2006–07 Carolina Hurricanes season

The 2006–07 Carolina Hurricanes season began as the defending Stanley Cup champions started to defend their title. The Hurricanes did not make any substantial changes to their roster, hoping that their lineup would be enough to get them a repeat as NHL champions. However, due to many factors, including a shortened off-season due to last season's Stanley Cup run, injuries and disappointing performances from the team's young stars (including Eric Staal and Cam Ward), the team failed to qualify for the post-season becoming the first team since the 1995–96 New Jersey Devils to miss the playoffs after winning the Stanley Cup the previous year.

2006–07 Carolina Hurricanes
Division	3rd Southeast
Conference	11th Eastern
2006–07 record	40–34–8
Home record	21–16–4
Road record	19–18–4
Goals for	241
Goals against	253
Team information
General manager	Jim Rutherford
Coach	Peter Laviolette
Captain	Rod Brind'Amour
Alternate captains	Kevyn Adams (Oct-Jan) Cory Stillman Glen Wesley Ray Whitney (Jan-Apr)
Arena	RBC Center
Team leaders
Goals	Justin Williams (33)
Assists	Rod Brind'Amour (56)
Points	Ray Whitney (83)
Penalty minutes	Mike Commodore (113)
Plus/minus	Glen Wesley (+11)
Wins	Cam Ward (30)
Goals against average	Cam Ward (2.93)

Regular season

Season standings

Southeast Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	3	Atlanta Thrashers	82	43	28	11	246	245	97
2	7	Tampa Bay Lightning	82	44	33	5	253	261	93
3	11	Carolina Hurricanes	82	40	34	8	241	253	88
4	12	Florida Panthers	82	35	31	16	247	257	86
5	14	Washington Capitals	82	28	40	14	235	286	70

Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
       Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Eastern Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	P - Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	53	22	7	308	242	113
2	Y - New Jersey Devils	AT	82	49	24	9	216	201	107
3	Y - Atlanta Thrashers	SE	82	43	28	11	246	245	97
4	X - Ottawa Senators	NE	82	48	25	9	288	222	105
5	X - Pittsburgh Penguins	AT	82	47	24	11	277	246	105
6	X - New York Rangers	AT	82	42	30	10	242	216	94
7	X - Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	82	44	33	5	253	261	93
8	X - New York Islanders	AT	82	40	30	12	248	240	92
8.5
9	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	82	40	31	11	258	269	91
10	Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	42	34	6	245	256	90
11	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	82	40	34	8	241	253	88
12	Florida Panthers	SE	82	35	31	16	247	257	86
13	Boston Bruins	NE	82	35	41	6	219	289	76
14	Washington Capitals	SE	82	28	40	14	235	286	70
15	Philadelphia Flyers	AT	82	22	48	12	214	303	56

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

P – Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

Schedule and results

2006–07 regular season
October: 5–5–2 (home: 2–1–1; road: 3–4–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 1 October 4 Buffalo 3 – 2 Carolina SO Ward 18,840 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 6 New Jersey 4 – 0 Carolina Ward 18,639 0–1–1 1 Recap 3 October 7 Carolina 2 – 5 Washington Ward 16,622 0–2–1 1 Recap 4 October 11 Carolina 3 – 6 Florida Grahame 14,312 0–3–1 1 Recap 5 October 13 Carolina 4 – 3 Atlanta Ward 13,106 1–3–1 3 Recap 6 October 14 Carolina 5 – 1 Pittsburgh Ward 14,351 2–3–1 5 Recap 7 October 16 Carolina 5 – 1 Tampa Bay Ward 19,815 3–3–1 7 Recap 8 October 20 Carolina 4 – 5 Buffalo Ward 18,690 3–4–1 7 Recap 9 October 21 Carolina 3 – 4 NY Islanders OT Grahame 12,349 3–4–2 8 Recap 10 October 25 Atlanta 4 – 5 Carolina OT Ward 15,008 4–4–2 10 Recap 11 October 26 Carolina 1 – 5 Tampa Bay Ward 19,826 4–5–2 10 Recap 12 October 28 Tampa Bay 4 – 6 Carolina Ward 18,639 5–5–2 12 Recap
November: 9–5–1 (home: 5–2–0; road: 4–3–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 13 November 1 Carolina 5 – 2 Atlanta Ward 14,277 6–5–2 14 Recap 14 November 2 Montreal 4 – 0 Carolina Ward 16,486 6–6–2 14 Recap 15 November 4 Carolina 3 – 2 Ottawa Ward 19,548 7–6–2 16 Recap 16 November 7 Carolina 2 – 3 New Jersey SO Ward 10,986 7–6–3 17 Recap 17 November 9 Washington 0 – 5 Carolina Ward 18,639 8–6–3 19 Recap 18 November 11 Pittsburgh 2 – 6 Carolina Ward 18,726 9–6–3 21 Recap 19 November 13 Buffalo 7 – 4 Carolina Ward 14,387 9–7–3 21 Recap 20 November 15 NY Rangers 1 – 2 Carolina Ward 16,080 10–7–3 23 Recap 21 November 17 Carolina 4 – 1 Washington Grahame 12,683 11–7–3 25 Recap 22 November 18 Dallas 4 – 5 Carolina Ward 18,639 12–7–3 27 Recap 23 November 21 Carolina 0 – 4 NY Rangers Ward 18,200 12–8–3 27 Recap 24 November 22 Carolina 2 – 4 NY Islanders Grahame 12,419 12–9–3 27 Recap 25 November 24 Carolina 5 – 1 Boston Grahame 16,544 13–9–3 29 Recap 26 November 28 Ottawa 4 – 1 Carolina Grahame 14,393 13–10–3 29 Recap 27 November 30 Montreal 2 – 4 Carolina Ward 13,103 14–10–3 31 Recap
December: 7–6–1 (home: 4–2–0; road: 3–4–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 28 December 2 Boston 2 – 5 Carolina Ward 18,639 15–10–3 33 Recap 29 December 5 Carolina 0 – 3 Calgary Grahame 19,289 15–11–3 33 Recap 30 December 6 Carolina 1 – 3 Edmonton Ward 16,839 15–12–3 33 Recap 31 December 8 Carolina 3 – 4 Vancouver OT Ward 18,630 15–12–4 34 Recap 32 December 11 Carolina 2 – 5 Colorado Grahame 17,214 15–13–4 34 Recap 33 December 15 Toronto 5 – 3 Carolina Ward 18,639 15–14–4 34 Recap 34 December 16 Carolina 3 – 2 Tampa Bay Ward 18,634 16–14–4 36 Recap 35 December 19 Carolina 2 – 1 Philadelphia Ward 19,111 17–14–4 38 Recap 36 December 22 NY Islanders 1 – 5 Carolina Ward 18,252 18–14–4 40 Recap 37 December 23 Carolina 3 – 2 Florida OT Grahame 16,147 19–14–4 42 Recap 38 December 26 Florida 2 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,639 20–14–4 44 Recap 39 December 28 Carolina 1 – 4 Buffalo Grahame 18,690 20–15–4 44 Recap 40 December 29 Anaheim 2 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,790 21–15–4 46 Recap 41 December 31 Philadelphia 5 – 2 Carolina Ward 18,796 21–16–4 46 Recap
January: 5–5–2 (home: 3–3–2; road: 2–2–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 42 January 2 Carolina 0 – 3 Pittsburgh Ward 16,957 21–17–4 46 Recap 43 January 4 Phoenix 2 – 0 Carolina Ward 15,096 21–18–4 46 Recap 44 January 6 NY Islanders 2 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,639 22–18–4 48 Recap 45 January 9 Carolina 4 – 1 Toronto Ward 19,447 23–18–4 50 Recap 46 January 11 Florida 4 – 6 Carolina Grahame 13,552 24–18–4 52 Recap 47 January 13 Atlanta 4 – 3 Carolina SO Ward 18,639 24–18–5 53 Recap 48 January 16 Carolina 3 – 2 Florida OT Grahame 10,317 25–18–5 55 Recap 49 January 18 Washington 5 – 2 Carolina Grahame 16,285 25–19–5 55 Recap 50 January 20 Tampa Bay 6 – 5 Carolina SO Ward 18,196 25–19–6 56 Recap 51 January 26 Washington 2 – 6 Carolina Ward 18,044 26–19–6 58 Recap 52 January 27 Carolina 3 – 7 Washington Ward 16,924 26–20–6 58 Recap 53 January 30 Toronto 4 – 1 Carolina Ward 16,533 26–21–6 58 Recap
February: 6–6–1 (home: 2–4–1; road: 4–2–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 54 February 1 Tampa Bay 4 – 0 Carolina Grahame 16,635 26–22–6 58 Recap 55 February 3 Boston 4 – 3 Carolina OT Ward 18,665 26–22–7 59 Recap 56 February 6 Carolina 2 – 1 Montreal Ward 21,273 27–22–7 61 Recap 57 February 8 Carolina 5 – 2 Boston Ward 13,014 28–22–7 63 Recap 58 February 10 Carolina 4 – 5 Minnesota Grahame 18,568 28–23–7 63 Recap 59 February 13 Los Angeles 1 – 2 Carolina Ward 15,765 29–23–7 65 Recap 60 February 15 NY Rangers 4 – 1 Carolina Ward 17,255 29–24–7 65 Recap 61 February 17 Carolina 5 – 3 Montreal Ward 21,273 30–24–7 67 Recap 62 February 20 Atlanta 3 – 1 Carolina Ward 16,228 30–25–7 67 Recap 63 February 22 Philadelphia 2 – 3 Carolina OT Grahame 14,533 31–25–7 69 Recap 64 February 24 Carolina 4 – 1 Atlanta Grahame 18,744 32–25–7 71 Recap 65 February 27 Ottawa 4 – 2 Carolina Grahame 17,812 32–26–7 71 Recap 66 February 28 Carolina 0 – 2 Ottawa Ward 19,261 32–27–7 71 Recap
March: 6–5–1 (home: 4–2–0; road: 2–3–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 67 March 2 Pittsburgh 2 – 3 Carolina Ward 18,793 33–27–7 73 Recap 68 March 4 Carolina 1 – 3 Atlanta Grahame 17,783 33–28–7 73 Recap 69 March 9 Carolina 3 – 0 Washington Ward 13,970 34–28–7 75 Recap 70 March 11 Carolina 1 – 2 NY Rangers SO Grahame 18,200 34–28–8 76 Recap 71 March 13 Florida 1 – 3 Carolina Grahame 18,639 35–28–8 78 Recap 72 March 15 New Jersey 3 – 2 Carolina Grahame 18,279 35–29–8 78 Recap 73 March 17 Carolina 7 – 2 New Jersey Grahame 15,490 36–29–8 80 Recap 74 March 22 Washington 3 – 4 Carolina Ward 18,740 37–29–8 82 Recap 75 March 24 San Jose 4 – 6 Carolina Ward 18,763 38–29–8 84 Recap 76 March 27 Carolina 1 – 6 Toronto Ward 19,559 38–30–8 84 Recap 77 March 28 Carolina 1 – 5 Philadelphia Grahame 19,123 38–31–8 84 Recap 78 March 30 Tampa Bay 4 – 2 Carolina Ward 18,639 38–32–8 84 Recap
April: 2–2–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 1–1–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Points Recap 79 April 1 Carolina 4 – 3 Florida OT Ward 17,878 39–32–8 86 Recap 80 April 3 Carolina 2 – 3 Tampa Bay Ward 20,224 39–33–8 86 Recap 81 April 6 Atlanta 4 – 3 Carolina Ward 17,158 39–34–8 86 Recap 82 April 7 Florida 4 – 5 Carolina OT Grahame 18,639 40–34–8 88 Recap
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Player stats

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Ray Whitney LW 81 32 51 83 46 -5 6 0 6 Rod Brind'Amour C 78 26 56 82 46 7 9 2 5 Eric Staal C 82 30 40 70 68 -6 12 1 1 Justin Williams RW 82 33 34 67 73 -11 12 2 8 Erik Cole LW 71 29 32 61 76 2 9 0 4 Scott Walker RW 81 21 30 51 45 -10 6 0 6 Mike Commodore D 82 7 22 29 113 0 0 2 1 Cory Stillman LW 43 5 22 27 24 -8 1 0 0 Andrew Ladd LW 65 11 10 21 46 1 2 0 3 Eric Belanger C 56 8 12 20 14 -2 3 0 1 Chad LaRose RW 80 6 12 18 10 -2 0 2 0 David Tanabe D 60 5 12 17 44 5 2 0 0 Craig Adams RW 82 7 7 14 54 -9 0 1 1 Andrew Hutchinson D 41 3 11 14 30 0 2 0 0 Anton Babchuk D 52 2 12 14 30 -6 0 0 2 Glen Wesley D 68 1 12 13 56 11 0 1 1 Niclas Wallin D 67 2 8 10 48 -2 0 0 0 Bret Hedican D 50 0 10 10 36 -8 0 0 0 Josef Vasicek C 25 2 7 9 22 -6 0 0 0 Frantisek Kaberle D 27 2 6 8 20 8 1 0 1 Trevor Letowski RW 61 2 6 8 18 -8 0 0 0 Tim Gleason D 57 2 4 6 57 -10 1 0 0 Dennis Seidenberg D 20 1 5 6 2 -12 0 0 0 Kevyn Adams C 35 2 2 4 17 -10 0 1 0 John Grahame G 28 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 Ryan Bayda LW 9 1 1 2 2 -1 0 0 0 Anson Carter RW 10 1 0 1 2 -3 1 0 0 Keith Aucoin C 8 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 Cam Ward G 60 0 1 1 6 0 0 0 0 David Gove C/RW 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T/OT GA GAA SO SA SV SV% Cam Ward 3422 60 30 21 6 167 2.93 2 1625 1458 .897 John Grahame 1515 28 10 13 2 72 2.85 0 702 630 .897 Team: 4937 82 40 34 8 239 2.90 2 2327 2088 .897

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Transactions

Trades

July 18, 2006	To Carolina Hurricanes Scott Walker	To Nashville Predators Josef Vasicek
September 29, 2006	To Carolina Hurricanes Tim Gleason Eric Belanger	To Los Angeles Kings Jack Johnson Oleg Tverdovsky
November 21, 2006	To Carolina Hurricanes Jakub Petruzalek conditional pick in 2008	To New York Rangers Brad Isbister
November 29, 2006	To Carolina Hurricanes Mark Flood	To Columbus Blue Jackets Derrick Walser
January 8, 2007	To Carolina Hurricanes Dennis Seidenberg	To Phoenix Coyotes Kevyn Adams
February 9, 2007	To Carolina Hurricanes Josef Vasicek	To Nashville Predators Eric Belanger
February 23, 2007	To Carolina Hurricanes Anson Carter	To Columbus Blue Jackets 5th round pick in 2008

Free agents acquired

Player	Former Team
G John Grahame	Tampa Bay Lightning
F Trevor Letowski	Columbus Blue Jackets
D Tim Conboy	San Jose Sharks
F Jesse Boulerice	St. Louis Blues
D David Tanabe	Boston Bruins
D Brad Isbister	Boston Bruins

Free agents lost

Player	New Team
F Matt Cullen	New York Rangers
G Martin Gerber	Ottawa Senators
F Doug Weight	St. Louis Blues
D Aaron Ward	New York Rangers
F Mark Recchi	Pittsburgh Penguins

Draft picks

Carolina's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
2	63	Jamie McBain (D)	United States	US National Team Development Program (NAHL)
3	93	Harrison Reed (RW)	Canada	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
4	123	Bobby Hughes (C)	Canada	Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
5	153	Stefan Chaput (C)	Canada	Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL)
6	183	Nick Dodge (RW)	Canada	Clarkson University (NCAA)
7	213	Justin Krueger (D)	Switzerland	Cornell University (NCAA)