What are some late bloomers in the NHL?

[VMBM]

"Evergreen" Mr. Jean Ratelle

 

[tony d]

Dominik Hasek. 28 before he became a true #1 but when he did he became one of the best goalies ever.

 

[VMBM]

Dominik Hasek. 28 before he became a true #1 but when he did he became one of the best goalies ever.

He played in Czechoslovakia and internationally in the 1980s, which should be taken into consideration.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Boychuk.

drafted in 2002 by Colorado
plays 3 more seasons in the WHL
plays 5 of the next 6 seasons in the AHL

Bruins pick him up from Colorado for Matt Hendricks

finally makes the NHL at 26 with the Bruins and emerges as a big hitting, damn good 2nd pairing D and a key piece to the 2010's Bruins teams.

Also stepped up in the playoffs:

2011 - scored 16 pts in the regular season...had 9 in the playoffs
2013 - scored 1 goal in the regular season...had 6 in the playoffs

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

He played in Czechoslovakia and internationally in the 1980s, which should be taken into consideration.

true, but he did start slow in the NHL.

his 1st 3 seasons were:

5 games, .914/2.46
20 games, .893/2.60
28 games, .896/3.15

finally got the starting gig in year 4 and took off

 

[a79krgm]

Can I say, Connie Madigan? Oldest NHL rookie at age 37 when he broke in with the Blues in 1972.

Also, he played the legendary hockey goon Ross "Mad Dog" Madison in Slap Shot.

 

[silkyjohnson50]

Franzen. Drafted at 24 yrs of age, makes the Red Wings at 26 as a bottom line checker, blossoms at the end and postseason of his 28 yr old season and then becomes a top line scoring winger during his 29 yr old season and beyond until injuries mounted.

 

[crobro]

Ray Whitney

 

[The Panther]

Can I say, Connie Madigan? Oldest NHL rookie at age 37 when he broke in with the Blues in 1972.

Also, he played the legendary hockey goon Ross "Mad Dog" Madison in Slap Shot.

How old is he here? Looks like about 55...

 

[TrapGod Jr]

No way.

Guy was a juniors superstar who struggled his first couple of seasons because the coach tried to convert him into a center.

That sounds like Drouin LOL... dont think he'll be near as good as Guy

 

[Brodeur]

Philippe Boucher was a former 1st rounder who didn't play a full NHL season until he was 28. He ended up having a breakout year and was pretty good for the next five seasons. Peaked with a 51 point campaign at age 33.

It was rough for the Kings as Boucher was part of the much maligned Zhitnik/Fuhr trade. Boucher had his breakout year but was able to qualify for Group V free agency (10+ years as a pro, but making less than the league average).

 

[Puck Dogg]

Brian Rafalski entered the league at 26 and had his most productive season when he was 35 years old.

 

[blood gin]

Chris Kunitz. Played his first full season at 26. Scored 30 goals for the first time at age 35

Also Dwayne Roloson. First season at 27 with Calgary. Had his first 20+ win season at 33. Career high in wins was attained at 37

 

[danincanada]

Franzen. Drafted at 24 yrs of age, makes the Red Wings at 26 as a bottom line checker, blossoms at the end and postseason of his 28 yr old season and then becomes a top line scoring winger during his 29 yr old season and beyond until injuries mounted.

Franzen was such a good checking forward early on. When he suddenly exploded offensively in 2008 it was incredible to watch. Year after year after he increasingly became a perimeter player who could only score some goals. It was a sad decline to watch and a good example of what concussions can do to a player.

 

[Wackster]

I would say RJ Umberger he took a lot of time for a 1st round pick

 

[Michael Farkas]

He also didn't bloom haha

 

[Normand Lacombe]

Barry Ashbee - Despite 14 games with Boston in 1965-66, Ashbee toiled in anonymity with the Hershey Bears for several seasons. In 1970, Philadelphia acquired him from Pittsburgh in a minor deal. From there, Ashbee, at age 31, would become a mainstay on the Flyers blueline until an eye injury would end his career in the 1974 playoffs. His last season, he was a 2nd team NHL All Star and finished 4th for the Norris.

 

[psycat]

As for Swedes you have Franzén, Alfredsson(atleast somewhat), Sedin x2

 

[Filthy Dangles]

 

[aemoreira1981]

Maybe Adam Oates? His draft year would have been 1981 (very nearly 1980), which puts him at almost the same age as Glenn Anderson and Denis Savard, yet those guys were having their last big seasons when Oates was having his first big one. Oates wasn't an NHL regular until he was 24, yet put up 1420 points.

Ray Whitney? Drafted in 1991, his first productive season was six or seven years later when he was 25. His four highest-scoring seasons are all past his 30th birthday.

I came here precisely to say Ray Whitney. His best seasons were at age 34 (83 points), age 36 (77 points), and age 39 (77 points). He made the All-Star Team (2nd Team) at age 39.

 

[streitz]

From an older undrafted college kid who was at best an average 2nd line center behind Yzerman.

To one of the best playmakers the game has ever seen.

 

[aemoreira1981]

From an older undrafted college kid who was at best an average 2nd line center behind Yzerman.

To one of the best playmakers the game has ever seen.

What about the other half of Hull and Oates? He did not amount to nothing in Calgary, but then was traded to St. Louis where in 744 games, he scored 527 goals. And speaking of Calgary, Martin St. Louis didn’t really bloom until after Calgary released him.