The 2006–07 Nashville Predators season was the ninth 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 Jean-Pierre Dumont, the Predators were predicted to challenge the Detroit Red Wings for top spot in the Central Division.burnside, Scott, 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, defenseman and team captain Kimmo Timonen, who played in his second All-Star Game. Head Coach Barry Trotz served as an assistant coach for the Western Conference.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, 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, 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.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, 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 five games in the quarterfinals.
On May 23, 2007, Craig Leipold was reported to have reached a tentative agreement to sell the team to Research In Motion Chairman and Co-CEO Jim Balsillie.Balsillie attempting to buy Predators , tsn.ca, May 23, 2007 According to Leipold, the team were likely to play the 2007–08 season in Nashville, but the future of the team after that had not been clear.Nashville Predators Being Sold , newschannel5.com, May 23, 2007 Balsillie had been rumored to be interested in placing another team in Southern Ontario. The sale was later not approved, and the Predators stayed in their city.
Regular season The Predators finished the regular season having allowed the fewest shorthanded goals, with two.
Season standings
Playoffs The Nashville Predators ended the 2006–07 regular season as the Western Conference's fourth seed.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 5 || Chicago || 8 – 6 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 17,113 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 7 || Nashville || 5 – 6 || Minnesota || || Vokoun || 18,568 || 0–2–0 || 0 ||
| 3 || October 12 || Nashville || 1 – 3 || Chicago || || Mason || 8,008 || 0–3–0 || 0 ||
| 4 || October 14 || Phoenix || 1 – 4 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 13,770 || 1–3–0 || 2 ||
| 5 || October 16 || Nashville || 2 – 1 || NY Islanders || SO || Vokoun || 9,431 || 2–3–0 || 4 ||
| 6 || October 18 || Nashville || 3 – 0 || NY Rangers || || Vokoun || 18,200 || 3–3–0 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 19 || Nashville || 4 – 3 || New Jersey || SO || Mason || 11,274 || 4–3–0 || 8 ||
| 8 || October 21 || Vancouver || 4 – 3 || Nashville || OT || Vokoun || 16,073 || 4–3–1 || 9 ||
| 9 || October 26 || San Jose || 3 – 4 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 13,436 || 5–3–1 || 11 ||
| 10 || October 28 || Nashville || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Vokoun || 19,289 || 6–3–1 || 13 ||
| 11 || October 31 || Nashville || 3 – 2 || Vancouver || || Vokoun || 18,630 || 7–3–1 || 15 ||
| 12 || November 1 || Nashville || 5 – 3 || Edmonton || || Mason || 16,839 || 8–3–1 || 17 ||
| 13 || November 4 || Nashville || 4 – 3 || Minnesota || || Vokoun || 18,568 || 9–3–1 || 19 ||
| 14 || November 10 || Nashville || 0 – 3 || Detroit || || Vokoun || 20,066 || 9–4–1 || 19 ||
| 15 || November 11 || Colorado || 0 – 1 || Nashville || || Mason || 17,113 || 10–4–1 || 21 ||
| 16 || November 15 || Nashville || 5 – 4 || Columbus || || Vokoun || 16,283 || 11–4–1 || 23 ||
| 17 || November 16 || Minnesota || 7 – 6 || Nashville || SO || Mason || 12,759 || 11–4–2 || 24 ||
| 18 || November 18 || Columbus || 2 – 4 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 13,209 || 12–4–2 || 26 ||
| 19 || November 20 || Nashville || 3 – 1 || Columbus || || Vokoun || 16,174 || 13–4–2 || 28 ||
| 20 || November 22 || Nashville || 0 – 1 || Dallas || || Vokoun || 17,853 || 13–5–2 || 28 ||
| 21 || November 23 || Vancouver || 0 – 6 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 15,396 || 14–5–2 || 30 ||
| 22 || November 25 || Detroit || 2 – 6 || Nashville || || Mason || 16,835 || 15–5–2 || 32 ||
| 23 || November 29 || Nashville || 3 – 2 || Philadelphia || || Mason || 18,789 || 16–5–2 || 34 ||
| 24 || November 30 || Nashville || 5 – 4 || St. Louis || || Mason || 5,410 || 17–5–2 || 36 ||
| 25 || December 2 || Chicago || 4 – 3 || Nashville || OT || Mason || 15,530 || 17–5–3 || 37 ||
| 26 || December 4 || Nashville || 2 – 3 || Phoenix || || Mason || 11,735 || 17–6–3 || 37 ||
| 27 || December 6 || Nashville || 0 – 4 || Anaheim || || Mason || 15,362 || 17–7–3 || 37 ||
| 28 || December 7 || Nashville || 4 – 1 || Los Angeles || || Mason || 15,119 || 18–7–3 || 39 ||
| 29 || December 9 || Nashville || 1 – 3 || San Jose || || Mason || 17,496 || 18–8–3 || 39 ||
| 30 || December 12 || Edmonton || 2 – 3 || Nashville || || Mason || 12,032 || 19–8–3 || 41 ||
| 31 || December 14 || Ottawa || 0 – 6 || Nashville || || Mason || 12,718 || 20–8–3 || 43 ||
| 32 || December 16 || St. Louis || 2 – 3 || Nashville || SO || Mason || 13,309 || 21–8–3 || 45 ||
| 33 || December 17 || Nashville || 2 – 1 || St. Louis || OT || Mason || 9,318 || 22–8–3 || 47 ||
| 34 || December 20 || Nashville || 2 – 1 || Chicago || || Mason || 10,201 || 23–8–3 || 49 ||
| 35 || December 21 || Buffalo || 7 – 2 || Nashville || || Mason || 16,616 || 23–9–3 || 49 ||
| 36 || December 23 || Los Angeles || 0 – 7 || Nashville || || Mason || 14,739 || 24–9–3 || 51 ||
| 37 || December 26 || St. Louis || 2 – 3 || Nashville || SO || Mason || 14,807 || 25–9–3 || 53 ||
| 38 || December 29 || Nashville || 1 – 4 || Dallas || || Mason || 18,532 || 25–10–3 || 53 ||
| 39 || December 30 || Boston || 0 – 5 || Nashville || || Mason || 16,612 || 26–10–3 || 55 ||
| 40 || January 1 || Colorado || 5 – 3 || Nashville || || Mason || 15,878 || 26–11–3 || 55 ||
| 41 || January 5 || Nashville || 8 – 3 || Chicago || || Mason || 13,186 || 27–11–3 || 57 ||
| 42 || January 6 || St. Louis || 2 – 3 || Nashville || || Mason || 14,438 || 28–11–3 || 59 ||
| 43 || January 9 || Anaheim || 4 – 5 || Nashville || OT || Vokoun || 11,821 || 29–11–3 || 61 ||
| 44 || January 12 || Columbus || 0 – 2 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 14,136 || 30–11–3 || 63 ||
| 45 || January 13 || Nashville || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Mason || 16,825 || 31–11–3 || 65 ||
| 46 || January 15 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 12,011 || 32–11–3 || 67 ||
| 47 || January 17 || Nashville || 3 – 5 || Detroit || || Mason || 20,066 || 32–12–3 || 67 ||
| 48 || January 18 || Columbus || 0 – 4 || Nashville || || Mason || 10,927 || 33–12–3 || 69 ||
| 49 || January 20 || Chicago || 3 – 6 || Nashville || || Mason || 17,113 || 34–12–3 || 71 ||
| 50 || January 26 || Nashville || 3 – 1 || Chicago || || Vokoun || 11,162 || 35–12–3 || 73 ||
| 51 || January 27 || Nashville || 6 – 3 || St. Louis || || Mason || 16,346 || 36–12–3 || 75 ||
| 52 || January 30 || Nashville || 3 – 4 || Colorado || || Vokoun || 17,119 || 36–13–3 || 75 ||
| 53 || February 1 || Nashville || 2 – 3 || Phoenix || || Vokoun || 14,047 || 36–14–3 || 75 ||
| 54 || February 3 || Anaheim || 0 – 3 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 17,113 || 37–14–3 || 77 ||
| 55 || February 6 || Nashville || 1 – 4 || Pittsburgh || || Mason || 16,333 || 37–15–3 || 77 ||
| 56 || February 8 || Toronto || 2 – 4 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 15,018 || 38–15–3 || 79 ||
| 57 || February 10 || Los Angeles || 4 – 1 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 17,113 || 38–16–3 || 79 ||
| 58 || February 14 || San Jose || 0 – 5 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 13,836 || 39–16–3 || 81 ||
| 59 || February 16 || Nashville || 0 – 1 || St. Louis || || Mason || 15,660 || 39–17–3 || 81 ||
| 60 || February 17 || Minnesota || 4 – 1 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 17,113 || 39–18–3 || 81 ||
| 61 || February 19 || Phoenix || 1 – 4 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 15,862 || 40–18–3 || 83 ||
| 62 || February 22 || Montreal || 6 – 5 || Nashville || SO || Vokoun || 15,808 || 40–18–4 || 84 ||
| 63 || February 24 || Detroit || 3 – 4 || Nashville || OT || Vokoun || 17,113 || 41–18–4 || 86 ||
| 64 || February 25 || Nashville || 4 – 3 || Columbus || OT || Mason || 16,220 || 42–18–4 || 88 ||
| 65 || February 28 || Nashville || 4 – 3 || San Jose || SO || Vokoun || 17,496 || 43–18–4 || 90 ||
| 66 || March 3 || Nashville || 6 – 3 || Los Angeles || || Mason || 16,854 || 44–18–4 || 92 ||
| 67 || March 4 || Nashville || 2 – 3 || Anaheim || SO || Vokoun || 17,174 || 44–18–5 || 93 ||
| 68 || March 6 || Nashville || 3 – 4 || Detroit || || Vokoun || 20,066 || 44–18–6 || 94 ||
| 69 || March 8 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || Nashville || || Mason || 15,515 || 45–18–6 || 96 ||
| 70 || March 10 || Columbus || 1 – 2 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 17,113 || 46–18–6 || 98 ||
| 71 || March 13 || Detroit || 5 – 2 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 17,113 || 46–19–6 || 98 ||
| 72 || March 14 || Nashville || 2 – 4 || Detroit || || Mason || 20,066 || 46–20–6 || 98 ||
| 73 || March 17 || Dallas || 2 – 3 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 17,113 || 47–20–6 || 100 ||
| 74 || March 21 || Nashville || 0 – 2 || Vancouver || || Vokoun || 18,630 || 47–21–6 || 100 ||
| 75 || March 22 || Nashville || 2 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Mason || 19,289 || 47–21–7 || 101 ||
| 76 || March 24 || Nashville || 4 – 0 || Edmonton || || Vokoun || 16,839 || 48–21–7 || 103 ||
| 77 || March 27 || Edmonton || 3 – 4 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 16,832 || 49–21–7 || 105 ||
| 78 || March 29 || Detroit || 2 – 1 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 16,646 || 49–22–7 || 105 ||
| 79 || March 31 || Dallas || 4 – 2 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 17,113 || 49–23–7 || 105 ||
| 80 || April 3 || Chicago || 3 – 2 || Nashville || SO || Mason || 14,663 || 49–23–8 || 106 ||
| 81 || April 5 || St. Louis || 1 – 4 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 16,624 || 50–23–8 || 108 ||
| 82 || April 7 || Nashville || 4 – 2 || Colorado || || Vokoun || 17,462 || 51–23–8 || 110 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 11 || San Jose || 5 – 4 || Nashville || 2OT || Vokoun || 17,113 || 0 – 1 ||
| 2 || April 13 || San Jose || 2 – 5 || Nashville || || Vokoun || 17,113 || 1 – 1 ||
| 3 || April 16 || Nashville || 1 – 3 || San Jose || || Vokoun || 17,496 || 1 – 2 ||
| 4 || April 18 || Nashville || 2 – 3 || San Jose || || Vokoun || 17,496 || 1 – 3 ||