Next 45+ year-old active player?

[1989]

As thread title suggests... few players make it to 40... even fewer to 43.

Who do you believe have an honest chance at reaching 45 years of age and playing on an active roster in the NHL? With all the improved conditioning, workouts, postgame rest, etc., certainly someone should make it. I believe Chara and Jagr were the last to make it to 45 before retiring, although Jagr "took a break" and played in Europe.

Ovechkin and Malkin are retiring soon and have stated their intentions. I don't think Crosby wants to play in a 3rd line role down the line. Giordano is basically retired. Highly doubt Perry will make it much longer. Hard to believe Suter or Burns have ~4 more years left in them.

MacKinnon, maybe?

 

[Terry Yake]

ROR

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

MacKinnon seems the kinda guys to pull it off, he's such a freak with his health

 

[Paper]

Konsta Helenius

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

If Crosby wants to he can do it.

He's the only one with a shot and I don't think he wants to do that.

 

[Statto]

Kopitar.

 

[Dirtyclapper]

Best guess right now I'd say crosby, hes going to play as long as he can

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Corey Perry doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all somehow

 

[hamzarocks]

No one

At 45 your only hurting your career production and legacy being a burden to your team.

Jagr was able to play at a high level in his 41, 42, 43 and 44 year seasons but he benefits from 04/05 lockout in age 32 season and then going back to KHL in his ages 36-38 seasons

 

[AD1066]

I'm not sure we'll see it happen again. The tempo the game is higher and requires a greater level of baseline conditioning than it used to. Even the GOAT of longevity, Gordie Howe, wouldn't have played nearly as long in the modern era.

IMO it would have to be another player in the mold of Ovechkin or Jagr; big bodied forwards who don't rely on speed, don't take many hits (perhaps out of deference), and either have a world-class shot or playmaking. But even then, I can't see Ovechkin being effective beyond another year or two, even if he did have the desire to keep going, which does not seem to be the case. And it's even more unlikely that any defenseman could provide value at that age.

 

[sansabri]

i can see Crosby playing til the wheels fall off

 

[Harvey Birdman]

Crosby. He is gonna play until someone literally cuts his legs off with a saw.

 

[Summer Rose]

Jaromir Jagr.

 

[Hollowmoon]

Kopitar.

 

[jigglysquishy]

There have been four NHL skaters to play at 45+. Howe, Chelios, Jagr, Chara.

All four were still a top player in their position is their late 30s. All were fitness freaks. All four peaked as the best in their position. All were willing to play down the lineup. All had a knack for slowing the game down.

Crosby is probably the best bet to check all these boxes.

 

[HansonBro]

I'll go with old man Burns

 

[Greatzsky 99]

someone probaby will, like 1 player in a 20 year span