A study conducted by a group from UBC’s business school released in 2014 took a look at data from 14 NHL seasons (from 1997-98 to 2011-12) in an attempt to learn when NHL players were truly at their offensive peak. They found that forwards played within 90% of their peak from age 24-32, with a “significant decline” in their early 30’s, while defensemen peaked a little later (within 90% of their peak from age 24-34) and goaltenders were all over the map.
Looking at the current NHL scoring leaders, those numbers seem pretty accurate. League leader and Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane is 27 years old, while Dallas Stars duo Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin are 26 and 24, respectively.
However, there are a few players hovering around the top 20 in NHL scoring this season who are proving that age is just a number and not always indicative of results. Indeed, as was revealed in the same UBC study, elite forwards tend to reach their scoring peak later (from age 27 to 29) and often “do not experience a major drop-off in performance until their late 30’s.”
Veteran NHLers Proving Age is Just a Number
Case in point: Daniel and Henrik Sedin. In 2013-14, when the Vancouver Canucks franchise players posted their worst offensive season in more than a decade, many were crowing that at age 33, the Sedins were done. Fast forward two seasons later, and that’s been anything but the case.
With two more points last night against the Minnesota Wild, 35-year-old Daniel Sedin firmly launched himself into the Art Ross Trophy race to sit fourth in league scoring, behind only the aforementioned Kane, Benn and Seguin, with 25 points in 23 games. His brother Henrik has been no slouch either, with 22 points in 23 games to sit tied for 14th in league scoring.
The Sedin twins are leading the charge for elite NHLers in their late 30’s and beyond who are continuing to have a big impact on the game. In “a young man’s league,” where so much focus is put on prospects, scouting, drafting, development, and locking in young players to long-term contracts, thereby pushing a number of middling yet still serviceable veterans out of the league in the process, the Sedins and their aging brethren are proving there is still value in players most fans consider “over the hill.”
The most high profile among them is certain Hall-of-Famer Jaromir Jagr, who is incredibly continuing to get it done at age 43. Only eight skaters (and four goaltenders) have suited up for an NHL game at 43 or older, and Jagr looks poised to score more than any of them. In 2013-14 a 43-year-old Teemu Selanne struggled through his final NHL season with just 9 goals and 27 points in 64 games for the Anaheim Ducks. Through 19 games this season, Jagr already has 17 points for the Florida Panthers, and should easily surpass Selanne if he continues his 0.895 points-per-game scoring rate. Remember back before the 2011-12 season when many wondered if Jagr could still be an offensive threat after returning from a sojourn in the KHL? Those fears have long since been put to bed.
In Colorado, Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla, another sure first-ballot inductee to the Hockey Hall of Fame, is continuing to pad his stats at age 38. Iginla has been more than just a veteran voice on the team, he’s been a key to the club’s offense, with 15 points in 22 games and the 4th most ice time among all Colorado forwards.
Similar to Vancouver, the San Jose Sharks also have a dynamic duo of older players playing a key role in driving the club’s offense. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, both 36, may not be the dominant offensive players they once were, but in an era where scoring is down league-wide, their 14 and 15 points, respectively, in 21 games each are highly respectable numbers. Throw in 35-year-old Joel Ward’s 18 points, and three of the Shark’s top five scorers are 35 or older.
And of course there is the sublime pairing of Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. Both Detroit Red Wings forwards have struggled with injuries in recent years, but they’ve continued to be productive every time they’re in the lineup. Though he’s only played seven games so far this season, Datsyuk leads all Detroit forwards in average ice time (19:16) while Zetterberg is second (19:13), proving just how valuable these two are to the franchise. Zetterberg’s 18 points leads the team in scoring.
Of course it’s not just the older forwards who continue to play key roles around the league, as a handful of aging defensemen continue to play at an elite level as well. After appearing to take a huge step back last year, Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara is continuing to lead the Bruins (admittedly lackluster) blueline, averaging 24:29 a night while contributing 11 points in 18 games. Though the 38-year-old’s defensive game has naturally taken a bit of a hit, he doesn’t look nearly as slow as he did last year.
Most impressive though is what defenseman Andrei Markov is accomplishing this season for the Montreal Canadiens. A string of injuries ravaged what should have been some of Markov’s best years in his early 30’s, but the Russian is certainly making up for lost time. Over the last four seasons, Markov has scored 140 points, 6th among all NHL defensemen, during a time when his game is supposed to be going downhill. In fact, with 17 points in 22 games (7th among NHL blueliners), Markov could be on his way to a career-year… and he turns 37 in December.
Meanwhile in goal, a number of veteran netminders around the league continue to be reliable starters. While at 33 years of age New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist could hardly be considered over the hill just yet, he is in fact the fifth oldest goalie in the NHL this season and also the best, with a scintillating .946 SV% and 1.74 GAA, numbers which, if they hold, could earn the Swede his second Vezina Trophy.
Above Lundqvist are 36-year-old Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo (the oldest goalie in the league), 35-year-old Vancouver Canucks starter Ryan Miller and 34-year-old Ottawa Senators netminder Craig Anderson. All three are proving they are not merely de facto starters for their teams based on their experience, as they continue to have solid seasons statistically.
In 2012-13, when a 37-year-old Martin St. Louis became the oldest player to lead the league in scoring and capture the Art Ross Trophy, some wondered if he was the last of a dying breed in a league skewing younger and younger by the year. Just two seasons later, it’s easy to see that’s not the case, as a number of players in their late 30’s are proving that not only can they stay relevant, but they can in fact remain elite, showing their value not only in the room, but on the ice as well.
Main Photo:
