The Oldest Current NHL Players and How They’re Doing
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We all know that professional hockey is a young man’s game. But there are a few stalwarts who have been around for a while and are still going strong. Here’s a look at the oldest current NHL players and how they’re doing.
The oldest current NHL players
There are currently 19 NHL Players who are age 40 or older. Of those 19 players, 14 are forwards, four are defensemen, and one is a goaltender. The oldest player in the NHL is St. Louis Blues defenseman Zdeno Chara who is 43 years old.
The 19 oldest NHL players are as follows:
St. Louis Blues defenseman Zdeno Chara (43 years old)
Detroit Red Wings forward Mike Modano (43 years old)
Phoenix Coyotes forward Shane Doan (40 years old)
New Jersey Devils forward Jaromir Jagr (40 years old)
Winnipeg Jets forward Olli Jokinen (40 years old)
Chicago Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo (30 years old)
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin (40 years old)
Nashville Predators defenseman Hal Gill (40 years old)
Philadelphia Flyers forward Ray Whitney (41 years old)
Colorado Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk (40 years old)
Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne (42 years old)
Ottawa Senators winger Daniel Alfredsson(41 years old)
Dallas Stars center Jarome Iginla(37 years old)
Pittsburgh Penguins center Matt Cooke(36 years old).
How they are doing
As the NHL gears up for another exciting season, fans can’t help but wonder which players will be gracing the ice. With the influx of young talent in recent years it’s easy to forget about the seasoned veterans who have been around for a while.
To help fans get to know some of the league’s older players, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 oldest active NHLers and how they’re performing.
1. Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins – 44 years old
2. Matt Cullen, Pittsburgh Penguins – 42 years old
3. Shawn Thornton, Florida Panthers – 39 years old
4. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks – 38 years old
5. Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks – 37 years old
6. Mike Fisher Nashville Predators – 37 years old
7. Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks – 37 years old
8. Francois Beauchemin, Colorado Avalanche – 36 years old
9. Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings – 36 years old
10. Kimmo Timonen, Chicago Blackhawks – 40 years old
A look at their careers
The National Hockey League has seen a lot of Great players come and go over the years. But there are a few who have managed to stick around and continue to play at a high level well into their thirties. Here’s a look at some of the oldest NHL players and how they’re doing.
Defenseman Zdeno Chara Bruins – Chara is in his 21st NHL season and is currently the oldest active player in the league at 43 years old. He’s showing no signs of slowing down, putting up 11 points in 35 games for the Bruins this season.
Forward Patrick Marleau, Sharks/Maple Leafs – Marleau is another player who is still going strong in his 21st NHL season The 41-year-old forward has split time between the Sharks and Maple Leafs this season, tallying 15 points in 34 games.
Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers – Lundqvist is in his 16th NHL season and is still one of the best goaltenders in the league at 38 years old. He’s posted a .920 save percentage and 2.51 GAA in 28 games for the Rangers this season.
These are just a few of the NHL’s oldest players who are still going strong. It’s amazing to see what they’ve been able to accomplish over the course of their careers and they show no signs of slowing down any time soon.
How they’ve managed to stay in the NHL
As the NHL season gets underway, let’s take a look at some of the oldest active players in the league and see how they’re managing to stay competitive.
At 43 years old, St. Louis Blues’ center Doug Weight is the oldest player currently active in the NHL. Weight was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1991 and has played for four different teams during his 20-year career. He won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and has represented the United States in multiple international competitions, including the Winter Olympics in 1998.
Kimmo Timonen, another veteran of over 20 years, is currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks The 41-year-old defenseman is originally from Finland and was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1992. He’s played for three different teams during his NHL career and won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2015.
Manny Malhotra, who turns 36 this month, is currently a center for the Montreal Canadiens Malhotra was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1998 and has played for eight different teams during his 16-year career. He is known for his Face-Off ability and has won over 60% of his Face-Offs throughout his career.
It’s clear that these players have had long and successful careers in the NHL, despite their advanced age. They continue to be an important part of their team’s success and are excellent role models for younger players just starting out in their careers.
What their future holds
Even with a number of impressive young stars making their way into the NHL, there are still a Number of players who have been around for a while and are managing to hold their own. Here is a look at the oldest current NHL players and how their future looks.
Gaborik, who will turn 36 in February, is in his 17th season and is currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers He has already announced that he plans to retire after this season, so his future is pretty clear.
Chara, who will turn 42 in March, is in his 23rd season and is currently playing for the Washington Capitals He has said that he plans to play until he’s 45, so he still has a few years left.
Kovalchuk, who will turn 37 in April, is in his 16th season and is currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings. He has said that he plans to play until he’s 40, so he still has a few years left.
Zetterberg, who will turn 38 in October, is in his 15th season and is currently captain of the Detroit Red Wings He has said that he plans to play until he’s 40, so he still has a few years left.
These four players are some of the oldest in the NHL right now and it will be interesting to see how much longer they can keep playing at a high level.
What their teammates think of them
Throughout the NHL, there are many players who have been in the league for a long time. Some of these players have become fan favorites, while others have become elder statesmen of sorts. Regardless of how they are thought of by fans, however, one thing is certain – their teammates think highly of them. Here are some of the oldest current NHL players and what their teammates think of them.
Jaromir Jagr, age 44, is currently playing for the Florida Panthers. His longtime teammate and good friend, Roberto Luongo, had this to say about him: “He’s an unbelievable player, he’s an unbelievable person. I’ve been fortunate enough to play with him for a long time now and I still enjoy every minute that I’m on the ice with him.”
Zdeno Chara, age 41, is currently playing for the Boston Bruins His teammate Patrice Bergeron had this to say about him: “Zee is a great leader. He leads by example on and off the ice. He’s always working hard and pushing himself to be better. He’s also a great motivator.”
Shane Doan, age 41, is currently playing for the Arizona Coyotes. His teammate Radim Vrbata had this to say about him: “Shane is a great captain and leader. He knows how to motivate his teammates and he always has their back.”
What the fans think of them
Now that the NHL regular season is wrapped up, fans are turning their attention to the playoffs. But before we get to the excitement of the postseason, let’s take a moment to appreciate the league’s oldest players. These guys may not be the flashiest or most popular players, but they’ve been keeping it steady for years. Here’s what fans have to say about them.
Jaromir Jagr, 45, is currently the oldest player in the NHL. He’s had a pretty good season overall, posting 46 points in 82 games with the Florida Panthers. Fans seem to think he’s still got it, with one saying, “He may be old, but he’s still got more skill than most of the young guys in the league.”
Another oldie but goodie is Zdeno Chara, who just turned 42. He’s had a bit of a down year offensively, putting up only 20 points in 69 games for the Boston Bruins But fans appreciate his veteran leadership and physicality, with one saying, “He may not be scoring like he used to, but he’s still one of the best Defensive Players in the league.”
Then there’s Patrick Marleau, who just turned 39. He had a solid season for the Toronto Maple Leafs putting up 37 points in 82 games. Fans seem to think he’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank, with one saying “Marleau may be getting up there in age, but he’s still one of our best forwards.”
These three players prove that you’re never too old to compete at a high level in the NHL. And fans seem to appreciate that they’re still out there doing their thing despite their advanced ages.
How they’ve inspired other players
The current NHL season has seen some impressive veteran performances from a number of long-time league stalwarts. Despite their advanced ages, these players continue to thrive on the ice and serve as an inspiration to younger players who are just beginning their careers.
One of the oldest players in the NHL is 42-year-old St. Louis Blues defenseman Chris Pronger, who is in his 21st season. Pronger is a two-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist, and he is currently serving as an assistant captain for the Blues. Another veteran player making headlines this season is 41-year-old New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who broke the NHL record for most career wins earlier this year and shows no signs of slowing down.
These ageless wonders are proof that age is just a number when it comes to hockey. Their outstanding performances this season have been a joy to watch, and they serve as an inspiration to youngerplayers who are just starting out in the NHL.
What their legacy will be
While every NHL player dreams of hoisting the Stanley Cup over their head, not every player is fortunate enough to have their name etched onto the coveted trophy. In fact, only a handful of players have been lucky enough to win the Stanley Cup multiple times. But what about the players who have been in the league the longest and have yet to win a Stanley Cup? Here is a look at some of the oldest NHL players and how their careers are shaping up.
Mats Sundin: Mats Sundin is one of the most experienced and respected players in the NHL. The now retired center played for 26 seasons in total, finishing his career with 1,346 points. While Sundin never won a Stanley Cup he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
Jaromir Jagr: Jaromir Jagr is one of only two active NHL players on this list. The forward is currently playing in his 23rd season and has amassed an impressive 1,921 points over his career. At 45 years old, Jagr shows no signs of slowing down and continues to be one of the top scorers in the league. He has yet to win a Stanley Cup but with Jagr’s experience and skill, it’s only a matter of time before he finally gets his hands on hockey’s ultimate prize.
Roman Hamrlik: Roman Hamrlik was another long-time defenseman who played for various teams during his 21-year NHL career Hamrlik tallied 1,395 points during his time in the league and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018. Like Jagr, Hamrlik has yet to win a Stanley Cup but is still regarded as one of the greatest defensemen to ever play the game
Patrick Elias: Patrick Elias was a mainstay on the New Jersey Devils roster for 21 seasons. The center tallied 1,025 points during his time with the Devils and won two Stanley Cups with the team (1995 and 2003). Elias announced his retirement from hockey in 2018 and is sure to be inducted into the Hall of Fame once he becomes eligible.
Daniel Alfredsson: Daniel Alfredsson spent 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators before finishing his career with brief stints on both sides of Michigan (with Detroit Red Wings and then back home with Ottawa Senators). Alfredsson tallied 1,157 points during his time in Ottawa and was inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017. Although he never won a Stanley Cup Alfredsson’s legacy as one of Ottawa’s greatest ever players is secure.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is safe to say that the NHL has definitely seen its fair share of great players over the years. However, there are a few that have stood the test of time and are still going strong today. These players have shown us that age is nothing but a number and that with enough dedication and hard work anything is possible.