The NHL certainly can't be accused of age discrimination. Forty-somethings like Ray Whitney and Jaromir Jagr were among the most highly coveted free agents on the market, while even the likes of Dominik Hasek and Mike Modano are considering comebacks.
But the league isn't just a haven for the old guard. The kids are alright, too. The influx of talent in the last few years has been impressive, with a combination of the skill of those youngsters and the changes brought by a salary cap system creating more and more opportunities for younger players to earn spots.
Those youngsters are cashing in, too, with 2009 top pick John Tavares already re-signed to a six-year, $33 million extension and Evander Kane expected to sign a similar deal in Winnipeg. Other youngsters are still awaiting their big paydays, but that hasn't stopped them from making an impact in the NHL, even at a time when many of them have yet to reach the legal drinking age in the U.S.