Who is the oldest NHL player in 2024? The new generation of hockey players is making their mark, but the veterans will always have a place.
There is just one NHL player over the age of 40 playing in the NHL during the 2023-2024 season. Despite the average retirement age being 28-30, there are also numerous NHL players still playing the game into their late 30s.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the five oldest active NHL players in 2024 and the type of impact they are making for their respective clubs.
Here are the oldest active NHL players in 2024:
3. Ryan Suter, St. Louis Blues
Born on January 1st, 1985, Ryan Suter of the St. Louis Blues is currently the oldest active NHL defenseman. Suter has suited up for numerous teams throughout his NHL career, but he recently signed a one-year contract with the Blues ahead of the 2024-25 season. During the previous campaign in 2023-24, Suter played for Minnesota, where he contributed 17 points while averaging 18:56 minutes of ice time.
Suter was drafted 7th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. The workhorse blueliner spent seven years in Music City before signing a massive 13-year $98 million contract with the Wild as a free agent in July 2012. Suter was excellent during most of his time in Minnesota, averaging close to 30 minutes per night and finishing second in Norris Trophy voting in 2013.
However, Suter’s play began to tail off in the later years of his hefty contract with Minnesota, leading to the Wild buying out the final four years in July 2021. As a free agent at age 36, Suer signed a four-year, $14.6M deal with the Dallas Stars. Suter played the last three seasons with Dallas, but his team once again bought him out before the contract expired. In an attempt at one last hurrah, Suter signed a one-year deal worth $3M with the Blues in July 2024.
2. Marc-Andre Fleury, Minnesota Wild
Marc-Andre Fleury is 39 years old and officially the oldest active NHL goalie after Craig Anderson’s retirement. Born November 28th, 1984, in Quebec, Canada, Fleury is not only one of the oldest NHL players but one of the most accomplished and beloved goaltenders in NHL history. The veteran netminder is currently tending twine for the Minnesota Wild, where he continues to be a master of his craft. In 46 games during the 2022-23 season, Fleury has posted a 45-24-16 record with a .908 save percentage and 2.85 GAA, to go with two shutouts.
Fleury is a true example of a top NHL prospect actually living up to the hype. “The Flower” was drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and rewarded the franchise for picking him over a top forward or defenseman. Fleury spent 13 seasons with the Penguins, helping lead the team to three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016, and 2017. After a sensational career in Pittsburgh, the Vegas Golden Knights selected Fleury in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.
Surprisingly, it took until Fleury’s 15th NHL season for the esteemed goalie to be nominated for the Vezina Trophy. In his first season with Vegas in 2020-21, Fleury won the prestigious NHL’s top goalie award. To the shock of many, Vegas traded Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks the following summer. During that season, the Blackhawks parted with Fleury in a trade with Minnesota. Although he has been jumping around in the later years of his career, Fleury’s career accolades speak for themselves.
1. Mark Giordano, Toronto Maple Leafs
At 40 years of age, Mark Giordano is currently the oldest active NHL player. The veteran rearguard was born on October 3rd, 1983, making him the oldest NHL player by a wide margin. Giordano is currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he recorded three goals, six assists and nine points in 46 games during the 2023-24 season. Regarded as one of the NHL’s most respected players, Giordano currently sports an ‘A’ on his jersey.
Giordano began his career with the Calgary Flames, where he was signed with the club as a free agent in the summer of 2005. Surprisingly, Giordano went undrafted coming out of the OHL with the Owen Sound Attack. All the teams who passed on Giordano in the draft ended up having regrets, as “Gio” went on to have a very successful career with the Flames. During his 15 seasons with Calgary, Giordano earned the captaincy and won the Norris Trophy in 2019.
Giordano’s NHL career has taken a new life in its final years. The Seattle Kraken selected him in 2021 as part of the NHL Expansion Draft, ending his long run in Calgary. However, Giordano wouldn’t spend much time with the NHL’s newest franchise, as Seattle traded Gio to Toronto midway through the 2021-22 campaign. Giordano’s ice time has since dipped to 16:37 during the 2023-24 regular season, however, which is a far cry from the 25:00 he averaged during his prime years. He was also a healthy scratch during the Leafs’ Round 1 series against Boston.