Over the Hill? No, Haven't Even Reached the Top.

While trying to come up with something to talk about, being that it's August and hockey season isn't for another two months, it only seemed like a destiny to talk about the arbitration ruling for Shea Weber and the Nashville Predators.  However, I'm not interested in salary cap figures, or any money articles, as the Islanders' bid for a new arena has dominated headlines for the last four days (in fairness, it's been two articles, not four, but stay with me here).  Instead, the angel that is NHL.com has presented me with an interesting piece that doesn't involve money.

As you can tell, today's subject involves Gordie Howe.  More specifically, it involves Howe and everyone else who has reached significant milestones after the age of 35.  Before you say anything, it's nothing like baseball, where steroids helped to defy Father Time.  Here are some interesting notes from the NHL.com piece that is currently circulating:

• The number of players to have hit the 100 point mark after turning 35: four.  Gordie Howe did it in 1968-69 at the age of 41.  Ironically, for all of his career achievements, that season was the only time he scored 100 points in a season.  Johnny Bucyk did it in 1970-71 after just turning 35, Wayne Gretzky did it in 1995-96 at 35, and barely missed out in the following two seasons, and Joe Sakic did it in 2006-07 at 37.
• Bucyk is also the only person to have scored 50 goals in a season after turning 35, doing so in 1970-71.
• What about trophy winners?  Well, the Norris Trophy has been won by the 35 and over group six times, with Doug Harvey doing so in the 1960-61 and 1961-62 seasons at the age of 36 and 37, respectively.  More recently, Nicklas Lidstrom has won the Norris Trophies in 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2010-11 seasons.  If you're keeping score, that's 35, 36, 37, and 40 (!) years old when Lidstrom won the Norris Trophy.
• The Vezina Trophy?  Old guys have had a share of that, too.  Dominik Hasek won the Vezina in 2000-01 season at the age of 36, Martin Brodeur won it in 2007-08 at 35, and Tim Thomas did it this past season at the age of 36.  This is after 1981-82, as the Vezina was originally awarded to the goaltender(s) that allowed the fewest goals, which would also include Tony Esposito in 1979-80 at 36, Glenn Hall in 1968-69 at 37, and Gump Worsley in 1967-68 at 38.

Hockey is still a young man's game, but don't tell that to the older guys who can still go.  Teemu Selanne (40 years old) was the second leading point getter on the Ducks with 80, good enough for eighth overall in the league.  That's no small accomplishment, either, as the guy he trailed on his team: Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry.  And there was also a player who barely missed joining the 100 points after turning 35 club this year: Martin St. Louis, with 99 points at 36.

As you can see, talent can show up at any age, and whatever it may be in the form of, can also win championships.  Thomas at 36 was the most dominant goaltender last season, and Mark Recchi at 43 was the heart and soul of the Bruins team that won the Stanley Cup this past season.