Oldest playoffs-debut? (and kudos Keith Aucoin)

[feffan]

Been impressed with that Keith Aucoin at 33 finally has seemed to hold on to a place in the leauge, bearing that nothing happens in the next day that keeps him out of the lineup he´ll make his playoff debut at steady 33 years. Kudos for that. This got me thinking and as always when hockeyknowledge is needed this a good place to go:

I know Andreychuk has the "oldest player to make Stanley Cup Finals debut", but who is the oldest playoff-debut? Even better is of course a list of the 10 oldest or so...

[eastcoaster]

I'm thinking it must be Connie Madigan. He was the oldest rookie at 38 when he played his first NHL game 72/73 and he played in the playoffs that year.

[feffan]

Originally Posted by eastcoaster

I'm thinking it must be Connie Madigan. He was the oldest rookie at 38 when he played his first NHL game 72/73 and he played in the playoffs that year.

Thanks! You seem to be correct, proving my point about the history board . Had a little fun with hockey-reference. This is just players making there play off-debut but I have also marked in reg. if they made their regular season debut the same season. Only five players have made their playoff debut at 33 or older since "Mad Dog" Madigan in 1973. Don´t really know why I did the research, not even a Washington- or Acouin-fan.

38. Connie Madigan, 1972-73, regular season and play off debut
38. Jack Laviolette, 1917-18, reg. and p.o. (obviously not a “real” debut, as he wasn´t able to play before as the league started that season… already won the SC and played many seasons in the NHA – but if you wanna be a “paper nazi” he´s up there )
36. Joe Hall, 1917-18, reg. and p.o. (same situation as Laviolette...)
37. Art Duncan, 1928-29, po. (also not “real” debut, lost 3 SC-finals before NHL-debut…)
36. Leo Reise, 1928-29, p.o.
36. Helge Bostrom, 1929-30, reg. and p.o.
35. Herb Gardiner, 1926-27, reg. and po. (also won the Hart Trophy that year…)
35. Joe Simpson, 1928-29, p.o.
34. Dick Irvin (sr.), 1926-27, reg. and p.o.
34. Cully Wilson, 1926-27, p.o.
34. Irwin Boyd, 1942-43, p.o.
34. Bob Barlow, 1969-70, p.o.
34. Lubomir Sekeras, 2002-03, p.o.
34. Petteri Nummelin, 2006-07, p.o.
33. Johnny Matz, 1924-25, reg. and p.o.
33. Dave Ritchie, 1924-25, p.o.
33. Ed Gorman, 1925-26, p.o.
33. Charlie Langlois, 1927-28, p.o.
33. Ty Arbour, 1929-30, p.o.
33. Jacques Toupin, 1943-44, reg. and p.o.
33. Bill McCreary, 1967-68, p.o. (St. Louis first team...)
33. Bob McCord, 1967-68, p.o.
33. Myron Stankiewicz, 1968-69, reg. And p.o.
33. Barry Ashbee, 1972-73, p.o.
33. Jiri Bubla, 1982-83, p.o. (reg. 1981-82, actually not defecting, but allowed to leave like Milan Novy and Ivan Hlinka)
33. Patric Kjellberg, 2002-03, p.o.
33. Mathieu Darche, 2009-10, p.o.

Frantisek Kaberle is also one who is close in the near past, debuting in the playoffs at 32 2005-06…

Dwelling in playoffstatistics also got me thinking:
Larry Zeidel gotta have the biggets jump between playing NHL playoffs-games. At 23 years: 5 games AND a SC in 1951-52 with DRW, then at 39: 7 games with Penguins 1967-68. That’s 16 seasons. To be fair he was out of the NHL between age 25-39…

We didn´t get to see enough of Brian Leetch in the playoffs. And for that mather Eric Lindors…

Gerry Melnyk is kind of special. Many have debuted in the playoffs before the regular seasons, but his regular season debut was 4 seasons after his playoff debut…

Was also impressed that Tommy Albelin actually played a few playoffs games at 41 years. He was a good reliable defender to have on any team, but playing hockey beyond 40 is usually “reserved” for greater players than that.

Bouwmeester has 10 seasons before his stuck with the record.

Last discovery was that Keiths cousin is still playing in the league. Someone could easily had fooled me Adrian retired during the lockout...

[pnep]

38. Jack Laviolette, 1917-18, reg. and p.o. (obviously not a “real” debut, as he wasn´t able to play before as the league started that season… already won the SC and played many seasons in the NHA – but if you wanna be a “paper nazi” he´s up there )

Lester Patrick

Hugh Lehman

[feffan]

Originally Posted by pnep

Lester Patrick

Hugh Lehman

Should have clearified that I didn´t search for goalies. Giving it a second thought I probably should have made an extra search for those. Should be some oldies in there as it´s an position who peaks late.

[pnep]

Originally Posted by feffan

Should have clearified that I didn´t search for goalies. Giving it a second thought I probably should have made an extra search for those. Should be some oldies in there as it´s an position who peaks late.

Binkley Les
Martin Seth
Winkler Hal
Bower Johnny
Brooks Ross
Johnston Eddie
Edwards Roy
Moore Alfie
Simmons Gary
Walsh James Flat

[feffan]

Originally Posted by pnep

Binkley Les
Martin Seth
Winkler Hal
Bower Johnny
Brooks Ross
Johnston Eddie
Edwards Roy
Moore Alfie
Simmons Gary
Walsh James Flat

Thanks pnep. Useful as usual

43, Lester Patrick, 1927-28, p.o.
41, Hugh Lehman, 1926-27, reg. and p.o.
41, Johnny Bower, 1958-59, p.o.
35, Les Binkley, 1969-70, p.o.
35, Ross Brooks, 1972-73, reg. and p.o.
34, Hal Winkler, 1926-27, reg and p.o
34, Seth Martin, 1967-68, reg. and p.o.
33, Eddie Johnston, 1968-69, p.o.
33, Tim Thomas, 2007-08, p.o.

Roy Edwards, Flat Walsh, Gary Simmons and Alfie Moore was 32 according to hockey-reference. Guess they turned 33 during the season as I suspect there age there is that as they started the season.

I´ve heard the story of Patricks game as a goalie at 43 before, but what´s the story of his regular season game 1926-27? Was he supposed to have continue playing? He played with the Victoria Cougars the season before…