2006–07 Nashville Predators season

2006–07 Nashville Predators
Division 2nd Central
Conference 4th Western
2006–07 record 51–23–8
Home record 28–8–5
Road record 23–15–3
Goals for 272
Goals against 212
Team information
General Manager David Poile
Coach Barry Trotz
Captain Kimmo Timonen
Alternate captains Paul Kariya
Steve Sullivan
Arena Nashville Arena
Average attendance 15,259
Team leaders
Goals Jason Arnott (27)
Jean-Pierre Dumont (27)
Assists Paul Kariya (52)
Points Paul Kariya (76)
Penalties in minutes Jordin Tootoo (104)
Wins Tomas Vokoun (27)
Goals against average Chris Mason(2.38)
<2005–06 2007–08>

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

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 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 is likely to play the 2007–08 season in Nashville, but the future of the team after that is not clear.[8] Balsillie has been rumored to be interested in placing another team in Southern Ontario.[7]

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
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

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

Game log

October

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
1 October 5 Chicago 8 – 6 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 0–1–0 0
2 October 7 Nashville 5 – 6 Minnesota Vokoun 18,568 0–2–0 0
3 October 12 Nashville 1 – 3 Chicago Mason 8,008 0–3–0 0
4 October 14 Phoenix 1 – 4 Nashville Vokoun 13,770 1–3–0 2
5 October 16 Nashville 2 – 1 NY Islanders SO Vokoun 9,431 2–3–0 4
6 October 18 Nashville 3 – 0 NY Rangers Vokoun 18,200 3–3–0 6
7 October 19 Nashville 4 – 3 New Jersey SO Mason 11,274 4–3–0 8
8 October 21 Vancouver 4 – 3 Nashville OT Vokoun 16,073 4–3–1 9
9 October 26 San Jose 3 – 4 Nashville Vokoun 13,436 5–3–1 11
10 October 28 Nashville 3 – 2 Calgary Vokoun 19,289 6–3–1 13
11 October 31 Nashville 3 – 2 Vancouver Vokoun 18,630 7–3–1 15

November

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
12 November 1 Nashville 5 – 3 Edmonton Mason 16,839 8–3–1 17
13 November 4 Nashville 4 – 3 Minnesota Vokoun 18,568 9–3–1 19
14 November 10 Nashville 0 – 3 Detroit Vokoun 20,066 9–4–1 19
15 November 11 Colorado 0 – 1 Nashville Mason 17,113 10–4–1 21
16 November 15 Nashville 5 – 4 Columbus Vokoun 16,283 11–4–1 23
17 November 16 Minnesota 7 – 6 Nashville SO Mason 12,759 11–4–2 24
18 November 18 Columbus 2 – 4 Nashville Vokoun 13,209 12–4–2 26
19 November 20 Nashville 3 – 1 Columbus Vokoun 16,174 13–4–2 28
20 November 22 Nashville 0 – 1 Dallas Vokoun 17,853 13–5–2 28
21 November 23 Vancouver 0 – 6 Nashville Vokoun 15,396 14–5–2 30
22 November 25 Detroit 2 – 6 Nashville Mason 16,835 15–5–2 32
23 November 29 Nashville 3 – 2 Philadelphia Mason 18,789 16–5–2 34
24 November 30 Nashville 5 – 4 St. Louis Mason 5,410 17–5–2 36

December

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
25 December 2 Chicago 4 – 3 Nashville OT Mason 15,530 17–5–3 37
26 December 4 Nashville 2 – 3 Phoenix Mason 11,735 17–6–3 37
27 December 6 Nashville 0 – 4 Anaheim Mason 15,362 17–7–3 37
28 December 7 Nashville 4 – 1 Los Angeles Mason 15,119 18–7–3 39
29 December 9 Nashville 1 – 3 San Jose Mason 17,496 18–8–3 39
30 December 12 Edmonton 2 – 3 Nashville Mason 12,032 19–8–3 41
31 December 14 Ottawa 0 – 6 Nashville Mason 12,718 20–8–3 43
32 December 16 St. Louis 2 – 3 Nashville SO Mason 13,309 21–8–3 45
33 December 17 Nashville 2 – 1 St. Louis OT Mason 9,318 22–8–3 47
34 December 20 Nashville 2 – 1 Chicago Mason 10,201 23–8–3 49
35 December 21 Buffalo 7 – 2 Nashville Mason 16,616 23–9–3 49
36 December 23 Los Angeles 0 – 7 Nashville Mason 14,739 24–9–3 51
37 December 26 St. Louis 2 – 3 Nashville SO Mason 14,807 25–9–3 53
38 December 29 Nashville 1 – 4 Dallas Mason 18,532 25–10–3 53
39 December 30 Boston 0 – 5 Nashville Mason 16,612 26–10–3 55

January

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
40 January 1 Colorado 5 – 3 Nashville Mason 15,878 26–11–3 55
41 January 5 Nashville 8 – 3 Chicago Mason 13,186 27–11–3 57
42 January 6 St. Louis 2 – 3 Nashville Mason 14,438 28–11–3 59
43 January 9 Anaheim 4 – 5 Nashville OT Vokoun 11,821 29–11–3 61
44 January 12 Columbus 0 – 2 Nashville Vokoun 14,136 30–11–3 63
45 January 13 Nashville 4 – 1 Columbus Mason 16,825 31–11–3 65
46 January 15 Calgary 3 – 5 Nashville Vokoun 12,011 32–11–3 67
47 January 17 Nashville 3 – 5 Detroit Mason 20,066 32–12–3 67
48 January 18 Columbus 0 – 4 Nashville Mason 10,927 33–12–3 69
49 January 20 Chicago 3 – 6 Nashville Mason 17,113 34–12–3 71
50 January 26 Nashville 3 – 1 Chicago Vokoun 11,162 35–12–3 73
51 January 27 Nashville 6 – 3 St. Louis Mason 16,346 36–12–3 75
52 January 30 Nashville 3 – 4 Colorado Vokoun 17,119 36–13–3 75

February

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
53 February 1 Nashville 2 – 3 Phoenix Vokoun 14,047 36–14–3 75
54 February 3 Anaheim 0 – 3 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 37–14–3 77
55 February 6 Nashville 1 – 4 Pittsburgh Mason 16,333 37–15–3 77
56 February 8 Toronto 2 – 4 Nashville Vokoun 15,018 38–15–3 79
57 February 10 Los Angeles 4 – 1 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 38–16–3 79
58 February 14 San Jose 0 – 5 Nashville Vokoun 13,836 39–16–3 81
59 February 16 Nashville 0 – 1 St. Louis Mason 15,660 39–17–3 81
60 February 17 Minnesota 4 – 1 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 39–18–3 81
61 February 19 Phoenix 1 – 4 Nashville Vokoun 15,862 40–18–3 83
62 February 22 Montreal 6 – 5 Nashville SO Vokoun 15,808 40–18–4 84
63 February 24 Detroit 3 – 4 Nashville OT Vokoun 17,113 41–18–4 86
64 February 25 Nashville 4 – 3 Columbus OT Mason 16,220 42–18–4 88
65 February 28 Nashville 4 – 3 San Jose SO Vokoun 17,496 43–18–4 90

March

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
66 March 3 Nashville 6 – 3 Los Angeles Mason 16,854 44–18–4 92
67 March 4 Nashville 2 – 3 Anaheim SO Vokoun 17,174 44–18–5 93
68 March 6 Nashville 3 – 4 Detroit Vokoun 20,066 44–18–6 94
69 March 8 Calgary 3 – 6 Nashville Mason 15,515 45–18–6 96
70 March 10 Columbus 1 – 2 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 46–18–6 98
71 March 13 Detroit 5 – 2 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 46–19–6 98
72 March 14 Nashville 2 – 4 Detroit Mason 20,066 46–20–6 98
73 March 17 Dallas 2 – 3 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 47–20–6 100
74 March 21 Nashville 0 – 2 Vancouver Vokoun 18,630 47–21–6 100
75 March 22 Nashville 2 – 3 Calgary OT Mason 19,289 47–21–7 101
76 March 24 Nashville 4 – 0 Edmonton Vokoun 16,839 48–21–7 103
77 March 27 Edmonton 3 – 4 Nashville Vokoun 16,832 49–21–7 105
78 March 29 Detroit 2 – 1 Nashville Vokoun 16,646 49–22–7 105
79 March 31 Dallas 4 – 2 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 49–23–7 105

April

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
80 April 3 Chicago 3 – 2 Nashville SO Mason 14,663 49–23–8 106
81 April 5 St. Louis 1 – 4 Nashville Vokoun 16,624 50–23–8 108
82 April 7 Nashville 4 – 2 Colorado Vokoun 17,462 51–23–8 110

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

# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series
1 April 11 San Jose 5 – 4 Nashville 2OT Vokoun 17,113 0 – 1
2 April 13 San Jose 2 – 5 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 1 – 1
3 April 16 Nashville 1 – 3 San Jose Vokoun 17,496 1 – 2
4 April 18 Nashville 2 – 3 San Jose Vokoun 17,496 1 – 3
5 April 20 San Jose 3 – 2 Nashville Vokoun 17,113 1 – 4

Player stats

Regular season

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Kariya, PaulPaul Kariya LW 82 24 52 76 366502
Dumont, Jean-PierreJean-Pierre Dumont RW 82 21 45 66 2814503
Legwand, DavidDavid Legwand C 78 27 36 63 4423317
Sullivan, SteveSteve Sullivan RW 57 22 38 60 2016634
Erat, MartinMartin Erat RW 68 16 41 57 5013513
Timonen, KimmoKimmo Timonen D 80 13 42 55 4220802
Arnott, JasonJason Arnott C 68 27 27 54 48151206
Weber, SheaShea Weber D 79 17 23 40 6013602
Hartnell, ScottScott Hartnell LW 64 22 17 39 96191002
Radulov, AlexanderAlexander Radulov RW 64 18 19 37 2619504
Zidlicky, MarekMarek Zidlicky D 79 4 26 30 728201
Fiddler, VernonVernon Fiddler C 72 11 15 26 4011011
Suter, RyanRyan Suter D 82 8 16 24 5410100
Hamhuis, DanDan Hamhuis D 81 6 14 20 668001
Forsberg, PeterPeter Forsberg C 17 2 13 15 165101
Nichol, ScottScott Nichol C 59 7 6 13 797112
Vasicek, JosefJosef Vasicek C 38 4 9 13 291000
Smithson, JerredJerred Smithson C 64 5 7 12 42-8112
Tootoo, JordinJordin Tootoo RW 65 3 6 9 116-11000
Zanon, GregGreg Zanon D 66 3 5 8 3216000
Abid, RamziRamzi Abid LW 13 1 4 5 13-3000
Hordichuk, DarcyDarcy Hordichuk LW 53 1 3 4 90-2000
Upshall, ScottieScottie Upshall LW 14 2 1 3 18-1002
Lehtonen, MikkoMikko Lehtonen D 15 1 2 3 80000
Vokoun, TomasTomas Vokoun G 44 0 2 2 40000
Klein, KevinKevin Klein D 3 1 0 1 03000
Brookbank, SheldonSheldon Brookbank D 3 0 1 1 120000
Mason, ChrisChris Mason G 40 0 1 1 40000
Peverley, RichRich Peverley C 13 0 1 1 0-1000
Vishnevski, VitalyVitaly Vishnevski D 15 0 1 1 101000
Leahy, PatrickPatrick Leahy RW 1 0 0 0 00000
Leighton, MichaelMichael Leighton G 1 0 0 0 00000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T/OT GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Vokoun, TomasTomas Vokoun 2601 44 27 12 4 104 2.40 512991195.920
Mason, ChrisChris Mason 2342 40 24 11 4 93 2.38 512441151.925
Leighton, MichaelMichael Leighton 20 1 0 0 0 2 6.00 0108.800
Team: 4963 82 51 23 8 199 2.41 1025532354.922

Playoffs

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Dumont, Jean-PierreJean-Pierre Dumont RW 5 4 2 6 04111
Radulov, AlexanderAlexander Radulov RW 4 3 1 4 191000
Forsberg, PeterPeter Forsberg C 5 2 2 4 122000
Arnott, JasonJason Arnott C 5 2 1 3 20100
Legwand, DavidDavid Legwand C 5 0 3 3 2-2000
Weber, SheaShea Weber D 5 0 3 3 20000
Fiddler, VernonVernon Fiddler C 5 1 1 2 4-3000
Hartnell, ScottScott Hartnell LW 5 1 1 2 28-1100
Kariya, PaulPaul Kariya LW 5 0 2 2 2-4000
Timonen, KimmoKimmo Timonen D 5 0 2 2 4-1000
Zanon, GregGreg Zanon D 5 0 2 2 2-2000
Zidlicky, MarekMarek Zidlicky D 5 0 2 2 4-1000
Suter, RyanRyan Suter D 5 1 0 1 80000
Erat, MartinMartin Erat RW 3 0 1 1 0-1000
Hamhuis, DanDan Hamhuis D 5 0 1 1 2-3000
Tootoo, JordinJordin Tootoo RW 4 0 1 1 21-2000
Abid, RamziRamzi Abid LW 2 0 0 0 0-1000
Hordichuk, DarcyDarcy Hordichuk LW 2 0 0 0 00000
Nichol, ScottScott Nichol C 5 0 0 0 171000
Smithson, JerredJerred Smithson C 5 0 0 0 17-2000
Vokoun, TomasTomas Vokoun G 5 0 0 0 20000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Vokoun, TomasTomas Vokoun 324 5 1 4 16 2.96 0163147.902
Team: 324 5 1 4 16 2.96 0163147.902

[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		 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
3rd round pick in 2007
February 27, 2007 To Nashville Predators
4th round pick in 2007		 To Buffalo Sabres
Mikko Lehtonen

Free agents acquired

Player signed Former team
F Jason Arnott Dallas Stars
F Ramzi Abid Atlanta Thrashers
D Alex Henry Minnesota Wild
F Jean-Pierre Dumont Buffalo Sabres

Free agents lost

Player lost New team
F Mike Sillinger New York Islanders
D Mark Eaton Pittsburgh Penguins
D Brendan Witt New York Islanders
F Denis Arkhipov Chicago Blackhawks
D Danny Markov Detroit Red Wings
F Greg Johnson Detroit Red Wings
F Yanic Perreault Phoenix Coyotes

Claimed on waivers

Player claimed Former team
G Michael Leighton Anaheim Ducks

Placed on waivers

Player lost New team
G Michael Leighton Philadelphia 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 US 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 (NCAA)
6 176 Ryan Flynn (RW)  United States Nashville Predators US National Team Development Program (NAHL)
7 206 Viktor Sjodin (W)  Sweden Nashville Predators VIK Vasteras HK Jr.

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. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Balsillie attempting to buy Predators, tsn.ca, May 23, 2007
  8. ↑ Nashville Predators Being Sold, newschannel5.com, May 23, 2007
  9. ↑ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2007.html
  10. ↑ "2006-07 Nashville Predators Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  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
2006–07 Nashville Predators Roster

Goaltenders:

29 – Vokoun • 30 – Mason 

Defensemen

2 – Hamhuis • 3 – Zidlicky • 4 – Vishnevski • 5 – Zanon • 6 – Weber • 20 – Suter • 44 – Timonen 

Forwards

9 – Kariya • 10 – Erat • 11 – Legwand • 12 – Nichol • 14 – Abid • 16 – Hordichuk • 17 – Hartnell • 19 – Arnott • 21 – Forsberg • 22 – Tootoo • 25 – Smithson • 26 – Sullivan • 28 – Leahy • 37 – Peverley • 38 – Fiddler • 47 – Radulov • 71 – Dumont 

General Manager: David Poile •  Coach: Barry Trotz