these pages, we will explore the different facets of 2006–07 NHL season, analyzing its origins, its evolution over time and its impact today. We hope that this article can contribute to shedding light on a topic as complex and significant as 2006–07 NHL season.
2006–07 NHL season | |
---|---|
League | National Hockey League |
Sport | Ice hockey |
Duration | October 4, 2006 – June 6, 2007 |
Number of games | 82 |
Number of teams | 30 |
TV partner(s) | CBC, TSN, RDS (Canada) Versus, NBC (United States) |
Draft | |
Top draft pick | Erik Johnson |
Picked by | St. Louis Blues |
Regular season | |
Presidents' Trophy | Buffalo Sabres |
Season MVP | Sidney Crosby (Penguins) |
Top scorer | Sidney Crosby (Penguins) |
Playoffs | |
Playoffs MVP | Scott Niedermayer (Ducks) |
Stanley Cup | |
Champions | Anaheim Ducks |
Runners-up | Ottawa Senators |
The 2006–07 NHL season was the 90th season of operation (89th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim officially shortened their name to the Anaheim Ducks prior to the season. The 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs began on April 11, 2007, and concluded on June 6, with Anaheim defeating the Ottawa Senators to win their first Stanley Cup, becoming the first team from California to do so.
The NHL announced that the regular season salary cap rise after the initial season. The 2006–07 salary cap was increased by US$5,000,000 per team to bring the salary cap up to US$44,000,000. While the 2006–07 salary floor was increased by US$8,000,000 per team to US$28,000,000. This is the only year where the NHL salary floor raised faster than the NHL salary cap.
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim officially shortened their name to the Anaheim Ducks prior to the season, introducing a new logo, uniforms and color scheme. This reflected a clean break from their original owners, The Walt Disney Company, who originally named the team after the movie, The Mighty Ducks upon their formation in 1993.[1]
No NHL player had worn the jersey number 84 until Guillaume Latendresse of the Montreal Canadiens began doing so at the start of this season.[2]
The 2006 NHL Entry Draft was held at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 24, 2006. Erik Johnson was selected first overall by the St. Louis Blues.
The NHL All-Star Game returned after a two-year absence when the Dallas Stars hosted the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game at the American Airlines Center on January 24, 2007. Dallas hosted the All-Star Game for the first time, and it was the first time the Stars franchise had hosted the game since 1972, when it was hosted by the-then Minnesota North Stars. The West defeated the East by a score of 12–9, with Danny Briere of the Buffalo Sabres being named MVP of the game. Fewer penalties were called than in 2005–06 (an average of 398 per team).[3] This led to fewer goals scored overall (7,082)[4] and more shutouts (150).[5] However, more even-strength goals were scored (4,715)[4] than in 2005–06 (4,579).[6]
This season would have an intense battle between Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo for the Vezina Trophy and a piece of NHL history. Both goaltenders were vying to break Bernie Parent's NHL record 47 wins in a single season. On April 3, 2007, Brodeur tied the NHL record for most wins in a single season with 47, set by Parent in 1973–74, in a 2–1 shootout victory against the Ottawa Senators.[7] Two days later, he broke the thirty-three-year-old record with his 48th win in a 3–2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, which helped the Devils clinch their seventh Atlantic Division title and the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Luongo finished with a career-high 47 wins, one shy of Brodeur, and consequently finished runner-up in a close race for the Vezina. Luongo and Brodeur are considered, however, to have been given an advantage to Parent with the inauguration of the shootout that season by the NHL, allowing more games to be decided with wins, as opposed to ties. The Carolina Hurricanes became the first team since the 1995–96 New Jersey Devils to miss the playoffs after winning the Stanley Cup the previous season.
The inter-conference division play had the Northeast visit the Central, the Central visit the Atlantic, the Atlantic visit the Pacific, the Pacific visit the Southeast, the Southeast visit the Northwest, and the Northwest visits the Northeast.
Buffalo Sabres won the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
For the purpose of conference rankings, division leaders are automatically ranked 1–3. These three, plus the next five teams in the conference standings, earn playoff berths at the end of the season.
No. | CR | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 49 | 24 | 9 | 216 | 201 | 107 |
2 | 5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 47 | 24 | 11 | 277 | 246 | 105 |
3 | 6 | New York Rangers | 82 | 42 | 30 | 10 | 242 | 216 | 94 |
4 | 8 | New York Islanders | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 248 | 240 | 92 |
5 | 15 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 22 | 48 | 12 | 214 | 303 | 56 |
No. | CR | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Buffalo Sabres | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 308 | 242 | 113 |
2 | 4 | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 48 | 25 | 9 | 288 | 222 | 105 |
3 | 9 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 258 | 269 | 91 |
4 | 10 | Montreal Canadiens | 82 | 42 | 34 | 6 | 245 | 256 | 90 |
5 | 13 | Boston Bruins | 82 | 35 | 41 | 6 | 219 | 289 | 76 |
No. | CR | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Atlanta Thrashers | 82 | 43 | 28 | 11 | 246 | 245 | 97 |
2 | 7 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 44 | 33 | 5 | 253 | 261 | 93 |
3 | 11 | Carolina Hurricanes | 82 | 40 | 34 | 8 | 241 | 253 | 88 |
4 | 12 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 35 | 31 | 16 | 247 | 257 | 86 |
5 | 14 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 28 | 40 | 14 | 235 | 286 | 70 |
R | Div | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | P - Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 308 | 242 | 113 |
2 | Y - New Jersey Devils | AT | 82 | 49 | 24 | 9 | 216 | 201 | 107 |
3 | Y - Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 82 | 43 | 28 | 11 | 246 | 245 | 97 |
4 | X - Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 48 | 25 | 9 | 288 | 222 | 105 |
5 | X - Pittsburgh Penguins | AT | 82 | 47 | 24 | 11 | 277 | 246 | 105 |
6 | X - New York Rangers | AT | 82 | 42 | 30 | 10 | 242 | 216 | 94 |
7 | X - Tampa Bay Lightning | SE | 82 | 44 | 33 | 5 | 253 | 261 | 93 |
8 | X - New York Islanders | AT | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 248 | 240 | 92 |
8.5 | |||||||||
9 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NE | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 258 | 269 | 91 |
10 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 42 | 34 | 6 | 245 | 256 | 90 |
11 | Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 82 | 40 | 34 | 8 | 241 | 253 | 88 |
12 | Florida Panthers | SE | 82 | 35 | 31 | 16 | 247 | 257 | 86 |
13 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 35 | 41 | 6 | 219 | 289 | 76 |
14 | Washington Capitals | SE | 82 | 28 | 40 | 14 | 235 | 286 | 70 |
15 | Philadelphia Flyers | AT | 82 | 22 | 48 | 12 | 214 | 303 | 56 |
Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast |
P – Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot
No. | CR | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 50 | 19 | 13 | 254 | 199 | 113 |
2 | 4 | Nashville Predators | 82 | 51 | 23 | 8 | 272 | 212 | 110 |
3 | 10 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 214 | 254 | 81 |
4 | 11 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 82 | 33 | 42 | 7 | 201 | 249 | 73 |
5 | 13 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 31 | 42 | 9 | 201 | 258 | 71 |
No. | CR | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 49 | 26 | 7 | 222 | 201 | 105 |
2 | 7 | Minnesota Wild | 82 | 48 | 26 | 8 | 235 | 191 | 104 |
3 | 8 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 43 | 29 | 10 | 258 | 226 | 96 |
4 | 9 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 44 | 31 | 7 | 272 | 251 | 95 |
5 | 12 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 32 | 43 | 7 | 195 | 248 | 71 |
No. | CR | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Anaheim Ducks | 82 | 48 | 20 | 14 | 258 | 208 | 110 |
2 | 5 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 51 | 26 | 5 | 258 | 199 | 107 |
3 | 6 | Dallas Stars | 82 | 50 | 25 | 7 | 226 | 197 | 107 |
4 | 14 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 27 | 41 | 14 | 227 | 283 | 68 |
5 | 15 | Phoenix Coyotes | 82 | 31 | 46 | 5 | 216 | 284 | 67 |
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.
R | Div | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | z-Detroit Red Wings | CE | 82 | 50 | 19 | 13 | 254 | 199 | 113 |
2 | y-Anaheim Ducks | PA | 82 | 48 | 20 | 14 | 258 | 208 | 110 |
3 | y-Vancouver Canucks | NW | 82 | 49 | 26 | 7 | 222 | 201 | 105 |
4 | Nashville Predators | CE | 82 | 51 | 23 | 8 | 272 | 212 | 110 |
5 | San Jose Sharks | PA | 82 | 51 | 26 | 5 | 258 | 199 | 107 |
6 | Dallas Stars | PA | 82 | 50 | 25 | 7 | 226 | 197 | 107 |
7 | Minnesota Wild | NW | 82 | 48 | 26 | 8 | 235 | 191 | 104 |
8 | Calgary Flames | NW | 82 | 43 | 29 | 10 | 258 | 226 | 96 |
8.5 | |||||||||
9 | Colorado Avalanche | NW | 82 | 44 | 31 | 7 | 272 | 251 | 95 |
10 | St. Louis Blues | CE | 82 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 214 | 254 | 81 |
11 | Columbus Blue Jackets | CE | 82 | 33 | 42 | 7 | 201 | 249 | 73 |
12 | Edmonton Oilers | NW | 82 | 32 | 43 | 7 | 195 | 248 | 71 |
13 | Chicago Blackhawks | CE | 82 | 31 | 42 | 9 | 201 | 258 | 71 |
14 | Los Angeles Kings | PA | 82 | 27 | 41 | 14 | 227 | 283 | 68 |
15 | Phoenix Coyotes | PA | 82 | 31 | 46 | 5 | 216 | 284 | 67 |
bold - qualified for playoffs, y - division title, z - best conference record
CE - Central Division, NW - Northwest Division, PA - Pacific Division
If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:[10]
In each round, teams competed in a best-of-seven series following a 2–2–1–1–1 format (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). The team with home ice advantage played at home for games one and two (and games five and seven, if necessary), and the other team played at home for games three and four (and game six, if necessary). The top eight teams in each conference made the playoffs, with the three division winners seeded 1–3 based on regular season record, and the five remaining teams seeded 4–8.
The NHL used "re-seeding" instead of a fixed bracket playoff system. During the first three rounds, the highest remaining seed in each conference was matched against the lowest remaining seed, the second-highest remaining seed played the second-lowest remaining seed, and so forth. The higher-seeded team was awarded home ice advantage. The two conference winners then advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, where home ice advantage was awarded to the team that had the better regular season record.
Conference quarterfinals | Conference semifinals | Conference finals | Stanley Cup Finals | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Buffalo | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | NY Islanders | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Buffalo | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | NY Rangers | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | New Jersey | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Tampa Bay | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Buffalo | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Ottawa | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Atlanta | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | NY Rangers | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | New Jersey | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Ottawa | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Ottawa | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Pittsburgh | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
E4 | Ottawa | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
W2 | Anaheim | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Calgary | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | San Jose | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Anaheim | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Minnesota | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Detroit | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Anaheim | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Vancouver | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Dallas | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Anaheim | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Vancouver | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Nashville | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | San Jose | 4 |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sidney Crosby | Pittsburgh Penguins | 79 | 36 | 84 | 120 | +10 | 60 |
Joe Thornton | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 22 | 92 | 114 | +24 | 44 |
Vincent Lecavalier | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 52 | 56 | 108 | +2 | 44 |
Dany Heatley | Ottawa Senators | 82 | 50 | 55 | 105 | +31 | 74 |
Martin St. Louis | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 43 | 59 | 102 | +7 | 28 |
Marian Hossa | Atlanta Thrashers | 82 | 43 | 57 | 100 | +18 | 49 |
Joe Sakic | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 36 | 64 | 100 | +2 | 46 |
Jaromir Jagr | New York Rangers | 82 | 30 | 66 | 96 | +26 | 78 |
Marc Savard | Boston Bruins | 82 | 22 | 74 | 96 | −19 | 96 |
Daniel Briere | Buffalo Sabres | 81 | 32 | 63 | 95 | +17 | 89 |
Teemu Selanne | Anaheim Ducks | 82 | 48 | 46 | 94 | +26 | 82 |
Source: NHL.[15]
Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average[16]
Player | Team | GP | Min | W | L | OT | GA | SO | Sv% | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Niklas Backstrom | Minnesota Wild | 41 | 2,226 | 23 | 8 | 6 | 73 | 5 | .929 | 1.97 |
Dominik Hasek | Detroit Red Wings | 56 | 3,340 | 38 | 11 | 6 | 114 | 8 | .913 | 2.05 |
Martin Brodeur | New Jersey Devils | 78 | 4,696 | 48 | 23 | 7 | 171 | 12 | .922 | 2.18 |
Roberto Luongo | Vancouver Canucks | 76 | 4,490 | 47 | 22 | 6 | 171 | 5 | .921 | 2.28 |
Jean-Sebastien Giguere | Anaheim Ducks | 56 | 3,244 | 36 | 10 | 8 | 122 | 4 | .918 | 2.26 |
Several former players had their jersey numbers retired during this season:[17]
Numerous players reached major milestones during the season:
The NHL's youth movement continued:
Numerous other milestones, events, and happenings occurred as well:
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 2006–07:
The following is a list of players of note who played their last NHL game in 2006–07, listed with their team:
In Canada, national rights were split between CBC and TSN. CBC aired Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada regular season games, while TSN's coverage included Wednesday Night Hockey and other selected weeknights. During the first three rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, TSN televised all-U.S. games while CBC aired all games involving Canadian teams. CBC then had exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals.
This was the second season of the league's U.S. national broadcast rights deals with NBC and the renamed Versus (the former Outdoor Life Network (OLN) had shifted beyond simply "outdoor" programming). Versus aired regular season games generally on Monday and Tuesday nights, while NBC had regular season windows on selected weekends. During the playoffs, NBC had the rights to air selected weekend games during the first three postseason rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and games 3–7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, while Versus televised selected first and second round playoff games, all Conference Finals games not aired on NBC, and the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Media related to 2006-2007 National Hockey League season at Wikimedia Commons