2006–07 NHL season | |
---|---|
League | National Hockey League |
Sport | Ice hockey |
Duration | October 4, 2006 – June 6, 2007 |
Number of games | 82 |
Number of teams | 30 |
Regular season | |
Presidents' Trophy | Buffalo Sabres |
Season MVP | Sidney Crosby (Penguins) |
Top scorer | Sidney Crosby (Penguins) |
Playoffs | |
Eastern champions | Ottawa Senators |
Eastern runners-up | Buffalo Sabres |
Western champions | Anaheim Ducks |
Western runners-up | Detroit Red Wings |
Playoffs MVP | Scott Niedermayer (Ducks) |
Stanley Cup | |
Champions | Anaheim Ducks |
Runners-up | Ottawa Senators |
The 2006–07 NHL season was the 90th season of operation (89th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs began on April 11, 2007, and concluded on June 6, with the Anaheim Ducks defeating the Ottawa Senators to win their first Stanley Cup, becoming the first team from California to do so.
National Hockey League announced that the regular season salary cap rise after the initial season. The 2006–07 salary cap was increased by $5,000,000 (US) per team to bring the salary cap up to $44,000,000 (US). While the 2006–07 salary floor was increased by $8,000,000 (US) per team to $28,000,000 (US). This is the only year where the NHL salary floor raised faster than the NHL salary cap.
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim officially shortened their name to the Anaheim Ducks prior to the season, introducing a new logo and color scheme. This reflected a clean break from their original owners, The Walt Disney Company, who originally named the team after the movie, The Mighty Ducks.
The NHL All-Star Game returned after a two-year absence when the Dallas Stars hosted the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game at the American Airlines Center on January 24, 2007. Dallas hosted the All-Star Game for the first time, and it was the first time the Stars franchise had hosted the game since 1972, when it was hosted by the-then Minnesota North Stars. The West defeated the East by a score of 12–9, with Danny Briere of the Buffalo Sabres being named MVP of the game. Fewer penalties were called than in 2005–06 (an average of 398 per team). This led to fewer goals scored overall (7,082) and more shutouts (150). However, more even-strength goals were scored (4,715) than in 2005–06 (4,579).