The 10 Oldest Active NHL Players (2025-26)

Who is the oldest player in NHL right now? The new generation of hockey players is making their mark, but the veterans will always have a place.

With Corey Perry set to make his season debut tonight against St. Louis, the 40-year-old becomes the third active 40-year-old in the NHL. Early in the 2025-26 season, the oldest NHL players are proving age is just a number. Three 40-year-olds and a pair of 39-year-olds are showing the youngsters how it’s done. The average retirement age sits around 28-30, but these warriors are still making an impact in their twilight years.

Let’s take a look at the ten oldest active NHL players in 2026 and what they’re bringing through the early going of the 2025-26 season.

Here are the oldest NHL players active right now:

10. Anze Kopitar (38), Los Angeles Kings

Drafted 11th overall by Los Angeles in 2005, Anze Kopitar has been the Kings’ franchise center for two decades. The 38-year-old Slovenian is a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2012, 2014) and won the Selke Trophy twice as the league’s best defensive forward. With over 1,300 career points, Kopitar remains LA’s top center despite his age.

 

Kopitar got off to a hot start before a foot injury shelved him. The Kings captain tallied four assists in four games before landing on week-to-week injured reserve. He was averaging nearly 19 minutes per game before getting hurt.

Los Angeles announced Kopitar was expected to travel with the team for their October 21 game against the Blues, though he likely won’t play. When healthy, he’s still the engine that drives LA’s offense and remains one of the best two-way centers in the game.

9. Sidney Crosby (38), Pittsburgh Penguins

At 38 years old, Sidney Crosby isn’t slowing down. The Penguins captain has seven points in six games, including three goals and four assists. Drafted first overall in 2005, Crosby has won three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017), two Hart Trophies, and two Conn Smythe Trophies.

Crosby signed a two-year extension in September 2024 worth $8.7 million per season, proving Pittsburgh still believes in its franchise cornerstone. The future Hall of Famer posted 91 points in 80 games last season and shows no signs of declining. He scored his first goal of the year from one knee against Buffalo, reminding everyone that he’s still got those silky hands.

Crosby and linemate Evgeni Malkin combined for a goal and an assist each in Pittsburgh’s 3-0 shutout win over San Jose on October 18. The dynamic duo continues to dominate two decades into their careers. He’s arguably the best player of his generation and still playing like it.

8. Cam Talbot (38), Detroit Red Wings

Cameron Talbot wasn’t supposed to be the starter in Detroit. The Red Wings traded for John Gibson with the assumption he’d be their number one goalie. But Talbot has been stellar through four starts, posting a 3-0 record with a 1.78 GAA and .932 save percentage.

The 38-year-old veteran signed a two-year, $5 million deal with Detroit this summer after bouncing around the league. Talbot made 21 saves in Detroit’s 4-1 win over the defending champion Florida Panthers on October 16. Coach Todd McLellan called it a “real good performance” and praised Talbot’s rebound control.

The veteran goalie worked hard in the offseason to reinvent himself and it’s paying off. He’s giving the Red Wings exactly what they need between the pipes while Gibson tries to find his game. At 38, Talbot is proving there’s still plenty of gas left in the tank.

7. Kris Letang (38), Pittsburgh Penguins

Kris Letang is the third member of Pittsburgh’s aging core still getting it done. Drafted 62nd overall by the Penguins in 2005, the 38-year-old defenseman has three Stanley Cups to his name (2009, 2016, 2017). The Quebec native has been a fixture on Pittsburgh’s blue line for nearly two decades.

Letang has one point through six games while logging major minutes on the blue line. He’s averaging over 21 minutes per game, still trusted in all situations by head coach Mike Sullivan. Letang had a goal and two assists over his last three games after snapping a three-game point drought.

Known for his offensive instincts and shot from the point, Letang continues to be a key piece of Pittsburgh’s power play. At 38, he continues to eat up ice time alongside the Penguins’ younger defensemen and shows no signs of hanging up the skates anytime soon.

6. Ryan Reaves (38), San Jose Sharks

At 38 years old, Ryan Reaves brings his trademark toughness to the league’s youngest team. The enforcer got dealt from Toronto to San Jose this summer and has wasted no time making his presence felt for the rebuilding Sharks. Drafted 156th overall by St. Louis in 2005, Reaves has carved out a 16-year career as one of the NHL’s premier tough guys.

Reaves is in the final year of his three-year deal, and his role is crystal clear: protect young stars like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. Through four games, he’s found the back of the net once while racking up 18 hits and averaging just 8:10 of ice time. “Reavo” scored against Anaheim in the Sharks’ wild 7-6 overtime loss and threw down with a fighting major in the same game.

His analytics might not be pretty, but the Sharks value what he brings to their dressing room. As they develop their prospects, having a veteran presence like Reaves who can keep opponents honest is invaluable. He’s still one of the toughest customers in the league.

5. Evgeni Malkin (39), Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin was drafted second overall by Pittsburgh in 2004 and has spent his entire career with the Penguins, winning three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017). He’s a two-time Art Ross Trophy winner and captured the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2012. With over 1,350 career points, Malkin is a lock for the Hall of Fame.

At age 39, Malkin is absolutely on fire to start the season. The Russian center has exploded out of the gate with 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points through just six games. Talk about aging like fine wine. Malkin has recorded points in five of Pittsburgh’s first six contests, with his only pointless game coming in a 6-1 blowout loss to the Rangers.

He’s shooting at 16.7% and his chemistry with linemates Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau has been a pleasant surprise. The future Hall of Famer recently passed Brendan Shanahan on the all-time scoring list and sits 28th with 1,355 points – just 15 points behind Johnny Bucyk for 27th place. If he keeps this pace, he’ll get there before Thanksgiving.

4. Jonathan Quick (39), New York Rangers

Jonathan Quick brings serious championship pedigree to New York, with two Stanley Cups from his Kings days in 2012 and 2014. Drafted 72nd overall by Los Angeles in 2005, the Connecticut kid has carved out a Hall of Fame career as one of the best American-born goaltenders ever. He inked a one-year, $1.55 million extension in March and is set to make at least 25 starts to give Igor Shesterkin a breather.

At age 39, Jonathan Quick is the oldest active NHL goalie currently playing. Through two starts this season, Quick has posted a 1-1-0 record while stopping 21 of 24 shots in a 4-3 win over Montreal on October 19. He became the winningest American-born goalie ever in his first season with the Rangers and sits 21st all-time in games played by a netminder.

The oldest active NHL goalie might not be as quick as his name suggests anymore, but his positioning and experience keep him valuable in a backup role. His 6’1″ butterfly style has adapted well to splitting time at this stage of his career. Quick remains a reliable option for the Rangers when they need to rest their starter.

3. Alexander Ovechkin (40), Washington Capitals

Alexander Ovechkin turned 40 on September 17th, officially joining Brent Burns in the 40-and-over club. Drafted first overall by Washington in 2004, the longtime Capitals captain has won numerous awards, including three Hart Trophies and nine Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophies. He led the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship in 2017-18, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

The Capitals captain has tallied 1 goal and 3 assists through six games while firing 15 shots on net and delivering 14 hits. Ovechkin sits just three goals away from becoming the first player in NHL history to score 900 goals. His primary assist on Anthony Beauvillier’s game-winner against the Rangers was his 1,625th career point.

The Great 8 broke Gretzky’s all-time goal record last season with number 895 on April 6, 2025, and now he’s chasing another milestone. This could also be Ovi’s final season – he’s in the last year of his contract and hasn’t decided whether he’ll continue playing beyond 2025-26. The Caps are keeping his minutes around 15:00 a night, but when he’s out there, he’s still a threat from his office in the left circle.

2. Corey Perry (40), Los Angeles Kings

Corey Perry is set to make his Los Angeles debut tonight against St. Louis. The 40-year-old signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Kings this summer but needed knee surgery after getting injured during a pre-camp skate. Drafted 28th overall by Anaheim in 2003, Perry is a gritty forward with a 2007 Stanley Cup, a 2011 Hart Trophy (MVP), and over 1,390 games played.

Perry spent last season with Edmonton, posting 9 goals and 11 assists in 81 games during the regular season. But he turned it on in the playoffs, setting an NHL record with seven playoff goals – the most by any player age 39 or older in a single postseason. He’s been clutch when it matters most throughout his career.

The veteran winger has appeared in the Stanley Cup Final in five of the past six seasons but lost each time. He won a Cup with Anaheim back in 2007 but hasn’t hoisted it since. With 935 points in 1,392 career games, Perry remains one of the final active players from the 2003 draft class. Talk about longevity.

1. Brent Burns (40), Colorado Avalanche

Born on March 9th, 1985, Brent Burns leads the pack as the NHL’s oldest player currently playing at 40 years old. Drafted 20th overall by Minnesota in 2003, Burns made the rare switch from forward to defense and turned into one of the league’s top offensive blueliners. He’s logged over 1,497 games with the Wild, Sharks, Hurricanes, and now Avalanche, picked up a Norris Trophy in 2017, and racked up 910 career points.

The bearded blueliner inked a one-year, $1 million deal with Colorado this summer and hasn’t missed a beat. Burns has 4 assists in six games, averaging nearly 22 minutes a night. He hit another milestone on October 19, suiting up for his 1,500th NHL game against Dallas – just the eighth defenseman ever to do it. He’s also the fifth defenseman to notch a four-game assist streak at age 40 or older.

The veteran continues to anchor Colorado’s second pairing alongside Josh Manson and has been on the ice for just one goal against at even strength. He’s got the fourth-longest ironman streak in NHL history with 925 straight games. That missing-tooth grin? Still one of the most recognizable mugs in hockey.

The NHL might belong to the kids, but these vets are showing why experience matters. Through the early goings of the 2025-26 season, the oldest NHL players are defying Father Time and have plenty left in the tank.

Ryan Suter remains unsigned after the Blues cut him loose, leaving Burns, Perry and Ovechkin as the active 40-year-olds in the NHL. With Malkin’s hot start, Quick’s steady goaltending, Crosby’s consistency, and Reaves bringing the thunder in San Jose, these old dogs are still teaching new tricks.

It’ll be fun to see how long these oldest NHL players can keep up the pace. Here’s the full list of the oldest players currently playing for the 2025-26 season:

Full List of Oldest NHL Players in 2025-26

*Currently unsigned

This table shows you just how exclusive the 40-year-old club remains early in 2025-26. There are just three active 40-year-olds who have played NHL games in 2025-26 (Burns, Perry and Ovechkin), with Suter still unsigned. These guys are still bringing it night after night when most players their age are on the golf course or in the broadcast booth.

The game keeps getting faster and younger, but these old-timers are still showing the kids how it’s done. That’s why fans love ’em and why the young guys in the room are always all ears when they speak up.