- Craig Anderson is the oldest active NHL player in the 2022-23 season.
- Anderson is 41 years old and plays for the Buffalo Sabres.
They say age is just a number, and there are always at least a few NHL players each season proving that to be true.
The average age of active players across the NHL in 2022-23 is 27 years, with the league’s oldest player, Craig Anderson of the Buffalo Sabres, still on the ice at the age of 41.
The oldest player in league history is Gordie Howe, who played his final NHL game for the Hartford Whalers on April 11, 1980, at 52 years of age. His ability to stay on the ice into his 50s was obviously out of the ordinary, but there are still a few players proving that hockey isn’t just for the young guys.
*Note, all ages are as of the 2022-23 season opener.
Ranking Oldest NHL Players in 2022-23
| PLAYER | TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|
| Craig Anderson | Buffalo Sabres | 41 years |
| Mike Smith | Edmonton Oilers | 40 years |
| Mark Giordano | Toronto Maple Leafs | 39 years |
| Joe Pavelski | Dallas Stars | 38 years |
| Zach Parise | New York Islanders | 38 years |
| Marc-Andre Fleury | Minnesota Wild | 37 years |
| Jeff Carter | Pittsburgh Penguins | 37 years |
| Ryan Suter | Dallas Stars | 37 years |
| Pierre-Edouard Bellemare | Tampa Bay Lightning | 37 years |
| Brent Burns | Carolina Hurricanes | 37 years |
| Brian Elliott | Tampa Bay Lightning | 37 years |
| Patrice Bergeron | Boston Bruins | 37 years |
| Alex Goligoski | Minnesota Wild | 37 years |
Craig Anderson — 41 years old
The only active player over 40, Anderson is officially the oldest active player of the 2022-23 season. The goaltender made his NHL debut on Nov. 30, 2002, for the Chicago Blackhawks, and has since played for the Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, and Buffalo Sabres.
20 years later, Craig Anderson's still got it 😎 #NHLonTNT pic.twitter.com/K0yLTPh6kY
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 1, 2022
The Sabres are currently 10-13-1 as of Dec. 2 with Stanley Cup odds of +15000, so they aren’t likely to advance to the playoffs this season. Regardless, Anderson has played 20 seasons in the NHL, so if he chooses to hang up his skates at the end of 2022-23, he’s had an incredibly impressive career.
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