At what age does a player stop being young in your books?

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

22? 23?

Click to read more...

 

[The Nuge]

Under 25. 25-30 is in their prime. 31-35 is declining. 35+ is old

 

[Bank Shot]

19.

If they haven't lit up the league by then.......Bustville

 

[Spectaculard]

25...

 

[Not So Mighty]

Under 25. 25-30 is in their prime. 31-35 is declining. 35+ is old

This is pretty much dead on but obviously there are anomalies as not all players are the same.

 

[MikeyMike01]

24..

 

[Gsus]

24 is young.

25 isn't young.

 

[keppel146]

I'd say 24-25

 

[Crease]

When I turned 30 I instantly had appreciation for pro athletes in their 30s. Holy hell.

 

[Andon]

For superstars or supposed-to-be superstars, pretty much 20. For mere mortals, something like 23-24.

 

[Evergreen]

Under 25. 25-30 is in their prime. 31-35 is declining. 35+ is old

I agree with this.

 

[Evergreen]

When I turned 30 I instantly had appreciation for pro athletes in their 30s. Holy hell.

Lol me too. My body started falling apart as soon as I turned 28. I'm almost 30 now and I just got diagnosed with a hernia that will require surgery. Feel old as hell.

 

[MrClutch86]

24-25

 

[SpookyTsuki]

24-25

Rare cases for 24 i still consider young

 

[Knave]

3-4 full seasons if they start playing in the NHL before they turn 25.

 

[rhinoshawarma]

Under 25. 25-30 is in their prime. 31-35 is declining. 35+ is old

This, give or take a couple years depending on players

 

[threetimer*]

Not sure.

Until 20, they're kids.

At 20, they leave the baby fat behind (and from a teenager's perspective, they're not really "young" anymore), but they're still very young, they learn and they learn quick.

At 22, the post-teenage age is over too, and if you're a pro-athlete, you'd better be getting your act together soon. Still young though.

23-25, strictly physically, you're at your best. That's where speed and explosiveness meet your peak or near-peak strength. Still young, but in a mature way.

26-30, not really young anymore, but still far from old. Regeneration starts slowing down and so do you. Meanwhile, years, then months, then fortnights, weeks, eventually even days and hours run faster. Quality sleep is harder to get. On the other hand, your strength peaks and you know way more than all those speedy flashy rookies. You're in the "had I known all this ten years ago, boy, I would have conquered the..." blah blah phase. Possibly your best.

Past 30, it all goes down. Not overnight, but at 32/33 at the latest, you know the best years are behind, and it keeps getting worse by a year.

Over 35, you find yourself having barely enough time to hang on, let alone to learn or improve. This is the true survival phase. The average life expectancy of cavemen was 25. Based on what it took to survive in the old stone age, you're well past due, and let's face it, any pro sport is a jungle.

Past 40, you're either retired, or an aberration.

 

[KingsHockey24]

I still think Drew Doughty is a young kid but then I realize he's 27 with almost 700 games played.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Under 25. 25-30 is in their prime. 31-35 is declining. 35+ is old

Different skills age differently than others, different positions age differently than others, etc., etc.

...but this is generally how I see things too.

 

[Aladyyn]

25.

I play too much EHM.

 

[SnoopDogg]

23 imo

 

[Satastic]

I still think Drew Doughty is a young kid but then I realize he's 27 with almost 700 games played.

Yeah seriously, he's still so young and it pisses me off that he's only possibly half way done, if not longer with his career

 

[DaNaultinus]

Echoing a lot of other 25's here!

 

[SotasicA]

23 years and 3 months. After that they are in their prime until 30 years and 9 months.

Younger than 23.25 has potential to develop. Older than 30.75 is on the decline.

 

[Minnesota]

I'm going to call any player younger than me a kid. Any player older than me is a declining bag of pucks.

Pro Tip: Anyone exactly my age is at the sweet spot, aka: in their prime.