2006–07 Philadelphia Flyers season


The 2006–07 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 40th season in the National Hockey League. 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 1994.

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

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.
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, the most in the League.

Season standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season

Regular season

Player statistics

Scoring

Awards

Records

Individual

Team

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 20, 2006, the day after the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 6, 2007, the day of the deciding game of the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerPrevious team TermRef
June 26, 2006Brad TapperHannover Scorpions 1-year*
July 1, 2006Nolan BaumgartnerVancouver Canucks2-year
July 1, 2006Lars JonssonHV71 1-year*
July 4, 2006Randy RobitailleMinnesota Wild1-year
July 5, 2006Mark CullenChicago Blackhawks1-year
July 5, 2006Denis Tolpeko Regina Pats 3-year*
July 13, 2006Daniel CorsoFrankfurt Lions 1-year*
July 13, 2006Martin GrenierNew York Rangers1-year*
July 13, 2006Boyd KaneWashington Capitals1-year*
July 19, 2006Geoff SandersonPhoenix Coyotes2-year
August 16, 2006Nate Guenin Ohio State Buckeyes 2-year*
March 15, 2007Kyle Greentree Alaska Nanooks 2-year*

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to entry level contracts. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerTermRef
July 5, 2006Antero Niittymaki1-year
July 6, 2006R. J. Umberger2-year
July 13, 2006Matt Ellison1-year*
July 14, 2006Joni Pitkanen1-year
July 29, 2006David Printz1-year*
September 2, 2006Tony Voce1-year*
September 11, 2006Simon Gagne5-year
September 23, 2006Oskars Bartulis 3-year*
November 29, 2006Mike Knuble2-year extension
February 13, 2007Sami Kapanen2-year extension
March 15, 2007Jon Matsumoto 3-year*
March 27, 2007Martin Biron2-year extension
May 11, 2007Scottie Upshall2-year extension
May 14, 2007Ben Eager2-year extension
May 17, 2007Lasse Kukkonen2-year extension
May 17, 2007David Laliberte 3-year*
June 1, 2007Josh Beaulieu 3-year*
June 1, 2007Jeremy Duchesne 3-year*

Waivers

The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions. Players claimed on recall waivers are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerTeamRef
November 11, 2006Marty Murray*to Los Angeles Kings
December 30, 2006Dmitry Afanasenkovfrom Tampa Bay Lightning
January 2, 2007Petr Nedved*to Edmonton Oilers
January 11, 2007Michael Leightonfrom Nashville Predators
February 24, 2007Nolan Baumgartner*to Dallas Stars
February 27, 2007Denis Hamelfrom Atlanta Thrashers
February 27, 2007Michael Leightonto Montreal Canadiens

Departures

The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerNew team ViaRef
June 30, 2006Turner Stevenson—Buyout
June 30, 2006Chris Therien—Retirement
July 1, 2006Kim JohnssonMinnesota WildFree agency
July 6, 2006Branko RadivojevicMinnesota WildFree agency
July 14, 2006Donald BrashearWashington CapitalsFree agency
July 14, 2006John SlaneyPhiladelphia Phantoms Free agency
July 21, 2006Wade SkolneyPittsburgh PenguinsFree agency
August 10, 2006Eric Desjardins—Retirement
September 14, 2006Keith Primeau—Retirement
September 15, 2006Ryan ReadyIserlohn Roosters Free agency
September 21, 2006Brian Savage—Retirement
October 11, 2006Pat KavanaghPortland Pirates Free agency
June 4, 2007David Printz*Djurgarden IF Free agency

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at General Motors Place in Vancouver on June 24, 2006. The Flyers original third-round pick, 85th overall, was traded to the San Jose Sharks for Niko Dimitrakos on March 9, 2006.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam Notes
122Claude GirouxRight WingCanadaGatineau Olympiques
239Andreas NodlRight WingAustriaSioux Falls Stampede
242Mike RatchukDefenseUnited StatesU.S. NTDP
255Denis BodrovDefenseRussiaTolyatti Lada
379Jon MatsumotoCenterCanadaBowling Green State University
4101Joonas LehtivuoriDefenseFinlandIlves
4109Jakub KovarGoaltenderCzech RepublicBudějovice Jr.
5145Jon RheaultRight WingUnited StatesProvidence College
6175Michael DupontGoaltenderSwitzerlandBaie-Comeau Drakkar
7205Andrei PopovRight WingRussiaTraktor Chelyabinsk

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL and the Trenton Titans of the ECHL. After an early season coaching change from Craig Berube, who joined the Flyers as an assistant, to Kjell Samuelsson, the Phantoms struggled finishing sixth in their division and missing the playoffs. Trenton finished 4th in their division and made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs before losing to the Dayton Bombers in their last season as a Flyers affiliate. Following the 2006–07 ECHL season the Titans were renamed the Trenton Devils by their new owners, the New Jersey Devils.