2006–07 Atlanta Thrashers season
The 2006–07 Atlanta Thrashers season began with the highest expectations in franchise history, even with the off-season loss of their second-leading scorer, Marc Savard, to the Boston Bruins. Veteran centers Steve Rucchin, Niko Kapanen and Jon Sim were acquired in hopes help fill the loss of Savard. With NHL superstars Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk and a healthy goaltender, Kari Lehtonen, the Thrashers clinched the first playoff berth in franchise history following the Toronto Maple Leafs' 7–2 loss to the New York Rangers on April 1. The Thrashers had a highly disappointing playoff series against the New York Rangers, as they were swept with losses of 4–3, 2–1, 7–0, and 4–2.
Regular season
Season standings
Schedule and results
October
Record for month 8–2–3# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
1 | October 5 | Tampa Bay | 3 – 2 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 17,269 | 0–0–1 | 1 |
2 | October 7 | Florida | 0 – 6 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 14,239 | 1–0–1 | 3 | |
3 | October 9 | Atlanta | 1 – 0 | Tampa Bay | Lehtonen | 19,817 | 2–0–1 | 5 | |
4 | October 11 | Boston | 1 – 4 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 12,579 | 3–0–1 | 7 | |
5 | October 13 | Carolina | 4 – 3 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 13,106 | 3–1–1 | 7 | |
6 | October 14 | Atlanta | 4 – 3 | Washington | OT | Lehtonen | 11,995 | 4–1–1 | 9 |
7 | October 19 | Washington | 3 – 4 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 12,719 | 5–1–1 | 11 |
8 | October 21 | Florida | 2 – 4 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,178 | 6–1–1 | 13 | |
9 | October 23 | Atlanta | 6 – 3 | Florida | Lehtonen | 13,102 | 7–1–1 | 15 | |
10 | October 25 | Atlanta | 4 – 5 | Carolina | OT | Lehtonen | 15,008 | 7–1–2 | 16 |
11 | October 26 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Philadelphia | SO | Lehtonen | 19,228 | 7–1–3 | 17 |
12 | October 28 | Atlanta | 5 – 4 | Buffalo | SO | Lehtonen | 18,690 | 8–1–3 | 19 |
13 | October 30 | Atlanta | 2 – 4 | Toronto | Lehtonen | 19,285 | 8–2–3 | 19 |
November
Record for Month 8–5–1# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
14 | November 1 | Carolina | 5 – 2 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 14,277 | 8–3–3 | 19 | |
15 | November 3 | Atlanta | 4 – 3 | Washington | Hedberg | 12,834 | 9–3–3 | 21 | |
16 | November 4 | Atlanta | 4 – 1 | NY Islanders | Hedberg | 12,394 | 10–3–3 | 23 | |
17 | November 6 | Boston | 3 – 5 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 14,084 | 11–3–3 | 25 | |
18 | November 8 | Ottawa | 4 – 5 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,253 | 12–3–3 | 27 | |
19 | November 10 | NY Rangers | 5 – 2 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 18,545 | 12–4–3 | 27 | |
20 | November 11 | Atlanta | 3 – 5 | Tampa Bay | Lehtonen | 20,034 | 12–5–3 | 27 | |
21 | November 17 | Dallas | 5 – 3 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 18,545 | 12–6–3 | 27 | |
22 | November 18 | Atlanta | 1 – 3 | Montreal | Hedberg | 21,273 | 12–7–3 | 27 | |
23 | November 22 | Atlanta | 4 – 2 | Washington | Hedberg | 11,284 | 13–7–3 | 29 | |
24 | November 24 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Tampa Bay | OT | Lehtonen | 19,922 | 13–7–4 | 30 |
25 | November 25 | Florida | 0 – 1 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 17,053 | 14–7–4 | 32 | |
26 | November 28 | Atlanta | 5 – 4 | NY Rangers | OT | Lehtonen | 18,200 | 15–7–4 | 34 |
27 | November 30 | Toronto | 0 – 5 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 15,092 | 16–7–4 | 36 |
December
Record for Month 7–4–2# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
28 | December 2 | Atlanta | 3 – 1 | Florida | Lehtonen | 13,333 | 17–7–4 | 38 | |
29 | December 5 | Atlanta | 5 – 2 | Toronto | Hedberg | 19,507 | 18–7–4 | 40 | |
30 | December 7 | Atlanta | 0 – 8 | Tampa Bay | Lehtonen | 17,704 | 18–8–4 | 40 | |
31 | December 9 | Pittsburgh | 4 – 3 | Atlanta | OT | Lehtonen | 18,687 | 18–8–5 | 41 |
32 | December 13 | Anaheim | 2 – 1 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,028 | 18–9–5 | 41 | |
33 | December 15 | Washington | 3 – 2 | Atlanta | OT | Lehtonen | 16,920 | 18–9–6 | 42 |
34 | December 16 | Atlanta | 0 – 6 | NY Islanders | Hedberg | 10,452 | 18–10–6 | 42 | |
35 | December 19 | Atlanta | 4 – 3 | New Jersey | SO | Lehtonen | 10,116 | 19–10–6 | 44 |
36 | December 21 | Pittsburgh | 3 – 4 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 17,328 | 20–10–6 | 46 |
37 | December 23 | New Jersey | 2 – 5 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 17,548 | 21–10–6 | 48 | |
38 | December 26 | Tampa Bay | 1 – 2 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,356 | 22–10–6 | 50 | |
39 | December 27 | Atlanta | 4 – 2 | Pittsburgh | Lehtonen | 17,132 | 23–10–6 | 52 | |
40 | December 30 | Atlanta | 1 – 4 | Buffalo | Lehtonen | 18,690 | 23–11–6 | 52 |
January
Record for month 6–5–2# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
41 | January 1 | Atlanta | 3 – 2 | Ottawa | OT | Lehtonen | 19,707 | 24–11–6 | 54 |
42 | January 2 | Atlanta | 1 – 5 | Minnesota | Lehtonen | 18,568 | 24–12–6 | 54 | |
43 | January 5 | Phoenix | 5 – 4 | Atlanta | OT | Hedberg | 18,545 | 24–12–7 | 55 |
44 | January 6 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Washington | OT | Lehtonen | 15,642 | 24–12–8 | 56 |
45 | January 9 | Atlanta | 2 – 4 | Montreal | Lehtonen | 21,273 | 24–13–8 | 56 | |
46 | January 12 | Atlanta | 1 – 2 | New Jersey | Lehtonen | 13,249 | 24–14–8 | 56 | |
47 | January 13 | Atlanta | 4 – 3 | Carolina | SO | Lehtonen | 18,639 | 25–14–8 | 58 |
48 | January 16 | Los Angeles | 2 – 6 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 13,205 | 26–14–8 | 60 | |
49 | January 18 | Montreal | 4 – 1 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 14,025 | 26–15–8 | 60 | |
50 | January 20 | Atlanta | 3 – 1 | NY Rangers | Lehtonen | 18,200 | 27–15–8 | 62 | |
51 | January 26 | NY Islanders | 4 – 5 | Atlanta | OT | Lehtonen | 18,089 | 28–15–8 | 64 |
52 | January 28 | Philadelphia | 2 – 1 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 18,598 | 28–16–8 | 64 | |
53 | January 30 | New Jersey | 4 – 5 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 12,162 | 29–16–8 | 66 |
February
Record for month 3–7–2# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
54 | February 1 | NY Islanders | 5 – 2 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 13,543 | 29–17–8 | 66 | |
55 | February 3 | Philadelphia | 5 – 2 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 18,622 | 29–18–8 | 66 | |
56 | February 6 | Buffalo | 4 – 3 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 17,881 | 29–18–9 | 67 |
57 | February 8 | Atlanta | 6 – 3 | Colorado | Lehtonen | 17,428 | 30–18–9 | 69 | |
58 | February 10 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Vancouver | Lehtonen | 18,630 | 30–19–9 | 69 | |
59 | February 11 | Atlanta | 1 – 5 | Edmonton | Hedberg | 16,839 | 30–20–9 | 69 | |
60 | February 13 | Atlanta | 1 – 4 | Calgary | Lehtonen | 19,289 | 30–21–9 | 69 | |
61 | February 17 | Atlanta | 3 – 5 | Ottawa | Lehtonen | 19,881 | 30–22–9 | 69 | |
62 | February 20 | Atlanta | 3 – 1 | Carolina | Hedberg | 16,228 | 31–22–9 | 71 | |
63 | February 22 | Tampa Bay | 5 – 4 | Atlanta | OT | Hedberg | 16,032 | 31–22–10 | 72 |
64 | February 24 | Carolina | 4 – 1 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 18,774 | 31–23–10 | 72 | |
65 | February 26 | Atlanta | 3 – 2 | Boston | Lehtonen | 16,417 | 32–23–10 | 74 |
March
Record for month 9–4–1# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
66 | March 2 | Ottawa | 2 – 4 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,190 | 33–23–10 | 76 | |
67 | March 4 | Carolina | 1 – 3 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 17,783 | 34–23–10 | 78 | |
68 | March 6 | Florida | 2 – 4 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 12,566 | 35–23–10 | 80 | |
69 | March 8 | Montreal | 2 – 6 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 14,528 | 36–23–10 | 82 | |
70 | March 10 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Florida | Lehtonen | 17,927 | 36–24–10 | 82 | |
71 | March 12 | Washington | 2 – 4 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 14,041 | 37–24–10 | 84 | |
72 | March 15 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Philadelphia | Lehtonen | 19,122 | 37–25–10 | 84 | |
73 | March 16 | NY Rangers | 1 – 2 | Atlanta | OT | Hedberg | 18,457 | 38–25–10 | 86 |
74 | March 18 | Buffalo | 3 – 4 | Atlanta | OT | Lehtonen | 18,602 | 39–25–10 | 88 |
75 | March 22 | San Jose | 5 – 1 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,367 | 39–26–10 | 88 | |
76 | March 24 | Atlanta | 1 – 2 | Pittsburgh | Lehtonen | 17,132 | 39–27–10 | 88 | |
77 | March 28 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Florida | SO | Lehtonen | 12,864 | 39–27–11 | 89 |
78 | March 29 | Toronto | 2 – 3 | Atlanta | OT | Hedberg | 17,062 | 40–27–11 | 91 |
79 | March 31 | Atlanta | 3 – 2 | Boston | Lehtonen | 16,218 | 41–27–11 | 93 |
April
Record for month 2–1–0# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
80 | April 4 | Washington | 3 – 2 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 18,783 | 41–28–11 | 93 | |
81 | April 6 | Atlanta | 4 – 1 | Carolina | Hedberg | 17,158 | 42–28–11 | 95 | |
82 | April 7 | Tampa Bay | 2 – 3 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 18,756 | 43–28–11 | 97 |
Playoffs
The Thrashers qualified for the post-season for the first time in franchise history, while also capturing their first Southeast Division championship. Atlanta headed into the playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference. They were eliminated from the playoffs on April 18, being swept by the New York Rangers in four straight games in the Quarter-finals.Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: versus NY Rangers (6)
win series 4–0Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Series |
1 | April 12 | NY Rangers | 4 – 3 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 18,857 | 0–1 | |
2 | April 14 | NY Rangers | 2 – 1 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 18,803 | 0–2 | |
3 | April 17 | Atlanta | 0 – 7 | NY Rangers | Lehtonen | 18,200 | 0–3 | |
4 | April 18 | Atlanta | 2 – 4 | NY Rangers | Hedberg | 18,200 | 0–4 |
Player stats
Regular season
;ScoringPlayer | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
RW | 82 | 43 | 57 | 100 | 49 | 18 | 17 | 3 | 5 | |
LW | 81 | 28 | 52 | 80 | 36 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |
LW | 82 | 42 | 34 | 76 | 66 | -2 | 18 | 0 | 7 | |
RW | 69 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 63 | -9 | 5 | 0 | 2 | |
LW | 77 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 60 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
C | 82 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 86 | -3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
C | 57 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 2 | |
D | 82 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 66 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
C | 47 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 14 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
D | 77 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 52 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
C | 74 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 62 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
D | 46 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 55 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 76 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
C | 24 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
LW | 18 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 34 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
D | 18 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
LW | 72 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 39 | -11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
RW | 72 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
C | 60 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 20 | -12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 72 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 63 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
D | 52 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 31 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 58 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 56 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
LW | 45 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 49 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
LW | 17 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
C | 14 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 29 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
G | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
G | 68 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
;Goaltending
Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T/OT | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
3934 | 68 | 34 | 24 | 9 | 183 | 2.79 | 4 | 2075 | 1892 | .912 | |
1057 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 51 | 2.89 | 0 | 500 | 449 | .898 | |
Team: | 4991 | 82 | 43 | 28 | 11 | 234 | 2.81 | 4 | 2575 | 2341 | .909 |
Playoffs
;ScoringPlayer | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
LW | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
LW | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
LW | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
LW | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
C | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
RW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
RW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
;Goaltending
Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV | SV% |
117 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2.56 | 0 | 69 | 64 | .928 | |
118 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5.59 | 0 | 73 | 62 | .849 | |
Team: | 235 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 4.09 | 0 | 142 | 126 | .887 |
Transactions
Trades
Free agents acquired
Free agents lost
Waiver losses
Draft picks
Atlanta's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Atlanta had the 12th overall draft pick in the 2005–06 NHL season.Round | # | Player | Nationality | NHL Team | College/Junior/Club Team |
1 | 12 | Bryan Little | Atlanta Thrashers | Barrie Colts | |
2 | 43 | Riley Holzapfel | Atlanta Thrashers | Moose Jaw Warriors | |
3 | 80 | Michael Forney | Atlanta Thrashers | Thief River Falls High School | |
5 | 135 | Alex Kangas | Buffalo Sabres | Sioux Falls Stampede | |
6 | 165 | Jonas Enlund | Atlanta Thrashers | HIFK Jr. | |
7 | 195 | Jesse Martin | Atlanta Thrashers | Spruce Grove Saints | |
7 | 200 | Arturs Kulda | Atlanta Thrashers | CSKA Moscow | |
7 | 210 | Will O'Neill | Atlanta Thrashers | Tabor Academy |