The Oldest Hockey Players in the NHL

The oldest Hockey Players in the NHL are some of the most experienced and respected athletes in the league. Here are a few of the oldest players currently playing in the NHL.

Gordie Howe

Born on March 31, 1928, in Floral, Saskatchewan, Gordie Howe is the oldest player in NHL history He began his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1946 and played for the team until 1971. He then played for the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1973 to 1979 before returning to the NHL for two final seasons with the Hartford Whalers He retired in 1980 at the age of 52.

In his 26 NHL seasons, Howe scored 1,071 goals and 2,589 points. He remains one of only eight players to have scored more than 1,000 goals in their career. He also holds several NHL records, including most games played (1,767), most goals by a right-winger (801), and most seasons with 20 or more goals (22). He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.

Chris Chelios

Chris Chelios is the oldest player in the NHL, having played for 26 seasons. He is also the only player to have played in over 1,000 games. Chelios was born on January 25, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois. He began his junior career with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) before being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft Chelios went on to play for the Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks Detroit Red Wings and Atlanta Thrashers He has won numerous awards, including the Norris Trophy (given to the NHL’s top defensemen) three times and the Stanley Cup twice.

Jaromir Jagr

At 45 years old, Jaromir Jagr is currently the oldest player in the NHL. He’s been playing professionally since he was 16, and has played for eight different teams in his 27-year career. He’s currently a free agent but there’s speculation he may join a ninth team next season.

Mark Messier

Mark Messier is the oldest player in the NHL, at 52 years old. He is also the only player in the NHL to have played for all four of the Original Six teams. Messier began his career with the Edmonton Oilers in 1979, and moved to the New York Rangers in 1991, where he remained for 10 years before rejoining the Oilers for a final season in 1996-97. Messier then spent two seasons with the Vancouver Canucks before retiring in 2000.

Ron Francis

Ron Francis, born on March 1st, 1963, is currently the oldest active NHL player He is also the only player in NHL history to have played in both the World Hockey Association and the NHL. Francis began his career with the Hartford Whalers in 1981 and went on to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.

Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy is a former professional Ice Hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on October 5, 1965, in Quebec City Quebec. He is currently the Head Coach and vice president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche.

Steve Yzerman

At 52 years old, Steve Yzerman is the oldest player in the NHL. He is currently the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning but he also has a long history as a player. Yzerman began his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1983 and played for them until his retirement in 2006. He is a 10-time All-Star and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.

Joe Sakic

Joe Sakic (/ʃəˈkɪt/ shə-KIT; born July 7, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and executive. He played his entire 21-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. Named one of the “100 Greatest NHL Players” in 2017, Sakic is also the only player to have his number retired by both the Avalanche and Nordiques.

Ray Bourque

Ray Bourque is currently the oldest active hockey player in the NHL, at the ripe old age of 44. He has been playing professionally for an incredible 26 years, and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Bourque is a defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche, and has been since he was traded there in 2000. Prior to that, he spent 21 seasons with the Boston Bruins In his time with the Bruins, Bourque won 5 Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenseman, and was named to an incredible 18 All-Star teams. He finally won his long-awaited Stanley Cup in 2001, in his first year with the Avalanche.

Brendan Shanahan

At 42 years old, Brendan Shanahan is the oldest player in the NHL. He is currently in his 21st season, and has played for a variety of teams throughout his career, including the New Jersey Devils the St. Louis Blues and the Detroit Red Wings Shanahan is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

Gordie Howe: Gordie Howe is the oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 52 years old.

Gordie Howe is the oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 52 years old. Howe holds the record for the most Games Played in the NHL, as well as the most points scored He also won six Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings

Chris Chelios: Chris Chelios is the second oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 48 years old.

Chris Chelios is the second oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 48 years old. He is also the oldest player to have won a Stanley Cup doing so with the Detroit Red Wings in 2002. Chelios was born on January 25, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois.

Jaromir Jagr: Jaromir Jagr is the third oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 45 years old.

Jaromir Jagr is the third oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 45 years old. He is also the NHL’s All-time leading scorer among European-born players. He began his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins with whom he won two Stanley Cups and also played for the Washington Capitals New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers

Mark Messier: Mark Messier is the fourth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 43 years old.

Mark Messier is the fourth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 43 years old. He began his career with the Edmonton Oilers with whom he won five Stanley Cups and later played for the New York Rangers with whom he won another Stanley Cup Messier is one of only two players in NHL history to have won six Stanley Cups and he is also the only player to have captained two different teams to Stanley Cup victories.

Ron Francis: Ron Francis is the fifth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 42 years old.

Ron Francis is a Canadian former professional Ice hockey player who played 22 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the fifth oldest player in the NHL when he retired, having played until he was 42 years old. Francis is one of only a few players in NHL history to have been traded for an entire team. He began his career with the Hartford Whalers and was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991. He won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992. In his 23rd and final season, he was captain of the Carolina Hurricanes when they won their first Stanley Cup in 2006. He is considered one of the best playmakers and defensive forwards of all time, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.

Patrick Roy: Patrick Roy is the sixth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 41 years old.

Patrick Roy is the sixth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 41 years old. He is currently the head coach of the Avalanche, and has been since 2013. He is also the only player in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup as a player and a Head Coach

Steve Yzerman: Steve Yzerman is the seventh oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 40 years old.

Steve Yzerman is the seventh oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 40 years old. He is also one of the most successful players in NHL history winning three Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and serving as captain of the team for 19 seasons. Yzerman is currently the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning a position he has held since 2010.

Joe Sakic: Joe Sakic is the eighth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 39 years old.

Joe Sakic is the eighth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 39 years old. A center who spent his entire 20-year career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise, Sakic is considered one of the best players of his generation. He was a member of two Stanley Cup winning teams and was named the MVP of the 1996 playoffs. Sakic also represented Canada in several international competitions, winning gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics

Ray Bourque: Ray Bourque is the ninth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 38 years old.

Ray Bourque is the ninth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 38 years old. He was born on December 28, 1960, in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. Bourque began his NHL career with the Boston Bruins in 1979 and played for them until 2000. He then played for the Colorado Avalanche for his final two seasons before retiring in 2001. In his 22 seasons in the NHL, Bourque won five Stanley Cups, including one with Colorado in 2001. He was also named to the NHL All-Star team 18 times and won the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman eight times.

Brendan Shanahan: Brendan Shanahan is the tenth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 37 years old.

Brendan Shanahan is the tenth oldest player in the NHL, having played until he was 37 years old. A three-time Stanley Cup winner, Shanahan is also one of only two players in NHL history to have scored over 600 goals and recorded 2,000 Penalty minutes He currently serves as the President and Alternate Governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs