2006–07 Columbus Blue Jackets season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	2006–07
Year:	2006
Team:	Columbus Blue Jackets
Conferencerank:	11th
Divisionrank:	4th
Record:	33–42–7
Homerecord:	18–19–4
Roadrecord:	15–23–3
Goalsfor:	201
Goalsagainst:	249
Coach:	Gerard Gallant (Oct/Nov) Gary Agnew (interim)(Nov 13–22) Ken Hitchcock (Nov-Apr)
Attendance:	16,401 (90.43%)
Goalsleader:	Rick Nash (27)
Assistsleader:	David Vyborny (48)
Pointsleader:	David Vyborny (64)
Pimleader:	Alexander Svitov (145)
Plusminusleader:	Anders Eriksson (+12)
Winsleader:	Fredrik Norrena (24)
Gaaleader:	Fredrik Norrena (2.78)

The 2006–07 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the seventh National Hockey League season in Columbus, Ohio.

The off-season was dominated by a contract dispute with top forward Nikolay Zherdev, who had threatened to return to Russia to play if Columbus did not meet his demands. Zherdev remained a holdout for much of the preseason. However, the two parties were able to come to an agreement approximately a week before the season began.^[1]

The Blue Jackets, hoping to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, got off to a disastrous start, falling as low as 6–16–2 into December, briefly holding the worst record in the NHL. The Jackets' poor start led general manager Doug MacLean to fire head coach Gerard Gallant on November 13.^[2] Gallant would be replaced a week later by veteran coach Ken Hitchcock.^[3] Coincidentally, Hitchcock's first game as Jackets head coach was against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team that fired him as head coach earlier in the season.

The Blue Jackets once again failed to qualify for the postseason. As the Atlanta Thrashers qualified for the playoffs in the East, the Blue Jackets were, until the 2008–09 season, the only NHL team to have never played a post-season game.

Regular season

The Blue Jackets were shut out a League-high 16 times during the regular season. Along with the four shutouts Blue Jackets goaltenders recorded, 20 of the Blue Jackets' 82 regular-season games ended in a shutout. They were also the most penalized team in the League, with 453 power-play opportunities against.^[4] ^[5]

Season standings

Schedule and results

|- style="text-align:center;"| 1 || October 6 || Vancouver || 3 – 2 || Columbus || OT || Leclaire || 18,136 || 0–0–1 || 1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 2 || October 7 || Columbus || 5 – 4 || Chicago || || Leclaire || 17,133 || 1–0–1 || 3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 3 || October 9 || Phoenix || 1 – 5 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 16,298 || 2–0–1 || 5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 4 || October 14 || Columbus || 0 – 5 || Minnesota || || Leclaire || 18,568 || 2–1–1 || 5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 5 || October 20 || Toronto || 4 – 2 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 17,303 || 2–2–1 || 5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 6 || October 21 || Columbus || 3 – 5 || Pittsburgh || || Norrena || 14,637 || 2–3–1 || 5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 7 || October 23 || San Jose || 3 – 0 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 16,067 || 2–4–1 || 5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 8 || October 27 || Los Angeles || 0 – 2 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 16,087 || 3–4–1 || 7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 9 || October 28 || Columbus || 0 – 1 || New Jersey || || Leclaire || 14,015 || 3–5–1 || 7 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 10 || November 1 || Colorado || 5 – 3 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 16,007 || 3–6–1 || 7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 11 || November 3 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Columbus || SO || Leclaire || 16,103 || 4–6–1 || 9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 12 || November 4 || Columbus || 1 – 4 || Detroit || || Leclaire || 20,066 || 4–7–1 || 9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 13 || November 9 || Columbus || 4 – 2 || St. Louis || || Leclaire || 9,631 || 5–7–1 || 11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 14 || November 10 || Edmonton || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 16,902 || 5–8–1 || 11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 15 || November 12 || Columbus || 0 – 2 || Chicago || || Norrena || 14,078 || 5–9–1 || 11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 16 || November 15 || Nashville || 5 – 4 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 16,283 || 5–10–1 || 11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 17 || November 17 || Colorado || 3 – 0 || Columbus || || Norrena || 16,375 || 5–11–1 || 11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 18 || November 18 || Columbus || 2 – 4 || Nashville || || Leclaire || 13,209 || 5–12–1 || 11 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 19 || November 20 || Nashville || 3 – 1 || Columbus || || Norrena || 16,174 || 5–13–1 || 11 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 20 || November 22 || St. Louis || 4 – 3 || Columbus || SO || Leclaire || 15,279 || 5–13–2 || 12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 21 || November 24 || Columbus || 2 – 3 || Philadelphia || || Leclaire || 19,301 || 5–14–2 || 12 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 22 || November 25 || Minnesota || 3 – 5 || Columbus || || Norrena || 15,493 || 6–13–2 || 14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 23 || November 28 || Columbus || 0 – 1 || Vancouver || || Leclaire || 18,630 || 6–14–2 || 14 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 24 || December 1 || Columbus || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Leclaire || 19,289 || 6–16–2 || 14 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 25 || December 2 || Columbus || 4 – 0 || Edmonton || || Norrena || 16,839 || 7–16–2 || 16 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 26 || December 5 || Columbus || 3 – 0 || Colorado || || Norrena || 17,339 || 8–16–2 || 18 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 27 || December 9 || Columbus || 5 – 1 || St. Louis || || Norrena || 11,831 || 9–16–2 || 20 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 28 || December 10 || Ottawa || 2 – 6 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 15,797 || 10–16–2 || 22 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 29 || December 12 || Columbus || 3 – 1 || Dallas || || Norrena || 17,411 || 11–16–2 || 24 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 30 || December 14 || Columbus || 4 – 5 || Phoenix || SO || Norrena || 11,301 || 11–16–3 || 25 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 31 || December 16 || Chicago || 6 – 4 || Columbus || || Norrena || 17,288 || 11–17–3 || 25 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 32 || December 18 || Detroit || 3 – 4 || Columbus || || Norrena || 17,046 || 12–17–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 33 || December 20 || Columbus || 0 – 5 || Detroit || || Norrena || 20,066 || 12–18–3 || 27 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 34 || December 22 || Vancouver || 2 – 3 || Columbus || || Norrena || 15,861 || 13–18–3 || 29 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 35 || December 23 || Columbus || 0 – 4 || NY Islanders || || Norrena || 11,797 || 13–19–3 || 29 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 36 || December 26 || Boston || 4 – 5 || Columbus || OT || Norrena || 17,376 || 14–19–3 || 31 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 37 || December 28 || Detroit || 7 – 4 || Columbus || || Norrena || 17,408 || 14–20–3 || 31 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 38 || December 29 || Columbus || 3 – 4 || Minnesota || OT || Conklin || 18,568 || 14–20–4 || 32 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 39 || December 31 || Chicago || 1 – 3 || Columbus || || Norrena || 18,136 || 15–20–4 || 34 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 40 || January 3 || Columbus || 0 – 3 || Los Angeles || || Norrena || 16,451 || 15–21–4 || 34 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 41 || January 5 || Columbus || 4 – 3 || Anaheim || || Norrena || 17,405 || 16–21–4 || 36 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 42 || January 6 || Columbus || 2 – 5 || San Jose || || Norrena || 17,496 || 16–22–4 || 36 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 43 || January 9 || St. Louis || 4 – 3 || Columbus || SO || Norrena || 15,238 || 16–22–5 || 37 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 44 || January 12 || Columbus || 0 – 2 || Nashville || || Norrena || 14,136 || 16–23–5 || 37 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 45 || January 13 || Nashville || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Norrena || 16,825 || 16–24–5 || 37 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 46 || January 16 || Columbus || 5 – 4 || Chicago || OT || Conklin || 10,263 || 17–24–5|| 39 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 47 || January 18 || Columbus || 0 – 4 || Nashville || || Conklin || 10,927 || 17–25–5|| 39 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 48 || January 19 || Detroit || 1 – 3 || Columbus || || Norrena || 18,136 || 18–25–5 || 41 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 49 || January 26 || Buffalo || 2 – 3 || Columbus || || Norrena || 18,136 || 19–25–5 || 43 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 50 || January 27 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Columbus || || Norrena || 18,136 || 20–25–5 || 45 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 51 || January 30 || Columbus || 3 – 2 || Vancouver || SO || Conklin || 18,630 || 21–25–5|| 47 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 52 || January 31 || Columbus || 2 – 5 || Edmonton || || Conklin || 16,839 || 21–26–5 || 47 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 53 || February 2 || Columbus || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || Conklin || 19,289 || 21–27–5 || 47 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 54 || February 6 || Phoenix || 3 – 0 || Columbus || || Norrena|| 13,825|| 21–28–5 || 47 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 55 || February 8 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Columbus || || Norrena || 15,739|| 22–28–5|| 49 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 56 || February 11 || Chicago || 5 – 4 || Columbus || || Leclaire|| 17,054|| 22–29–5 || 49 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 57 || February 14 || St. Louis || 4 – 2 || Columbus || || Leclaire || 14,295|| 22–30–5|| 49 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 58 || February 16 || San Jose || 0 – 3 || Columbus || ||Norrena || 16,045 || 23–30–5|| 51 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 59 || February 18 || Montreal || 3 – 2|| Columbus || || Leclaire|| 16,116 || 23–31–5|| 51 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 60 || February 20 || Columbus || 4 – 5 || St. Louis || SO || Norrena|| 11,104 || 23–31–6|| 52 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 61 || February 22 || Edmonton || 4 – 0|| Columbus || || Norrena || 15,541 || 23–32–6 || 52 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 62 || February 24 || Columbus || 3 – 2 || New York Rangers || || Norrena || 18,200 || 24–32–6 || 54 || |- style="text-align:center;"| 63 || February 25 || Nashville || 4 – 3 || Columbus || SO || Conklin || 16,220 || 24–32–7 || 55 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 64 || February 27 || Columbus || 2 – 3 || Colorado || || Norrena || 17,127 || 24–33–7 ||55 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 65 || March 2 || Columbus || 3 – 2|| Dallas || SO || Norrena || 17,147 || 25–33–7 || 57 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 66 || March 3 || Columbus || 4 – 3 || Phoenix || || Boucher || 16,207 || 26–33–7 || 59 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 67 || March 7 || Los Angeles || 2 – 3 || Columbus || OT || Norrena || 15,154 || 27–33–7 || 61 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 68 || March 9 || Dallas || 3 – 0 || Columbus || || Norrena || 17,284 || 27–34–7 || 61 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 69 || March 10 || Columbus || 1 – 2 || Nashville || || Norrena || 17,113 || 27–35–7 || 61 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 70 || March 14 || Columbus || 5 – 4 || Anaheim || SO || Norrena || 17,174 || 28–35–7 || 63 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 71 || March 16 || Columbus || 0 – 3 || San Jose || || Norrena || 17,496 || 28–36–7 || 63 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 72 || March 17 || Columbus || 3 – 5 || Los Angeles || || Norrena || 17,197 || 28–37–7 || 63 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 73 || March 20 || Chicago || 2 – 5 || Columbus || || Norrena || 15,195 || 29–37–7 || 65 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 74 || March 22 || Columbus || 2 – 1 || Detroit || SO || Norrena || 20,066 || 30–37–7 || 67 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 75 || March 25 || St. Louis || 1 – 4 || Columbus || || Norrena || 16,007 || 31–37–7 || 69 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 76 || March 27 || Columbus || 4 – 1 || St. Louis || || Norrena || 17,251 || 32–37–7 || 71 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 77 || March 29 || Anaheim || 5 – 2 || Columbus || || Norrena || 15,340 || 32–38–7 || 71 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 78 || March 30 || Columbus || 1 – 3 || Chicago || || Boucher || 14,111 || 32–39–7 || 71 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 79 || April 1 || Detroit || 4 – 1 || Columbus || || Norrena || 17,350 || 32–40–7 || 71 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 80 || April 3 || Columbus || 0 – 3 || Detroit || || Norrena || 20,066 || 32–41–7 || 71 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| 81 || April 5 || Dallas || 1 – 2 || Columbus || OT || Norrena || 15,997 || 33–41–7 || 73 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| 82 || April 7 || Anaheim || 4 – 3 || Columbus || || Norrena || 17,391 || 33–42–7 || 73 || |-|-| 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 Blue Jackets only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only.

	Regular season
	Player
9		RW	82	16	48	64	6	60
61		LW	75	27	30	57	−8	73
33		LW	79	22	20	42	−3	50
91		C	73	18	24	42	−7	56
25		LW	82	15	21	36	2	91
6		D	80	9	25	34	−19	69
13		W	71	10	22	32	−19	26
49		C	59	12	15	27	3	35
77		RW	54	10	17	27	−1	16
27		C	82	9	16	25	−8	76
2		D	79	0	23	23	12	46
97		D	75	9	13	22	−13	105
17		C	78	9	10	19	−21	28
16		C	76	7	11	18	−10	145
52		D	59	3	9	12	−17	71
10		D	23	4	6	10	−13	18
44		D	61	3	7	10	−9	38
47		C	26	4	5	9	1	10
55		D	70	2	3	5	2	123
48		D	20	0	4	4	5	12
42		C	6	1	2	3	2	2
4		D	11	0	3	3	−4	8
23		D	9	2	0	2	−1	0
40		RW	8	1	1	2	−3	4
45		LW	72	1	1	2	−6	125
38		C	9	1	0	1	−3	4
37		RW	7	1	0	1	0	0
19		LW	23	0	1	1	−3	6
35		G	3	0	0	0		0
37		D	1	0	0	0	0	0
35		G	11	0	0	0		0
20		C	7	0	0	0	−4	0
39		RW	7	0	0	0	0	10
28		C	6	0	0	0	−2	20
31		G	24	0	0	0		2
30		G	55	0	0	0		6
46		D	6	0	0	0	1	2
1		G	2	0	0	0		0

Goaltending

= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only.

	Regular season
	Player
30		55	24	23	3	1420	137	2.79	.904	3	2952
31		24	6	15	2	629	65	2.97	.897	1	1315
35		11	2	3	2	210	27	3.30	.871	0	491
35		3	1	1	0	67	9	3.79	.866	0	142
1		2	0	0	0	14	1	1.35	.929	0	45

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Rick Nash	^[6]
League (in-season)	NHL Second Star of the Week	Fredrik Norrena (January 28)	^[7]
Team	Foundation Community Service Award	Jody Shelley	^[8]
	"Jackets Fans" Most Valuable Player Award	Fredrik Norrena
	"John H. McConnell" Most Courageous Player Award	Fredrik Modin
	Most Improved Player Award	Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
	Outstanding Defenseman Award	Rostislav Klesla
	Three Stars Award	Rick Nash

Transactions

The Blue Jackets have been involved in the following transactions during the 2006–07 season.^[9] ^[10]

Trades

June 30, 2006	To Columbus Blue Jackets Fredrik Modin Fredrik Norrena	To Tampa Bay Lightning Marc Denis
October 25, 2006	To Columbus Blue Jackets Ryan Caldwell	To New York Islanders Eric Boguniecki
November 29, 2006	To Columbus Blue Jackets Derrick Walser	To Carolina Hurricanes Mark Flood
January 26, 2007	To Columbus Blue Jackets Zenon Konopka Curtis Glencross Conditional 7th round pick in 2007 or 2008
February 23, 2007	To Columbus Blue Jackets 5th round pick in 2008
February 27, 2007	To Columbus Blue Jackets 5th round pick in 2007	To Buffalo Sabres Ty Conklin

Free agents acquired

Player signed	Former team
	Atlanta Thrashers
	Edmonton Oilers
	Ottawa Senators
	Pittsburgh Penguins
	Vancouver Canucks

Free agents lost

Player lost	New team
	Tampa Bay Lightning
	Carolina Hurricanes
	Pittsburgh Penguins

Claimed off waivers

Player received	Team
	Chicago Blackhawks

Draft picks

Columbus' picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.^[11] The Blue Jackets picked 6th overall.

Round		Player	NHL team	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	6	Derick Brassard (C)	Columbus Blue Jackets	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
3	69	Steve Mason (G)	Columbus Blue Jackets	London Knights (OHL)
3	85	Tommy Sestito (LW)	Columbus Blue Jackets (from San Jose via Philadelphia)	Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
4	113	Ben Wright (D)	Columbus Blue Jackets (from San Jose)	Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
5	129	Robert Nyholm (RW)	Columbus Blue Jackets	HIFK Jr. (Finland)
5	136	Nick Sucharski (LW)	Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto)	Michigan State University (NCAA)
5	142	Maxim Frechette (D)	Columbus Blue Jackets (from Anaheim)	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
6	159	Jesse Dudas (D)	Columbus Blue Jackets	Prince George Cougars (WHL)
7	189	Derek Dorsett (RW)	Columbus Blue Jackets	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
7	194	Matt Marquardt (LW)	Columbus Blue Jackets (from Los Angeles)	Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

References

Web site: Columbus Blue Jackets 2006-07 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . August 1, 2024.
Web site: 2006-07 Columbus Blue Jackets Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . August 1, 2024.

Notes and References

Web site: Blue Jackets re-sign right wing Zherdev . espn.com . September 28, 2006 . December 9, 2006.
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=184195&hubname=nhl Blue Jackets fire Gerard Gallant
https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=185480&hubname=nhl Blue Jackets hire Hitchcock as coach
Web site: 2006-07 NHL Schedule and Results Hockey-Reference.com. Hockey-Reference.com. 23 September 2016.
Web site: 2006-07 NHL Summary Hockey-Reference.com. Hockey-Reference.com. 23 September 2016.
Web site: NHL All-Star Game Historical Summaries - 2007 . NHL.com . August 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230417032251/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=28972 . April 17, 2023.
Web site: NHL Three Stars of the Week . Hockey-Reference.com . August 5, 2024.
Columbus Blue Jackets 2014–2015 Media Guide, p.301
http://www.nhl.com/features/insider/deals_summer2006.html NHL Insider - Offseason Trades
http://www.nhl.com/features/insider/freesign06.html NHL Insider - Free Agent Signings
Web site: 2006 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 22, 2024.
http://www.syracusecrunch.com/press/index.cfm?&action=display&pr_id=1450 Syracuse Crunch and Columbus Blue Jackets extend affiliation agreement