- 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks season
NHLTeamSeason
Season=2006–07
Team=Vancouver Canucks
Conference=Western
ConferenceRank=3rd
Division=Northwest
DivisionRank=1st
Record=49–26–7
HomeRecord=26–11–4
RoadRecord=23–15–3
GoalsFor=222
GoalsAgainst=201
GeneralManager=Dave Nonis
Coach=Alain Vigneault
Captain=Markus Naslund
AltCaptain=Trevor Linden Brendan Morrison
Arena=General Motors Place
Attendance=18,630
GoalsLeader=Daniel Sedin (36)
AssistsLeader=Henrik Sedin (71)
PointsLeader=Daniel Sedin (84)
PlusMinusLeader=Sami Salo (+21)
PIMLeader=Kevin Bieksa (134)
WinsLeader=Roberto Luongo (47)
GAALeader=Roberto Luongo (2.29)
DivisionWin=YesThe 2006–07
Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' 36th NHL season.The season began on the heels of a blockbuster trade involving goaltender
Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek coming to Vancouver in exchange forTodd Bertuzzi ,Alex Auld and Bryan Allen. The acquisition of Luongo combined with the salary increases of the Sedin twins meant that the Canucks were too close to salary cap and as a result, saw names such asEd Jovanovski ,Anson Carter ,Nolan Baumgartner ,Jarkko Ruutu andWade Brookbank lost to free agency.In addition to the departures of high-profile players such as Bertuzzi, Jovanovski and Carter, General Manager
Dave Nonis had firedMarc Crawford as head coach after the 2005–06 season, and replaced him withAlain Vigneault . The team also added players such asJan Bulis ,Taylor Pyatt ,Marc Chouinard and Willie Mitchell, players who many thought are not as highly skilled as the ones who had recently departed. Despite the arrival of Luongo, many hockey analysts and fans predicted before the season began that the team would either miss the playoffs, or at best battle for the last playoff spots as 7th or 8th seed in the Western Conference. However, a few did foresee that the addition of a high-calibre goaltender in Luongo would propel the Canucks into the top three of the conference. [Sportsnet 2006–07 Expert NHL Predictions [http://www2.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/preview06/predictions_2006.php] ]Under such skepticism, the team played mediocre hockey from October to the Christmas break, and received criticism due to the team's lack of scoring during this period. However, after the Christmas break, the team had settled down on Vigneault's coaching system, and played stellar hockey from that point on, exceeding the expectations of fans, analysts and critics alike. On April 7, 2007, the Canucks defeated the
San Jose Sharks by a score of 4–3 in overtime to clinch the Northwest Division title; their second in the past three seasons. Not only did the team win a division title, this season was known for many milestones, such asTaylor Pyatt setting career high in points, andAlain Vigneault setting a new franchise record for wins as a head coach. Also, second-year playerKevin Bieksa had emerged as a top-four defenceman on the team throughout the season.On January 9, 2007, the NHL announced that Roberto Luongo had been voted by the fans to start in goal in the 2007 All-Star Game in
Dallas . Aside from Luongo's selection into the All-Star Game, the first half of the season was also noted for the "Vote for Rory" internet campaign. The campaign was aimed at getting defencemanRory Fitzpatrick voted into the 2007 All-Star Game, while mocking the NHL system of internet voting which encouraged people to vote as many times as they liked.For the first time in franchise history, the Canucks ended the regular season with the leagues best penalty killing record at 86.9% efficiency.
With the division title and third seed in the conference, the Canucks faced off against the
Dallas Stars in the Western Quarterfinals. The Canucks first game back in the playoffs was a long one. On April 11, 2007, the Canucks set a franchise record with a quadruple OT win in Game 1. The game was the longest in Canucks history and the sixth longest in league history. Also in this game the Canucks set a record for shots against, allowing 76. The Canucks won this seven-game series despite the fact that every Dallas victory was a shutout for goalieMarty Turco .The goal scoring woes continued in the second round against
Brian Burke 'sAnaheim Ducks and the Canucks could not score more than two goals in a game. AlthoughTrevor Linden experienced a resurgence and tied for the team lead for scoring in the playoffs, the Sedin twins could not escape the Ducks' tight checking. The third period of Game 4 was a pivotal point as the Canucks could not protect a 2–0 third-period at home and lost in overtime. In the deciding Game 5 in Anaheim, Luongo stopped 56 shots to keep the Canucks in contention but got caught looking at the referee in overtime and failed to see aScott Niedermayer wrister from the blue line.Regular season
December
Monthly record: 8–5–0 (home 6–1–0; road 2–4–0)
March
Monthly record: 11–2–2 (home 6–1–2; road 5–1–0)
Western Conference Semifinals: vs. (2)
Anaheim Ducks Anaheim win series 4–1
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Vancouver. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.
Awards and records
2007 Canuck Awards winners
*
Molson Cup -Roberto Luongo
*Cyclone Taylor Trophy - Roberto Luongo
*Cyrus H. McLean Trophy -Daniel Sedin
*Babe Pratt Trophy -Kevin Bieksa
*Fred J. Hume Award - Kevin Bieksa
* Most Exciting Player Award - Roberto LuongoRoberto Luongo * Was voted in by the fans to represent the Western Conference at the 2007 All-Star Game in
Dallas , as the starting goaltender on January 9, 2007. In addition, Luongo won the goaltenders' competition at the All-Star Skills Competition by allowing the fewest goals-against for the In The Zone and Shootout events on January 23, 2007.* Earned his 39th victory on March 9, 2007, at San Jose. With the win, Luongo broke the franchise single-season win record of 38, which was set by
Kirk McLean in the1991–92 NHL season .* Played in his 73rd game this season on March 31, 2007, vs. Calgary. By playing that game Luongo broke the franchise single-season games played record, which was held by Gary Smith in the
1974–75 NHL season .* Named on the NHL Second All-Star Team on June 14, 2007.
* Was the Monthly Award winner of the
Mark Messier Leadership Award on March 21, 2007.* Nominated for the
Vezina Trophy , but lost toMartin Brodeur on June 14, 2007.* Nominated for the
Lester B. Pearson Award , but lost toSidney Crosby on June 14, 2007.* Nominated for the
Hart Trophy , but lost toSidney Crosby on June 14, 2007.Daniel Sedin * Played in his 400th career NHL and Canuck game on October 8, 2006, at Colorado.
* Registered his 100th career NHL and Canuck goal on January 13, 2007, at Toronto. With the goal, Sedin became the sixth most prolific scoring left winger in Canucks history with 237 points.
* Scored the OT game-winner on March 15, 2007, vs. St. Louis, tying an NHL record with his fourth this season.
* Got a goal and an assist on March 27, 2007, at Colorado, to register his 300th career NHL and Canuck point.
Henrik Sedin * Recorded one assist on February 1, 2007, vs. Edmonton. With the assist, Sedin recorded his 200th career NHL and Canuck assist.
* Recorded three assists on March 25, 2007, vs. Colorado, to break the franchise single-season assists record with 63. The previous record was 62, set by Andre Boudrias in the
1974–75 NHL season .* Recorded two assists on April 3, 2007, vs. Los Angeles, to earn his 300th and 301st career NHL and Canuck points.
* Scored the game winning goal in Game 1 vs. Dallas ending the longest overtime game in team history and the 6th longest in NHL history on April 11, 2007. He was set up by his brother Daniel and Mattias Ohlund.
Trevor Linden * Scored his 300th career goal as a Canuck on October 6, 2006, at Detroit.
* Got an assist, to earn his 400th career assist and his 700th career point as a Canuck on November 14, 2006, vs. Detroit.
* Played his 1,300th career NHL game on February 18, 2007, at Colorado.
* Scored his 12th goal on March 19, 2007, at Edmonton to record his 367th career NHL goal to surpass
Jacques Lemaire (366) as the 97th all-time goal scorer in league history.* Became the all-time franchise goal scoring leader with 301 goals on October 17, 2006, at Edmonton.
* Played his 900th career NHL game on December 8, 2006, vs. Carolina.
* Registered his 103rd power play goal as a Canuck to become the all-time franchise leader in power play goals on February 14, 2007, at Minnesota.
Brendan Morrison * Earned his 400th career NHL point with an assist on October 13, 2006, vs. San Jose.
* On November 22, 2006, at Detroit, Morrison scored the overtime winner to become the franchise leader in overtime goals.
* Played his 600th career NHL game on January 18, 2007, at Ottawa.
* Sets a new franchise "Ironman" record playing his 483rd consecutive game on February 22, 2007, at Los Angeles, breaking the record that was previously held by Trevor Linden. On February 25, he became the NHL's active leader with 492 games. Finished the season with 512 consecutive games.
Alain Vigneault * Recorded 36 wins as head coach of the Canucks on February 22, 2007, at Los Angeles. With the win, Vigneault recorded the most wins by a Vancouver Canucks head coach during his first year behind the bench.
* On March 29, 2007, set a new franchise record for wins in a season with his 47th victory at Los Angeles. The record was previously held by coach
Pat Quinn and was set in the1992–93 NHL season .* Won the
Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year on June 14, 2007.Others
*
Taylor Pyatt earned his 100th career NHL point on an even-strength goal on October 16, 2006, vs. Edmonton.*
Lukas Krajicek played in his 100th career NHL game on October 23, 2006, at Dallas.*
Sami Salo recorded his 100th career NHL point on November 11, 2006, vs. Calgary.* Mattias Ohlund played in his 600th career NHL game as a Canuck game on January 5, 2007, vs. Edmonton.
*
Matt Cooke earned his 100th career NHL point as a Canuck on an assist on February 14, 2007, at Minnesota.Transactions
Trades
Received from waivers
Farm teams
AHL affiliate that is based in
External links
* [http://www.canucks.com Official website of the Vancouver Canucks]
ee also
References
*Team standings: [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/standings NHL standings] on espn.com
* [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=StandingsPage&type=CON NHL standings] on NHL.com
hockey team player|no=1|name=Luongo•
Defencemen
hockey team player|no=2|name=Ohlund•hockey team player|no=3|name=Bieksa•hockey team player|no=4|name=Sopel•hockey team player|no=5|name=Krajicek•hockey team player|no=6|name=Salo•hockey team player|no=8|name=Mitchell•hockey team player|no=18|name=Fitzpatrick•hockey team player|no=23|name=Edler•
Forwards
hockey team player|no=7|name=Morrison•hockey team player|no=9|name=Pyatt•hockey team player|no=14|name=Burrows•hockey team player|no=15|name=Rypien•hockey team player|no=16|name=Linden•hockey team player|no=17|name=Kesler•hockey team player|no=19|name=Naslund•hockey team player|no=20|name=Cowan•hockey team player|no=21|name=Smolinski•hockey team player|no=22|name=D. Sedin•hockey team player|no=24|name=Cooke•hockey team player|no=25|name=Green•hockey team player|no=26|name=Santala•hockey team player|no=29|name=Smith•hockey team player|no=32|name=Chouinard•hockey team player|no=33|name=H. Sedin•hockey team player|no=36|name=Hansen•hockey team player|no=38|name=Bulis•
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