Howe's First (Again)

It's always a special day on this blog when I can wax poetic about the Hartford Whalers. When it comes to talking about the Hartford Whalers AND Gordie Howe in the same piece, that's something that supercedes any other story, but I think the historical factor of today's article will matter to some folks. Most times, October 13 passes by without so much as the blink of an eye for a lot of people, but hockey fans should stop and reflect on what Gordie Howe did today due to the age at which he completed the feat. It's virtually a foregone conclusion that most 50-year old players are long retired with their goal-scoring days long behind them in this era, but Gordie Howe was a different kind of player.

On this day back in 1979 following the MHL's absorption of the four WHA teams, the Hartford Whalers played their second game of the season. That also meant that Gordie Howe played his second game of the season after rejoining the NHL as a member of the Whalers in that NHL-WHA deal. In the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Gordie Howe scored a first-period goal to make it a 2-0 lead for the Whalers in what would end as a 3-3 tie between the Whalers and Penguins.

What makes this goal remarkable is that Gordie Howe scored for the first time in eight seasons following his retirement from the Detroit Red Wings in 1970-71, and he scored his first NHL in this new era at the age of 51! If you're counting the total number of goals he scored in the NHL before leaving with this one, it's actually his 787th NHL goal in his career, but that doesn't overlook the fact that Howe scored, at the age of 51, on Greg Millen at 10:23 of the first period.

The only player remotely close to Howe's age who is still in the NHL is Zdeno Chara of the New York Islanders. Chara is 44 year-old this season, so he's still a baby compared to what Howe was doing at 51. And if we throw out the fact that Howe scored 15 goals and added 26 helpers at the age of 52 when the season ended, I seriously doubt those are totals that Chara will hit this year, let alone in seven more years of play.

The oldest forward still playing in the league is Joe Thornton of the Florida Panthers. Thorton is 42 this season, and he's already told reporters last year that his career is at the "day-to-day" stage in terms of how he feels. While there was some tongue-in-cheek about that statement, Thornton would have to find a way to play nine more years to reach Howe's age while finding a fountain of youth to score 41 points at the age of 52. Thornton's had a couple of years in the last five where he's hit the 50-point mark, but those days are becoming spots on the horizon in the rearview mirror for Jumbo Joe.

It's pretty remarkable that Howe was able to score 40+ points at the age of 52 during what was one of the toughest eras to play in when it came to hooking, holding, and all the little stick infractions that have been outlawed today. When people talk about hockey greats, Howe often gets mentioned, but we should really stop and linger on that name a little longer because of how good he was for so long. There hasn't been a 50 year-old player in the NHL since Howe was the first to do it, and I doubt we'll ever see one again.

A 40-point scorer at the age of 50? That will never be done again.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!