2006–07 Colorado Avalanche season

The 2006–07 Colorado Avalanche season was their 11th 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. Giguere hired as new Avalanche GM, tsn.ca, May 24, 2006, accessed February 2, 2007. 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.2006 off-season transactions, proicehockey.about.com, accessed February 2, 2007.
After a decade near the top of the Western Conference standings, the Avalanche were expected to struggle to make the playoffs in 2006–07.Dater, Adrian, More stars desert Denver, The Hockey News 2006–07 season preview, pp. 90–93. 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.Frei, Terry, Avs see sellout streak get away, Denver Post, October 17, 2006.
Joe Sakic was the lone representative for the Avalanche at the 2007 All-Star Game in Dallas. Sakic recorded four assists at the game.2007 All Star Game box score, espn.com, accessed February 11, 2007. 
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.
==Regular season==
===Season standings===
===Game log===
2006–07 Game log	2006–07 Game log	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
October: 5–4–2 (home: 3–3–1; road: 2–1–1)
{|class="wikitable" width="100%"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
# 	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
==Player stats==
===Skaters===
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	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; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Player 	 	GP 	TOI 	W 	L 	OT 	GA 	SO 	SV% 	GAA 	 	GP 	TOI 	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.NHL Insider - Offseason Trades, nhl.com, accessed December 2, 2006.NHL Insider - Free Agent Signings, nhl.com, accessed December 2, 2006.
===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===
{|class="wikitable"	
Player 	Former team
Tyler Arnason	Ottawa Senators
Matt Murley 	Pittsburgh Penguins
Mark Rycroft 	St. Louis Blues
Ken Klee 	New Jersey Devils
==Draft picks==
Colorado's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.2006 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com - accessed December 22, 2006. 
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	NHL team 	College/junior/club team (league)
1 	18 	Chris Stewart (RW) 	 	Colorado Avalanche 	Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
2 	51 	Nigel Williams (D) 	 	Colorado Avalanche 	US National Team Development Program (NAHL)
2 	59 	Codey Burki (C) 	 	Colorado Avalanche(From Calgary Flames) 	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
3 	81 	Michael Carman (C) 	 	Colorado Avalanche 	US National Team Development Program (NAHL)
4 	110	Kevin Montgomery (D)	 	Colorado Avalanche (from Edmonton Oilers)	US National Team Development Program (NAHL)
7 	201	Billy Sauer (G) 	 	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.Coming to Ohio, CNNSI.com, December 17, 2006, accessed December 22, 2006.
===Arizona Sundogs===
The Sundogs began their inaugural season in the Central Hockey League.
==See also==
*2006–07 NHL season
==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.
Goaltenders:
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2006–07
Category:2006 in hockey
Category:2007 in hockey