2006–07 Colorado Avalanche season

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 twelve-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]

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)

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 7 points behind the Calgary Flames for the 8th 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 1 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
13Vancouver Canucks8249267222201105
27Minnesota Wild8248268235191104
38Calgary Flames8243291025822696
49Colorado Avalanche824431727225195
512Edmonton Oilers823243719524871

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)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
1October 4Dallas3 – 2ColoradoOTTheodore18,0070–0–11
2October 5Colorado2 – 3MinnesotaOTBudaj18,5680–0–22
3October 8Vancouver2 – 3ColoradoTheodore18,0071–0–24
4October 14Edmonton4 – 3ColoradoTheodore18,0071–1–24
5October 16Chicago5 – 3ColoradoTheodore17,6811–2–24
6October 18Colorado4 – 1TorontoBudaj19,4632–2–26
7October 19Colorado2 – 1OttawaTheodore17,7283–2–28
8October 21Colorado5 – 8MontrealTheodore21,2733–3–28
9October 23Los Angeles1 – 6ColoradoBudaj17,2844–3–210
10October 25Washington5 – 3ColoradoBudaj17,0474–4–210
11October 29Minnesota1 – 4ColoradoTheodore17,6155–4–212
November: 7–7–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 4–4–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
12November 1Colorado5 – 3ColumbusTheodore16,0076–4–214
13November 2Colorado1 – 4St. LouisBudaj9,4676–5–214
14November 4Vancouver2 – 3ColoradoTheodore18,0077–5–216
15November 7Los Angeles6 – 5ColoradoBudaj17,1967–6–216
16November 11Colorado0 – 1NashvilleTheodore17,1137–7–216
17November 13Edmonton2 – 1ColoradoTheodore17,7257–8–216
18November 15San Jose4 – 3ColoradoTheodore18,0077–9–216
19November 17Colorado3 – 0ColumbusBudaj16,3758–9–218
20November 18Colorado2 – 1MinnesotaSOBudaj18,5689–9–220
21November 20Colorado4 – 5DallasBudaj17,4919–10–220
22November 22Anaheim2 – 3ColoradoSOTheodore17,10410–10–222
23November 25Vancouver1 – 4ColoradoTheodore17,82511–10–224
24November 28Colorado2 – 5CalgaryTheodore19,28911–11–224
25November 30Colorado7 – 3EdmontonBudaj16,83912–11–226
December: 6–7–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 2–4–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
26December 2Colorado1 – 2VancouverBudaj18,63012–12–226
27December 5Columbus3 – 0ColoradoBudaj17,33912–13–226
28December 7Colorado5 – 2San JoseTheodore17,03913–13–228
29December 9Colorado4 – 5Los AngelesTheodore17,07913–14–228
30December 11Carolina2 – 5ColoradoBudaj17,11314–14–230
31December 13St. Louis1 – 4ColoradoBudaj18,00715–14–232
32December 15Edmonton1 – 4ColoradoBudaj17,58916–14–234
33December 17Colorado1 – 2ChicagoTheodore11,11116–15–234
34December 19Colorado7 – 6EdmontonBudaj16,83917–15–236
December 21CalgaryPPD†Colorado
35December 23Chicago2 – 3ColoradoTheodore17,34718–15–238
36December 27Dallas5 – 4ColoradoTheodore18,00718–16–238
37December 29St. Louis4 – 2ColoradoBudaj18,00718–17–238
38December 30Colorado0 – 2St. LouisBudaj16,07818–18–238

†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)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
39January 1Colorado5 – 3NashvilleBudaj15,87819–18–240
40January 5Tampa Bay2 – 4ColoradoBudaj18,00720–18–242
41January 6Colorado2 – 1MinnesotaSOBudaj18,56821–18–244
42January 9Detroit4 – 3ColoradoSOBudaj18,00721–18–345
43January 11Calgary7 – 3ColoradoBudaj18,00721–19–345
44January 13Colorado3 – 2AnaheimSOBudaj17,17422–19–347
45January 15Colorado1 – 3San JoseBudaj17,49622–20–347
46January 17Phoenix3 – 4ColoradoBudaj17,18323–20–349
47January 20Detroit1 – 3ColoradoBudaj18,00724–20–351
48January 26Phoenix5 – 4ColoradoSOBudaj18,00724–20–452
49January 28Colorado1 – 3DetroitTheodore20,06624–21–452
50January 30Nashville3 – 4ColoradoBudaj17,11925–21–454
February: 5–8–1 (home: 4–4–0; road: 1–4–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
51February 1Minnesota5 – 3ColoradoBudaj17,28625–22–554
52February 3Edmonton3 – 2ColoradoBudaj17,64525–23–554
53February 6Florida4 – 5ColoradoOTTheodore17,06526–23–556
54February 8Atlanta6 – 3ColoradoBudaj17,42826–24–556
55February 11Colorado5 – 7DallasTheodore17,50626–25–556
56February 13Anaheim0 – 2ColoradoBudaj17,51227–25–458
57February 15Colorado7 – 5CalgaryTheodore19,28928–25–460
58February 17Colorado2 – 5CalgaryBudaj19,28928–26–460
59February 18Colorado4 – 5VancouverTheodore18,63028–27–460
60February 20Calgary3 – 4ColoradoBudaj17,62329–27–462
61February 22Minnesota4 – 3ColoradoBudaj18,00729–28–462
62February 24Colorado5 – 6Los AngelesSOBudaj18,11829–28–563
63February 25Colorado3 – 5AnaheimTheodore17,17429–29–563
64February 27Columbus2 – 3ColoradoBudaj17,12730–29–565
March: 11–1–2 (home: 3–1–0; road: 8–0–2)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
65March 1Colorado6 – 1ChicagoBudaj10,52231–29–567
66March 4Colorado4 – 3DetroitOTBudaj20,06632–29–569
67March 6Colorado2 – 0BostonBudaj11,70733–29–571
68March 7Colorado3 – 2BuffaloBudaj18,69034–29–573
69March 11Colorado2 – 3MinnesotaSOBudaj18,56834–29–674
70March 14Calgary2 – 3ColoradoBudaj17,42635–29–676
71March 17Colorado6 – 3PhoenixBudaj17,17936–29–678
72March 18San Jose3 – 4ColoradoSOBudaj18,00737–29–680
73March 21Colorado5 – 1EdmontonBudaj16,83938–29–682
74March 23Colorado3 – 4EdmontonSOBudaj16,83938–29–783
75March 25Colorado5 – 4VancouverSOTheodore18,63039–29–785
76March 27Vancouver3 – 0ColoradoTheodore17,43739–30–785
77March 29Colorado4 – 3PhoenixBudaj16,11040–30–787
78March 31Minnesota1 – 2ColoradoBudaj17,19241–30–789
April: 3–1–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 2–0–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
79April 3Colorado4 – 3CalgaryBudaj19,28942–30–791
80April 5Colorado3 – 1VancouverBudaj18,63043–30–793
81April 7Nashville4 – 2ColoradoBudaj17,46243–31–793
82April 8†Calgary3 – 6ColoradoTheodore17,55144–31–795

†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 Sakic82366410046-----
Andrew Brunette8227568336-----
Paul Stastny8228507842-----
Milan Hejduk8035357044-----
Wojtek Wolski7622285014-----
Tyler Arnason8216334926-----
John-Michael Liles7114304424-----
Brett Clark8210293950-----
Brett McLean7815203536-----
Marek Svatos6615153046-----
Ian Laperriere8182129133-----
Brad Richardson731482228-----
Ken Klee813161968-----
Mark Rycroft66661231-----
Patrice Brisebois331101122-----
Ben Guite39381116-----
Karlis Skrastins680111130-----
Ossi Vaananen7426869-----
Pierre Turgeon1743710-----
Kurt Sauer4806624-----
Jordan Leopold1523514-----
Jeff Finger2214511-----
Antti Laaksonen4131416-----
Brad May‡100338-----
Kyle Cumiskey91122-----
Scott Parker↑101126-----
Peter Budaj570220-----
Cody McCormick60116-----
Jose Theodore330116-----
George Parros‡20000-----

†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 Budaj573198311661433.9052.68--------
Jose Theodore33174813151950.8913.26--------

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
PlayerFormer team
Tyler ArnasonOttawa Senators
Matt MurleyPittsburgh Penguins
Mark RycroftSt. Louis Blues
Ken KleeNew Jersey Devils
PlayerNew team
Rob BlakeLos Angeles Kings
Dan HinoteSt. Louis Blues
Jim DowdNew 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 US 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 US National Team Development Program (NAHL)
4 110 Kevin Montgomery (D)  United States Colorado Avalanche (From Edmonton Oilers) US National Team Development Program (NAHL)
7 201 Billy Sauer (G)  United States Colorado Avalanche University of Michigan (NCAA)

Farm teams

Albany River Rats

The Avalanche signed a one-year deal to join the Carolina Hurricanes as the NHL affiliate for the 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 Sundogs began their inaugural season in the Central Hockey League.

See also

References
  1. Giguere hired as new Avalanche GM, tsn.ca, May 24, 2006, accessed February 2, 2007.
  2. 2006 off-season transactions, 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, nhl.com, accessed December 2, 2006.
  7. NHL Insider - Free Agent Signings, nhl.com, accessed December 2, 2006.
  8. 2006 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com - accessed December 22, 2006.
  9. Coming to Ohio, CNNSI.com, December 17, 2006, accessed December 22, 2006.
2006–07 Colorado Avalanche roster

Goaltenders:

31 – Budaj • 60 – Theodore 

Defensemen

2 – Klee • 3 – Skrastins • 4 – Liles • 5 – Clark • 6 – Finger • 27 – Vaananen • 34 – Sauer • 44 – Leopold • 48 – Cumiskey • 71 – Brisebois 

Forwards

8 – Wolski • 12 – Richardson • 14 – Laperriere • 15 – Brunette • 19 – Sakic • 20 – Rycroft • 23 – Hejduk • 26 – Stastny • 28 – Guite • 29 – Parker • 39 – Arnason • 40 – Svatos • 53 – McLean • 87 – Turgeon 

General Manager: Francois Giguere •  Coach: Joel Quenneville

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