The Washington Capitals have gone into the past two seasons with the second-oldest projected roster in the NHL. After a calendar year that saw the departure of several older roster players and an offseason prioritizing the acquisition of younger talent, Washington is “old” no more.
Defenseman Matt Roy, 29, is the oldest of the seven players the Capitals added to their roster this summer. Comparatively, the team’s two biggest additions in the summer of 2023, Joel Edmundson (30) and Max Pacioretty (34), were both older than Roy.
According to NHL Rosters, the former depth charts manager for the now Capitals-owned CapFriendly, the Caps are projected to open the 2024-25 season with the eighth-oldest roster in the league, averaging an age of 28.9.
Oldest NHL teams based on the average age of my current projected 20-man game rosters:
Pittsburgh – 30.9
Edmonton – 30.5
Nashville – 29.8
Carolina – 29.7
Tampa Bay – 29.6
Chicago – 29.2
Toronto – 29.2
Washington – 28.9
NY Islanders – 28.7
St. Louis – 28.7
Detroit – 28.6…— NHL Rosters (@NHL_Rosters) July 11, 2024
However, those figures still include TJ Oshie, 37, in the calculations. Given the team’s extensive offseason work which has taken them high above the NHL’s salary cap, Oshie is expected to start the season on LTIR as he tries to solve his chronic back issues.
When you replace Oshie in the calculations with someone like 20-year-old winger Ivan Miroshnichenko, the Capitals’ average age shoots down to 27.8. The leap down the rankings by more than a year would leave Washington tied with Dallas for the 10th youngest projected roster in the league.
Youngest NHL teams based on the average age of my current projected 20-man game rosters:
Buffalo – 25.3
Philadelphia – 26.1
Montreal – 26.4
Utah – 26.5
Ottawa – 26.8
Boston – 27.1
Anaheim – 27.2
Columbus – 27.2
NY Rangers – 27.5
Dallas – 27.8
Calgary – 28.0
New Jersey – 28.1…— NHL Rosters (@NHL_Rosters) July 11, 2024
Per the NHL, the average age of an NHL player normally hovers around 27.5. The Capitals’ oldest player will be captain Alex Ovechkin, 39; the youngest would either be Miroshnichenko if he makes the opening night roster or else the 22-year-old Hendrix Lapierre.
The Pittsburgh Penguins (30.9) and Edmonton Oilers (30.5) are the only teams with an average age over 30, with the Pens staying over 30 for a third consecutive season. The Nashville Predators (29.8), Carolina Hurricanes (29.7), and Tampa Bay Lightning (29.6) round out the top five oldest teams.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Buffalo Sabres (25.3) come in as the only team with an average age under 26. They are joined by the Philadelphia Flyers (26.1), Montreal Canadiens (26.4), Utah HC (26.5), and Ottawa Senators (26.8) as the youngest groups in the league.
