2006–07 Colorado Avalanche season

2006–07 Colorado Avalanche
Division4th Northwest
Conference9th Western
2006–07 record44–31–7
Home record22–16–3
Road record22–15–4
Goals for272 (T-4th)
Goals against251 (18th)
Team information
General managerFrancois Giguere
CoachJoel Quenneville
CaptainJoe Sakic
Alternate captainsAndrew Brunette
Ian Laperriere
ArenaPepsi Center
Average attendance17,612 (13th)
Team leaders
GoalsJoe Sakic (36)
AssistsJoe Sakic (64)
PointsJoe Sakic (100)
Penalty minutesIan Laperriere (133)
WinsPeter Budaj (31)
Goals against averagePeter Budaj (2.68)

The 2006–07 Colorado Avalanche season was their 12th National Hockey League season in Denver, Colorado. It was a season of transition for the Avs, as the team began the season with a new general manager in Francois Giguere, ending the 12-year reign of Pierre Lacroix.[1] The off-season also featured the departures of Alex Tanguay and Rob Blake, continuing the trend of star players leaving Denver that began the previous year.[2]

After a decade near the top of the Western Conference standings, the Avalanche were expected to struggle to make the playoffs in 2006–07.[3] The team's expected decline also saw attendance take a hit, as Colorado's NHL record sellout streak of 487 games was ended on October 16 when 17,681 tickets were sold for a game, 326 shy of a sellout.[4]

Joe Sakic was the lone representative for the Avalanche at the 2007 All-Star Game in Dallas. Sakic recorded four assists at the game.[5]

Entering the final week of the season on April 3, 2007, Colorado was seven points behind the Calgary Flames for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference standings. Needing Calgary to lose all four games that week and for them to win all four they fell short by one point. Calgary losing to Colorado, San Jose, Edmonton, and again to Colorado did not capture a point that week and Colorado winning three out of four was knocked out of contention when they lost to the Nashville Predators on April 7, 2007. The following night, the Avalanche beat the Flames 6–3 giving them 95 points overall on the season and one short of Calgary who had 96. With the 95 points, the Avalanche became the team with the highest point total in a season to not make the playoffs, missing the post-season for the first time since 1994 back when they were known as the Quebec Nordiques, despite going 15–2–2 to end the regular season. This record would later be matched by the 2010–11 Dallas Stars, who also failed to qualify for the playoffs with 95 points. Both the Avalanche and the Stars were passed by the 2014–15 Boston Bruins, 2017-18 Florida Panthers, and the 2018–19 Montreal Canadiens, who each earned 96.

Regular season

Season standings

Northwest Division
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

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.

Schedule and results

2006–07 Game log
October: 5–4–2 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–1–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
1 October 4 Dallas 3 – 2 Colorado OT Theodore 18,007 0–0–1 1
2 October 5 Colorado 2 – 3 Minnesota OT Budaj 18,568 0–0–2 2
3 October 8 Vancouver 2 – 3 Colorado Theodore 18,007 1–0–2 4
4 October 14 Edmonton 4 – 3 Colorado Theodore 18,007 1–1–2 4
5 October 16 Chicago 5 – 3 Colorado Theodore 17,681 1–2–2 4
6 October 18 Colorado 4 – 1 Toronto Budaj 19,463 2–2–2 6
7 October 19 Colorado 2 – 1 Ottawa Theodore 17,728 3–2–2 8
8 October 21 Colorado 5 – 8 Montreal Theodore 21,273 3–3–2 8
9 October 23 Los Angeles 1 – 6 Colorado Budaj 17,284 4–3–2 10
10 October 25 Washington 5 – 3 Colorado Budaj 17,047 4–4–2 10
11 October 29 Minnesota 1 – 4 Colorado Theodore 17,615 5–4–2 12
November: 7–7–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 4–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
12 November 1 Colorado 5 – 3 Columbus Theodore 16,007 6–4–2 14
13 November 2 Colorado 1 – 4 St. Louis Budaj 9,467 6–5–2 14
14 November 4 Vancouver 2 – 3 Colorado Theodore 18,007 7–5–2 16
15 November 7 Los Angeles 6 – 5 Colorado Budaj 17,196 7–6–2 16
16 November 11 Colorado 0 – 1 Nashville Theodore 17,113 7–7–2 16
17 November 13 Edmonton 2 – 1 Colorado Theodore 17,725 7–8–2 16
18 November 15 San Jose 4 – 3 Colorado Theodore 18,007 7–9–2 16
19 November 17 Colorado 3 – 0 Columbus Budaj 16,375 8–9–2 18
20 November 18 Colorado 2 – 1 Minnesota SO Budaj 18,568 9–9–2 20
21 November 20 Colorado 4 – 5 Dallas Budaj 17,491 9–10–2 20
22 November 22 Anaheim 2 – 3 Colorado SO Theodore 17,104 10–10–2 22
23 November 25 Vancouver 1 – 4 Colorado Theodore 17,825 11–10–2 24
24 November 28 Colorado 2 – 5 Calgary Theodore 19,289 11–11–2 24
25 November 30 Colorado 7 – 3 Edmonton Budaj 16,839 12–11–2 26
December: 6–7–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 2–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
26 December 2 Colorado 1 – 2 Vancouver Budaj 18,630 12–12–2 26
27 December 5 Columbus 3 – 0 Colorado Budaj 17,339 12–13–2 26
28 December 7 Colorado 5 – 2 San Jose Theodore 17,039 13–13–2 28
29 December 9 Colorado 4 – 5 Los Angeles Theodore 17,079 13–14–2 28
30 December 11 Carolina 2 – 5 Colorado Budaj 17,113 14–14–2 30
31 December 13 St. Louis 1 – 4 Colorado Budaj 18,007 15–14–2 32
32 December 15 Edmonton 1 – 4 Colorado Budaj 17,589 16–14–2 34
33 December 17 Colorado 1 – 2 Chicago Theodore 11,111 16–15–2 34
34 December 19 Colorado 7 – 6 Edmonton Budaj 16,839 17–15–2 36
December 21 Calgary PPD† Colorado
35 December 23 Chicago 2 – 3 Colorado Theodore 17,347 18–15–2 38
36 December 27 Dallas 5 – 4 Colorado Theodore 18,007 18–16–2 38
37 December 29 St. Louis 4 – 2 Colorado Budaj 18,007 18–17–2 38
38 December 30 Colorado 0 – 2 St. Louis Budaj 16,078 18–18–2 38
†December 21 game against Calgary was postponed due to a snowstorm. The game was made up on April 8.
January: 7–3–2 (home: 4–1–2; road: 3–2–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
39 January 1 Colorado 5 – 3 Nashville Budaj 15,878 19–18–2 40
40 January 5 Tampa Bay 2 – 4 Colorado Budaj 18,007 20–18–2 42
41 January 6 Colorado 2 – 1 Minnesota SO Budaj 18,568 21–18–2 44
42 January 9 Detroit 4 – 3 Colorado SO Budaj 18,007 21–18–3 45
43 January 11 Calgary 7 – 3 Colorado Budaj 18,007 21–19–3 45
44 January 13 Colorado 3 – 2 Anaheim SO Budaj 17,174 22–19–3 47
45 January 15 Colorado 1 – 3 San Jose Budaj 17,496 22–20–3 47
46 January 17 Phoenix 3 – 4 Colorado Budaj 17,183 23–20–3 49
47 January 20 Detroit 1 – 3 Colorado Budaj 18,007 24–20–3 51
48 January 26 Phoenix 5 – 4 Colorado SO Budaj 18,007 24–20–4 52
49 January 28 Colorado 1 – 3 Detroit Theodore 20,066 24–21–4 52
50 January 30 Nashville 3 – 4 Colorado Budaj 17,119 25–21–4 54
February: 5–8–1 (home: 4–4–0; road: 1–4–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
51 February 1 Minnesota 5 – 3 Colorado Budaj 17,286 25–22–5 54
52 February 3 Edmonton 3 – 2 Colorado Budaj 17,645 25–23–5 54
53 February 6 Florida 4 – 5 Colorado OT Theodore 17,065 26–23–5 56
54 February 8 Atlanta 6 – 3 Colorado Budaj 17,428 26–24–5 56
55 February 11 Colorado 5 – 7 Dallas Theodore 17,506 26–25–5 56
56 February 13 Anaheim 0 – 2 Colorado Budaj 17,512 27–25–4 58
57 February 15 Colorado 7 – 5 Calgary Theodore 19,289 28–25–4 60
58 February 17 Colorado 2 – 5 Calgary Budaj 19,289 28–26–4 60
59 February 18 Colorado 4 – 5 Vancouver Theodore 18,630 28–27–4 60
60 February 20 Calgary 3 – 4 Colorado Budaj 17,623 29–27–4 62
61 February 22 Minnesota 4 – 3 Colorado Budaj 18,007 29–28–4 62
62 February 24 Colorado 5 – 6 Los Angeles SO Budaj 18,118 29–28–5 63
63 February 25 Colorado 3 – 5 Anaheim Theodore 17,174 29–29–5 63
64 February 27 Columbus 2 – 3 Colorado Budaj 17,127 30–29–5 65
March: 11–1–2 (home: 3–1–0; road: 8–0–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
65 March 1 Colorado 6 – 1 Chicago Budaj 10,522 31–29–5 67
66 March 4 Colorado 4 – 3 Detroit OT Budaj 20,066 32–29–5 69
67 March 6 Colorado 2 – 0 Boston Budaj 11,707 33–29–5 71
68 March 7 Colorado 3 – 2 Buffalo Budaj 18,690 34–29–5 73
69 March 11 Colorado 2 – 3 Minnesota SO Budaj 18,568 34–29–6 74
70 March 14 Calgary 2 – 3 Colorado Budaj 17,426 35–29–6 76
71 March 17 Colorado 6 – 3 Phoenix Budaj 17,179 36–29–6 78
72 March 18 San Jose 3 – 4 Colorado SO Budaj 18,007 37–29–6 80
73 March 21 Colorado 5 – 1 Edmonton Budaj 16,839 38–29–6 82
74 March 23 Colorado 3 – 4 Edmonton SO Budaj 16,839 38–29–7 83
75 March 25 Colorado 5 – 4 Vancouver SO Theodore 18,630 39–29–7 85
76 March 27 Vancouver 3 – 0 Colorado Theodore 17,437 39–30–7 85
77 March 29 Colorado 4 – 3 Phoenix Budaj 16,110 40–30–7 87
78 March 31 Minnesota 1 – 2 Colorado Budaj 17,192 41–30–7 89
April: 3–1–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 2–0–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts
79 April 3 Colorado 4 – 3 Calgary Budaj 19,289 42–30–7 91
80 April 5 Colorado 3 – 1 Vancouver Budaj 18,630 43–30–7 93
81 April 7 Nashville 4 – 2 Colorado Budaj 17,462 43–31–7 93
82 April 8† Calgary 3 – 6 Colorado Theodore 17,551 44–31–7 95
†Makeup date for the December 21 game that was postponed.

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Joe Sakic 82 36 64 100 46 - - - - -
Andrew Brunette 82 27 56 83 36 - - - - -
Paul Stastny 82 28 50 78 42 - - - - -
Milan Hejduk 80 35 35 70 44 - - - - -
Wojtek Wolski 76 22 28 50 14 - - - - -
Tyler Arnason 82 16 33 49 26 - - - - -
John-Michael Liles 71 14 30 44 24 - - - - -
Brett Clark 82 10 29 39 50 - - - - -
Brett McLean 78 15 20 35 36 - - - - -
Marek Svatos 66 15 15 30 46 - - - - -
Ian Laperriere 81 8 21 29 133 - - - - -
Brad Richardson 73 14 8 22 28 - - - - -
Ken Klee 81 3 16 19 68 - - - - -
Mark Rycroft 66 6 6 12 31 - - - - -
Patrice Brisebois 33 1 10 11 22 - - - - -
Ben Guite 39 3 8 11 16 - - - - -
Karlis Skrastins 68 0 11 11 30 - - - - -
Ossi Vaananen 74 2 6 8 69 - - - - -
Pierre Turgeon 17 4 3 7 10 - - - - -
Kurt Sauer 48 0 6 6 24 - - - - -
Jordan Leopold 15 2 3 5 14 - - - - -
Jeff Finger 22 1 4 5 11 - - - - -
Antti Laaksonen 41 3 1 4 16 - - - - -
Brad May‡ 10 0 3 3 8 - - - - -
Kyle Cumiskey 9 1 1 2 2 - - - - -
Scott Parker↑ 10 1 1 2 6 - - - - -
Peter Budaj 57 0 2 2 0 - - - - -
Cody McCormick 6 0 1 1 6 - - - - -
Jose Theodore 33 0 1 1 6 - - - - -
George Parros‡ 2 0 0 0 0 - - - - -

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Colorado. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only.
‡Traded during the season.

Goaltenders

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

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player GP Min W L OT GA SO SV% GAA GP Min W L GA SO SV% GAA
Peter Budaj 57 3198 31 16 6 143 3 .905 2.68 - - - - - - - -
Jose Theodore 33 1748 13 15 1 95 0 .891 3.26 - - - - - - - -

Transactions

The Avalanche were involved in the following transactions during the 2006–07 season.[6][7]

Trades

June 24, 2006 To Colorado Avalanche ----Jordan Leopold
2nd round pick in 2006
conditional round pick in 2007 or 2008 		To Calgary Flames ---- Alex Tanguay
November 13, 2006 To Colorado Avalanche ----2nd round pick in 2007 To Anaheim Ducks ----George Parros
February 27, 2007 To Colorado Avalanche ---- Michael Wall To Anaheim Ducks ---- Brad May
February 27, 2007 To Colorado Avalanche ---- Scott Parker To San Jose Sharks ---- 6th round pick in 2008

Free agents

Player Former team
Tyler Arnason Ottawa Senators
Matt Murley Pittsburgh Penguins
Mark Rycroft St. Louis Blues
Ken Klee New Jersey Devils
Player New team
Rob Blake Los Angeles Kings
Dan Hinote St. Louis Blues
Jim Dowd New Jersey Devils

Draft picks

Colorado's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.[8]

Round # Player Nationality NHL team College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 18 Chris Stewart (RW)  Canada Colorado Avalanche Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
2 51 Nigel Williams (D)  United States Colorado Avalanche U.S. National Team Development Program (NAHL)
2 59 Codey Burki (C)  Canada Colorado Avalanche (From Calgary Flames) Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
3 81 Mike Carman (C)  United States Colorado Avalanche U.S. National Team Development Program (NAHL)
4 110 Kevin Montgomery (D)  United States Colorado Avalanche (From Edmonton Oilers) U.S. National Team Development Program (NAHL)
7 201 Billy Sauer (G)  United States Colorado Avalanche University of Michigan (CCHA)

Farm teams

Albany River Rats

The Avalanche signed a one-year deal to join the Carolina Hurricanes as the NHL affiliate for the Albany River Rats for the 2006–07 AHL season.

During the season, the Avs announced that they had signed a long term deal to be the NHL affiliate of the new Cleveland expansion team beginning in 2007–08. Coincidentally, the new franchise is a reincarnation of the Utah Grizzlies franchise, which played in Denver as the Denver Grizzlies until 1995, when the Avs came to Denver.[9]

Arizona Sundogs

The Arizona Sundogs began their inaugural season in the Central Hockey League.

See also

References

  • Player stats: Colorado Avalanche player stats on espn.com.
  • Game log: Colorado Avalanche game log on espn.com.
  • Team standings: NHL standings on espn.com.
  1. ^ Giguere hired as new Avalanche GM, tsn.ca, May 24, 2006, accessed February 2, 2007.
  2. ^ 2006 off-season transactions Archived 2006-08-20 at the Wayback Machine, proicehockey.about.com, accessed February 2, 2007.
  3. ^ Dater, Adrian, More stars desert Denver, The Hockey News 2006–07 season preview, pp. 90–93.
  4. ^ Frei, Terry, Avs see sellout streak get away, Denver Post, October 17, 2006.
  5. ^ 2007 All Star Game box score, espn.com, accessed February 11, 2007.
  6. ^ NHL Insider - Offseason Trades[permanent dead link], nhl.com, accessed December 2, 2006.
  7. ^ NHL Insider - Free Agent Signings[permanent dead link], nhl.com, accessed December 2, 2006.
  8. ^ 2006 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com[permanent dead link] - accessed December 22, 2006.
  9. ^ Coming to Ohio, CNNSI.com, December 17, 2006, accessed December 22, 2006.
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