2006–07 Minnesota Wild season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	2006–07
Year:	2006
Team:	Minnesota Wild
Conferencerank:	7th
Divisionrank:	2nd
Record:	48–26–8
Homerecord:	29–7–5
Roadrecord:	19–19–3
Goalsfor:	235
Goalsagainst:	191
Captain:	Rotating Brian Rolston (Oct.–Nov.) Keith Carney (Dec.) Brian Rolston (Jan.) Mark Parrish (Feb.–Apr.)
Attendance:	18,543
Goalsleader:	Brian Rolston (31)
Assistsleader:	Pavol Demitra (39)
Pointsleader:	Pavol Demitra (64) Brian Rolston
Plusminusleader:	Keith Carney (+22)
Pimleader:	Derek Boogaard (120)
Winsleader:	Niklas Backstrom (23)
Gaaleader:	Niklas Backstrom (1.97)

This 2006–07 Minnesota Wild season began on October 5, 2006. It was the Wild's seventh season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Regular season

Excluding seven shootout goals allowed, the Wild finished the regular season with just 184 goals allowed, the fewest in the NHL.^[1]

Season standings

Here is how the Wild did in the standings in 2006–07.

Playoffs

The Minnesota Wild ended the 2006–07 regular season as the Western Conference's seventh seed.

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 1 || October 5 || Colorado || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || OT || Fernandez || 18,568 || 1–0–0 || 2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 2 || October 7 || Nashville || 5 – 6 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 2–0–0 || 4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 3 || October 10 || Vancouver || 1 – 2 || Minnesota || SO || Fernandez || 18,064 || 3–0–0 || 6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 4 || October 12 || Washington || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || SO || Fernandez || 18,064 || 4–0–0 || 8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 5 || October 14 || Columbus || 0 – 5 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 5–0–0 || 10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 6 || October 18 || Minnesota || 2 – 1 || Los Angeles || OT || Fernandez || 14,617 || 6–0–0 || 12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 7 || October 20 || Minnesota || 1 – 2 || Anaheim || || Fernandez || 13,430 || 6–1–0 || 12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 8 || October 21 || Minnesota || 4 – 1 || San Jose || || Fernandez || 17,496 || 7–1–0 || 14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 9 || October 25 || Los Angeles || 1 – 3 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 8–1–0 || 16 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 10 || October 27 || Anaheim || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || SO || Fernandez || 18,568 || 9–1–0 || 18 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 11 || October 29 || Minnesota || 1 – 4 || Colorado || || Fernandez || 17,615 || 9–2–0 || 18 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 12 || November 2 || Vancouver || 2 – 5 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 10–2–0 || 20 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 13 || November 4 || Nashville || 4 – 3 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 10–3–0 || 20 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 14 || November 7 || Minnesota || 1 – 3 || San Jose || || Fernandez || 17,233 || 10–4–0 || 20 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 15 || November 11 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Los Angeles || SO || Fernandez || 17,479 || 11–4–0 || 22 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 16 || November 12 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Anaheim || || Backstrom || 16,306 || 11–5–0 || 22 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 17 || November 14 || Minnesota || 3 – 4 || Phoenix || || Fernandez || 12,002 || 11–6–0 || 22 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 18 || November 16 || Minnesota || 7 – 6 || Nashville || SO || Backstrom || 12,759 || 12–6–0 || 24 || |- align="center"| 19 || November 18 || Colorado || 2 – 1 || Minnesota || SO || Backstrom || 18,568 || 12–6–1 || 25 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 20 || November 20 || Minnesota || 3 – 5 || Ottawa || || Fernandez || 18,094 || 12–7–1 || 25 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 21 || November 22 || Minnesota || 2 – 4 || Montreal || || Backstrom || 21,273 || 12–8–1 || 25 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 22 || November 24 || Phoenix || 0 – 4 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 13–8–1 || 27 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 23 || November 25 || Minnesota || 3 – 5 || Columbus || || Fernandez || 15,493 || 13–9–1 || 27 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 24 || November 29 || San Jose || 2 – 1 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 13–10–1 || 27 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 25 || December 1 || Detroit || 3 – 0 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 13–11–1 || 27 || |- align="center"| 26 || December 2 || Minnesota || 3 – 4 || Dallas || SO || Backstrom || 17,027 || 13–11–2 || 28 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 27 || December 5 || Chicago || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || SO || Fernandez || 18,568 || 14–11–2 || 30 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 28 || December 7 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || SO || Fernandez || 18,568 || 15–11–2 || 32 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 29 || December 9 || Chicago || 4 – 5 || Minnesota || OT || Fernandez || 18,568 || 16–11–2 || 34 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 30 || December 12 || Minnesota || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Fernandez || 19,289 || 16–12–2 || 34 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 31 || December 14 || Minnesota || 1 – 3 || Edmonton || || Fernandez || 16,839 || 16–13–2 || 34 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 32 || December 16 || Minnesota || 1 – 2 || Vancouver || || Backstrom || 18,630 || 16–14–2 || 34 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 33 || December 19 || Vancouver || 2 – 5 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 17–14–2 || 36 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 34 || December 22 || Minnesota || 1 – 3 || Detroit || || Fernandez || 20,066 || 17–15–2 || 36 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 35 || December 23 || Detroit || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || OT || Fernandez || 18,568 || 18–15–2 || 38 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 36 || December 26 || Minnesota || 3 – 4 || Toronto || || Fernandez || 19,355 || 18–16–2 || 38 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 37 || December 27 || Minnesota || 1 – 3 || Detroit || || Backstrom || 20,066 || 18–17–2 || 38 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 38 || December 29 || Columbus || 3 – 4 || Minnesota || OT || Fernandez || 18,568 || 19–17–2 || 40 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 39 || December 31 || Anaheim || 3 – 4 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 20–17–2 || 42 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 40 || January 2 || Atlanta || 1 – 5 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 21–17–2 || 44 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 41 || January 4 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 21–18–2 || 44 || |- align="center"| 42 || January 6 || Colorado || 2 – 1 || Minnesota || SO || Fernandez || 18,568 || 21–18–3 || 45 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 43 || January 9 || Minnesota || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Backstrom || 19,289 || 21–19–3 || 45 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 44 || January 11 || Minnesota || 5 – 2 || Vancouver || || Fernandez || 18,630 || 22–19–3 || 47 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 45 || January 12 || Minnesota || 4 – 2 || Edmonton || || Fernandez || 16,839 || 23–19–3 || 49 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 46 || January 14 || Minnesota || 4 – 3 || Chicago || SO || Fernandez || 11,091 || 24–19–3 || 51 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 47 || January 16 || Edmonton || 2 – 1 || Minnesota || || Fernandez || 18,568 || 24–20–3 || 51 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 48 || January 19 || Minnesota || 3 – 0 || Chicago || || Fernandez || 12,333 || 25–20–3 || 53 || |- align="center"| 49 || January 20 || Dallas || 2 – 1 || Minnesota || SO || Backstrom || 18,568 || 25–20–4 || 54 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"·| 50 || January 26 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Minnesota || SO || Backstrom || 18,568 || 26–20–4 || 56 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 51 || January 27 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Columbus || || Fernandez || 18,136 || 26–21–4 || 56 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 52 || January 30 || Minnesota || 5 – 2 || St. Louis || || Fernandez || 10,445 || 27–21–4 || 58 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 53 || February 1 || Minnesota || 5 – 3 || Colorado || || Backstrom || 17,286 || 28–21–4 || 60 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 54 || February 3 || Minnesota || 1 – 0 || Phoenix || || Backstrom || 17,115 || 29–21–4 || 62 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 55 || February 6 || Minnesota || 2 – 4 || Dallas || || Backstrom || 17,660 || 29–22–4 || 62 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 56 || February 8 || Florida || 2 – 4 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 30–22–4 || 64 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 57 || February 10 || Carolina || 4 – 5 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 31–22–4 || 66 || |- align="center"| 58 || February 14 || Vancouver || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 31–22–5 || 67 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 59 || February 17 || Minnesota || 4 – 1 || Nashville || || Backstrom || 17,113 || 32–22–5 || 69 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 60 || February 18 || Minnesota || 3 – 5 || St. Louis || || Backstrom || 13,721 || 32–23–5 || 69 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 61 || February 20 || Dallas || 1 – 2 || Minnesota || SO || Backstrom || 18,568 || 33–23–5 || 71 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 62 || February 22 || Minnesota || 4 – 3 || Colorado || || Backstrom || 18,007 || 34–23–5 || 73 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 63 || February 25 || Edmonton || 1 – 4 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 35–23–5 || 75 || |- align="center" | 64 || February 28 || Minnesota || 1 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Harding || 19,289 || 35–23–6 || 76 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 65 || March 1 || Minnesota || 5 – 0 || Edmonton || || Harding || 16,839 || 36–23–6 || 78 || |- align="center" | 66 || March 4 || Minnesota || 3 – 4 || Vancouver || OT || Backstrom || 18,630 || 36–23–7 || 79 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 67 || March 6 || San Jose || 3 – 0 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 36–24–7 || 79 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 68 || March 8 || Minnesota || 2 – 1 || Boston || || Backstrom || 13,709 || 37–24–7 || 81 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 69 || March 9 || Minnesota || 5 – 1 || Buffalo || || Harding || 18,690 || 38–24–7 || 83 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 70 || March 11 || Colorado || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || OT || Backstrom || 18,568 || 39–24–7 || 85 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 71 || March 13 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Vancouver || OT || Backstrom || 18,630 || 40–24–7 || 87 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 72 || March 15 || Minnesota || 2 – 1 || Edmonton || || Backstrom || 16,839 || 41–24–7 || 89 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 73 || March 17 || Minnesota || 4 – 2 || Calgary || || Backstrom || 19,289 || 42–24–7 || 91 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 74 || March 20 || Phoenix || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 43–24–7 || 93 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 75 || March 22 || St. Louis || 1 – 5 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 44–24–7 || 95 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 76 || March 24 || Los Angeles || 1 – 4 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 45–24–7 || 97 || |- align="center"| 77 || March 27 || Calgary || 1 – 0 || Minnesota || SO || Backstrom || 18,568 || 45–24–8 || 98 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 78 || March 29 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Minnesota || || Harding || 18,568 || 45–25–8 || 98 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 79 || March 31 || Minnesota || 1 – 2 || Colorado || || Harding || 17,192 || 45–26–8 || 98 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 80 || April 3 || Edmonton || 0 – 3 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 46–26–8 || 100 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 81 || April 5 || Edmonton || 0 – 3 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 47–26–8 || 102 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 82 || April 7 || St. Louis || 1 – 5 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 18,568 || 48–26–8 || 104 || |-|-| Legend:

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 1 || April 11 || Minnesota || 1 – 2 || Anaheim || || Backstrom || 17,180 || 0 – 1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 2 || April 13 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Anaheim || || Backstrom || 17,324 || 0 – 2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 3 || April 15 || Anaheim || 2 – 1 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 19,224 || 0 – 3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"| 4 || April 17 || Anaheim || 1 – 4 || Minnesota || || Backstrom || 19,174 || 1 – 3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| 5 || April 19 || Minnesota || 1 – 4 || Anaheim || || Backstrom || 17,318 || 1 – 4 || |-|-| 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 Wild only.
• = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Wild only.

	Regular season						Playoffs
	Player
12		RW	78	31	33	64	6	46	5	1	1	2	−2	4
38		LW	71	25	39	64	0	28	5	1	3	4	−1	0
10		RW	48	30	27	57	12	40	5	3	1	4	3	8
96		C	82	20	37	57	13	14	5	1	1	2	−3	0
9		C	82	20	34	54	6	58	5	1	0	1	−1	4
28		C	77	13	31	44	8	24	4	0	0	0	−1	0
21		RW	76	19	20	39	9	18	5	1	0	1	2	0
8		D	77	7	18	25	16	26	5	0	1	1	1	14
92		RW	82	11	13	24	−9	21	5	0	0	0	−1	2
37		C	62	9	15	24	3	30	5	0	1	1	1	4
26		D	57	3	20	23	−3	52	3	0	2	2	0	0
5		D	76	3	19	22	−4	64	4	0	0	0	−1	2
33		D	51	3	17	20	−15	22	3	1	1	2	1	0
19		LW	75	7	11	18	3	47	5	0	0	0	0	4
3		D	80	4	13	17	22	58	5	0	0	0	1	4
41		D	81	0	15	15	9	36	5	0	0	0	2	4
11		LW	48	10	3	13	−7	38
55		D	82	2	10	12	0	42	5	0	1	1	−3	0
17		C	61	3	3	6	−8	16	4	0	0	0	0	0
18		RW	23	2	3	5	2	8	3	0	0	0	0	7
11		C	10	2	0	2	3	10
18		RW	12	1	1	2	−2	10
32		G	41	0	1	1		2	5	0	1	1		2
4		D	9	0	1	1	4	0
24		LW	48	0	1	1	0	120	4	0	1	1	0	20
27		RW	11	0	1	1	0	0
35		G	44	0	0	0		12
83		RW	9	0	0	0	−1	4
29		G	7	0	0	0		0
23		C	4	0	0	0	−1	4
67		LW	3	0	0	0	−1	0
6		D	1	0	0	0	1	0

Goaltending

	Regular season										Playoffs
	Player
32		41	23	8	6	1028	73	1.97	.929	5	2227	5	1	4	145	11	2.22	.924	0	297
35		44	22	16	1	1158	103	2.55	.911	2	2422	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
29		7	3	2	1	174	7	1.16	.960	1	361	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award	Niklas Backstrom	^[2]
	William M. Jennings Trophy	Niklas Backstrom	^[3]
		Manny Fernandez
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Brian Rolston	^[4]
	NHL First Star of the Week	Niklas Backstrom (February 25)	^[5]
	NHL Third Star of the Week	Niklas Backstrom (April 8)

Transactions

The Wild were involved in the following transactions during the 2006–07 season.^{[6] [7]}

Trades

June 24, 2006	To Minnesota Wild Pavol Demitra	To Los Angeles Kings Patrick O'Sullivan 1st round pick in 2006 (Trevor Lewis)
February 9, 2007	To Minnesota Wild Adam Hall	To New York Rangers Pascal Dupuis
February 27, 2007		To Pittsburgh Penguins 3rd round pick in 2007

Free agents acquired

Player	Former team
	Philadelphia Flyers
	Vancouver Canucks
	Los Angeles Kings
	Philadelphia Flyers
	New York Islanders

Free agents lost

Player	New team
	Calgary Flames
	Tampa Bay Lightning
	Philadelphia Flyers
	Edmonton Oilers
	Toronto Maple Leafs
	San Jose Sharks
	Vancouver Canucks
	Nashville Predators

Draft picks

Minnesota's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.^[8] The Wild had the ninth overall pick in the draft. They also had the Edmonton Oilers first round pick, 17th overall, which they used to trade for Pavol Demitra from the Los Angeles Kings on draft day.

Round		Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1	9	James Sheppard (C/LW)		Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
2	40	Ondrej Fiala (C)		Everett Silvertips (WHL)
3	72	Cal Clutterbuck (RW)		Oshawa Generals (OHL)
4	102	Kyle Medvec (D)		Apple Valley High School (USHS-MN)
5	132	Niko Hovinen (G)		Jokerit (SM-liiga)
6	162	Julian Walker (W)		EHC Basel (NLA)
7	192	Chris Hickey (C)		Cretin-Derham Hall (USHS-MN)

See also

• 2006–07 NHL season

References

• Web site: Minnesota Wild 2006-07 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . August 3, 2024.
• Web site: 2006-07 Minnesota Wild Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . August 3, 2024.

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2006-07 NHL Summary.
2. Web site: Roger Crozier MBNA Saving Grace Award award winners at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . August 5, 2024.
3. Web site: William M. Jennings Trophy . records.nhl.com . August 5, 2024.
4. 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.
5. Web site: NHL Three Stars of the Week . Hockey-Reference.com . August 5, 2024.
6. http://www.nhl.com/features/insider/deals_summer2006.html NHL Insider - Offseason Trades
7. http://www.nhl.com/features/insider/freesign06.html NHL Insider - Free Agent Signings
8. Web site: 2006 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . July 22, 2024.