Every season, one of the top NHL-related searches is who the league's oldest players are today. Decades ago, most players retired in their 30s, but today, skaters in their early 40s are still chasing the Stanley Cup. One of those players on the cusp of approaching 40 is Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand, who happens to be one of the oldest players under contract for the 2026-27 season. Here's a look at the league's 10 oldest veterans.
Top 10 oldest players in the NHL
Brad Marchand (38) May 11, 1988
Although Florida veteran Marchand will miss the beginning of the season because of a recent surgery, he remains the oldest player on the club’s 2026-27 roster. After 16 years with the Boston Bruins, he joined the Panthers at the 2025 trade deadline, helping the team win its second consecutive Stanley Cup title, later signing a long-term extension to remain in South Florida. Through 1,152 games, Marchand has 451 goals and 1,034 points and a professional hockey resume worthy of the Hall of Fame.
Claude Giroux (38) January 12, 1988
Former Panthers forward Claude Giroux will turn 39 in the new year and will play in his 20th NHL season as a member of the Ottawa Senators. The long-time captain of the Philadelphia Flyers briefly played in Florida (18 games) in 2021-22. Through 1,345 games, he’s scored 379 goals and 1,165 points.
Nick Foligno (38) October 31, 1987
Minnesota Wild forward Nick Foligno will turn 39 on Halloween and is a 19-year NHL veteran. Thus far, he’s scored 251 goals and 612 points with six clubs, including three Original Six franchises: Boston, Chicago, and Toronto.
Mats Zuccarello (38) September 1, 1987
As a free agent this summer, Mats Zuccarello signed with the Los Angeles Kings to play his 16th season in the NHL. Ahead of the 2026-27 season, he’ll turn 39 on September 1 and will skate in his 1,000th game, currently sitting at 963. Zuccarello has 232 goals and 744 points with three clubs: New York (Rangers), Minnesota, and Dallas.
Sidney Crosby (39) August 7, 1987
The ageless Sidney Crosby just turned 39 and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Arguably the greatest player of his generation and one of the best of all time, the longest-serving captain in Pittsburgh Penguins history is approaching 1,800 points this season, needing fewer than 40 points to become just the fifth player in NHL history to reach the plateau. In only 1,460 games, he’s scored 654 goals, 1,107 assists, and 1,761 points as a three-time Stanley Cup winner.
Kris Letang (39) April 24, 1987
One of Crosby’s longest-tenured teammates is defenseman Kris Letang, who is about to skate in his 21st NHL season, all with the Penguins. As a former Bill Masterton Trophy winner, he’s overcome some life-threatening illnesses to keep playing. Through 1,235 games, Letang has 178 goals and 806 points with three Stanley Cup rings.
Evgeni Malkin (40) July 31, 1986
The Penguins boast one of the NHL's oldest lineups, in part because of the legends in the dressing room, including 40-year-old Evgeni Malkin. Like Crosby and Letang, he's spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, where he's scored 533 goals and 1,407 points in just 1,269 games. Whenever Malkin retires, he'll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer and is one of the greatest Russian-born skaters of all time.
Alex Ovechkin (40) September 17, 1985
The game’s greatest goal scorer, Alex Ovechkin, is back for one more season, his 22nd, all with the Washington Capitals. Like a handful of legends before him, when he retires, the Hall of Fame should make an exception and induct him immediately for scoring over 900 goals in the NHL. As the best player ever to come from outside of North America, Ovechkin is a legend who only needs an Olympic Gold Medal to become a member of the exclusive Triple Gold Club.
Corey Perry (41) May 16, 1985
At this point, former Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry is playing for the love of the game, since there isn’t much left for him to achieve or prove. Over 21 seasons, the one-time Stanley Cup champion has skated in the playoffs 18 times and reached the Final many times. As a long-time member of the Anaheim Ducks, Perry has bounced around a lot since 2019, dressing for six different clubs, including his current one: the Los Angeles Kings.
Brent Burns (41) March 9, 1985
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns has already won a Norris Trophy and, if healthy, will break Phil Kessel's Iron Man record for most consecutive games played (1,064) in 2026-27. However, after 22 seasons, he's still chasing his first Stanley Cup, coming close only once in 2016. Although he's not a lock to enter the Hall of Fame upon retirement, his endurance and competitiveness make him one of his generation's most reliable defensemen.
Add us as a preferred source on Google