Corey Perry is the oldest player in this year’s Stanley Cup, as the forward turned 40 years old in the middle of the Oilers’ playoff run.
The veteran already won his first title with the Ducks way back in 2007, but his attempt for a second has been elusive. Perry has played in four of the last five Stanley Cup Finals, but he was on the losing end in each one of them.
Now, Perry has another shot at a second championship, as Edmonton won the West for the second-straight season. If Perry and the Oilers can get revenge on the Panthers, the veteran forward will become one of the oldest players to win a Stanley Cup.
Here’s a breakdown of every player to win a Stanely Cup championship after turning 40 years old.
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Chris Chelios, Detroit Red Wings, 46
The oldest player to ever win a Stanley Cup is Chris Chelios, who did so with the Red Wings in 2008 at 46. Chelios had one of the longest careers in NHL history, as he played parts of 26 seasons in the league and retired at 48 years old.
The defenseman spent 10 seasons in Detroit, winning a Stanley Cup twice, once at 40 and again at 46. In 2007-08, he played in 69 regular season games and 14 playoff games, but he never saw any action against the Penguins in the final. Nonetheless, the Red Wings’ victory gives him the record for oldest player to win a championship.
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Lester Patrick, New York Rangers, 44
The New York Times
The record for oldest player to ever play in a Stanley Cup game has held for almost a century, as Lester Patrick won it all at the age of 44 in 1928 with the New York Rangers. Patrick, who spent his playing career as a defenseman in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, was the Rangers’ first ever coach, leading the team out of expansion in 1926.
Two years later, New York played the Montreal Maroons in the Stanley Cup Final. In the first period of Game 2, with the Maroons up 1-0 in the series, Rangers goalie Lorne Chabot was struck in the eye by a puck and had to leave the game, and since Patrick was unable to secure a backup goalie, the 44-year-old stepped in the net himself.
Patrick allowed just one goal in the game as New York won in overtime to tie the series. After the game, the Rangers brought in goalie Joe Miller to finish the series, as New York won its first Stanley Cup.
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Mark Recchi, Pittsburgh Penguins, 43
Forward Merk Recchi won his third title with the Bruins in 2011 at the age of 43. Recchi was in his 22nd and final season, including his third with the Bruins, when he helped Boston win its first Stanley Cup since 1972.
Recchi played 81 games in the regular season that year and was a staple in the playoffs, as he played in 25 playoff games and all seven Stanley Cup games against the Canucks. In the Finals, Recchi totaled three goals and four assists, with all but one point coming in Boston’s wins.
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Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings, 43
One of the best goalies in NHL history, Dominik Hasek ended his career on top with a Stanley Cup championship in Detroit at the age of 43. Hasek spent most of that season in a platoon with Chris Osgood and was mainly Osgood’s backup in the playoffs, playing in just four postseason games, all of which were starts in the firs round vs. the Predators.
While he didn’t play in the Stanley Cup Final vs. the Penguins, Hasek still got the championship before retiring after the season. This marked Hasek’s second title, as he previously won in his first season with the Red Wings in 2001-02.
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Johnny Bower, Toronto Maple Leafs, 42
Pictorial Parade
The last time the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup was in 1967, when 42-year-old Johnny Bower was part of the goaltending team. The current Hall-of-Famer played in 27 games in the regular season, one of three goalies to play in at least 20 games that year for Toronto.
In the playoffs, Bower primarily backed up Terry Sawchuk, as he played in just four games to Sawchuk’s 10. However, the Maple Leafs won both of Bower’s starts as he had a .957 save percentage in the postseason. Bower played until 1969 and ended his career with four Stanley Cups and two Vezina wins, all with Toronto.
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Igor Larionov, Detroit Red Wings, 41
Elsa
After a successful stint in the Soviet League, Igor Larionov came to the NHL at 29 and played until he was 43. He largely made his name playing for the Red Wings, as he helped Detroit win three Stanley Cups, including in 2002 when he was 41.
Larionov played in 18 games for the Red Wings during the 2002 postseason, including all five in the Stanley Cup Final against the Hurricanes. Larionov scored three goals that series, none bigger than his game-winner in the third overtime of Game 3, which marked his second of the night.
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Matt Cullen, Pittsburgh Penguins, 40
Center Matt Cullen had a long career in the NHL, playing for eight different teams and winning three Stanley Cups over 21 seasons. From 2015-17, Cullen was a key depth piece at ages 39 and 40 as the Penguins won back-to-back titles.
Over those two seasons, Cullen played in 49 playoff games, 25 of which came in 2017 at 40 years old. He had two goals and seven assists in that playoffs, and he played in all six games in the Stanley Cup Final against the Predators.
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Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning, 40
At 38 years old, all Dave Andreychuk was missing on his career resume was a Stanley Cup, but he signed with a bad Lightning team instead of an instant contender. Andreychuk helped lead Tampa Bay’s rebuild, becoming the captain in 2002 and winning his first Stanley Cup in 2004 at the age of 40.
Andreychuk played every game that year and produced one goal and 13 assists in 23 playoff games for Tampa Bay. He finally won a championship in his 22nd season, which is the longest individual Stanley Cup drought before winning it all. After the lockout, Andreychuk played one more season before retiring in 2006.
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Ray Bourque, Colorado Avalanche, 40
The story of Ray Bourque is infamous in NHL history, as the forward played 19 years with the Bruins without winning a Stanley Cup. In 1999, Boston traded Bourque to the cup-contending Avalanche, giving him a chance to finally reach the mountaintop.
In 2001, Bourque finally got to raise the cup, ending what was an NHL-record 21-year drought for a player before winning it all. He retired after the season, as his championship in Colorado remains one of the most iconic moments in the sport’s history.
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Allan Stanley, Toronto Maple Leafs, 40
Sports Illustrated
In 1967, Allan Stanley won his fourth and final Stanley Cup at 40 years old with the Maple Leafs, capping off four championships in a six-year span. The defenseman played 21 years in the NHL, including his final 10 with the Leafs to help him earn a trip to the Hall of Fame.
Stanley played in 12 playoff games during the 1967 postseason, totaling just two assists. It was also his final season with the Maple Leafs, as he played one more year with the Flyers before retiring.
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