Last Active Player To Play Before You Were Born

[Derick*]

I turned 21 a week ago. I still feel very young, or at least I did until a few minutes ago when I decided to glance at how many players who were active before I was born are still in the NHL. It turns out there is exactly one, Marc Recchi. This was incredibly startling for me even though, in hind sight, it shouldn't have been, as being 21 makes this my 22nd year and playing the year before me is another, so that puts Recchi in his 23rd season (if that seems paradoxical to you, while 2010-1989=21, there's a full year on each end of that range, 88-89 season to 10-11 season, and 2011-1988=23). I haven't really updated my sense of historical time and still habitually round every date to the year 2000.

http://www.hockey-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=VAiJN

I can't figure out how someone who had zero active players still playing would be able to figure out who the last one was. I just happen to be born in the perfect year where I both know who the last one is and he's still active.

Click to read more...

 

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Really depends when Brad Park started his NHL career. If he was with the Rangers at the start of the 68-69 season, then it's him since he retired in 1985. Park played 17 games in the AHL the year he had his NHL rookie season, so I'm not sure when he actually played his first NHL game.

If it's not him, then it's one of Serge Savard, Walt McKechnie or Carol Vadnais, who all retired in 1983 and were active NHLer's the day I was born.

 

[Crosbyfan]

I can't figure out how someone who had zero active players still playing would be able to figure out who the last one was. I just happen to be born in the perfect year where I both know who the last one is and he's still active.

Gordie Howe

 

[Franck]

Both Mike Modano and Mark Recchi were active during the 89-90 season.

I was born in March.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Mark Messier 79-80 to 03-04.

 

[ricky0034]

Both Mike Modano and Mark Recchi were active during the 89-90 season.

I was born in March.

thought it was just Recchi for me too but guess it's Modano too

 

[Infinite Vision*]

I think it's Lemieux for me. 86-87 to 05-06.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

mark messier

 

[Steelhead16]

Probably Howe if I had to guess. Too far back to do research.

 

[reckoning]

Really depends when Brad Park started his NHL career. If he was with the Rangers at the start of the 68-69 season, then it's him since he retired in 1985. Park played 17 games in the AHL the year he had his NHL rookie season, so I'm not sure when he actually played his first NHL game.

I think Park's first game was Oct. 23/68 vs. Oakland.

 

[kmad]

Chris Chelios started in 83/84, I was born in '84, so it has to be him.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

mark messier

Same here

 

[Jarick]

Messier for me too.

 

[oil4life97]

Lafleur for me I think I was born in 76.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Lafleur for me I think I was born in 76.

Check your birth certificate

 

[oil4life97]

Check your birth certificate

hehe good one

 

[CaliforniaSeal]

I was born in 63. There were 3 players that retired in the 79-80 season, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita but Dave Keon played till 1982.

 

[Psycho Papa Joe]

I think Park's first game was Oct. 23/68 vs. Oakland.

Then Park is the answer for me.

 

[lextune]

EDIT: I don't know how to figure it out right now....lol. I think I must need another cup of coffee.

 

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Lafleur for me I think I was born in 76.

The answer for you is actually Larry Robinson who played longer than Lafleur.

 

[kmad]

We could probably make a list of every year. This is my best guess, probably should be corrected:

1972-1977: Larry Robinson
1978: Dave Taylor
1979-1982: Mark Messier
1983-1987: Chris Chelios
1988-present: Mark Recchi

 

[BM67]

If it's not him, then it's one of Serge Savard, Walt McKechnie or Carol Vadnais, who all retired in 1983 and were active NHLer's the day I was born.

Wayne Cashman played his first game in 64-65 and went deeper in the 83 playoffs than any of them, so he was the last man standing from the O6.

 

[begbeee]

I was born 1983 and I think the answer is Chelios.

 

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Wayne Cashman played his first game in 64-65 and went deeper in the 83 playoffs than any of them, so he was the last man standing from the O6.

I forgot about him, but he may have been in the AHL when I was born in the fall of 68. He played 21 games in the AHL that year and was up and down between 64 and 68, so I'm not sure I'd call him an 'active' NHL player.

 

[Regal]

We could probably make a list of every year. This is my best guess, probably should be corrected:

1972-1977: Larry Robinson
1978: Dave Taylor
1979-1982: Mark Messier
1983-1987: Chris Chelios
1988-present: Mark Recchi

It's Chelios for me because I was born later in '84, but he only played 12 games in the 83-84 season, so I guess it depends on when he started.