2006–07 San Jose Sharks season
National Hockey League team season
The San Jose Sharks 2006–07 season was the 16th season played by the franchise.
Offseason
During the 2006 offseason, the San Jose Sharks made significant changes in order to bolster their defense and team grit. The Sharks signed Mike Grier from the Buffalo Sabres and former Shark Curtis Brown from the Chicago Blackhawks , two forwards noted for their defense prowess on both sides of the ice. After signing the two veterans, General Manager Doug Wilson traded their top offensive defenceman in 2005–06, Tom Preissing , to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for centre Mark Bell of the Chicago Blackhawks in a three-way trade involving Martin Havlat going from Ottawa to the Blackhawks. Wilson then traded underachieving winger Nils Ekman to the Pittsburgh Penguins . In August, to round off their flurry of trades, the Sharks signed veterans Mathieu Biron and Patrick Traverse . The Sharks also signed Graham Mink and Scott Ferguson to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Worcester Sharks . On October 2, 2006, the Sharks acquired Vladimir Malakhov and a first-round conditional draft pick in exchange for Jim Fahey and Alexander Korolyuk , who was playing in Russia at the time.
Regular season
The Sharks got off to a sizzling 20–7–0 start, the best in franchise history. Shortly after, however, several key players missed time due to injuries, and the Sharks continued to struggle with consistency as their results dropped off. At the end of February, they lost four games in a row, their longest losing streak of the season.
When the trading deadline approached, Wilson used some of his carefully acquired assets to address the team's areas of need, trading draft picks and prospects for Craig Rivet from the Montreal Canadiens and Bill Guerin from the St. Louis Blues . With Rivet playing quality minutes on defense and Guerin scoring goals on offense, the Sharks began winning at a torrid pace, finishing the last 16 games of the regular season with a record of 13–1–3. They concluded the regular season with a total record of 51–26–5 for 107 points, the most wins and points in franchise history. However, in a competitive Western Conference, their record was only good enough for the fifth playoff seed, and they had to open the playoffs on the road.
The Sharks spent the majority of the season rotating their two goaltenders, Vesa Toskala and Evgeni Nabokov , every other game. The only time either one played for an extended period of time was when the other was injured or otherwise unable to play. When Toskala injured his groin, Nabokov made 14-straight starts and played arguably the best hockey of his career, significantly contributing to the Sharks' late-season spate of victories. As a result, despite Toskala's return from injury, Head Coach Ron Wilson retained Nabokov as the number one goaltender to finish the regular season and enter into the playoffs.
The Sharks iced four rookies during the season: Marc-Edouard Vlasic , Matt Carle , Ryane Clowe and Joe Pavelski , with each making significant contributions to the team's success. Vlasic, at just 19-years-of-age, was not expected to make the team, but put together an impressive pre-season performance and was on the Sharks' opening night roster. He went on to play 81 games, leading all NHL rookie defensemen in average ice time at over 21 minutes per game, and was arguably the Sharks' most consistent defenceman the whole season.
Season standings
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.
bold - qualified for playoffs, y - division title, z - best conference record
CE - Central Division, NW - Northwest Division, PA - Pacific Division
Playoffs
The San Jose Sharks ended the 2006–07 regular season as the Western Conference's fifth seed.
In the first round of the playoffs , the Sharks met the Nashville Predators , and advanced to the second round after defeating them 4 games to 1 for the second-straight season. They then fell to the Detroit Red Wings in the semifinals in six games.
Schedule and results
Regular season
2006–07 regular season[ 2]
October: 9–4–0 (home: 4–1–0; road: 5–3–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
1
October 5
St. Louis
4 – 5
San Jose
OT
Toskala
17,496
1–0–0
2
Recap
2
October 7
NY Islanders
0 – 2
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
2–0–0
4
Recap
3
October 9
San Jose
4 – 1
Calgary
Toskala
19,289
3–0–0
6
Recap
4
October 12
San Jose
4 – 6
Edmonton
Nabokov
16,839
3–1–0
6
Recap
5
October 13
San Jose
6 – 4
Vancouver
Toskala
18,630
4–1–0
8
Recap
6
October 17
Dallas
0 – 2
San Jose
Nabokov
16,380
5–1–0
10
Recap
7
October 19
Detroit
1 – 5
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
6–1–0
12
Recap
8
October 21
Minnesota
4 – 1
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
6–2–0
12
Recap
9
October 23
San Jose
3 – 0
Columbus
Toskala
16,067
7–2–0
14
Recap
10
October 25
San Jose
1 – 2
Detroit
Nabokov
20,066
7–3–0
14
Recap
11
October 26
San Jose
3 – 4
Nashville
Toskala
13,436
7–4–0
14
Recap
12
October 29
San Jose
4 – 2
Tampa Bay
Nabokov
19,904
8–4–0
16
Recap
13
October 31
San Jose
2 – 1
Florida
Toskala
10,081
9–4–0
18
Recap
November: 10–3–0 (home: 5–1–0; road: 5–2–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
14
November 2
NY Rangers
3 – 1
San Jose
Nabokov
17,091
9–5–0
18
Recap
15
November 4
Pittsburgh
2 – 3
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
10–5–0
20
Recap
16
November 7
Minnesota
1 – 3
San Jose
Nabokov
17,233
11–5–0
22
Recap
17
November 9
San Jose
7 – 3
Los Angeles
Toskala
16,618
12–5–0
24
Recap
18
November 11
San Jose
2 – 1
Phoenix
Toskala
15,036
13–5–0
26
Recap
19
November 13
San Jose
2 – 4
Los Angeles
Toskala
16,667
13–6–0
26
Recap
20
November 15
San Jose
4 – 3
Colorado
Nabokov
18,007
14–6–0
28
Recap
21
November 18
Philadelphia
1 – 6
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
15–6–0
30
Recap
22
November 21
San Jose
0 – 5
Anaheim
Nabokov
15,013
15–7–0
30
Recap
23
November 22
Los Angeles
3 – 6
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
16–7–0
32
Recap
24
November 25
New Jersey
0 – 2
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
17–7–0
34
Recap
25
November 28
San Jose
2 – 0
St. Louis
Toskala
8,679
18–7–0
36
Recap
26
November 29
San Jose
2 – 1
Minnesota
Nabokov
18,568
19–7–0
38
Recap
December: 7–7–0 (home: 4–5–0; road: 3–2–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
27
December 2
San Jose
3 – 2
Detroit
Toskala
20,066
20–7–0
40
Recap
28
December 4
San Jose
0 – 1
Dallas
Nabokov
17,056
20–8–0
40
Recap
29
December 7
Colorado
5 – 2
San Jose
Toskala
17,039
20–9–0
40
Recap
30
December 9
Nashville
1 – 3
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
21–9–0
42
Recap
31
December 11
Phoenix
0 – 4
San Jose
Toskala
16,717
22–9–0
44
Recap
32
December 12
San Jose
3 – 1
Los Angeles
Nabokov
15,204
23–9–0
46
Recap
33
December 14
Los Angeles
4 – 2
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
23–10–0
46
Recap
34
December 16
Anaheim
3 – 4
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
24–10–0
48
Recap
35
December 21
Dallas
3 – 0
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
24–11–0
48
Recap
36
December 23
Calgary
1 – 4
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
25–11–0
50
Recap
37
December 26
Anaheim
4 – 3
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
25–12–0
50
Recap
38
December 28
Phoenix
3 – 2
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
25–13–0
50
Recap
39
December 30
San Jose
0 – 8
Phoenix
Nabokov
17,643
25–14–0
50
Recap
40
December 31
San Jose
4 – 2
Dallas
Toskala
18,584
26–14–0
52
Recap
January: 7–3–1 (home: 4–2–1; road: 3–1–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
41
January 4
Detroit
4 – 9
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
27–14–0
54
Recap
42
January 6
Columbus
2 – 5
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
28–14–0
56
Recap
43
January 10
Edmonton
3 – 2
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
28–15–0
56
Recap
44
January 11
San Jose
5 – 2
Los Angeles
Toskala
17,054
29–15–0
58
Recap
45
January 13
San Jose
4 – 1
Phoenix
Toskala
16,642
30–15–0
60
Recap
46
January 15
Colorado
1 – 3
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
31–15–0
62
Recap
47
January 18
Phoenix
2 – 5
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
32–15–0
64
Recap
48
January 20
St. Louis
1 – 0
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
32–16–0
64
Recap
49
January 26
San Jose
5 – 1
Edmonton
Toskala
16,839
33–16–0
66
Recap
50
January 28
San Jose
1 – 3
Vancouver
Nabokov
18,630
33–17–0
66
Recap
51
January 30
Dallas
3 – 2
San Jose
SO
Toskala
17,496
33–17–1
67
Recap
February: 5–7–1 (home: 1–3–1; road: 4–4–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
52
February 1
Dallas
4 – 2
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
33–18–1
67
Recap
53
February 3
Chicago
2 – 4
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
34–18–1
69
Recap
54
February 6
Anaheim
7 – 4
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
34–19–1
69
Recap
55
February 7
San Jose
3 – 2
Anaheim
Toskala
17,466
35–19–1
71
Recap
56
February 13
San Jose
6 – 5
St. Louis
Toskala
9,235
36–19–1
73
Recap
57
February 14
San Jose
0 – 5
Nashville
Toskala
13,836
36–20–1
73
Recap
58
February 16
San Jose
0 – 3
Columbus
Nabokov
16,045
36–21–1
73
Recap
59
February 18
San Jose
2 – 5
Dallas
Nabokov
17,849
36–22–1
73
Recap
60
February 21
San Jose
3 – 2
Washington
SO
Nabokov
13,622
37–22–1
75
Recap
61
February 22
San Jose
2 – 0
Chicago
Nabokov
10,125
38–22–1
77
Recap
62
February 24
San Jose
4 – 7
Calgary
Nabokov
19,289
38–23–1
77
Recap
63
February 26
Anaheim
3 – 2
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
38–24–1
77
Recap
64
February 28
Nashville
4 – 3
San Jose
SO
Nabokov
17,496
38–24–2
78
Recap
March: 10–2–2 (home: 5–0–1; road: 5–2–1)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
65
March 2
San Jose
1 – 3
Anaheim
Nabokov
17,174
38–25–2
78
Recap
66
March 4
San Jose
4 – 0
Dallas
Nabokov
18,002
39–25–2
80
Recap
67
March 6
San Jose
3 – 0
Minnesota
Nabokov
18,568
40–25–2
82
Recap
68
March 9
Vancouver
2 – 1
San Jose
OT
Nabokov
17,496
40–25–3
83
Recap
69
March 11
Edmonton
0 – 3
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
41–25–3
85
Recap
70
March 13
Chicago
1 – 7
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
42–25–3
87
Recap
71
March 15
San Jose
5 – 1
Phoenix
Nabokov
17,744
43–25–3
89
Recap
72
March 16
Columbus
0 – 3
San Jose
Toskala
17,496
44–25–3
91
Recap
73
March 18
San Jose
3 – 4
Colorado
OT
Nabokov
18,007
44–25–4
92
Recap
74
March 21
San Jose
4 – 1
Chicago
Nabokov
10,374
45–25–4
94
Recap
75
March 22
San Jose
5 – 1
Atlanta
Toskala
16,367
46–25–4
96
Recap
76
March 24
San Jose
4 – 6
Carolina
Toskala
18,763
46–26–4
96
Recap
77
March 27
Los Angeles
1 – 3
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
47–26–4
98
Recap
78
March 30
Phoenix
2 – 4
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
48–26–4
100
Recap
April: 3–0–1 (home: 2–0–1; road: 1–0–0)
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Points
Recap
79
April 1
Los Angeles
2 – 6
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
49–26–4
102
Recap
80
April 4
San Jose
3 – 2
Anaheim
SO
Nabokov
17,440
50–26–4
104
Recap
81
April 5
Calgary
3 – 4
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
51–26–4
106
Recap
82
April 7
Vancouver
4 – 3
San Jose
OT
Nabokov
17,496
51–26–5
107
Recap
Legend :
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)
Playoffs
2007 Stanley Cup playoffs[ 2]
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (4) Nashville Predators – Sharks win 4–1
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Series
Recap
1
April 11
San Jose
5 – 4
Nashville
2OT
Nabokov
17,113
1 – 0
Recap
2
April 13
San Jose
2 – 5
Nashville
Nabokov
17,113
1 – 1
Recap
3
April 16
Nashville
1 – 3
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
2 – 1
Recap
4
April 18
Nashville
2 – 3
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
3 – 1
Recap
5
April 20
San Jose
3 – 2
Nashville
Nabokov
17,113
4 – 1
Recap
Western Conference Semifinals vs. (1) Detroit Red Wings – Red Wings win 4–2
Game
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Series
Recap
1
April 26
San Jose
2 – 0
Detroit
Nabokov
18,712
1 – 0
Recap
2
April 28
San Jose
2 – 3
Detroit
Nabokov
19,113
1 – 1
Recap
3
April 30
Detroit
1 – 2
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
2 – 1
Recap
4
May 2
Detroit
3 – 2
San Jose
OT
Nabokov
17,496
2 – 2
Recap
5
May 5
San Jose
1 – 4
Detroit
Nabokov
19,937
2 – 3
Recap
6
May 7
Detroit
2 – 0
San Jose
Nabokov
17,496
2 – 4
Recap
Legend :
Win
Loss
Player statistics
Scoring
Position abbreviations: C = Center ; D = Defense ; G = Goaltender ; LW = Left wing ; RW = Right wing
† = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sharks only.
‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sharks only.
Goaltending
Awards and records
Awards
Milestones
Transactions
The Sharks were involved in the following transactions from June 20, 2006, the day after the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals , through June 6, 2007, the day of the deciding game of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals .[ 13]
Trades
Players acquired
Players lost
Signings
Draft picks
San Jose's draft picks at the 2006 NHL entry draft held at General Motors Place in Vancouver , British Columbia .[ 47]
See also
Notes
^ Pavelski wore number 53 through December 23.
^ a b Cheechoo and Thornton were voted to the starting lineup.[ 4]
^ This trade was voided on February 23 since Korolyuk did not report to San Jose and remained in Russia.[ 19]
^ In parentheses is the player's free agency group on July 1 if applicable.[ 30]
References
^ "NHL Hockey Standings" . NHL.com . Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
^ a b "2006-07 San Jose Sharks Schedule" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
^ "Postseason All-Star Teams" . records.nhl.com . Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)" . NHL.com . Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ "NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 2007" . NHL.com . Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ a b c d "NHL Three Stars of the Week" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ "NHL Rookies of the Month" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ "NHL Three Stars of the Month" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ "2006-07 NHL Young Stars Rosters" . TSN.ca . Archived from the original on February 2, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2024 .
^ a b 2014–15 San Jose Sharks Media Guide, p.255–58
^ "Marc-Edouard Vlasic Voted PlayStation "Sharks Rookie of the Year" " . San Jose Sharks . April 7, 2007. Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2024 .
^ "2006-07 NHL Debuts" . Hockey-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ a b "Hockey Transactions Search Results" . Pro Sports Transactions . Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ a b McKeon, Ross (June 25, 2006). "Sharks pick defenseman / San Jose trades up to grab 'ecstatic' youngster Wishart" . SFGATE . Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "Sharks Acquire LW Mark Bell In Exchange For Preissing And Hennessy" . San Jose Sharks . July 10, 2006. Archived from the original on July 20, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "PENGUINS ACQUIRE EKMAN AND EHELECHNER" . Pittsburgh Penguins . July 20, 2006. Archived from the original on July 23, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2024 .
^ "Cap call: Devils deal Malakhov to Sharks" . ESPN.com . October 1, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "Canadiens acquire defenseman Biron for Traverse" . ESPN.com . December 15, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ Reichart, Pat (February 24, 2007). "DEVILS' KOROLYUK TRADE FALLS THROUGH" . New York Post . Retrieved August 31, 2024 .
^ "Devils trade Korolyuk back to Sharks for draft pick" . ESPN.com . February 16, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ McKeon, Ross (February 26, 2007). "Sharks try to fill defensive void / Gorges to Montreal for Rivet" . SFGATE . Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "Sharks Acquire Forward Bill Guerin From St. Louis" . San Jose Sharks . February 27, 2007. Archived from the original on March 2, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "Sharks Acquire Sixth Round Selection In 2008 Draft" . San Jose Sharks . February 27, 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "Penguins acquire defenseman Kwiatkowski, goalie Schaefer" . TribLIVE.com . February 27, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2024 .
^ a b "Sharks Add Veterans Curtis Brown and Mike Grier to Fold" . San Jose Sharks . July 3, 2006. Archived from the original on July 5, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ a b "Traverse, Darche to swim with Sharks" . theahl.com . July 10, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ a b c d e f g "Sharks sign seven, including Cup champ Mink" . theahl.com . July 15, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ a b "Briefing, 8/10" . The Denver Post . August 9, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "Sharks Sign Forward T.J. Fox" . San Jose Sharks . March 8, 2007. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "NHL RELEASES FREE AGENT LIST" . NHL.com . July 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 5, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "Kings Sign Free Agent Scott Thornton" . OurSports Central . July 1, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2024 .
^ Elliott, Helene (July 3, 2006). "Kings Reach Agreement With Center McCauley" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 21, 2024 .
^ Williams, Terrell (July 21, 2006). "CONBOY, ANGELIDIS AND KELMAN AGREE TO TERMS WITH CAROLINA" . Carolina Hurricanes . Archived from the original on August 19, 2006. Retrieved September 9, 2024 .
^ "PENGUINS SIGN DEFENSEMAN MATT CARKNER" . Pittsburgh Penguins. July 23, 2006. Archived from the original on November 4, 2006. Retrieved September 23, 2012 .
^ "Panther im Sturm komplett" . Augsburger Panther (in German). August 14, 2006. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "NO HEADLINE" . The Spokesman-Review . September 29, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 . MONTREAL CANADIENS—Claimed D Patrick Traverse off waivers from San Jose.
^ "Falcons Sign Prudden and Leisenring" . OurSports Central . October 12, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ a b c d e f g "Sharks Agree To Terms With Seven" . San Jose Sharks . July 15, 2006. Archived from the original on July 21, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ "Avery among NHL signings" . CBC.ca . July 24, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 . The San Jose Sharks re-signed forward Mark Smith for the 2006-07 season.
^ a b "TRANSACTIONS" . Chicago Tribune . July 26, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 . San Jose: Signed F Mark Bell. Re-signed D Christian Ehrhoff.
^ "Sharks sign right wing Ashton Rome" . OurSports Central . September 21, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ Chi, Victor (October 6, 2006). "Thanks but no Tank? Sharks goalie may return even after demotion" . East Bay Times . Retrieved September 22, 2024 . Schaefer signed a one-year contract with the Sharks on Thursday
^ "Transactions" . The New York Times . December 29, 2006. Retrieved September 22, 2024 . SAN JOSE SHARKS--Signed D Derek Joslin.
^ "Vermont's Mitchell signs with NHL's San Jose Sharks" . Times Argus . March 20, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2024 .
^ McKeon, Ross (March 31, 2007). "Penalty killing bails out Sharks / Win sends San Jose to 100-point mark" . SFGATE . Retrieved September 22, 2024 . The Sharks signed defenseman Ty Wishart to an entry-level contract.
^ a b "An old playoff foe returns / San Jose, Detroit will meet for first time since '95" . SFGATE . April 24, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2024 . The Sharks on Monday announced the signing of two prospects: right wing Mike Morris and left wing Jamie McGinn to a standard player contract.
^ "2006 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com" . www.hockeydb.com . Retrieved July 22, 2024 .
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