2006–07 Nashville Predators season


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.
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.
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. 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.
In February, the Predators acquired forward Peter Forsberg from the Philadelphia Flyers for Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and two draft picks. 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.
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. 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. Balsillie had been rumored to be interested in placing another team in Southern Ontario. 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.

Season standings

For complete final standings, see 2006–07 NHL season

Game log

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

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
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
LW82245276366502
RW822145662814503
C782736634423317
RW572238602016634
RW681641575013513
D801342554220802
C6827275448151206
D791723406013602
LW6422173996191002
RW641819372619504
D7942630728201
C721115264011011
D82816245410100
D8161420668001
C1721315165101
C597613797112
C384913291000
C64571242-8112
RW65369116-11000
D663583216000
LW1314513-3000
LW5313490-2000
LW1421318-1002
D1512380000
G4402240000
D310103000
D3011120000
G4001140000
C130110-1000
D15011101000
RW100000000
G100000000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLT/OTGAGAASOSASVSV%
260144271241042.40512991195.920
23424024114932.38512441151.925
20100026.000108.800
Team:496382512381992.411025532354.922

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
RW542604111
RW4314191000
C5224122000
C521320100
C50332-2000
D503320000
C51124-3000
LW511228-1100
LW50222-4000
D50224-1000
D50222-2000
D50224-1000
D510180000
RW30110-1000
D50112-3000
RW401121-2000
LW20000-1000
LW200000000
C5000171000
C500017-2000
G500020000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASOSASVSV%
324514162.960163147.902
Team:324514162.960163147.902

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.

Trades

Free agents acquired

Free agents lost

Claimed on waivers

Placed on waivers

Draft picks

Nashville's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Predators traded their first round pick, thus their first selection was in the 2nd round, 56th overall.
Round#PlayerNationalityNHL teamCollege/junior/club team
256Blake Geoffrion Nashville PredatorsU.S. National Team Development Program
4105Niko Snellman Nashville Predators Ilves
5146Mark Dekanich Nashville PredatorsColgate University
6176Ryan Flynn Nashville PredatorsU.S. National Team Development Program
7206Viktor Sjodin Nashville PredatorsVIK Västerås 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.