Lidstrom: 18-year NHL career, 18 postseasons

[RECsGuy*]

Has any other player in NHL history made the playoffs in each of his first 18 seasons?

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[canucksfan]

I'm certain Larry Robinson did it twenty times

 

[RECsGuy*]

I'm certain Larry Robinson did it twenty times

you win. it would be something if lids played three more seasons to take that record. 21 consecutive postseason appearances out of the gate sounds like an awfully daunting mark to break.

 

[kdb209]

Bourque made it 17 straight until the Bruins cratered in '96-'97 - the only time in 22 seasons that Ray played golf. But at least The B's got Joe Thornton for their "efforts".

 

[mrhockey193195]

With the exception of this year (with ATL), if I'm not mistaken Chelios only missed the playoffs once in his career as well.

Other than Robinson and Lidstrom, I can't come up with anyone else who's never missed the playoffs for 15+ years.

 

[nik jr]

brad park never missed the playoffs, but he played 17 seasons.

bob gainey never missed the playoffs, but he played 16 seasons.

 

[kaiser matias]

Not counting the two seasons where he was called up for a total of five games, Beliveau only missed the playoffs once in an 18 year career. That would be 1970, when the Canadiens only missed on a tie-breaker.

Were he not injured in 1962, Henri Richard would have also counted 1970 as the only year in his 20 seasons that he didn't play in the playoffs.

 

[Scott1980]

Richard missed in 70, along with Beliveau, because on the last day of the season, they needed a win or 5 goals to get in. Falling behind 5-2, they yanked Vachon with 9:16 to go in the third...but they failed to score and gave up FIVE empty net goals!

 

[Devils Mike*]

Brodeur is 15/16, which I'd say is pretty good. Especially since he played 70 games per season in most of those years.

 

[Blue Dragon]

As far as I know, Stephane Yelle has never missed the playoffs.

 

[reckoning]

Scott Stevens was 20/21

 

[Ohashi_Jouzu*]

As far as I know, Stephane Yelle has never missed the playoffs.

2002/03 is the only time he missed. Often seems to be that 3rd line checking forward that gets picked up for a playoff run by someone.

 

[Dark Shadows]

Bourque made it 17 straight until the Bruins cratered in '96-'97 - the only time in 22 seasons that Ray played golf. But at least The B's got Joe Thornton for their "efforts".

Not surprisingly, that year Bourque was playing injured all year long, missing 22 games, but walking wounded the rest of them. The Bruins suffered while he was at diminished capacity. Especially since they had a near farm team with a few stars.

 

[Big Phil]

Brodeur is 15/16, which I'd say is pretty good. Especially since he played 70 games per season in most of those years.

And you know the crazy thing? They got beat on the last game of the season to the lowly Ottawa Senators in order to be knocked out. This is one of the worst teams in history. Ouch.