official list.
I asked myself the very same question not too long ago, I have a very accurate list on hand, the players listed have been contacted to make sure that they are still living, and also the SIHR is great for determining if a player is deceased or not their records are awesome. I also recommend that if perhaps any of you wanted to get into contact with former players check out the hockeydb forum, my list is also posted there.
www.hockeydb.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=5 anyway heres the list.
#1. Lou Holmes 98 this year **OFFICIALLY THE OLDEST FORMER NHLER EVER**
#2. Al Suomi 96 this year (last living member of the 36/37 all american blackhawks team
#3. Don Willson 95 this year
#4. Bill Chadwick 94 this year (referee, invented hand signals) HHOF
#5. Murray Armstrong 94 this year (last living player to have played for both the NYA and the Brooklyn Americans
#6. Pete Langelle 93 this year
#7. Ernie Laforce 93 this year (played on game fore the habs 1942
#8. Oscar Aubuchon 93 this year
#9. Red Carr 92 this year
#10. Tony Bukovich 91 this year
#11. Elmer Lach 91 this year HHOF
#12. Milt Schmidt 91 this year HHOF
#13. Connie Dion 91 this year
#14. John Mahaffy 91 this year
#15. Herb Carnegie 90 this year (not really an NHL player but deserves to be on the list.
#16. Wally Stanowski 90 this year
#17. Edgar Laprade 90 this year HHOF
#18. Ed Barry 90 this year
#19. Emile Bouchard 89 this year HHOF
#20. Jud McAtee 89 this year
#21. Bill Benson 89 this year (last living player to have only played with the Brooklyn Americans)
#22. Bob Fillion 88 this year
#23. Tony Licari 88 this year
#24. Jean-Paul Gladu 88 this year
#25. Norm McAtee 88 this year
#26. Murray Henderson 88 this year
#27. Howard Riopelle 88 this year
#28. Armand Gaudreault 88 this year
#29. Johnny Bower 87 this year (charges $1 per signature)
#30. Jim Conacher 86 this year
#31. Gaye Stewart 86 this year
#32. Chuck Scherza 86 this year
#33. Keith "Bingo" Allen 86 this year HHOF (can also be reached through Philly)
#34. Leo Reise Jr. 86 this year
#35. Tod Campeau 86 this year
hope this helps.