2006–07 Colorado Avalanche season
Encyclopedia
The 2006–07 Colorado Avalanche
season was their 12th National Hockey League
season
in Denver
, Colorado
. It was a season of transition for the Avs, as the team began the season with a new General Manager in Francois Giguere
, ending the twelve year reign of Pierre Lacroix. The off-season also featured the departures of Alex Tanguay
and Rob Blake
, continuing the trend of star players leaving Denver that began the previous year.
After a decade near the top of the Western Conference
standings, the Avalanche were expected to struggle to make the playoffs in 2006–07. The team's expected decline also saw attendance take a hit, as Colorado's NHL record sellout streak of 487 games was ended on October 16 when 17,681 tickets were sold for a game, 326 shy of a sellout.
Joe Sakic
was the lone representative for the Avalanche at the 2007 All-Star Game
in Dallas. Sakic recorded four assists at the game.
Entering the final week of the season on April 3, 2007, Colorado was 7 points behind the Calgary Flames
for the 8th and final spot in the Western Conference standings. Needing Calgary to lose all four games that week and for them to win all four they fell short by 1 point. Calgary losing to Colorado, San Jose, Edmonton, and again to Colorado did not capture a point that week and Colorado winning three out of four was knocked out of contention when they lost to the Nashville Predators
on April 7, 2007. The following night, the Avalanche beat the Flames 6–3 giving them 95 points overall on the season and one short of Calgary who had 96. With the 95 points, the Avalanche became the team with the highest point total in a season to not make the playoffs, missing the post-season for the first time in franchise history, despite going 15–2–2 to end the regular season. This record would later be matched by the 2010–11 Dallas Stars
, who also failed to qualify for the playoffs with 95 points.
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Colorado. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only.
‡Traded during the season.
in Vancouver
, British Columbia
.
Albany River Rats
The Avalanche signed a one year deal to join the Carolina Hurricanes
as the NHL affiliate for the River Rats for the 2006–07 AHL season
.
During the season, the Avs announced that they had signed a long term deal to be the NHL affiliate of the new Cleveland expansion team beginning in 2007–08
. Coincidentally, the new franchise is a reincarnation of the Utah Grizzlies franchise, which played in Denver as the Denver Grizzlies until 1995, when the Avs came to Denver.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
season was their 12th National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
in Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. It was a season of transition for the Avs, as the team began the season with a new General Manager in Francois Giguere
François Giguère
François C.H. Giguère was the former general manager and executive vice president of the Colorado Avalanche. He was promoted on May 24, 2006...
, ending the twelve year reign of Pierre Lacroix. The off-season also featured the departures of Alex Tanguay
Alex Tanguay
Alexandre Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He has additionally played with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in...
and Rob Blake
Rob Blake
Robert Bowlby Blake is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, appearing in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy and serving as team captain for five seasons in his initial 11 season-stint with...
, continuing the trend of star players leaving Denver that began the previous year.
After a decade near the top of the Western Conference
Western Conference (NHL)
The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
standings, the Avalanche were expected to struggle to make the playoffs in 2006–07. The team's expected decline also saw attendance take a hit, as Colorado's NHL record sellout streak of 487 games was ended on October 16 when 17,681 tickets were sold for a game, 326 shy of a sellout.
Joe Sakic
Joe Sakic
Joseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
was the lone representative for the Avalanche at the 2007 All-Star Game
55th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in Dallas, Texas, on January 24, 2007. The Western Conference was victorious, defeating the Eastern Conference 12–9...
in Dallas. Sakic recorded four assists at the game.
Entering the final week of the season on April 3, 2007, Colorado was 7 points behind the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
for the 8th and final spot in the Western Conference standings. Needing Calgary to lose all four games that week and for them to win all four they fell short by 1 point. Calgary losing to Colorado, San Jose, Edmonton, and again to Colorado did not capture a point that week and Colorado winning three out of four was knocked out of contention when they lost to the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on April 7, 2007. The following night, the Avalanche beat the Flames 6–3 giving them 95 points overall on the season and one short of Calgary who had 96. With the 95 points, the Avalanche became the team with the highest point total in a season to not make the playoffs, missing the post-season for the first time in franchise history, despite going 15–2–2 to end the regular season. This record would later be matched by the 2010–11 Dallas Stars
2010–11 Dallas Stars season
The 2010–11 Dallas Stars season was the 44th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 5, 1967, and 18th season since the franchise relocated to Dallas to start the 1993–94 NHL season....
, who also failed to qualify for the playoffs with 95 points.
Game log
| 2006–07 Game log | |
|---|---|
Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| Joe Sakic Joe Sakic Joseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL... |
82 | 36 | 64 | 100 | 46 | |||||||
| Andrew Brunette Andrew Brunette Andrew Brunette is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Brunette grew up in the small community of Valley East, Ontario just outside of Sudbury... |
82 | 27 | 56 | 83 | 36 | |||||||
| Paul Stastny Paul Stastny Paul Stastny is an American professional ice hockey center, an alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . Of Slovak lineage, Stastny is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played for the Avalanche's predecessor, the Quebec Nordiques... |
82 | 28 | 50 | 78 | 42 | |||||||
| Milan Hejduk Milan Hejduk Milan Hejduk is a Czech professional ice hockey forward and the captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :... |
80 | 35 | 35 | 70 | 44 | |||||||
| Wojtek Wolski Wojtek Wolski Wojciech "Wojtek” Wolski is a Polish-Canadian professional ice hockey left winger, currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He previously played for the Colorado Avalanche and the Phoenix Coyotes.-Junior:... |
76 | 22 | 28 | 50 | 14 | |||||||
| Tyler Arnason Tyler Arnason Tyler Arnason is an American professional ice hockey center who is currently a Free Agent. He most recently played with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League. He has previously played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and the Colorado... |
82 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 26 | |||||||
| John-Michael Liles John-Michael Liles John-Michael Liles is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL... |
71 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 24 | |||||||
| Brett Clark | 82 | 10 | 29 | 39 | 50 | |||||||
| Brett McLean Brett McLean Brett McLean is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing within the Chicago Blackhawks organization of the National Hockey League... |
78 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 36 | |||||||
| Marek Svatos Marek Svatoš Marek Svatoš is a Slovak professional ice hockey forward who is currently a free agent. In the 2010–11 season, Svatoš had played for Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League before signing with the St. Louis Blues of the NHL... |
66 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 46 | |||||||
| Ian Laperriere Ian Laperriere Ian Laperrière is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League , but who has not played since the season because of post-concussion syndrome.... |
81 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 133 | |||||||
| Brad Richardson Brad Richardson Brad Richardson is a professional ice hockey player who currently plays centre for the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings.-Playing career:... |
73 | 14 | 8 | 22 | 28 | |||||||
| Ken Klee Ken Klee Kenneth Robert Klee is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played most notably with the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
81 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 68 | |||||||
| Mark Rycroft Mark Rycroft Mark Rycroft is a former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche.-Playing career:... |
66 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 31 | |||||||
| Patrice Brisebois Patrice Brisebois Patrice Brisebois is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and currently a racing driver.-NHL playing career:Brisebois was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round, 30th overall, of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft... |
33 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 22 | |||||||
| Ben Guite Ben Guite Ben Guite is a Canadian ice hockey forward who is under contract with the San Jose Sharks in the National Hockey League . He is the son of former WHAer Pierre Guite.- Playing career :... |
39 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 16 | |||||||
| Karlis Skrastins Karlis Skrastinš Kārlis Skrastiņš was a Latvian professional ice hockey player. Skrastins was a member of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League and was on board the team plane which crashed on September 7, 2011... |
68 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 30 | |||||||
| Ossi Vaananen Ossi Väänänen Ossi Väänänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for Jokerit of the Finnish SM-liiga, with whom he was won two silver medals as runner-up for the Kanada-malja in 2000 and 2005... |
74 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 69 | |||||||
| Pierre Turgeon Pierre Turgeon Pierre Turgeon is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche... |
17 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 10 | |||||||
| Kurt Sauer Kurt Sauer Kurt Christopher Sauer is a professional ice hockey defenseman who last played for the Phoenix Coyotes in the National Hockey League. He is the older brother of Michael Sauer, also a defenseman who plays for the New York Rangers.... |
48 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 24 | |||||||
| Jordan Leopold Jordan Leopold Jordan Leopold is an American professional ice hockey defenseman, currently playing with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
15 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 14 | |||||||
| Jeff Finger Jeff Finger Jeff Finger is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
22 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 11 | |||||||
| Antti Laaksonen Antti Laaksonen Antti Akseli Laaksonen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey left winger who last played for the Lukko of the SM-Liiga... |
41 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 16 | |||||||
| Brad May Brad May Brad S. May is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League . He grew up in Stouffville, Ontario, but played his rep minor hockey in Markham, Ontario. A veteran of over 1,000 NHL games, May was known more for his enforcing skills than his scoring... ‡ |
10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |||||||
| Kyle Cumiskey Kyle Cumiskey Kyle Cumiskey is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. Kyle's brother, Clayton, is a current member of the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League.... |
9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| Scott Parker↑ | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |||||||
| Peter Budaj Peter Budaj Peter Budaj is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
57 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||||||
| Cody McCormick Cody McCormick Cody McCormick is a Canadian ice hockey player who currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL. He is of First Nations descent, with both Oneida and Chippewa/Ojibway ancestors, and he also has European heritage.-Playing career:... |
6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |||||||
| Jose Theodore José Théodore José Théodore is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League... |
33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |||||||
| George Parros George Parros George James Parros is an Greek American professional ice hockey player, who plays right wing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. He is known as one of the enforcers for the team. He was part of the 2007 Stanley Cup winning Anaheim Ducks.- Early life :A native of Scenery Hill,... ‡ |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Colorado. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only.
‡Traded during the season.
Goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | Min | W | L | OT | GA | SO | SV% | GAA | GP | Min | W | L | GA | SO | SV% | GAA | ||
| Peter Budaj Peter Budaj Peter Budaj is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
57 | 3198 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 143 | 3 | .905 | 2.68 | ||||||||||
| Jose Theodore José Théodore José Théodore is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League... |
33 | 1748 | 13 | 15 | 1 | 95 | 0 | .891 | 3.26 | ||||||||||
Transactions
The Avalanche were involved in the following transactions during the 2006–07 season.Trades
| June 24, 2006 | To Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... Jordan Leopold Jordan Leopold Jordan Leopold is an American professional ice hockey defenseman, currently playing with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... 2nd round pick in 2006 2006 NHL Entry Draft The 2006 NHL Entry Draft was the 44th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on June 24, 2006.The draft order for the first 14 picks was decided during a lottery held on April 20, 2006.... conditional round pick in 2007 2007 NHL Entry Draft The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was the 45th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted at Nationwide Arena in the city of Columbus, Ohio, United States on June 22, 2007. The draft consisted of seven rounds with rounds two through seven taking place on June 23, 2007... or 2008 2008 NHL Entry Draft The 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on June 20–21, 2008... |
To Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... Alex Tanguay Alex Tanguay Alexandre Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He has additionally played with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in... |
| November 13, 2006 | To Colorado Avalanche 2nd round pick in 2007 2007 NHL Entry Draft The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was the 45th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted at Nationwide Arena in the city of Columbus, Ohio, United States on June 22, 2007. The draft consisted of seven rounds with rounds two through seven taking place on June 23, 2007... |
To Anaheim Ducks Anaheim Ducks The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... George Parros George Parros George James Parros is an Greek American professional ice hockey player, who plays right wing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. He is known as one of the enforcers for the team. He was part of the 2007 Stanley Cup winning Anaheim Ducks.- Early life :A native of Scenery Hill,... |
| February 27, 2007 | To Colorado Avalanche Michael Wall Michael Wall (ice hockey) Michael "Mike" Wall is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League with the Anaheim Ducks.-Playing career:... |
To Anaheim Ducks Brad May Brad May Brad S. May is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League . He grew up in Stouffville, Ontario, but played his rep minor hockey in Markham, Ontario. A veteran of over 1,000 NHL games, May was known more for his enforcing skills than his scoring... |
| February 27, 2007 | To Colorado Avalanche Scott Parker |
To San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... 6th round pick in 2008 2008 NHL Entry Draft The 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on June 20–21, 2008... |
Free agents
|
|
Draft picks
Colorado's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft2006 NHL Entry Draft
The 2006 NHL Entry Draft was the 44th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on June 24, 2006.The draft order for the first 14 picks was decided during a lottery held on April 20, 2006....
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/Junior/Club Team (League) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Chris Stewart Chris Stewart (hockey) Chris Stewart is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League... (RW) |
Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... |
Kingston Frontenacs Kingston Frontenacs The Kingston Frontenacs are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The team is coached by Todd Gill and Doug Gilmour is the General Manager. The Frontenacs play home games at the K-Rock Centre, which opened in 2008.Team history predates the OHA,... (OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... ) |
|
| 2 | 51 | Nigel Williams Nigel Williams (ice hockey) Nigel Williams is an American ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:... (D) |
Colorado Avalanche | US National Team Development Program USA Hockey USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has... (NAHL) |
|
| 2 | 59 | Codey Burki Codey Burki Codey Burki is a Canadian professional ice hockey center who is currently playing for HC Lugano, of the Swiss National League A.-Playing career:... (C) |
Colorado Avalanche (From Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... ) |
Brandon Wheat Kings Brandon Wheat Kings The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the... (WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... ) |
|
| 3 | 81 | Michael Carman Michael Carman Michael Carman is an Australian film, television, and theatre actor. He attended Swinburne Film and Television School from 1971 to 1974.- Filmography :*Max's Dreaming as support*A Waltz Through the Hills as Sgt Rawlins*Hercules Returns as co-lead... (C) |
Colorado Avalanche | US National Team Development Program USA Hockey USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has... (NAHL) |
|
| 4 | 110 | Kevin Montgomery Kevin Montgomery (ice hockey) Kevin Montgomery is an American ice hockey player who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League while under contract to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... (D) |
Colorado Avalanche (From Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... ) |
US National Team Development Program USA Hockey USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has... (NAHL) |
|
| 7 | 201 | Billy Sauer Billy Sauer Billy Sauer is an American professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.-Playing career:... (G) |
Colorado Avalanche | University of Michigan University of Michigan The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan... (NCAA) |
Albany River RatsAlbany River RatsThe Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
The Avalanche signed a one year deal to join the Carolina HurricanesCarolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
as the NHL affiliate for the River Rats for the 2006–07 AHL season
2006–07 AHL season
The 2006–07 AHL season was the 71st season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup, defeating the defending champions, the Hershey Bears in the finals....
.
During the season, the Avs announced that they had signed a long term deal to be the NHL affiliate of the new Cleveland expansion team beginning in 2007–08
2007–08 AHL season
The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:...
. Coincidentally, the new franchise is a reincarnation of the Utah Grizzlies franchise, which played in Denver as the Denver Grizzlies until 1995, when the Avs came to Denver.