The 2006–07 Los Angeles Kings season was the 40th season (39th season of play) for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise. This season marked the beginning of a rebuilding phase, as the team hired Marc Crawford as their new head coach, the former general manager of the San Jose Sharks, Dean Lombardi, as their new GM, former NHL goaltenders Ron Hextall as assistant GM (and GM of their AHL affiliate Manchester Monarchs), and Bill Ranford as goaltending coach. Their first big move came when they acquired rookie prospect Patrick O'Sullivan, along with a 2006 first-round draft pick (Trevor Lewis), from the Minnesota Wild for forward Pavol Demitra on June 24, 2006.
But the biggest move of the off-season for the Kings was acquiring goaltender Dan Cloutier from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2007 second-round draft pick and a 2009 conditional draft pick on July 5, 2006. He was then named the team's starting goaltender ahead of Mathieu Garon, whom many fans expected to be their number-one goaltender. Before the season got underway, he was signed to a two-year contract, expecting a great performance from the former Canuck. However, at the end of December, Dan Cloutier was last in save percentage and goals against average (GAA) amongst NHL goaltenders who have played at least 12 games.
Injuries to both Garon and Cloutier in January prompted the Kings to recall Yutaka Fukufuji as an emergency goaltender, who made his NHL debut on January 13 against the St. Louis Blues, becoming the first Japanese-born player in NHL history.Blues edge Kings in offensive contest tsn.ca - accessed January 13, 2007. On January 18, prior to a home game against St. Louis, the Kings claimed goaltender Sean Burke off of waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Burke would be the fifth goaltender to play for the Kings during the season (after Cloutier, Garon, Barry Brust and Fukufuji). This marked the first time the Kings have had at least five goaltenders appear during one season since the 2000–01 season (Jamie Storr, Felix Potvin, Steve Passmore, Stephane Fiset and Travis Scott).
On January 20, 2007, prior to a night-game against the Phoenix Coyotes, the Los Angeles Kings officially retired Luc Robitaille's number 20 sweater. This makes him the fifth player to have his number retired by the Los Angeles Kings, along with Rogie Vachon, Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor and Wayne Gretzky.
The Kings missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.ESPN.com - accessed January 21, 2007.
Regular season The Kings struggled on the penalty kill, finishing the regular season 30th overall in penalty-kill percentage, at 77.86%.
Season standings
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 6 || @ Ducks || 3 – 4 || || Cloutier || 17,174 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 7 || Blues || 1 – 4 || || Garon || 18,118 || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 10 || Islanders || 2 – 4 || || Cloutier || 14,394 || 2–1–0 || 4 ||
| 4 || October 12 || Stars || 4 – 1 || || Cloutier || 14,167 || 2–2–0 || 4 ||
| 5 || October 14 || Stars || 4 – 1 || || Garon || 17,052 || 2–3–0 || 4 ||
| 6 || October 16 || Red Wings || 3 – 1 || || Cloutier || 17,417 || 2–4–0 || 4 ||
| 7 || October 18 || Wild || 1 – 2 || OT || Cloutier || 14,617 || 2–4–1 || 5 ||
| 8 || October 19 || @ Coyotes || 4 – 0 || || Garon || 12,714 || 3–4–1 || 7 ||
| 9 || October 22 || Ducks || 3 – 2 || SO || Garon || 18,118 || 3–4–2 || 8 ||
| 10 || October 23 || @ Avalanche || 1 – 6 || || Cloutier || 17,284 || 3–5–2 || 8 ||
| 11 || October 25 || @ Wild || 1 – 3 || || Cloutier || 18,568 || 3–6–2 || 8 ||
| 12 || October 27 || @ Blue Jackets || 0 – 2 || || Cloutier || 16,087 || 3–7–2 || 8 ||
| 13 || October 28 || @ Stars || 2 – 3 || || Garon || 17,711 || 3–8–2 || 8 ||
| 14 || October 30 || Rangers || 1 – 4 || || Garon || 17,236 || 4–8–2 || 10 ||
| 15 || November 1 || Penguins || 4 – 3 || OT || Cloutier || 18,118 || 4–8–3 || 11 ||
| 16 || November 4 || @ Coyotes || 4 – 6 || || Garon || 14,631 || 4–9–3 || 11 ||
| 17 || November 7 || @ Avalanche || 6 – 5 || || Cloutier || 17,196 || 5–9–3 || 13 ||
| 18 || November 9 || Sharks || 7 – 3 || || Garon || 16,618 || 5–10–3 || 13 ||
| 19 || November 11 || Wild || 3 – 2 || SO || Garon || 17,479 || 5–10–4 || 14 ||
| 20 || November 13 || Sharks || 2 – 4 || || Cloutier || 16,667 || 6–10–4 || 16 ||
| 21 || November 16 || Flyers || 4 – 3 || || Cloutier || 16,446 || 6–11–4 || 16 ||
| 22 || November 18 || Coyotes || 3 – 5 || || Cloutier || 14,487 || 7–11–4 || 18 ||
| 23 || November 22 || @ Sharks || 3 – 6 || || Cloutier || 17,496 || 7–12–4 || 18 ||
| 24 || November 24 || @ Stars || 3 – 5 || || Garon || 18,532 || 7–13–4 || 18 ||
| 25 || November 25 || Flames || 1 – 3 || || Garon || 17,043 || 8–13–4 || 20 ||
| 26 || November 27 || Devils || 2 – 3 || SO || Garon || 16,223 || 9–13–4 || 22 ||
| 27 || November 30 || @ Coyotes || 4 – 7 || || Brust || 11,526 || 9–14–4 || 22 ||
| 28 || December 2 || Ducks || 4 – 3 || || Cloutier || 16,141 || 9–15–4 || 22 ||
| 29 || December 3 || @ Ducks || 3 – 2 || || Cloutier || 17,174 || 10–15–4 || 24 ||
| 30 || December 7 || Predators || 4 – 1 || || Cloutier || 15,119 || 10–16–4 || 24 ||
| 31 || December 9 || Avalanche || 4 – 5 || || Cloutier || 17,079 || 11–16–4 || 26 ||
| 32 || December 12 || Sharks || 3 – 1 || || Cloutier || 15,204 || 11–17–4 || 26 ||
| 33 || December 14 || @ Sharks || 4 – 2 || || Brust || 17,496 || 12–17–4 || 28 ||
| 34 || December 16 || Stars || 4 – 3 || SO || Brust || 15,846 || 12–17–5 || 29 ||
| 35 || December 19 || Flames || 5 – 3 || || Cloutier || 17,247 || 12–18–5 || 29 ||
| 36 || December 21 || @ Blues || 2 – 5 || || Cloutier || 10,390 || 12–19–5 || 29 ||
| 37 || December 23 || @ Predators || 0 – 7 || || Cloutier || 14,739 || 12–20–5 || 29 ||
| 38 || December 26 || Coyotes || 3 – 4 || SO || Brust || 18,118 || 13–20–5 || 31 ||
| 39 || December 28 || @ Oilers || 7 – 4 || || Garon || 16,839 || 14–20–5 || 33 ||
| 40 || December 29 || @ Flames || 4 – 6 || || Brust || 19,289 || 14–21–5 || 33 ||
| 41 || December 31 || @ Red Wings || 2 – 6 || || Garon || 20,066 || 14–22–5 || 33 ||
| 42 || January 3 || Blue Jackets || 0 – 3 || || Garon || 16,451 || 15–22–5 || 35 ||
| 43 || January 6 || Red Wings || 2 – 4 || || Garon || 18,118 || 16–22–5 || 37 ||
| 44 || January 8 || Oilers || 2 – 1 || OT || Garon || 16,224 || 16–22–6 || 38 ||
| 45 || January 11 || Sharks || 5 – 2 || || Garon || 17,054 || 16–23–6 || 38 ||
| 46 || January 13 || @ Blues || 5 – 6 || || Fukufuji || 17,868 || 16–24–6 || 38 ||
| 47 || January 15 || @ Stars || 1 – 3 || || Brust || 17,992 || 16–25–6 || 38 ||
| 48 || January 16 || @ Thrashers || 2 – 6 || || Fukufuji || 13,205 || 16–26–6 || 38 ||
| 49 || January 18 || Blues || 3 – 1 || || Brust || 16,544 || 16–27–6 || 38 ||
| 50 || January 20 || Coyotes || 3 – 2 || || Fukufuji || 18,346 || 16–28–6 || 38 ||
| 51 || January 26 || @ Canucks || 3 – 2 || OT || Burke || 18,630 || 17–28–6 || 40 ||
| 52 || January 27 || @ Oilers || 3 – 4 || || Burke || 16,839 || 17–29–6 || 40 ||
| 53 || January 30 || @ Flames || 1 – 4 || || Burke || 19,289 || 17–30–6 || 40 ||
| 54 || February 1 || Blackhawks || 3 – 2 || OT || Burke || 16,958 || 17–30–7 || 41 ||
| 55 || February 3 || @ Panthers || 7 – 0 || || Burke || 15,108 || 18–30–7 || 43 ||
| 56 || February 6 || @ Lightning || 2 – 3 || SO || Burke || 18,273 || 18–30–8 || 44 ||
| 57 || February 8 || @ Capitals || 3 – 4 || OT || Garon || 15,527 || 18–30–9 || 45 ||
| 58 || February 10 || @ Predators || 4 – 1 || || Burke || 17,113 || 19–30–9 || 47 ||
| 59 || February 13 || @ Hurricanes || 1 – 2 || || Burke || 15,765 || 19–31–9 || 47 ||
| 60 || February 17 || Ducks || 3 – 2 || SO || Garon || 18,118 || 19–31–10 || 48 ||
| 61 || February 18 || @ Ducks || 4 – 3 || SO || Burke || 17,363 || 20–31–10 || 50 ||
| 62 || February 22 || Canucks || 3 – 2 || || Garon || 17,737 || 20–32–10 || 50 ||
| 63 || February 24 || Avalanche || 5 – 6 || SO || Burke || 18,118 || 21–32–10 || 52 ||
| 64 || March 1 || Ducks || 4 - 3 || OT || Burke || 17,620 || 22–32–10 || 54 ||
| 65 || March 3 || Predators || 6 – 3 || || Burke || 16,854 || 22–33–10 || 54 ||
| 66 || March 6 || @ Blackhawks || 0 – 3 || || Burke || 9,118 || 22–34–10 || 54 ||
| 67 || March 7 || @ Blue Jackets || 2 – 3 || OT || Garon || 15,154 || 22–34–11 || 55 ||
| 68 || March 9 || @ Red Wings || 2 – 3 || OT || Burke || 20,066 || 22–34–12 || 56 ||
| 69 || March 11 || @ Stars || 3 – 4 || OT || Burke || 17,478 || 22–34–13 || 57 ||
| 70 || March 12 || Oilers || 1 – 5 || || Burke || 16,954 || 23–34–13 || 59 ||
| 71 || March 15 || Blackhawks || 4 – 3 || SO || Burke || 16,110 || 23–34–14 || 60 ||
| 72 || March 17 || Blue Jackets || 3 – 5 || || Garon || 17,197 || 24–34–14 || 62 ||
| 73 || March 18 || @ Ducks || 5 – 3 || || Garon || 17,174 || 25–34–14 || 64 ||
| 74 || March 21 || Stars || 4 – 2 || || Burke || 17,838 || 25–35–14 || 64 ||
| 75 || March 23 || @ Blackhawks || 2 – 1 || || Garon || 13,133 || 26–35–14 || 66 ||
| 76 || March 24 || @ Wild || 1 – 4 || || Garon || 18,568 || 26–36–14 || 66 ||
| 77 || March 27 || @ Sharks || 1 – 3 || || Burke || 17,496 || 26–37–14 || 66 ||
| 78 || March 29 || Canucks || 4 – 2 || || Burke || 17,916 || 26–38–14 || 66 ||
| 79 || April 1 || @ Sharks || 2 – 6 || || Burke || 17,496 || 26–39–14 || 66 ||
| 80 || April 3 || @ Canucks || 2 – 4 || || Garon || 18,630 || 26–40–14 || 66 ||
| 81 || April 5 || @ Coyotes || 2 – 3 || || Burke || 15,965 || 26–41–14 || 66 ||
| 82 || April 7 || Coyotes || 3 – 2 || || Garon || 18,118 || 27–41–14 || 68 ||
Legend:
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 Kings only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only. Player Regular season 13 C 81 34 46 80 5 48 24 LW 82 35 36 71 −8 34 11 C 72 20 41 61 −12 24 17 D 69 18 40 58 1 26 23 LW 81 17 29 46 −21 54 7 C 67 11 33 44 13 62 4 D 72 14 20 34 −26 82 19 C 55 10 18 28 −10 116 5 D 44 4 19 23 2 14 29 RW 76 7 15 22 −273 21 RW 81 11 10 21 −20 49 12 C 44 5 14 19 −6 14 22 C 52 5 11 16 −13 38 27 LW 58 7 6 13 −15 85 38 D 53 1 9 10 −13 12 15 C 29 7 2 9 −8 25 8 D 39 3 6 9 −4 16 14 D 62 2 7 9 −20 40 41 LW 66 4 4 8 −12 140 6 D 19 2 6 8 −2 20 3 D 82 0 8 8 −14 60 44 D 19 0 8 8 1 22 9 RW 16 2 2 4 −2 8 28 D 26 0 4 4 −10 10 73 RW 23 1 2 3 −2 22 25 LW 13 2 0 2 −6 4 15 LW 21 0 2 2 −1 32 49 D 12 0 2 2 0 8 26 C 19 0 2 2 −5 4 10 C 10 1 0 1 0 2 1 G 23 0 1 1 4 39 G 24 0 1 1 21 31 G 32 0 1 1 6 22 RW 7 0 1 1 −1 4 32 G 11 0 0 0 0 33 G 4 0 0 0 0 37 LW 5 0 0 0 −1 2 43 RW 5 0 0 0 −1 10 33 D 5 0 0 0 −5 18 22 D 5 0 0 0 −3 6 22 LW 2 0 0 0 0 0 34 RW 4 0 0 0 −2 0
Goaltending = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only. Player Regular season 31 Mathieu Garon 32 13 10 6 849 79 2.66 .907 2 1779 1 Sean Burke 23 6 10 5 687 68 3.12 .901 1 1310 39 Dan Cloutier 24 6 14 2 608 85 3.98 .860 0 1281 32 Barry Brust 11 2 4 1 245 30 3.70 .878 0 486 33 Yutaka Fukufuji 4 0 3 0 43 7 4.37 .837 0 96
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Lubomir Visnovsky NHL First Star of the Week Alexander Frolov (November 19) NHL Second Star of the Week Alexander Frolov (December 31) NHL YoungStars Game selection Anze Kopitar Team Ace Bailey Memorial Award Tom KostopoulosLos Angeles Kings 2014–15 Media Guide, p. 201–03 Bill Libby Memorial Award Michael Cammalleri Defensive Player Derek Armstrong Jim Fox Community Service Derek Armstrong Leading Scorer Michael Cammalleri Mark Bavis Memorial Award Anze Kopitar Most Popular Player Anze Kopitar Outstanding Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky Unsung Hero Tom Kostopoulos
Milestones