What Is the Average NHL Career Length for the 2024/25 Season?

With ice hockey being one of the most physically demanding sports, many fans wonder: how long is the average NHL career?

Due to the intense physicality of the game and the length of the NHL season, even the healthiest players face significant wear and tear on their bodies over time.

What is the average career length of an NHL player?

The average NHL career lasts around five years, equating to approximately 410 games played. While this may seem short compared to the careers of NHL legends and veterans, many factors contribute to shortened playing careers.

Injuries are one of the most common reasons careers are cut short. However, some players—especially those who stay healthy and maintain peak performance—can play for 10 years or more.

In fact, the top 25% of NHL players average around 12 seasons in the league. On the other end of the spectrum, a significant number of players may only appear in the NHL for a season or two before retiring or moving to other leagues.

While five seasons might seem brief, the physical toll of an 82-game regular season, combined with the intense pace and frequent body contact, makes longevity in professional hockey a major accomplishment.

Most NHL players do not reach the 1,000-game milestone, although hundreds of players have surpassed that mark in league history. As of the 2024–25 season, the average age of an NHL player is approximately 27 years old, but many elite players continue to perform at a high level well into their late 30s and even 40s.

With proper training, conditioning, and a bit of luck, NHL players can extend their careers well beyond the five-year average.

What Is the Average Age NHL Players Retire?

The average retirement age for an NHL player is between 28 and 30 years old. While this may seem young, it aligns with the league’s average career length of about five years.

Not every professional hockey player has a formal retirement announcement or a high-profile sendoff. These moments are typically reserved for star players who have spent a decade or more in the league. However, many depth players and fringe-level talents quietly exit the league without significant media coverage or fanfare.

This lack of public attention is one reason why the average NHL retirement age can feel surprisingly low—it often includes players whose careers end without official statements or final games.

What Is the Longest NHL Career?

Patrick Marleau, longtime forward for the San Jose Sharks, holds the NHL record for most games played. Marleau surpassed Gordie Howe during the 2020–21 season and ultimately retired with 1,779 NHL games under his belt.

When it comes to most seasons played, however, it’s a tie between Gordie Howe and Chris Chelios, both of whom played 26 NHL seasons.

While Marleau’s career spanned 23 seasons, a mix of injuries and shorter schedules during Howe’s early years meant that despite playing more seasons, Howe finished with fewer total games than Marleau.

Who is the oldest active NHL player?

Among active NHL players as of the 2024-25 NHL season, Mark Giordano of the Toronto Maple Leafs was the oldest player at 41 years old going into the season. Marc-Andre Fleury of the Minnesota Wild and Ryan Suter of the St. Louis Blues now hole that honor, both of which are 40 years old (two months apart with Fleury being the oldest).

Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is 39 years old and still scoring over 20+ goals per season. He happened to also break Wayne Gretzky’s record for all-time goal scorer by reaching 895 goals. An astonishing accomplishment that most thought to be impossible.

Sidney Crosby is not far behind them at 37 years old, and it is doubtful the Pittsburgh Penguins forward will be retiring anytime soon. It’s unlikely he breaks records at 26+ seasons, but he should still have a minimum of three or four left in the tank.

Why Do NHL Players Have Longer Careers Compared to Other Sports?

The combination of the NHL’s demanding schedule and the sport’s intense conditioning requirements contributes to the longevity of many NHL players’ careers. Hockey players are among the best-conditioned athletes in professional sports, allowing many to compete well into their mid to late 30s, and in some cases, into their 40s.

One unique factor is that NHL players skate instead of run, unlike athletes in the NFL, NBA, or MLB. Skating is generally easier on the joints compared to running, which can be extremely hard on the knees, hips, and lower back over time. This reduced impact may contribute to longer careers in hockey.

When comparing average career lengths across major North American sports:

• NFL: ~3.3 years

• NBA: ~4.5 years

• MLB: ~4.3 years

• NHL: ~5 years

Despite the physical nature of ice hockey, players often outlast their peers in other leagues due to elite training, conditioning, and recovery routines.

Former NHL forward Gary Roberts, who played until age 42, credited his longevity to a strict conditioning program, nutrition plan, and disciplined lifestyle. For many players, lasting that long requires more than passion—it demands grit, determination, and an elite off-ice routine.

It’s also important to note that not every hockey player plays the game physically. Playing style greatly influences career length. For example, a physical power forward like Milan Lucic might begin to slow down by his late 20s or early 30s due to the toll of constant hits and battles. Meanwhile, a skill-based playmaker like Joe Thornton was able to remain effective into his 40s, thanks to a more finesse-driven game.

Who Is the Oldest NHL Player of All Time?

The oldest player in NHL history is Gordie Howe, who played his final NHL game at the age of 52. Known as “Mr. Hockey,” Howe’s longevity is legendary—he remains a symbol of durability and elite performance across generations.

In addition to being the oldest player to ever skate in an NHL game, Howe is tied with Chris Chelios for the most NHL seasons played, at 26 seasons.

While Howe holds the overall age record, Chris Chelios is the longest-playing NHL defenseman in league history. Chelios played until the age of 48 and built a reputation for toughness, endurance, and playoff success.

Chelios also holds the NHL record for most playoff appearances, with 24 postseason runs during his remarkable career.

Which NHL positions have longer careers?

Across the board, ice hockey goalies average longer careers than forwards and defense. 

This is due to their general lack of contact when compared to skaters. However, they’re more likely to suffer knee injuries because they use their pads to block the puck and often find themselves in awkward positions to make saves.

Unlike other positions, goalies may find themselves being a few years older once they finally make it into the NHL. This position tends to take longer to develop, and given that there are only two spots for any single NHL team, goalies have to fight harder to gain the opportunity to show their skills off at the national level.

It’s uncommon for an 18-year-old goalie to be thrust into the net of an NHL game — and you’ll often see goalies being in the age range of 25 to 35.

Why NHL careers end

There is a multitude of reasons that factor into a hockey player’s retirement. Of course, it’s ideal to do so on their terms instead of being forced out due to a career-ending injury. However, injuries are inevitable in a sport with such rough contact, which sadly causes many players to end their careers earlier than expected.

Some players decide to move on to the next phase of their life and open a new chapter. 

It’s no secret that professional sports players can make millions from just a few years of playing. This money can take care of a player and their family for a lifetime if properly managed.

Other players are lucky enough to avoid severe injury. They can play well into their 30’s, at which point they may decide that they’ve had a fulfilling career and leave the game on their terms.

NHL careers aren’t always cut short by a single injury. Sometimes, it can be a combination of multiple minor and recurrent injuries. If a player’s body begins to quit on him, he’ll have to follow suit and leave the league because he cannot play at a high level anymore.

What Do Players Do After Leaving the NHL?

Many NHL alums decide to stay involved with the sport in some way, shape, or form. Some may even go back to their old team and take a coaching position. 

Often, this is a fulfilling way for ex-players to stay involved with their passion and to help the new generation of NHL players reach their potential.

Besides coaching, former NHL players may find work in the front office or management-type positions. Some may even get involved in broadcasting and use their playing experience to enhance their commentary on the game. 

After ending his Hall of Fame NHL career, Bobby Orr became a player agent.

Some players opt to leave the sport entirely and may enter into a new field altogether. They might use it in their chosen field if they had received a college degree before joining the NHL.

Former NHL goalie Ken Dryden has turned to author books and even pursued a political career in Canada. The opportunities for players are nearly endless once they retire from the NHL, and they can chase after their next goal.

Has a 17-year-old ever played in the NHL?

There have been multiple 17-year-olds to play in the NHL and even a 16-year-old. However, this would not happen today, as you must be 18 years of age or older by September 15th of your draft year to enter the NHL entry draft. Additionally, you cannot be signed by a team until your draft year has passed.

As a result, you will never see a player under the age of 18 play for an NHL team.

Here are the 17 and 16-year-olds that have played in the NHL:

• Bep Guidolin (16)
• Ted Kennedy (17)
• Jackie Hamilton (17)
• Don Gallinger (17)
• Jackie Hamilton (17)
• Don Raleigh (17)
• Ross Johnstone (17)

Is 40 too old to play hockey?

In terms of recreational hockey, 40 is certainly not too old. You could carve out a decade or longer career in a recreational league at that age. In terms of the NHL, however, very few players make it to 40.

There are rarities, however. In the modern-day NHL, Chris Chelios played until his late 40’s. Alex Ovechkin, as mentioned is 39 years old, and is likely to continue playing into his 40’s. Similarly, numerous goaltenders like Craig Anderson, Dominik Hasek, and Dwayne Roloson played in their 40’s.

Because goaltenders tend to peak later than players and start their NHL careers later, it’s not surprising that the bulk of NHL players over 40 are goalies. 

What year did Gretzky retire?

Wayne Gretzky, arguably the best hockey player of all time and undrafted, retired after the 1998-99 season after 21 years in the NHL and two years in the WHA. Even at 38 years of age, he still managed to put up 62 points in 70 games in his final season with the New York Rangers. This was the only season in his professional career he didn’t average over a point per game in a season. He also won the Stanley Cup four times, all with the Edmonton Oilers.

So it goes to show you, if players keep up with proper conditioning, many of them can go on to play long careers, extending well into their 30’s, if not 40’s.