Has Sidney Crosby ever missed the playoffs? Exploring Penguins star's playoff legacy

The Pittsburgh Penguins failed to make the playoffs this season as Sidney Crosby won't be playing playoff hockey.

During his legendary NHL career, Crosby has helped lead Pittsburgh to three Stanley Cups, including winning back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.

However, at the tail end of Crosby's career, the Penguins have struggled and have now missed the playoffs in back-to-back years.

Crosby missed the playoffs in his rookie season, but he and the Penguins then made the postseason 16 straight years, including the play-in round during the 2020 COVID bubble.

In Crosby's 19-year NHL career, he has only missed the playoffs three times, showing how dominant he has been in lifting his team to the playoffs.

"It's disappointing, especially with the way we finished the year. We were playing good hockey," Crosby said after the Penguins failed to make the playoffs, via CBS. "You look, when you miss by a margin that we've had the last couple years, there's so many games that you look at plays and things you want to redo. It's a fine line. Unfortunately, we've been on the wrong side of that the last couple years."

Despite missing the playoffs, Crosby still put together an incredible season as he recorded 94 points in 80 games.

Sidney Crosby is open to extension

Sidney Crosby has one year left on his deal that pays him $8.7 million per season.

At age 36 and turning 37 in August, the hope for Crosby and the Penguins is that they can agree to an extension this summer.

“Obviously, I’m going to talk to [general manager Kyle Dubas] and have a conversation with him,” Crosby said, via NHL.com. “We’ll see. I think it’s just something that I’ll have conversations with him about."

As for how much longer he has, Crosby says he isn't sure.

"I don’t really think like that,” Crosby said. “I’ve always just gone year to year. That’s always kind of served me well, as far as how I evaluate my game and that sort of thing. There’s always a lot of factors. But I think that’s separate from talking contract. Obviously, at my age, and things like that, there will be a lot of factors. But as far as my game, I don’t look any differently at how much longer I can play based off that. It’s always just evaluating my game for what it is, not my age.”

Once Crosby does retire, he will be heading to the Hall of Fame.