The 2005–06 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the team's 39th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The season was notable for being Sidney Crosby's rookie campaign. However, Crosby's inaugural season did not improve the team, as they suffered another losing season, finishing last place in the Eastern Conference for the second year in a row with 58 points, the second worst in the NHL. The Penguins failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fourth consecutive season for the first time since the 1984–85 season and the 1987–88 season. It would be the final season where they missed the Stanley Cup playoffs until 2023 and the last season they finished with a losing record until 2025.
Regular season
The Penguins struggled defensively, finishing 30th overall in goals allowed, with 310 (excluding 6 shootout goals allowed).
Sidney Crosby Sidney Crosby was selected first overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft by the Penguins on July 30, 2005. Due to the labour stoppage in the previous season, the 2005 draft was conducted via a weighted lottery based on each team's playoff appearances and draft lottery victories in the last four years. This lottery system led to the draft being popularly referred to as the "Sidney Crosby Lottery" or the "Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes".
On December 16, 2005, Michel Therrien named Crosby as an alternate captain for the Penguins. The move drew criticism from some hockey pundits, including Don Cherry, who claimed that Crosby had done nothing to earn the position.
Crosby finished his rookie season with the franchise record in assists (63) and points (102) for a rookie, both of which had been previously held by Mario Lemieux. Crosby is the youngest player in the history of the NHL to score 100 points in a single season, and only the seventh rookie ever to hit the benchmark. Overall, Crosby finished sixth in the NHL scoring race and seventh in the NHL in assists. Among Canadian NHL players, he trailed only Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley. While both Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals had impressive rookie campaigns, Crosby finished second behind Ovechkin for the Calder Memorial Trophy for NHL rookie of the year.
Through his first season, Crosby was accused by opposing players and coaches of taking dives and complaining to officials, which has been attributed to his youth. During his rookie campaign, he was second on his team and fourth among all NHL rookies in penalty minutes, and is the only rookie to accumulate both 100 points and 100 penalty minutes in a single season in NHL history. This magnified his reputation for complaining to NHL officials. Hockey analyst Kelly Hrudey compared Crosby to Gretzky, who had a similar reputation as a "whiner" in his youth, and suggested that as Crosby matured, he would mellow out and his reputation would fade.
Mario Lemieux After the lockout concluded, Lemieux returned to the ice for the 2005–06 season. Hopes for the Penguins were high due to the salary cap and revenue sharing, which enabled the team to compete in the market for several star players. Another reason for optimism was the Penguins winning the lottery for the first draft pick, enabling them to select Sidney Crosby. Lemieux opened up his home to Crosby to help the rookie settle in Pittsburgh and Lemieux also served as Crosby's mentor.
On January 24, 2006, Lemieux announced his second and permanent retirement from professional hockey at age 40. This followed a half-season in which he struggled not only with the increased speed of the "new NHL" but also with yet another threatening physical ailment, a heart condition called atrial fibrillation that caused him to experience irregular heartbeats.
Although he had put up points at a pace that most NHL forwards would be perfectly content with (22 points in 26 games) in his last season, Lemieux still remarked, "I can no longer play at a level I was accustomed to in the past."
Season standings
Schedule and results
Preseason
| 1 || September 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 SO || Columbus Blue Jackets || Nationwide Arena || 0–0–1 ||
| 2 || September 21 || Boston Bruins || 5–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza || 0–0–2 ||
| 3 || September 23 || Ottawa Senators || 3–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Visions Veterans Memorial Arena || 0–1–2 ||
| 4 || September 24 || Ottawa Senators || 6–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza || 0–2–2 ||
| 5 || September 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Washington Capitals || Hersheypark Arena || 0–3–2 ||
| 6 || September 27 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 2–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena || 1–3–2 ||
| 7 || September 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Ottawa Senators || Corel Centre || 1–4–2 ||
| 8 || September 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Washington Capitals || Verizon Center || 1–5–2 ||
| 9 || October 2 || Washington Capitals || 1–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena || 2–5–2 ||
Legend:
Regular season
| 1 || 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || New Jersey Devils || Mellon Arena (18,101) || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 SO || Carolina Hurricanes || Mellon Arena (18,787) || 0–1–1 || 1 ||
| 3 || 8 || Boston Bruins || 7–6 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || TD Banknorth Garden (17,132) || 0–1–2 || 2 ||
| 4 || 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 OT || Buffalo Sabres || Mellon Arena (12,050) || 0–1–3 || 3 ||
| 5 || 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–6 OT || Philadelphia Flyers || Mellon Arena (19,566) || 0–1–4 || 4 ||
| 6 || 15 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (17,132) || 0–2–4 || 4 ||
| 7 || 20 || New Jersey Devils || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (16,082) || 0–3–4 || 4 ||
| 8 || 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Boston Bruins || Mellon Arena (17,565) || 0–4–4 || 4 ||
| 9 || 25 || Florida Panthers || 4–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (14,636) || 0–4–5 || 5 ||
| 10 || 27 || Atlanta Thrashers || 5–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (14,009) || 1–4–5 || 7 ||
| 11 || 29 || Carolina Hurricanes || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (16,420) || 1–5–5 || 7 ||
| 12 || 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 OT || New Jersey Devils || Mellon Arena (10,134) || 2–5–5 || 9 ||
| 13 || 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–1 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (14,415) || 3–5–5 || 11 ||
| 14 || 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Boston Bruins || Mellon Arena (17,565) || 3–6–5 || 11 ||
| 15 || 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || New York Rangers || Mellon Arena (18,200) || 4–6–5 || 13 ||
| 16 || 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–5 || Atlanta Thrashers || Mellon Arena (14,046) || 4–7–5 || 13 ||
| 17 || 10 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–3 SO || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (16,254) || 5–7–5 || 15 ||
| 18 || 12 || New York Rangers || 6–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,132) || 5–8–5 || 15 ||
| 19 || 14 || New York Islanders || 3–2 SO || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (10,793) || 5–8–6 || 16 ||
| 20 || 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 OT || Philadelphia Flyers || Mellon Arena (19,687) || 6–8–6 || 18 ||
| 21 || 19 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Wachovia Center (17,132) || 6–9–6 || 18 ||
| 22 || 22 || Washington Capitals || 4–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Verizon Center (16,978) || 7–9–6 || 20 ||
| 23 || 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Florida Panthers || Mellon Arena (18,124) || 7–10–6 || 20 ||
| 24 || 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Tampa Bay Lightning || Mellon Arena (20,218) || 7–11–6 || 20 ||
| 25 || 29 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || HSBC Arena (15,118) || 7–12–6 || 20 ||
| 26 || 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || New York Rangers || Mellon Arena (18,200) || 7–13–6 || 20 ||
| 27 || 3 || Calgary Flames || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Pengrowth Saddledome (16,626) || 7–14–6 || 20 ||
| 28 || 8 || Minnesota Wild || 5–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Xcel Energy Center (14,627) || 7–15–6 || 20 ||
| 29 || 10 || Colorado Avalanche || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (16,677) || 8–15–6 || 22 ||
| 30 || 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Detroit Red Wings || Mellon Arena (20,066) || 8–16–6 || 22 ||
| 31 || 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–3 || St. Louis Blues || Mellon Arena (14,336) || 8–17–6 || 22 ||
| 32 || 16 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || HSBC Arena (16,648) || 8–17–7 || 23 ||
| 33 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Buffalo Sabres || Mellon Arena (18,690) || 8–18–7 || 23 ||
| 34 || 23 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Wachovia Center (17,132) || 8–19–7 || 23 ||
| 35 || 27 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Air Canada Centre (17,132) || 8–19–8 || 24 ||
| 36 || 29 || New Jersey Devils || 2–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Izod Center (17,132) || 9–19–8 || 26 ||
| 37 || 31 || New York Rangers || 3–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,132) || 10–19–8 || 28 ||
| 38 || 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 OT || Toronto Maple Leafs || Mellon Arena (19,449) || 10–19–9 || 29 ||
| 39 || 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || Montreal Canadiens || Mellon Arena (21,273) || 11–19–9 || 31 ||
| 40 || 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Atlanta Thrashers || Mellon Arena (17,209) || 11–20–9 || 31 ||
| 41 || 7 || Atlanta Thrashers || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Philips Arena (17,132) || 11–21–9 || 31 ||
| 42 || 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Rexall Place (14,905) || 11–22–9 || 31 ||
| 43 || 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–6 || Columbus Blue Jackets || Mellon Arena (18,136) || 11–23–9 || 31 ||
| 44 || 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Chicago Blackhawks || Mellon Arena (20,541) || 11–24–9 || 31 ||
| 45 || 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || Nashville Predators || Mellon Arena (17,113) || 11–25–9 || 31 ||
| 46 || 16 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (15,681) || 11–26–9 || 31 ||
| 47 || 19 || New York Rangers || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Madison Square Garden (IV) (14,272) || 11–27–9 || 31 ||
| 48 || 21 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Wachovia Center (17,132) || 11–28–9 || 31 ||
| 49 || 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || Mellon Arena (19,726) || 11–29–9 || 31 ||
| 50 || 25 || Washington Capitals || 1–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Verizon Center (14,415) || 12–29–9 || 33 ||
| 51 || 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 SO || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (16,362) || 12–29–10 || 34 ||
| 52 || 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–7 || New York Rangers || Mellon Arena (18,200) || 12–30–10 || 34 ||
| 53 || 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || New York Rangers || Mellon Arena (18,200) || 12–31–10 || 34 ||
| 54 || 2 || Ottawa Senators || 7–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Corel Centre (14,714) || 12–32–10 || 34 ||
| 55 || 4 || New York Islanders || 5–4 SO || Pittsburgh Penguins || Mellon Arena (11,218) || 12–32–11 || 35 ||
| 56 || 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Ottawa Senators || Mellon Arena (19,877) || 12–33–11 || 35 ||
| 57 || 8 || Boston Bruins || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || TD Banknorth Garden (15,603) || 12–34–11 || 35 ||
| 58 || 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || Carolina Hurricanes || Mellon Arena (18,830) || 13–34–11 || 37 ||
| 59 || 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || Washington Capitals || Mellon Arena (18,277) || 14–34–11 || 39 ||
| 60 || 1 || Ottawa Senators || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Corel Centre (14,026) || 14–35–11 || 39 ||
| 61 || 4 || Carolina Hurricanes || 7–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || RBC Center (16,293) || 14–36–11 || 39 ||
| 62 || 7 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–4 SO || Pittsburgh Penguins || St. Pete Times Forum (15,048) || 14–36–12 || 40 ||
| 63 || 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Washington Capitals || Mellon Arena (14,374) || 14–37–12 || 40 ||