Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images

It is always a momentous occasion when a player begins his career in the NHL. Most NHL players get drafted when they are 18 years old (or will turn 18 by September 15), with some drafted at age 19 or even age 20. Others sign as undrafted free agents, either after college graduation or an impressive performance in junior hockey or European league that had somehow been overlooked before.

As the years pass, players grow old and every player fortunate enough to reach the NHL eventually retires. This piece details the last remaining players that were born in each given year for players aged 35 and up. For this article, any player born during 1988 or before is considered to be 35.

The remaining players from each birth year will be shown in a chart that will list each player, the year when they were drafted and what round, their drafting team, the number of NHL games they have played so far, their current team, and when their contract expires.

Players who played through 2022-23, who are still free agents, or who have retired are noted. There is no chart for birth years 1981 through 1983 since just one player remained for 1981 and 1983 and there are no active players born in 1982.

1981

The last active player in the NHL born in 1981 was Craig Anderson who played in his last NHL game on April 13, 2023, a 4-3 overtime victory for the Buffalo Sabres over the Ottawa Senators. He announced his retirement after the 2022-23 season.

Anderson played in over 700 games and had over 300 victories. The Calgary Flames originally drafted him in 1999 in the third round with the 77^th pick overall. However, he did not sign with them and went back into the NHL Draft in 2001. That year, the Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in the third round with pick #73.

The last skaters from that birth year to play in an NHL game were defenseman Ron Hainsey (first-round, 13th overall in the 2000 NHL Draft) and forward Justin Williams (first round, 28th overall pick in in 2000 NHL Draft).

1982

There are no remaining active players who were born in 1982. The last active skater born that year was defenseman Andy Greene who was never drafted but signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Devils. His last season was 2021-22. The last active goaltender born in 1982 was Mike Smith, who the Dallas Stars drafted in the fifth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He last played in 2021-22.

1983

There is only one player left in the NHL who was born in 1983, defenseman Mark Giordano, who was never drafted but signed with the Calgary Flames as a free agent. He is currently with the Toronto Maple Leafs, with his contract running through 2023-24.

1984

When the 2022-23 season concluded, just four players were born in 1984: Marc-Andre Fleury, Joe Pavelski, Eric Staal, and Zach Parise.

As of this writing, only Fleury and Pavelski have contracts for the 2023-24 season, while Staal and Parise are still free agents. The report is that Parise will either re-sign with the Islanders or retire. If neither Staal nor Parise plays in 2023-24, there will only be two players from that birth year left in the NHL, out of the 143 players. Most of them were drafted in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, while numerous others had been drafted in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

1985

During the 2022-23 season, only 11 players born in 1985 played in the NHL. Among them, Patrice Bergeron announced his retirement. Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott, and Paul Stastny are still free agents, as of this writing.

If Halak, Elliot, and Stastny do not sign NHL contracts, the number of active players born in 1985 would be reduced to just seven. Among them, the only ones signed past 2023-24 are Ryan Suter, who is signed through 2024-25, and Alex Ovechkin who is signed through 2025-26.

Overall, there were 141 players born in 1985 who appeared in the NHL. Most of them were drafted in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft which was known for being one of the deepest drafts in NHL history. But some were drafted in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, at least one was drafted in 2005 and others signed as free agents.

1986

During the 2022-23 season, only 10 players born in 1986 played in the NHL. Among them, two have retired, i.e., David Krejci and Thomas Greiss. One, Anton Stralman, has signed a contract with a team in the Swedish Hockey League. Another, Anton Khudobin, signed a contract with the VHL team in his adopted hometown in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

One other, Alexander Edler, remains a free agent. Thus, there may be as few as five players from 1986 playing in the NHL for 2023-24. Of these five players, three are signed past 2023-24, and Evgeny Malkin who is signed through 2025-26. T.J. Oshie and Derek Ryan are both signed through 2024-25. Another player born that year, Cory Schneider, also reached free agency but he did not play in the NHL in 2022-23.

Overall, 138 players born in 1986 played in the NHL. Most of the 1986-born players were drafted in the 2004 NHL Draft. But some were drafted in 2005 while others had signed as free agents.

1987

During the 2022-23 season, 25 players born in 1987 played in the NHL. Of those 25, two have retired, Patrick Hornqvist and Darren Helm, and one other, Justin Braun, has signed a contract with the German Hockey League. One, Jordie Benn, signed a PTO with the Dallas Stars. Three other players are still free agents: Phil Kessel, Derick Brassard, and Nick Holden. For 2023-24 If none of the free agents sign NHL contracts for 2023-24, this number would be reduced to 18.

Concerning contracts, Kris Letang currently is signed through 2027-28 and Ryan Reaves is signed through 2025-26. Nicklas Backstrom, Jeff Petry, and Cal Clutterbuck are signed through 2024-25. The remaining players under contract are only signed through 2023-24.

Overall, 144 players born in 1987 had appeared in the NHL. Most of the 1987-born players were drafted in the 2005 NHL Draft. But some were drafted in 2006 while others signed as free agents.

1988

During the 2022-23 season, 19 players born in 1988 played in the NHL. Of those 19, four are still free agents. One of them, Jonathan Toews, is taking the season off as he is still affected by long Covid. Another, Patrick Kane, is recovering from hip resurfacing surgery, so interested teams are likely waiting to see how his condition progresses.

Another player, Jason Demers, retired. The remaining free agent is Wayne Simmonds. Carl Hagelin, also born in 1988, announced his retirement. He was unable to play in 2022-23 due to an eye injury and hip surgery. Thus, there may be just 15 players born in 1988 left in the NHL.

With regards to their contracts, three players have contracts running through 2026-27, Semyon Varlamov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Jordan Staal. Brad Marchand and Claude Giroux both have contracts that last through 2025-26. The remaining players born in 1988 have contracts that last through 2023-24.

Overall, 128 players born in 1988 appeared in the NHL. Most of the 1988-born players were drafted in the 2006 NHL Draft. But some were drafted in 2007 while others signed as free agents.

By Diane Doyle