The Rangers will go into their season opener with ten players who we either drafted by the team or signed as undrafted free agents. That’s the highest number of any Blueshirt line-up since the lockout, topping last year’s nine.
If you factor in Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust, two players with limited NHL experience before they came to New York, then you’ve got a decidedly blue line-up.
Home Grown Roster
Artem Anisimov – 2nd round pick in 2006
Ryan Callahan – 4th round pick in 2004
Michael Del Zotto – 1st round pick in 2008
Brandon Dubinsky – 2nd round pick in 2004
Matt Gilory – undrafted UFA signed in 2009
Dan Girardi – undrafted UFA signed in 2006
Henrik Lundqvist – 7th round pick in 2000
Michael Sauer – 2nd round pick in 2005
Derek Stepan – 2nd round pick in 2008
Marc Staal – 1st round pick in 2005
Mostly Blue
Brian Boyle – 71 of 107 NHL games as a Ranger
Michal Rozsival – 400 of 637 NHL games as a Ranger
Going Blue
Brandon Prust – 26 of 115 NHL games as a Ranger
Home Grown Openers
2010-11 – 9 or 10 depending on Mike Sauer
2009-10 – 9
2008-09 – 8
2007-08 – 8
2006-07 – 6
2005-06 – 6
2003-04 – 3*
2002-03 – 5
2001-02 – 4
2000-01 – 4
1999-00 – 5
1998-99 – 5
1997-98 – 6
1996-97 – 7**
1995-96 – 5
* Figure includes Alexei Kovalev and Jan Hlavac in their second stints
** Figure includes Jay More in his second stint