Who is the oldest active player in the NHL? Looking at the league's leading veteran

The NHL has had its fair share of players who continue to play in the league even after they hit age 40, which is unofficially termed as the retirement age. The oldest player to date is Gordie Howe, who played till the age of 52.

Other old active players in the 2022-23 season include Mike Smith, 40 (Edmonton Oilers), Mark Giordano, 39 (Toronto Maple Leafs), Joe Pavelski, 38 (Dallas Stars), and Zach Parise, 38 (New York Islanders).

Craig Anderson #41 of the Buffalo Sabres (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Craig Anderson of the Buffalo Sabres remains the oldest active player in the 2022-23 season, coming in at 41 years old.

Anderson was drafted by the Calgary Flames as the 77th pick of the 1999 Entry Draft. He failed to sign a contract with the Flames and re-entered the 2001 draft. This time, he was picked by the Chicago Blackhawks as the 73rd pick in the draft.

For the next 10 years of his career, Anderson played as a backup goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks, the Florida Panthers, and the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche traded him to the Ottawa Senators in 2011.

Anderson spent 10 years as a Senator and had his career-high season in 2012-13, boasting a .941 SV% and 1.69 GAA. He also won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2016-17 for helping his team advance to the conference finals after leaving mid-season to be with his wife, Nicholle, who was diagnosed with throat cancer.

At the end of Anderson's tenure with the Senators, he led all franchise goaltenders in regular season wins, playoff wins, and games played. Senators GM Pierre Dorion stated that Craig Anderson is 'the best goalie' they've ever had.

He subsequently agreed to a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals in 2021 and helped them reach the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.

As a free agent, Anderson signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres and was also a mentor for the young players on the team. He won his 300th NHL game in 2022 against the Vegas Golden Knights. He re-signed a one-year deal and returned for his 20th season. In January 2023, Anderson played his 700th NHL game and won against the Dallas Stars.

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Oldest Player Ever in the NHL

Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Gordie Howe debuted in the league at age 18 in 1946. He went on to play 25 years with the Detroit Red Wings before announcing his retirement at 42 years old.

He returned to hockey three years later to play with his sons on the Houston Aeros and the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association. When the WHA and the NHL merged in 1979, Howe played his final season with the Hartford Whalers at the prime age of 52.

Howe had 801 goals, 1,049 assists, and 1,850 total points, which were all NHL career records, later to be broken by Wayne Gretzky.