The 2006–07 Philadelphia Flyers season was the franchise's 40th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). For the first time in franchise history the Flyers finished with the worst record in the entire league and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993–94.
Off-season During the off-season the Flyers lost Michal Handzus in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, defenseman Kim Johnsson to free agency and Eric Desjardins and team captain Keith Primeau to retirement.
On September 12, 2006, the Flyers signed restricted free agent Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks to an offer sheet. The Canucks matched the 1-year, $1.9 million deal.
Regular season Peter Forsberg replaced Primeau as team captain, but a chronic foot injury had him in and out of the lineup throughout the season and limited his effectiveness. Eight games into the regular season and with a record of 1–6–1, general manager Bob Clarke resigned and head coach Ken Hitchcock was fired. Assistant coach John Stevens replaced Hitchcock and assistant general manager Paul Holmgren took on Clarke's responsibilities on an interim basis.
The changes did little to improve the Flyers fortunes in 2006–07 as setting franchise records for futility became the norm. They had several multiple-game losing streaks including a franchise worst 10–game losing streak and a 12–game home losing streak that stretched from November 29 to February 10. Ultimately, the Flyers finished with a 22–48–12 record, the most losses in franchise history and the worst record in the league. They also set the NHL record for the biggest points drop off in the standings in a one-year span (101 points in 2005–06 to 56 points in 2006–07, a difference of 45 points).
With the team clearly on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1994, Holmgren set his sights on rebuilding the team and preparing for the future. Forsberg, unwilling to commit to playing next season, was traded to the Nashville Predators for Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent, and 2007 1st and 3rd-round draft picks. Veteran defenseman Alexei Zhitnik was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers for prospect defenseman Braydon Coburn and disappointing off-season acquisition Kyle Calder was sent to the Detroit Red Wings via Chicago in exchange for defenseman Lasse Kukkonen. The Flyers also acquired goaltender Martin Biron from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2007 2nd-round pick. Given wide praise for his efforts, the Flyers gave Holmgren a two-year contract and removed the interim label from his title.
The Flyers finished the regular season having allowed 297 goals (excluding 6 shootout goals allowed), the most in the league.
Season standings
Schedule and results
Preseason
| 1 || September 20 || 4–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Houle || 0–1–0 ||
| 2 || September 21 || 2–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 1–1–0 ||
| 3 || September 23 || 3–4 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Esche || 1–2–0 ||
| 4 || September 24 || 1–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Houle || 1–3–0 ||
| 5 || September 26 || 1–6 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Esche || 1–4–0 ||
| 6 || September 28 || 4–5 SO || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Esche || 1–4–1 ||
| 7 || September 29 || 0–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Esche || 1–5–1 || |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"| Notes: Game played at Moncton Coliseum in Moncton, New Brunswick. Game played at John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.
Legend:
Regular season
| 1 || October 5 || 0–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Esche || 16,957 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 7 || 4–5 SO || align="left"| New York Rangers || Niittymaki || 19,798 || 0–1–1 || 1 ||
| 3 || October 10 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Niittymaki || 18,200 || 1–1–1 || 3 ||
| 4 || October 11 || 1–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Niittymaki || 19,256 || 1–2–1 || 3 ||
| 5 || October 14 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 14,177 || 1–3–1 || 3 ||
| 6 || October 17 || 1–9 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 18,690 || 1–4–1 || 3 ||
| 7 || October 19 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Niittymaki || 19,920 || 1–5–1 || 3 ||
| 8 || October 20 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers || Niittymaki || 17,194 || 1–6–1 || 3 ||
| 9 || October 26 || 3–2 SO || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers || Niittymaki || 19,228 || 2–6–1 || 5 ||
| 10 || October 28 || 2–8 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 19,589 || 2–7–1 || 5 ||
| 11 || October 30 || 3–0 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks || Esche || 18,876 || 3–7–1 || 7 ||
| 12 || November 2 || 2–5 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Niittymaki || 18,633 || 3–8–1 || 7 ||
| 13 || November 4 || 3–5 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Esche || 19,564 || 3–9–1 || 7 ||
| 14 || November 6 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Niittymaki || 19,501 || 3–10–1 || 7 ||
| 15 || November 9 || 1–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 18,656 || 3–11–1 || 7 ||
| 16 || November 11 || 4–5 OT || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Niittymaki || 19,633 || 3–11–2 || 8 ||
| 17 || November 13 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 13,781 || 3–12–2 || 8 ||
| 18 || November 15 || 7–4 || align="left"| @ Anaheim Ducks || Esche || 15,379 || 4–12–2 || 10 ||
| 19 || November 16 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Niittymaki || 16,446 || 5–12–2 || 12 ||
| 20 || November 18 || 1–6 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks || Esche || 17,496 || 5–13–2 || 12 ||
| 21 || November 20 || 3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 19,349 || 5–14–2 || 12 ||
| 22 || November 22 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Niittymaki || 18,990 || 5–14–3 || 13 ||
| 23 || November 24 || 3–2 || align="left"| Columbus Blue Jackets || Niittymaki || 19,301 || 6–14–3 || 15 ||
| 24 || November 25 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Niittymaki || 21,273 || 7–14–3 || 17 ||
| 25 || November 29 || 2–3 || align="left"| Nashville Predators || Niittymaki || 18,789 || 7–15–3 || 17 ||
| 26 || November 30 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 10,280 || 8–15–3 || 19 ||
| 27 || December 2 || 3–4 SO || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 19,559 || 8–15–4 || 20 ||
| 28 || December 8 || 0–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 14,003 || 8–16–4 || 20 ||
| 29 || December 9 || 3–5 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Niittymaki || 19,211 || 8–17–4 || 20 ||
| 30 || December 12 || 1–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Niittymaki || 19,389 || 8–18–4 || 20 ||
| 31 || December 13 || 4–8 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 14,150 || 8–19–4 || 20 ||
| 32 || December 16 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Niittymaki || 15,021 || 8–20–4 || 20 ||
| 33 || December 19 || 1–2 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Niittymaki || 19,111 || 8–21–4 || 20 ||
| 34 || December 21 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Niittymaki || 21,273 || 8–22–4 || 20 ||
| 35 || December 23 || 3–6 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Niittymaki || 19,268 || 8–23–4 || 20 ||
| 36 || December 27 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers || Niittymaki || 17,771 || 8–24–4 || 20 ||
| 37 || December 28 || 4–3 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Esche || 21,171 || 9–24–4 || 22 ||
| 38 || December 31 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Esche || 18,796 || 10–24–4 || 24 ||
| 39 || January 2 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Esche || 10,461 || 11–24–4 || 26 ||
| 40 || January 4 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Esche || 18,200 || 11–25–4 || 26 ||
| 41 || January 6 || 3–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Esche || 17,565 || 11–26–4 || 26 ||
| 42 || January 7 || 1–6 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Niittymaki || 18,509 || 11–27–4 || 26 ||
| 43 || January 9 || 2–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Esche || 13,143 || 11–28–4 || 26 ||
| 44 || January 11 || 2–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Niittymaki || 19,411 || 11–29–4 || 26 ||
| 45 || January 13 || 3–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 19,587 || 11–30–4 || 26 ||
| 46 || January 18 || 2–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 19,118 || 11–31–4 || 26 ||
| 47 || January 20 || 3–4 SO || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 16,621 || 11–31–5 || 27 ||
| 48 || January 27 || 1–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Esche || 19,618 || 11–32–5 || 27 ||
| 49 || January 28 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers || Niittymaki || 18,598 || 12–32–5 || 29 ||
| 50 || January 30 || 3–4 SO || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Esche || 19,313 || 12–32–6 || 30 ||
| 51 || February 1 || 5–6 OT || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 19,427 || 12–32–7 || 31 ||
| 52 || February 3 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers || Niittymaki || 18,622 || 13–32–7 || 33 ||
| 53 || February 7 || 0–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 10,229 || 13–33–7 || 33 ||
| 54 || February 8 || 4–5 SO || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 19,512 || 13–33–8 || 34 ||
| 55 || February 10 || 4–3 OT || align="left"| St. Louis Blues || Leighton || 19,215 || 14–33–8 || 36 ||
| 56 || February 12 || 6–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings || Leighton || 19,575 || 15–33–8 || 38 ||
| 57 || February 15 || 2–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Leighton || 19,321 || 15–34–8 || 38 ||
| 58 || February 17 || 5–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Niittymaki || 18,200 || 16–34–8 || 40 ||
| 59 || February 19 || 3–6 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Niittymaki || 19,209 || 16–35–8 || 40 ||
| 60 || February 20 || 3–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 18,690 || 16–36–8 || 40 ||
| 61 || February 22 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Niittymaki || 14,533 || 16–36–9 || 41 ||
| 62 || February 24 || 2–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Leighton || 19,277 || 16–37–9 || 41 ||
| 63 || February 27 || 5–6 OT || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 11,443 || 16–37–10 || 42 ||
| 64 || March 1 || 4–3 OT || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Biron || 12,294 || 17–37–10 || 44 ||
| 65 || March 4 || 3–4 SO || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Biron || 17,132|| 17–37–11 || 45 ||
| 66 || March 6 || 5–4 OT || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Biron || 19,210|| 18–37–11 || 47 ||
| 67 || March 8 || 1–2 || align="left"| Florida Panthers || Biron || 19,489|| 18–38–11 || 47 ||
| 68 || March 10 || 4–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Biron || 19,550|| 19–38–11 || 49 ||
| 69 || March 12 || 0–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes || Biron || 14,799|| 19–39–11 || 49 ||
| 70 || March 13 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars || Niittymaki || 17,618|| 19–40–11 || 49 ||
| 71 || March 15 || 3–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers || Biron || 19,122|| 20–40–11 || 51 ||
| 72 || March 17 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Biron || 19,639|| 20–41–11 || 51 ||
| 73 || March 20 || 1–4 || align="left"| Florida Panthers || Biron || 18,721|| 20–42–11 || 51 ||
| 74 || March 21 || 0–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Niittymaki || 18,200|| 20–43–11 || 51 ||
| 75 || March 24 || 3–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Biron || 19,422|| 20–44–11 || 51 ||
| 76 || March 28 || 5–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Biron || 19,123|| 21–44–11 || 53 ||
| 77 || March 30 || 1–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Biron || 17,493|| 21–45–11 || 53 ||
| 78 || March 31 || 4–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Biron || 19,555|| 21–46–11 || 53 ||
| 79 || April 3 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Biron || 19,547|| 21–46–12 || 54 ||
| 80 || April 5 || 2–3 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Biron || 19,177|| 21–47–12 || 54 ||