Ranking the Best Over-40 Seasons of All Time in the NHL
Throughout NHL history, a handful of over-40 players have proved they can still hold their own against much younger talent. Florida Panthers right wing and leading scorer Jaromir Jagr is a prime example of an aging player defying Father Time.
But where does Jagr's play this season rank in comparison to other notable over-40 performances? Over the past 50 years, several aging NHL stars were also among the league's leading scorers. Some won individual awards or played major roles in helping their teams win the Stanley Cup.
The following slideshow ranks the 10 best over-40 seasons of all time in the NHL. Player stats and individual awards factored into the ranking. Feel free to weigh in with your opinion in the comments section below.
10. Dominik Hasek, Ottawa Senators, 2005-06
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Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek was one of the NHL's greatest goaltenders, winning the Vezina Trophy six times. He's also the only goalie to win the Hart Trophy twice. But it's his performance during his one season (2005-06) with the Ottawa Senators that puts him on this list.
Despite turning 41 midway through the season, Hasek proved he was still an elite netminder. His 2.09 goals-against average and .925 save percentage ranked second among NHL starters, while his five shutouts placed him among the top 10. He finished with a record of 28 wins, 10 losses and four overtime losses.
An injury suffered during the 2006 Winter Olympics cut short Hasek's season. Unable to re-sign with the Senators, he finished his career with the Detroit Red Wings. Hasek served as a backup during their Stanley Cup championship run in 2008. Soon afterward, he announced his retirement.
9. Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings, 1972-73
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Center Alex Delvecchio was among the most consistent scorers in Detroit Red Wings history. Often overshadowed by legendary teammate Gordie Howe, Delvecchio tallied an impressive 1,281 points in 1,549 games. He was a three-time winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and helped the Wings win the Stanley Cup in 1952, 1954 and 1955.
By the time Delvecchio turned 40 on Dec. 4, 1972, Howe was gone and the Red Wings were far removed from their glory years. Despite his age and the Wings' declining fortunes, the 1972-73 season was among his best. Delvecchio's 53 assists and 71 points were the second-highest of his career. He was the Wings' assist leader and finished third in points.
Delvecchio's '72-73 performance ranks among the best by an over-40 NHL player. It also proved to be his last hurrah, as he retired early in the following season. In 1977, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
8. John Bucyk, Boston Bruins, 1975-76
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Left wing John Bucyk captained the Boston Bruins during their glory years of the early '70s. While that club is remembered for superstars Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, Bucyk was the quiet leader. The Bruins of that era had a reputation for tough hockey, but Bucyk's disciplined play won him two Lady Byng Memorial Trophies in 1971 and 1974.
By the 1975-76 season, however, injuries were bringing Orr's career to an end and Esposito would be dealt to the New York Rangers. Despite the upheaval, Bucyk continued to lead by example. The 40-year-old Bruins captain was their top goal scorer (36) and finished second in points with 83.
Unfortunately for Bucyk, injuries would hamper him over the following two seasons and force his retirement in 1978. His performance during the '75-76 campaign remains one of the best by a 40-or-older NHL player. Bucyk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.
7. Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Ducks, 2010-11
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Right wing Teemu Selanne was among the NHL's most reliable scorers. Over 21 seasons, he tallied 684 goals and 1,457 points in 1,451 games. During his lengthy tenure with the Anaheim Ducks, Selanne became the first winner of the Maurice Richard Trophy and helped the Ducks win a Stanley Cup in 2007.
Selanne was 40 entering the 2010-11 season but had yet to lose his scoring touch. In 73 games, the Finnish Flash scored 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points. It was the eighth time Selanne reached the 30-goal plateau and the ninth time he achieved 80 points. He also finished second in team scoring and was among the league's points leaders.
Over the next three seasons, Selanne's numbers steadily declined as age caught up with him. However, his performance in 2010-11 remains among the most notable by a 40-or-older NHL player.
6. Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers, 2015-16
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Florida Panthers right wing Jaromir Jagr has had a number of notable achievements in his ongoing 22-season NHL career. He's won five Art Ross Trophies, the Hart Trophy in 1999 and two Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The only active player on this list, the 44-year-old Jagr continues to astound NHL fans.
In 2013-14, at the age of 42, he was the New Jersey Devils' leading scorer. That performance alone would've earned him a spot on this list. However, he exceeded expectations this season by leading the Florida Panthers with 24 goals and 55 points in 70 games. Thanks to his skills, experience and leadership, the Panthers are poised to clinch their first playoff berth since 2011-12.
5. Johnny Bower, Toronto Maple Leafs, 1964-65
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The Toronto Maple Leafs were the last NHL club to win three consecutive Stanley Cup championships (1962, 1963 and 1964) during the six-team era of 1942 to 1967. Hall of Fame goaltender Johnny Bower backstopped the Leafs during those glory years, but it's his performance during the 1964-65 season that earns his place on this list.
Nicknamed The China Wall, Bower was in his late 30s during those Cup title runs. During the 1964-65 season, however, he proved he still had a few good years left. Turning 40 on Nov. 8, 1964, Bower went on to share the 1965 Vezina Trophy with teammate Terry Sawchuk.
That was the second time in Bower's career he won the Vezina. He was also the first 40-year-old goalie to win the trophy. He went on to help the Leafs win another championship in 1967 before retiring in 1970 as the oldest goalie ever to play in the NHL.
4. Ray Bourque, Colorado Avalanche, 2000-01
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During 20 seasons with the Boston Bruins, defenseman Ray Bourque won the James Norris Memorial Trophy five times. All that was missing was a Stanley Cup title. But by 1999-2000, the Bruins were a rebuilding team and Bourque was nearing the end of his career. Midway through that season, he accepted a trade to the Colorado Avalanche to pursue that elusive Cup ring.
The Avalanche fell short that season, but they followed up with a championship run in 2000-01. Though Bourque turned 40 on Dec. 28, 2000, he was a significant part of the Avs' blue-line corps. In 80 games, he collected 59 points and led the club in ice time.
In the 2001 playoffs, Bourque averaged over 28 minutes of ice time while netting 10 points in 21 games. Playing on a Cup champion was the perfect end to Bourque's Hall of Fame career. His final season also ranks as one of the best over-40 performances in NHL history.
3. Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings, 2010-11
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Long-time Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom is one of the greatest blueliners in NHL history. He was a key component in the Wings' four Stanley Cup runs in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. Lidstrom was also a seven-time winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy and the first European player to captain a Cup champion.
Lidstrom's seventh Norris Trophy campaign (2010-11) earns his spot on this list. Though he was 40 years old entering that season, Lidstrom remained the linchpin of the Wings' defense corps. He played in all 82 regular-season games, netting 62 points and leading the Wings in ice time.
Not only did Lidstrom's impressive play earn the Norris Trophy, but he was also the oldest player to receive that honor. That proved to be the last notable performance of Lidstrom's career. He retired following the 2011-12 season, bringing his 20-year Hall of Fame career to an end.
2. Jacques Plante, St. Louis Blues, 1968-69
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Hall of Famer Jacques Plante was one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history. He won the Vezina Trophy a record-setting seven times and is among one of seven goalies to win the Hart Memorial Trophy. The innovative Plante also pioneered the use of protective masks. During his heyday in the 1950s, he backstopped the Montreal Canadiens to six Stanley Cup titles.
In 1968-69, Plante had been out of the NHL for three seasons when he made a comeback with the St. Louis Blues. He split the goaltending duties with another future Hall of Famer in Glenn Hall. Despite turning 40 on Jan. 17, 1969, Plante posted a league-leading 1.96 goals-against average and tied for third in shutouts with five.
Plante and Hall would share the Vezina Trophy that season. The duo also backstopped the Blues to the 1969 Stanley Cup Final, where they were swept in four games by the Canadiens. Plante's amazing comeback ranks as one of the best performances by an over-40 NHL player.
1. Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings, 1968-69
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The incomparable Gordie Howe was one of the greatest players in hockey history. A member of four Stanley Cup-winning teams during his 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Howe also took home the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy six times. However, it's his performance in 1968-69 that earns him top spot on this list.
Though Howe was 40 years old entering the '68-69 season, he would score 44 goals and 59 assists for 103 points. It was the first and only time in his long NHL career that he reached 100 points. Mr. Hockey also finished fifth among the league leaders in goals and third in assists and points. Putting up those kinds of numbers that late in his NHL career was an amazing achievement.
Over the years, several of Howe's scoring records have been surpassed. However, he remains the oldest player in NHL history to achieve 100 points in a season. That record might never be broken.
Player stats and trophy information via NHL.com and Hockey-Reference.com. Additional info via Hockey Hall of Fame.
