Michael Peca was a major addition to the team for 2006–07, signed from the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. However, Peca suffered a broken leg in December after scoring just 4 goals in 35 games.
On January 4, 2007, the Maple Leafs defeated the Boston Bruins 10–2 away. Alexander Steen scored a hat-trick in the victory.[1] It was the first time that an NHL team had scored ten goals in a regular season game since January 14, 2006, when the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Los Angeles Kings 10–1 at home.[2] It was also the first time that the Maple Leafs had scored ten goals in a regular season game since November 12, 1998, when they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 10–3 away.[3]
Although they finished in third place in the Northeast Division, the Maple Leafs ultimately failed to qualify for the playoffs after the New York Islanders clinched the eighth and final playoff spot after a 3–2 victory in a shootout to the New Jersey Devils, finishing just one point out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Maple Leafs tied the Dallas Stars for fewest shorthanded goals scored during the regular season with three.[4]
Note: No. = Division rank, CR = Conference rank, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
On April 8, 2007, the New York Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils in a shootout 3-2, thus clinching an eighth and final playoff spot and eliminating the Leafs from playoff contention. Following the Islanders win, it meant that the Leafs missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Toronto's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.[9] The Leafs had the 13th overall draft pick in the 2005–06 NHL season. The Maple Leaf's 2006 draft has been referred to in retrospectives as one of the most successful drafts for any team in league history, as all but one of the team's picks (Tyler Ruegsegger) would go on to become NHL regulars at some point in their careers. Leo Komarov, the 180th pick, would be named an NHL All-Star in 2016.
^Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy; et al. (eds.). THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 157. ISBN978-1-894801-14-0.