2006–07 Nashville Predators season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=2006–07
Team=Nashville Predators
Conference=Western
ConferenceRank=4th
Division=Central
DivisionRank=2nd
Record=51–23–8
HomeRecord=28–8–5
RoadRecord=23–15–3
GoalsFor=272
GoalsAgainst=212
GeneralManager=David Poile
Coach=Barry Trotz
Captain=Kimmo Timonen
AltCaptain=Paul Kariya
Steve Sullivan
Arena=Nashville Arena
Attendance= 15,259
GoalsLeader=Jason Arnott (27)
J.P. Dumont (27)
AssistsLeader=Paul Kariya (52)
PointsLeader=Paul Kariya (76)
PIMLeader=Jordin Tootoo (104)
WinsLeader=Tomas Vokoun (27)
GAALeader=Chris Mason(2.38)

The 2006–07 Nashville Predators season was the 8th 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 J.P. Dumont, the Predators were predicted to challenge the Detroit Red Wings for top spot in the Central Division.burnside, Scott, [http://proxy.espn.go.com/nhl/preview2006/news/story?page=prepredators06 Nashville Predators season preview] , espn.com, October 2, 2006, accessed February 17, 2007]

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. Defenceman 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. [ [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=287354 2007 NHL Allstar Game rosters] , nhl.com, accessed February 17, 2007]

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. [Mullen, Bryan, [http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070210/SPORTS02/702100338/1002/SPORTS Empty Preds seats could cost city $2M] , The Tennessean, February 10, 2007, accessed February 17, 2007] 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. [Glennon, John, [http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/SPORTS02/701240477/1002/MTCN0302 Leipold: No bites on buyers] , the Tennessean, January 24, 2007, accessed February 17, 2007]

In February, the Predators acquired forward Peter Forsberg from the Philadelphia Flyers for Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and two draft picks. [ [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=196374&hubname=nhl Flyers deal Forsberg to Predators] , tsn.ca, February 15, 2007] 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. [Kuharsky, Paul, [http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070217/SPORTS02/702170342/1028 Forsberg scores early for Predators in ticket sales] , The Tennessean, February 17, 2007]

The Predators finished the season with a franchise-record 110 points, with 51 wins, and earned a fourth place seed in the Western Conference quarterfinals in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They then lost to the San Jose Sharks in 5 games in the Quarterfinals.

On May 23, 2007, Craig Leipold was reported to have reached a tentative agreement to sell the team to the Chairman and Co-CEO of Research In Motion, Jim Balsillie. [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=208661&hubname= Balsillie attempting to buy Predators] , tsn.ca, May 23, 2007] According to Leipold, the team is likely to play the 2007–08 season in Nashville, but the future of the team after that is not clear. [ [http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6560713 Nashville Predators Being Sold] , newschannel5.com, May 23, 2007] Balsillie has been rumored to be interested in placing another team in Southern Ontario.

Regular season

eason standings

December

March

Season Stats

coring Leaders

"Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes"

Free Agents Acquired

Placed on Waivers

Draft picks

Nashville's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia. [2006 NHL Entry Draft Results [http://www.nhl.com/futures/2006draft/ nhl.com] - accessed November 20, 2006] The Predators traded their first round pick, thus their first selection was in the 2nd round, 56th overall.

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.

ee also

*2006–07 NHL season
*2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs

References

* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/stats?team=nas Nashville Predators player stats] on espn.com
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/schedule?team=nas Nashville Predators game log] on espn.com
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/standings NHL standings] on espn.com

Goaltenders:

hockey team player|no=29|name=Vokoun•

Defensemen

hockey team player|no=2|name=Hamhuis•hockey team player|no=3|name=Zidlicky•hockey team player|no=4|name=Vishnevski•hockey team player|no=5|name=Zanon•hockey team player|no=6|name=Weber•hockey team player|no=20|name=Suter•

Forwards

hockey team player|no=9|name=Kariya•hockey team player|no=10|name=Erat•hockey team player|no=11|name=Legwand•hockey team player|no=12|name=Nichol•hockey team player|no=14|name=Abid•hockey team player|no=16|name=Hordichuk•hockey team player|no=17|name=Hartnell•hockey team player|no=19|name=Arnott•hockey team player|no=21|name=Forsberg•hockey team player|no=22|name=Tootoo•hockey team player|no=25|name=Smithson•hockey team player|no=26|name=Sullivan•hockey team player|no=28|name=Leahy•hockey team player|no=37|name=Peverley•hockey team player|no=38|name=Fiddler•hockey team player|no=47|name=Radulov•